Security Sales & Integration May 2021 - 37

classes and manuals for installation and service are not needed or provided.
In any industry labor is expensive, whether
for an employee or for contracted personnel,
including security officers. Using a sample
hourly wage of $14, with a total cost of $20
per hour with benefits, training, screening, etc.,
here is a comparative look at the annual cost
difference using an average hourly cost of $9
for the robot:
▶ 24/7 security officers: $175,000 per year
▶2
4/7 autonomous security robot: $79,000
per year
▶ Annual savings: $96,000
Many of the robots on the market today are
able to operate fully autonomously, including
charging themselves, which allows for 24/7/365
operation both indoors and outdoors. For patrolling, deterring and detecting suspicious activity, a very common and mundane duty for a
security officer, robots can be an ideal alternative. The theory is to allow the robot to perform
these boring and monotonous duties, affording
other security personnel to handle more important tasks.
As many companies are responding to the
impact of COVID-19, they continue to face
budget cuts from top to bottom. Yet, in response to new risks and threats, many have had
to double or even triple their security officer
spend in addition to enhancing their security
systems. These unexpected issues are creating
a dire need to quickly identify ways to reduce
costs, including security spend. Thus, five or so
years ago when the market viewed the new robots as a " nice to have " option, more and more
organizations are now not only seeing the need
for them but how they actually improve security and public safety.

self-driving, self-charging, fully autonomous
robot with the capability to operate 24/7 is an
appealing utility for the industry that brings
additional benefits:
Enhance remote video monitoring capabilities. Whether monitoring a property remotely
or onsite with a security operations center or a
third-party remote video monitoring service,
robots provide a unique capability to investigate
an incident and reach areas not covered by cameras, delivering real-time, eye-level video and
two-way audio. No more trying to identify a
subject by what the top of their head looks like.
Support facility management. If a facility
is shut down or has reduced operations and
personnel, robots can perform a facility tour at
ground level, with 360° live video, to inspect
landscaping, fencing, lighting, safety conditions and much more (see image page 39).
Promote COVID-19 prevention and policy
enforcement. Robots that can autonomously
broadcast custom messages provide a unique
visitor and employee experience: " Please maintain social distancing while at this site. " " All
employees are required to wear face masks. "
" Please use hand sanitizer when entering and
exciting this facility. " They may also be used to
screen for elevated body temperatures at points
of ingress to help protect the entire facility.
Keep personnel safe. Many facilities do
not have security officers, leaving employees
to handle security situations. The intercom
feature built into many robots, coupled with
a live view of the 360° video, allows employees to safely address a potential threat from a
safe distance.

Many of the
robots on the
market today
are able to
operate fully
autonomously,
including charging
themselves,
which allows
for 24/7/365
operation both
indoors and
outdoors.

For patrolling, deterring and
detecting suspicious activity, a
very common and mundane
duty for a security officer,
robots can be an ideal alternative.

4 Big Benefits
Many of the features and capabilities built into
autonomous security robots are very familiar
and currently in use throughout the security
industry. However, instead of mounting these
sensors to a wall or building, they are attached
to a robot. While the capabilities are quickly
expanding, the main ones include facial recognition, ALPR, thermal cameras for heat anomalies and elevated body temperature, gunshot
detection, liquid spills, intercom, public address broadcasts, mobile device detection, and
human detection.
Applying these advanced technologies to a
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Security Sales & Integration May 2021

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