In a move that will rock the job security of night watchmen everywhere, the world’s first commercially available security robot is set for mass production in the US.

Designed by Denver-based Gamma 2 Robotics, the robot will now be manufactured entirely in the States, with a process that can be scaled up to full mass production as demand grows.

The robot, which is known as the Vigilant MCP (mobile camera platform), features a digital camera and an array of sensors to detect the presence of unauthorised intruders, and will activate the alarm and send out an alert should it find someone where they shouldn’t be.

It is being pushed as a solution to night security in particular, with proposed industries including retail, warehouses, data centres and convention centres.

For professional security workers, the robot could pose a major threat to employment, as it offers key improvements for employers over flesh and blood workers.

“Robots never quit, and they don’t call in sick. They are cost-effective at an average of $4 an hour fixed cost,” explained Gamma 2 Robotics in a company video.

The cost savings can go further – unlike human workers, with the Vigilant MCP employers won’t have to shell out for background checks or drug screening, and won’t even need to leave the lights on as the robot will work happily in the dark.

It can also be equipped with additional sensors to provide other industry-specific benefits. For data centres, for example, the robot can create a heat map to indicate the effectiveness of cooling systems – a valuable service that could be used to make significant savings on energy bills.

The robot, which bears a striking resemblance to an ordering machine outside a drive-thru restaurant, can also be dressed up in the relevant company colours, enabling the automated worker to adhere to company clothing regulations.

Vigilant MCP has already been used for night security at a number of events, including the Denver Maker Faire, and with the interest of the security industry already captured, this number is only going to grow.

However, what will happen to the night security workers who inevitably lose work to the robot is unclear. The robot will never have problems with tiredness or lack of focus, making it near impossible to compete with as a regular human worker.

This is just one example of how developments in robotics are jeopardising human jobs, particularly in fields which are either low-skilled or attention-sapping. The numbers affected at present appear small, although no comprehensive data is available on this at present, but over time job loss to robots could become a major economic concern.

Images courtesy of Gamma 2 Robotics.