Security by Robot

Bob the security robot (left) moves around at the G4S Technology offices in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

It may look more like the robot from 'Lost in Space' than the terrifying droids in 'Terminator', but this machine could be the future of fighting crime.

Bob, the first robotic security guard in the UK, is the latest recruit employed by G4S to help secure its headquarters in Gloucestershire.

When the metal minder spots something out of place, he stores the information on his internal hard-drive and quickly reports it to his human counterparts.

The autonomous android can even speak to his colleagues, ask for help when he gets stuck, and plug himself in to charge when his battery runs low.

The blue machine is part of a £7.2 million ($12.2 million) robot pilot project by the University of Birmingham to get robots in offices around the world.

"Bob is not about replacing our security officers; the security officers are at the point of use," said G4S spokesman Stewart Angell.  "They are able to make incisive, very, very quick decisions about changes in the environment.  Bob is a complimentary activity that can do guard tours over a period of time overnight or during the day, but also pick up on some of the low level activities that the guard doesn't necessary need to be involved in."

Bob knows the floor plan of the office in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, and rolls from room to room, scanning and filming in 3D.

If he spots something has changed since his last visit, he analyses it and sends the information to a real security guard.  

Using cameras and scanners he is able to create a map of his surrounding area, plotting the location of desks and chairs, as well as detecting people moving, and learning how the environment changes. 

Dr Nick Hawes, from the School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham, said: 

"Current robots aren't very good with their hands, or able to manipulate objects, however Bob is good at driving around and monitoring objects, so is perfect for a job in security as a night or day watchman where he can monitor what is going on in his immediate surroundings."