Here comes "RoboCop" to protect the citizens of Silicon Valley.

Well, these "RoboCops" are actually the new security robots designed to assist police and protect the innocent, but the robots look more like souped-up versions of a Dalek from "Doctor Who."

These security robots are called the Knightscope K5 Autonomous Data Machines. They were designed by a robotics company named Knightscope located in Mountain View, California. The K5s do not have firepower, but they can alert the authorities and track instant information.

The K5 look and design is not intimidating, but it can do a lot more on the scene. It weighs 300 pounds, and it is equipped with microphones, speakers, cameras, laser scanners and sensors, all designed to protect Silicon Valley, RT.com reported. Also, there is a laser rangefinder that helps with navigation and an SOS alarm system that alerts the control center if anyone tries to tamper with it.

These robots are programmed to detect suspicious and unusual behavior. And, it has the ability to detect heat and odor; it can even monitor the pollution in carpets. With K5's camera, it can recall up to 300 number plates a minute, while monitoring traffic.

The human detection ability works something like this: If a person steps in front of the K5 robot, it will stop and move around the person, while sending a video to the control center. For example, if a burglar does not want to leave, the "robot is looking at the video, listening for glass breakage, any loud sound that 'breaking in' would cause. We'll get the license plate, picture of the vehicle, geotag location, and time," the project co-founder Stacy Stephens said.

K5 is not as tall as Robocop, as it is only five feet. A handful of them–seven built so far–are currently in an undisclosed place within the San Francisco Bay Area, the New York Daily News reported.

Other features of the K5 include a button located on the top of its "head," which can be pressed by anyone who needs help. Also, the security robots are designed to be "autonomous": They can operate on their own. They cannot chase people down, but they will not avoid tense situations either, New York Daily News reported. With the seven that have already been built, four of them will be deployed at the end of this year.

One report suggests that, with the presence of K5 robots in the community, it could reduce crime. The K5s are built and designed for patrolling, surveillance and security for areas it is supposed to watch over.

Knightscope hopes to have the K5 robots available in places such as malls, college campuses and businesses.


There is a video of the K5s in action at the Microsoft company in California, and you can click here.