US schools are turning to robots to enhance campus security and potentially confront intruders, according to The Wall Street Journal. Santa Fe High School in New Mexico is among the first schools in the country to test an autonomous robot that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to learn the campus’ routes and typical hours of activity. The school is running a 60-day pilot program to assess the robot’s effectiveness.
The move comes as school security becomes an increasing concern due to mass shootings at campuses across the US. This year alone, from January to April, there were approximately 146 mass shootings in the country, surpassing the number of incidents recorded in the same period over the past four years.
The solution to this issue has sparked political debate, with different perspectives on how best to address the problem. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has called for more armed security at schools while dismissing tighter gun laws as a solution. In June, the Biden Administration signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which allocates millions of dollars to mental health services and school security.
The robot deployed by Santa Fe High School is created by Team 1st Technologies, a robotics company based in Albuquerque. Weighing 400 pounds and equipped with four wheels, the robot can provide 360-degree video footage. It features seven cameras and has a 20-hour battery life, taking four hours to recharge at a self-charging station. The robot has the capability to alert a security team in the event of an active shooter and can move towards the suspect to send live video footage to authorities. It is not armed but has a speaker system that enables a remote security team to communicate with an intruder.
The executive director of safety and security at Santa Fe Public Schools, Mario Salbidrez, explained that the robot would supplement the district’s existing security system and provide coverage during the downtime of human staff.
Similarly, Wyandotte Public Schools district in Oklahoma plans to deploy four robots from Stokes Robotics, a company that also sells quadruped robots. The district is primarily interested in surveillance bots for monitoring school entrances but is open to considering robots capable of confronting intruders. Stokes Robotics President Robert Stokes stated that the company is working with multiple school districts to introduce robots in the classroom. The robots will primarily be used to teach students about coding but can also take more proactive actions, such as using laser beams or flashlights to disarm suspects.
Overall, with the rising concerns about school safety, US schools are exploring various measures to enhance security. Implementing robots in this context provides an innovative solution to bolster campus security and protect students and staff.
