Robot guards patrolling terrain

The Swiss security company Securitas AG uses robot guards to secure its sites. The autonomously driving robots were developed by Ascento, a robotics startup at ETH Zurich, and have been in use for more than six months. The new robots are designed to increase efficiency and provide an additional layer of security.

Combination of bipedal and wheel-based locomotion.

The Ascento robots feature a unique combination of bipedal and wheel-based locomotion and can move over uneven terrain and obstacles. The robot's "head" houses the computer, battery, sensors and cloud-based artificial intelligence. The robots are equipped with a thermal imaging camera to detect people and vehicles, and a 360-degree camera to capture images of the environment. The robots can generate automatic daily safety reports and communicate with a backup operator in a control center.

Large outdoor areas and difficult terrain

A single human security officer can more effectively monitor large outdoor areas thanks to the robots, without otherwise requiring significant staffing. The robot guards are able to navigate even through difficult terrain, such as snow or uneven paths.

From the idea to the robot guard

The idea for the robot grew out of a project at ETH Zurich to create a robot that could jump. But after discussions with industry, a demand emerged for a larger, more robust robot. Ascento began developing a robot that was able to walk on wheels and legs and navigate uneven terrain.

Ascento CEO Alessandro Morra says, "We did this job ourselves and it's really brutal. We wanted to help and our robots can make these guards' lives much easier."

The future of security: automated and efficient

So the future of security in Switzerland looks automated and efficient. Robotic guards provide an extra layer of security and improve efficiency in monitoring large outdoor areas. The Ascento robots are an example of the use of robotics in the security industry and will likely spawn more innovations and applications in the future.