Technology
Could a security guard shortage be solved with this autonomous security robot?
Security guards are in high demand but low supply in the United States.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the security guard occupation is expected to grow by 6.3% in the next decade, but many factors are discouraging people from pursuing this career.
To address this challenge, a company has developed an autonomous patrol robot that can navigate any terrain and perform various security tasks.
The robot, the Ascento Guard, is designed to offset the lack of security guards and provide a cost-effective and reliable solution for the security guard shortage.
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Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
Introducing the two-wheeled-robot security guard
Ascento Guard is a two-wheeled robot that can patrol large outdoor premises. It has a bipedal design that allows it to move on any terrain, recover from falls, and reach speeds of up to 3 mph. It is also equipped with thermal and infrared cameras, speakers, a microphone, and GPS tracking. These features enable the Ascento Guard to:
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
- Spot trespassers and alert the operator
- Monitor parking lots and record license plates
- Record property lights and check for power outages
- Scan for thermal anomalies and detect fires or floods
- Check that doors and windows are closed and secure
Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
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Ascento Guard is not meant to replace human security guards but to complement them. When the robot detects an incident, it sends an alarm to the operator, who can then decide whether to send a human guard onsite or not. This way, the human guard can focus on the most critical situations, while the robot handles the routine tasks.
Person communicating with Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
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How the robot security guard works
Ascento Guard can be installed and deployed within a few hours and can be hired by the hour, just like a human security guard. The robot also has autonomous charging capabilities, which means it can run for over four hours without human intervention.
Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
The robot can be controlled and monitored through a web interface or a companion app. The web interface provides a live view of the footage from the cameras, as well as a map of the patrol route. The app allows the operator to communicate with the robot, schedule patrols, and generate security reports. The app also integrates with existing video management systems and offers end-to-end encrypted two-way communication.
Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
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How the security robot uses AI to keep watch
One of the most innovative features of the Ascento Guard is its AI analytics. The robot can use its data to identify suspicious patterns, such as specific locations and times of incidents, or cars that consistently park in certain spots. This can help prevent future threats.
Ascento Guard security robot (Ascento)
The Swiss start-up behind the innovative robot security guard
The Ascento Guard is the brainchild of Ascento, a Zurich-based start-up that specializes in bipedal security robots. The start-up was founded by a team of former security guards and robotics experts from ETH Zurich, a renowned research university. They have been developing and testing their robots since 2020, and have deployed them at various sites, such as warehouses, factories, and pharma campuses. The Ascento Guard is the latest addition to their portfolio.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Security is an important aspect of any business or organization, but finding qualified and reliable security guards can be a challenge. That’s why Ascento Guard could be a game-changer in the security industry. It is a smart and adaptable robot that can patrol any outdoor area and perform various security tasks. It can also work in conjunction with human security guards, who can monitor and control it remotely. Ascento Guard just might be the solution that can help address the security guard shortage in this country.
What are your thoughts on using robots for security purposes? Do you think this is a step in the right or wrong direction? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Technology
God of War Laufey is coming to the PS5
Sony ended its big State of Play showcase with a major reveal: the next God of War. The new title is called God of War Laufey, and is once again developed by Sony’s Santa Monica Studio. Currently, the game doesn’t have a date, but it’s coming to the PS5 whenever it does launch.
This time, instead of perpetually furious dad Kratos, players will take control of Faye / Laufey, as the title implies. That means that while the tone of the game seems somewhat similar to past God of War titles, the gameplay looks quite different, with much more aerobatic action punctuated by magic instead of Kratos’ heavy violence. Also, there’s a giant, six-legged cat that can fly. And a talking gelatinous cube named Phranque that fights alongside you.
You can get a good look at the game in action with this lengthy 20-minute reveal video:
The new game is a shift for blockbuster video games, which for years have focused on stories about dads. With Faye’s starring role, it seems like moms are finally getting their due.
Technology
Would you ride in Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi?
Empty Waymo vehicles swarm Atlanta neighborhood
Atlanta residents captured alarming video of dozens of Waymo driverless cars continually circling their quiet neighborhood for hours. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson warns this ‘AI takeover’ raises significant safety concerns, especially for children, highlighting a critical lack of human intervention and company accountability from Waymo regarding these autonomous vehicles and potential glitches.
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Getting into a car with no one behind the wheel can be a little weird the first time. You know the car is supposed to drive itself, but part of you no doubt may still feel uneasy.
Waymo is trying to make that moment feel less anxious with its new Ojai robotaxi. It has more room to stretch out, bigger screens to control the ride and a cabin built for passengers from the very start.
That could make a real difference. If driverless rides are going to become something you actually use, they need to feel safe, simple and comfortable once the doors close.
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CHINA’S FIRST MASS-PRODUCED FLYING CAR DEBUTS
Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi is designed around passengers, with more legroom, bigger screens and accessibility features. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Waymo Ojai robotaxi rides will start with select riders
Waymo says the first public Ojai rides will begin in the coming weeks. Select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix will get the first chance to try it. The rides will be free for a limited time while Waymo gathers feedback and refines the experience. Access will then expand gradually to more riders and more cities.
Waymo also says Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego are on its expansion list before the company opens the doors wider later this year. For now, interested riders can use the Waymo app and sign up as a Trusted Tester.
Waymo’s new driverless vehicle puts riders first
The Ojai looks like Waymo’s attempt to rethink what a robotaxi should feel like from the inside. Instead of feeling like a regular car with self-driving tech added in, the Ojai was built around the rider experience. Waymo describes it as a more expansive cabin with extra legroom, a flat floor and a low step-in height. That could help when you are carrying groceries, traveling with luggage or getting in and out with less mobility.
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Inside the Waymo Ojai robotaxi cabin
The Ojai cabin gives riders three large adaptive screens. You can use them to adjust parts of the ride, including the temperature and music.
Waymo also added charging ports and cupholders. Those may sound like small touches, but they are the things you notice once you are actually sitting in the back seat.
Waymo says the Ojai cabin includes a flat floor, low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Waymo Ojai accessibility features could help more riders
Waymo also says the Ojai was designed with accessibility in mind from the start. The vehicle has a flat floor, a low step-in height, Braille, grab bars and screen-reader compatibility.
Those details can make a ride easier for someone who needs a little more support getting in or out. They can also help older riders, passengers with disabilities or anyone juggling bags, groceries or a tired kid after a long day.
UBER UNVEILS A NEW ROBOTAXI WITH NO DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL
Waymo’s 6th-generation Driver debuts in the Ojai
The Ojai will be the first vehicle to use Waymo’s sixth-generation Waymo Driver. That is the company’s autonomous driving technology.
Waymo says this new generation will help it operate in snowier cities and bring fully autonomous rides to more communities. Snow, slush and messy weather can challenge autonomous vehicles in ways sunny streets cannot. If Waymo can handle those conditions safely, it could expand far beyond the warmer markets where robotaxis have had an easier start.
Waymo’s Arizona factory could help robotaxis expand
Waymo says its Mesa, Arizona, factory is getting ready to build tens of thousands of vehicles each year. The Ojai will come first, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5. That matters because robotaxi services need vehicles. Lots of them.
The Ojai also includes practical changes that could help Waymo keep a larger fleet on the road. Waymo points to easier-to-clean interiors, faster charging, increased battery capacity and a more modular design for maintenance and repairs.
Those details may not sound exciting, but they matter if robotaxis are going to move beyond a handful of cities. The easier these vehicles are to charge, clean and repair, the easier it may be for Waymo to bring them to more riders.
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The Waymo Ojai debuts the company’s sixth-generation autonomous driving system as it looks to expand robotaxi service. (Jason Henry/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
What this means to you
If you already ride with Waymo, the Ojai could make your next trip feel more comfortable. The bigger difference may be how normal the ride feels once you are inside. If you have never taken a driverless ride, the Ojai may become your first real temptation. The extra space and rider-friendly features could make the idea easier to try.
But there is still a comfort gap for many riders. You are stepping into a vehicle with no human driver. That makes comfort important, but safety still drives the whole decision. That question feels especially timely. Waymo recently paused freeway rides in several U.S. cities while it works on software updates tied to construction zones and flooded roads. Surface-street service has continued, but the pause is a reminder that even advanced robotaxis still face many challenges out there on the road.
Waymo says riders have taken more than 20 million fully autonomous trips across 11-plus cities. The Ojai now gives the company another chance to prove that driverless rides can feel safe, useful and normal for more of us.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi shows where driverless rides are heading next. The car still has to get you from point A to point B safely, but now Waymo is also trying to make the ride feel easier, roomier and more comfortable once you get inside. I like that Waymo is thinking about the rider experience, not only the driving technology. The extra space, accessibility features and rider controls could help those who have been curious but hesitant. Still, trust is a huge hurdle. A nicer cabin may make the ride more comfortable, but Waymo still has to prove that a car with no driver can handle the messy, unpredictable roads we all deal with every day.
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Would you climb into Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi for a free ride, or do driverless cars still have more to prove before you would trust one? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Technology
The best Switch 2 screen protector you should buy
A glass screen protector is one of a few essential accessories that I strongly recommend to every Switch 2 owner. In fact, it should be a priority to stick one onto the console’s screen as soon as possible to avoid accidental scratches.
To test the candidates below, I installed and removed Switch 2 screen protectors on my console at an alarming rate, more than any sane person should, and here are the most important takeaways:
Of the options below, it’s easiest to recommend amFilm’s three-pack of glossy screen protectors. Not only is the pack affordable ($9.99 from Amazon), but the tray also allows for perfect alignment of the glass protector for easy, bubble-free installation. I’ve used this company’s screen protectors on various gadgets for years, and I particularly like its glossy option over the matte finish, since it lets the Switch 2’s screen fully shine through.
Update, June 2nd: Adjusted prices as needed.
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