California Casino Recruits Security Robots

California Casino Recruits Security Robots

The West Coast resort has added two ‘bots to the force, with at least one more planned.

Pechanga Resort & Casino is leaping to the bleeding edge of autonomous security, becoming the first casino resort in the United States to deploy robots as part of their security detail.

The resort, located in Temecula, just north of the Pechanga Indian Reservation, sees security robots as a way to enhance the significant safety measures the casino already has, including thousands of cameras and a human security force of over 300 personnel.

Robert Krauss, Pechanga’s vice president for public safety, said robots are the next level, and that to keep team members and patrons safe, staying up to date with the latest technology is a must. The robots’ cameras are at eye level as well, versus peering down from overhead, changing the perspective.

“Humans pick up only so much and after a while, you might miss something,” Krauss said. “Robots don’t miss anything.”

Manufactured by Knightscope in the heart of Silicon Valley, the robots being employed by Pechanga are a tall, stationary machine and a slightly shorter wheeled robot that looks right out of Star Wars, resembling a certain blue-and-white droid. The bots are programmed to continuously capture and transmit video in a 360-degree arc, as well as using thermal imaging to detect possible problems like fires.

The smaller robot, nicknamed “Buddy,” is charged with patrolling the lobby of the casino, while “Rudy,” its stationary colleague, will stand guard outside the main valet entrance. Once the third automaton joins the force, a roving unit like “Buddy” but smaller, “Buddy” itself will be tasked with patrolling the parking garage, using its license plate recognition software to look for stolen vehicles or those wanted by police.

The robots have been leased from Knightscope for about $8 an hour, after Pechanga received a large bump to their security funding in the wake of the Las Vegas shooting in October, 2017.

Customers don’t appear to be put off by the upped security, Krauss said. People especially seem to like “Buddy.”

“People love him, they’re hugging him, high-fiving him,” Krauss said. “There are hundreds of selfies a day with him.”

About the Author

Jordan Lutke is an intern with 1105 Media.

Featured

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.