Autonomous Security vehicles and the world
Analysis of Spatial Constraints for Surveillance drones and autonomous vehicles; meditations on their occupation of space
RANGE OF WORK
Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility, Speculative Design, Service Design
ABOUT
Autonomous vehicles will soon be integrated into our lives, cities, and likely, our criminal justice system. How can humans safely coexist with autonomous drones flying through buildings? How will delivery robots exist on the street next to cars and pedestrians? What security, privacy, and social safety issues will arise with the use of autonomous vehicles? This report on speculative and future designs for robotic mobility in cities is an attempt to pose these questions, offer possible solutions, and start conversations.
It was produced in conjunction with professors at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard, and prepared for publication by the school publication team. You can find the PDF of my report here.
Introduction
In the last two decades, the long-awaited promise of autonomous consumer robotic systems has transitioned to the stuff of reality. Rapidly expanding computational power, combined with reduced price (as per Moore’s law), has resulted in a new wave of aerial drones and terrestrial robots built for inclusion into our homes, cities, and social fabric. The consumer robotics market is still relatively young and rapidly expanding, which brings both exciting new opportunities and growing pains. For many who might benefit from the integration of robotic systems into businesses, homes, and society, the role that robots will play is still relatively uncertain. It is clear, however, that whatever path these technologies eventually take, autonomous robots are here to stay.
Hypothesis
EQUATION
10 ft ceilings + additional 2.5ft for drone clearance in buildings + 0.3 feet for material thicknesses and wiring = 12.8 ft main hallway ceiling heights to allow for separate surveillance drone corridors.
FUNCTIONAL CHANGES
• The simplest way of integrating drone pathways into a building is to assume all drones are autonomously guided, and access the building from rooftop through vertical shafts adjacent to elevator shafts. From there, it is crucial that surveillance drones access major hallways on each floor of the building.
• To limit human-drone interaction and reduce chance of injury, drones should be separated by translucent overhead ductwork running throughout main corridors.
• Because surveillance drones will be employed, there may be no need for security personnel. Building inhabitants may feel a sense of security because they are accompanied by security drones.
• Integrated autonomous vehicle security networks will reduce crime and will make buildings safer in the event of a fire or emergency.
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