ATLANTA, Georgia (Atlanta News First) – Residents of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward have noticed a new security guard patrolling the streets … and the fact that he’s not human at all.

“Spunky,” said Brenda, a resident of Station 464 Apartments. “His name is Spunky.”

Spunky patrols the sidewalks in front of Station 464 & 496 Apartments on Boulevard NE, a busy street where crime has increased over the past six months.

“Yes, that’s necessary,” said Brenda. “That’s really necessary.”

Spunky is actually a K-5 robot developed by Knightscope.

“I think it’s great that they came up with Spunky,” said Knightscope Executive Vice President Stacy Stephens when she heard the name. “He’s our fifth generation.”

Spunky is listed on the depth scale weighing over 180 kg and standing at 1.68 m tall. He behaves like a human and has a battery life of 2.5 hours.

“We humans have five senses that we use to navigate our daily lives,” said Stephens. “The robot happens to have five sensors that help it navigate its life.”

These include navigation and anomaly detection sensors that allow the system to record the environment, notify police of problems, and even issue basic commands.

“Yes, it will engage people and interact with them,” Stephens said. “But it’s not like Siri or Alexa, where you sit there and have a conversation with them.”

And it doesn’t keep the capsule bay doors closed. (Sorry, Hal.)

Spunky has only been on patrol for a month, but the reviews are positive.

“Well, I would give it a 10 out of 10,” Brenda said. “It’s 100% safer.”

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