Knightscope Announces Automated Gunshot Detection

Knightscope has added automated gun detection to its mobile security robots. The new feature was implemented in direct response to requests from schools, corporations, airports, hotels, and municipalities considering purchasing gunshot detection systems as part of their active threat and emergency response plans, it said.

Knightscope’s automated gunshot detection system will be integrated onto new K1 Blue Light Towers or as an upgrade to the over 7,000 devices already deployed across the country.

Gunshot detection can be used as a stand-alone device or in concert with its K5 Outdoor and K3 Indoor Autonomous Security Robots (ASRs). It can also operate using optional solar power or light pole kits to make the installation of the system even more flexible and user-friendly.

The company cited three industry-recognized reasons for adding the feature:

• Mitigates active-shooter events to help save lives
• Reduces false alarms that could lead to threat fatigue, causing those affected to respond inappropriately in times of true danger
• Complements other security solutions to better protect the places people live, work, study, and visit.

How does it work?

The system is completely automated with precision localization that operates indoors and outdoors and is capable of locating shots in both the horizontal and vertical planes (location and elevation). Notifications are delivered in less than 2 seconds (assuming sufficient cellular service) using a multi-sensor system that is more reliable and minimizes false alarms.

Knightscope believes that an on-site, hyper-focused, real-time system is significantly more effective than attempting a city-wide approach over vast areas. Sales are targeted to begin during Q4 2023.

“We are excited to begin the upgrade of our Nation’s public safety infrastructure by deploying technology that can give law enforcement officers and security professionals new capabilities with ‘eyes, ears, and voice’ on the ground driven by artificial intelligence 24/7/365,” said William Santana Li, chairman and chief executive officer, Knightscope, Inc.

“This is just the beginning of our long-term march to deploy over 1 million machines-in-network having the capabilities to see, feel, hear, smell and speak," he said.

Municipalities are investing in new technologies to address gun violence, Knightscope noted

The company cited a report from the Smart Policing Initiative, a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Justice Assistance and 40 local police agencies, which found that these systems may be used to facilitate the immediate response and investigation of gunfire as well as potentially identifying high-risk locations to receive targeted preventative interventions to improve public safety more proactively.

Increased attention on gunshot-related crimes, especially on school grounds, has prompted changes in security measures, which is expected to fuel demand for gunshot detection systems. Smart Cities projects have also integrated gunshot detection into future planning assumptions to increase safety. Analysts predict market value to reach $646 million by 2031, registering a CAGR of 9.1% from 2022 to 2031 in North America.