Robotic guards integrate drones to chase the thief

O-R3 is an autonomous robot of Otsaw Digital, recently equipped with more drones to be able to chase the intruder when needed. Otsaw's integrated drone in this robot helped expand the robot's ground protection ring to 100m, allowing O-R3 to do things that many other bodyguard robots could not do.

" If we encounter an obstacle on the ground, we can launch the drone to get an aerial view, thus knowing where the thief is hiding, like a wall, fence or gate . ", Ling Ting Ming, CEO of Otsaw Digital and parent company ActiV Technology.

Besides the built-in drone, O-R3 can also identify intruders or suspicious objects such as derelict bags. It has the ability to alert the control center. O-R3 can also charge itself when the battery runs out.

Images from robots are sent to the control center

To do that, the O-R3 is equipped with data. Otsaw said they use machine learning to make the robot differentiate between a normal visitor, an employee and a thief.

" The more data you get, the more you will learn ," Ling said. " At first, we just showed it to the simple objects. If a masterless bag was left unnoticed for 5 minutes, it would ring the bell. We also let it distinguish the staff and intruders. Whatever sometimes it is wrong in the learning process but it is getting better and better ".

The O-R3 and the integrated drone

The upcoming company will launch an outdoor version of the O-R3 at CommunicAsia2017. The outdoor version with 5km protection ring and the size of a golf cart with the indoor version, a small robot with no LIDAR 3D sensor (laser scanning technology from the air) and drone, are in finishing process.

Gautam Noong, Otsaw's chief technology officer introduced the ability to create 3D maps with LIDAR sensor of O-R3

Bodyguard robots are not new inventions, they have been used in places like corporate campuses in Silicon Valley or Chinese railway stations. Currently, they are becoming increasingly popular, especially in countries where the cost of hiring guards is increasing. Countries like Singapore spent $ 5,763 a month for two bodyguards working on 12-hour shifts.

Otsaw wanted to hire these robots as a service for about $ 10,000 per month. Another security service company, Ademco, is proposing a price of $ 5,403 per month.

That doesn't mean robots can replace people. Ling said that people will have to move to higher skills. " I believe that humans are irreplaceable. Robots can only help. " Otsaw is also planning to create automatic road sweeping robots with cheaper LIDAR technology. " In the near future, maybe the next 6 months, simple tasks can let robots do it ," Ling said.