New York City’s busiest subway station has a new crew member – a nearly 400-pound Robocop, introduced by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
“We are committed to exploring innovative tools to continue making this the safest major city in America, and this K5 robot has the potential to serve as an important tool in our toolbox,” Adams said Friday as he introduced the machine.
The robot, a product of California-based autonomous security robot developer Knightscope, has four cameras that allow it to record video and moves at a speed of 5 km/h.
As part of a test run from City Hall, it will roam the Times Square-42 Street subway station alongside a human officer for two weeks. After that, the station’s mezzanine floor is expected to be patrolled for two months.
Statistics show that crime in New York City has increased in nearly every category compared to last year, although Adams has repeatedly claimed that his campaign to address the problem has been successful.
The robot, a product of autonomous security robot developer Knightscope, has four cameras that allow it to record video without sound and moves at 3 miles per hour (pictured today in the Times Square subway station).
Pictured above is New York City Mayor Eric Adams with his new Robocop, introducing the machine at the Times Square subway station
The machine, called K5, will roam the subway station alongside a human officer from midnight to 6 a.m. for two weeks
At an average of $9 an hour, the robot costs “below minimum wage,” according to Adams.
The robot – known as K5 – will roam the Times Square subway station from midnight to 6 a.m.
The robot is one of many ventures the city is undertaking using technology to fulfill Adams’ campaign promises and reduce crime in the city.
The robot made its initial debut in April alongside a robotic police dog, which the agency said was intended to be used to deal with dangerous situations.
Adams said the robot has a license plate reader but no real-time facial recognition capabilities, raising concerns for privacy advocates.
The robot has a button that can connect subway riders to a live person at any time they have questions or want to report an incident, Adams said.
Mayor Eric Adams campaigned on a promise to curb crime in New York City and believes the robot recruits will be used to save lives and prevent atrocities in the Big Apple.
However, New Yorkers aren’t on the same page as the mayor when it comes to letting Robocops loose in the concrete jungle.
One local resident shared his frustration with the new recruits on Twitter: “We want fully funded libraries and schools, not more expensive toys for the NYPD.”
While other residents said the robots were “dystopian surveillance technologies.”
After that, it is expected to patrol the station’s mezzanine level for two months, helping subway riders who have questions or need to report an incident. The robot will not be on subway platforms.
Crime in New York City skyrocketed from 2020 to 2023. Eric Adams believes the robots will help deter criminals in the city
The New York Police Department released its annual crime review last year, with telling numbers in nearly every category, despite recent claims from the mayor.
The statistics paint a bleak picture of the city’s efforts to combat soaring crime since the pandemic – despite Adams repeatedly claiming his campaign to address the problem has been successful.