The Security Bot · Part of The Humanoid Group
Patrol Robots
Patrol robots carry cameras and sensors along set routes, indoors or out, and report what they see to your control room. They add consistent coverage on long, repetitive rounds, leaving officers free to respond.
Reviewed . Prices and availability are read live.
Buying advice
Write the patrol brief before comparing makers
Start with a written brief for each round: the checkpoints the robot must pass, how often, which events should raise an alert and who acknowledges them. This page lists robots from several makers, including Cobalt Robotics, Knightscope, Ascento and Capra Robotics, so a shared brief lets you compare their proposals on equal terms. Ask each one to walk your real route during a site visit or short trial, not a showroom demo. As of October 2026, listed prices here spanned roughly $50,000 (Badger Technologies Patrol) to $120,000 (Knightscope K5), and two carried no price at all and were sold by quote.
Price the monitoring as well as the robot
A patrol robot creates work in your control room. Every alert needs someone to view it, judge it and decide whether to send an officer, so ask how many alerts a comparable site produces per shift and how the software filters nuisance triggers such as moving foliage or reflections. Clarify whether the quoted figure is an outright purchase or bundles software, remote support and repairs, and what the robot can still do if a subscription lapses. Then add network coverage along the route, a sheltered charging point and the staff time needed to re-teach routes when the site layout changes.
Prepare the people who share the route
Patrol robots work among staff, visitors and the public, so safety and acceptance belong in the purchase decision. Ask whether the maker has assessed the robot against UL 3300, the UL Standards & Engagement safety standard for service robots in commercial and public spaces, and request the IEC 60529 rating for the docking station as well as the robot. University of Michigan research on security robots in public spaces argues that, without community input into design and deployment, such robots are unlikely to meet local concerns and safety needs. Brief tenants and staff early, post clear signage and agree who answers questions about recordings.
What to look for
- Indoor, outdoor or both, and how it copes with kerbs, ramps and weather
- Sensors on board: cameras, thermal imaging, audio or number-plate recognition
- How alerts reach your control room, and whether it works with your video system
Common questions
Can a patrol robot work outdoors at night?
Many are built for it, with lighting, thermal or low-light cameras and weather-sealed bodies. Check the operating temperature range and ingress rating against your climate.
How does a patrol robot know where to go?
Most are taught a site map and patrol routes during set-up, then navigate with onboard sensors. Routes and schedules can typically be changed from the operator's software.
Sources and further reading
- "Would I Feel More Secure With a Robot?": Understanding Perceptions of Security Robots in Public Spaces — University of Michigan Deep Blue (Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction).
Interview study of how people see autonomous security robots in public spaces and what they expect from them. - How Standards Are Making Robots Safe for Public and Commercial Spaces — UL Standards & Engagement.
Explains UL 3300, the safety standard for service robots that work around people in commercial and public settings. - IEC 60529:1989 Degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code) — International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
The standard behind IP ratings, which grade how well an enclosure keeps out dust and water.
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