Overview
- The city deployed the Knightscope K5, nicknamed DubBot, to patrol the Rock Cress Parking Garage in July 2025 as a pilot security tool.
- After an internal review in mid-May, Dublin concluded the device did not meet operational needs and returned the robot to Knightscope.
- During its deployment the robot did not generate any arrests, assist in investigations, issue tickets, or prompt officer responses.
- Dublin spent about $67,548 to put the unit into service and the department recorded total outlays of $128,080 while arranging a $60,533 reimbursement from Knightscope; a planned two-robot, two-year contract was never executed.
- The retirement follows similar pullbacks of K5 robots elsewhere, highlighting repeated technical and effectiveness problems that raise questions about the cost and readiness of autonomous security systems.