A security robot has begun roaming around four California hospitals’ campuses to improve surveillance and safety.
“[The robot] is here to augment our security officers and give them the ability to be more hands on with patients and families,” Bakersfield Memorial Hospital COO Ken Keller says.
The large, oval robot travels on wheels and uses sensors to direct it around the campus it is programmed for.
The robots have several features that make them an asset to hospital security departments. Cameras allow the robot to capture activity and a security button allows people to alert human guards if they need assistance, according to Bakersfield Now.
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An upcoming software update will also allow people to give the robot commands in English and Spanish.
The robots have been deployed at four hospitals in the Dignity Health System for a test period.
Bakersfield Memorial, which got its robot Sept. 21, uses it to navigate the campus’s emergency room parking lot.
“It’s here for three reasons: safety, security and surveillance,” says Keller.
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