Originally posted at Security Management Magazine
Humans have long been obsessed with creating robotics that will aid us with tasks.
In 1956, for instance, George Devol and his counterpart, Joseph Engelberger, founded Unimation, Inc., and created the first robot to be installed at a GM manufacturing plant. It was programmed to “retrieve and stack hot die-cast metal pieces,” according to the National Inventors Hall of Fame. “Unimation soon began full-scale production, expanding to include robots that could weld, print, and assemble.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since 1972, when Charles Rosen, head of the Machine Learning Group at the Stanford Research Institute, invented Shakey.
“Shakey was the first mobile robot with enough artificial intelligence to navigate on its own through a set of rooms,” according to the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). “Among [Shakey’s] component technologies were a TV camera, a range finder, radio communications, and a set of drive wheels controlled with stepping motors.”
More than 50 years later, corporate security workforces are integrating robotic technology with human security professionals. This is an evolving but strategic move to embrace the operational efficiencies of a robotic security framework capable of addressing modern challenges with the intuitive instincts of a human professional security personnel. The process, however, has been embraced warmly at best.
Security practitioners face a significant challenge when trying to convince others that AI and robotics can augment existing human security officers without sacrificing their positions. Robotic security solutions leverage automation and AI-driven processes that require human oversight to enhance their operational efficiencies. Organizations need to understand that this is a fusion of trained security personnel with new technology that offers several impressive monitoring advantages.
For instance, AI-enhanced cameras can distinguish between humans and objects, helping human security practitioners filter out false information and follow up on actual intruders.
Advanced video management systems can also be used to identify individuals and track their movements across multiple cameras. These intelligent surveillance systems eliminate labor-intensive video reviews, reducing human labor and response times.
Additionally, automated access control systems are now replacing traditional methods such as human receptionists to streamline management at security entry points.
AI-infused security monitoring is the beginning of robotic-human unity. Robotic patrols are equipped with sophisticated sensors and mapping capabilities to perform tasks such as checking the status of closed doors and even generating real-time reports for their human counterparts.
It is imperative to note, however, that while robots can assume traditional security tasks, the need for trained personnel to interact with robots will always remain. It is essential to blend these new security technologies with trained professionals capable of responding to advanced security operations with the intuitive nature that only the human intellect can provide.
AI Enhances Human Perception
Organizations are now implementing advanced robotics to perform several mundane security operations, such as securing entrance gates.
In this case, AI-powered robots are typically deployed to manage the initial screening process for visitors. These robots are often equipped with facial recognition technology and biometric scanners, allowing them to quickly verify the visitor’s identity against a database of personnel authorized to enter the facilities. Human counterparts monitor robotic interactions from a safe distance, which allows them to react to alerts.
Assigning tasks is another area where robots play a crucial role. Within a typical security command center, AI algorithms can be used to analyze data from various security camera sensors located throughout the facility. Based on insights revealed, these automated systems can assign tasks to human and robotic security units.
An all-too-common example of this in action would be the procedure for when a suspicious package is detected. In this scenario, the AI system can deploy a robot to investigate the package while simultaneously notifying human personnel to oversee the situation. This promotes safety through rapid response.
Patrolling a building’s grounds is one of the most common areas where we see robotic units deployed. These robots are equipped with cameras, thermal sensors, and motion detectors that aid in patrol and will allow them to follow predetermined routes. They’re capable of avoiding obstacles and quickly responding to any unusual activities they may encounter. Like the other scenarios, human counterparts in a command center will receive live feeds and alerts from the robotic patrols.
It’s Not a Dog-Eat-Dog World Any Longer
Robotic dogs are being integrated into surveillance operations or emergency responses on a larger scale. These robotic dogs are also equipped with advanced sensors and AI capabilities, proving indispensable assistance for first responder situations.
For example, a security system detects an unauthorized entry at night. A robotic dog equipped with thermal imaging cameras, motion detectors, and an AI-driven tracking system can immediately be dispatched to the intruder’s location. If the robotic dog encounters an intruder, it can maintain pursuit—even while climbing stairs—without losing balance and maintaining speed. Security personnel in a command center would monitor real-time data from the robotics dogs’ cameras and sensors, initiating a coordinated response to intercept the unwanted guest.
Hazmat situations are another area in which we are witnessing robotic dog usage, such as responding to a chemical spill that poses a major danger to humans. Robotic dogs designed to handle hazardous materials can be sent in with embedded chemical sensors and containment tools to assess the spill and measure contamination levels. All information is safely relayed back to the hazmat human team members, allowing them to safely leverage all data from the chemical spill to initiate an appropriate response while minimizing risk to human life.
These examples underscore a long history of humans’ obsession with creating robotic machines that will aid us with many tasks. Today, we are witnessing the ancestors of these robots in action, handling both mundane and dangerous security tasks for various civilian and government organizations.
The unity of humans and machines is rooted in the pursuit of perfection. In the case of security operations, perfection means unceasing surveillance and rapid, precise responses mitigating risk to human life. The advent of AI and robotics occurred many decades ago. What’s new are the practical applications that will augment our tasks to empower humans with the knowledge to make better-informed decisions faster than previously conceived.
Ryan B. Okerstrom, CPP, is vice president of operations for the Protective Services Group at Huffmaster and manages the North American security services, security integration, and remote monitoring divisions. He oversees all operational aspects of the Protective Services Group, including organizational structure, group performance, and business development. Okerstrom holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. In 2021, he was inducted into the Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice Wall of Fame for Distinguished Alumni. In addition, he has earned 19 security-related certifications, is board-certified in security management, and carries the coveted Certified Protection Professional (CPP) title. Okerstrom joined ASIS in 1995, and with more than 30 years of security leadership experience, has become a subject matter expert on physical security management.
© Ryan B. Okerstrom