Dublin Police Department introducing patrol robots

A Central Ohio city’s police department plans to roll out a pair of patrol robots as part of a unique pilot program.

According to city of Dublin public information officer Rebecca Myers, this spring the Dublin Police Department will begin using a pair of autonomous robots via a pilot program from the robotics company Knightscope.

One of the two robots will patrol the area of the Rock Cress parking garage, while the other will be in Riverside Crossing Park. the robots will be on preset routes throughout each area.

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“The goal is to have another set of eyes. The robots have 360-degree video and can actually serve as a call box if someone is in danger,” Myers said. “It can speak so you can have an officer talk through it, or it can go to an incident. It can supplement officers.”

According to Dublin Police Deputy Chief Greg Lattanzi, officers will not be constantly monitoring the robots’ video feed, but it may be used in investigations. 

While the exact date the robots begin patrolling is unclear, Lattanzi told 614Now the robot assigned to the Rock Cress parking lot will be the first of the two to start. He noted the Riverside Crossing Park robot will be a newer model with upgraded software.

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