Dublin, Ohio, gave a robot cop a trial run inside a public parking garage.Less than a year later, the machine was off the job and headed back to its maker.DubBot, a Knightscope security robot used by the Dublin Police Department, was meant to help deter crime, support emergency response and give the city another way to monitor a busy public space.
However, its patrols led to zero arrests, tickets or criminal cases.Now the failed pilot raises a bigger question nationwide.Should local leaders have to prove these machines work before putting them on patrol?AI TO MONITOR NYC SUBWAY SAFETY AS CRIME CONCERNS RISEDublin’s robot cop pilot ended after its patrols led to zero arrests, tickets or criminal cases.
(Knightscope)Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy ReportDubBot began patrolling the Rock Cress Parking Garage in July 2025.The robot was one of Knightscope's K5 Autonomous Security Robots, the tall white security machines built to move through public spaces and act as an extra set of eyes.Dublin retired DubBot on May 12 after deciding the pilot no longer fit the city's operational needs.
The robot has since gone back to Knightscope.The city's public safety page now says the autonomous safety robot pilot has ended.It also notes that Dublin added other security measures at the Rock Cress garage, including entrance and exit gate arms and mirrors.DubBot was designed to support police operations, deter crime and give people another way to reach emergency help.
The robot had 360-degree video cameras, two-way emergency communication and an emergency call button that could connect people with dispatchers.In theory, that sounds useful.A robot moving through a parking garage could make people feel watched over.
It could also give police a live look at an area without assigning an officer there full time.WHEELED, RUGGED ROBOT DOG BUILT FOR EXTREME INDUSTRIAL MISSIONSBut let's be real here.A camera on wheels still has to solve a real problem.
Parking garages have awkward corners, ...