The City of Salem will pilot the Daxbot security robot at Pringle Parkade starting February 2. The two-month trial will evaluate its effectiveness before considering whether to continue and expand to other parking garages. Patrol hours for the Daxbot will be from 4 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Funding for the patrols and security vendor response is being provided through the City’s Facilities budget.

Daxbot, manufactured in Oregon, is monitored live from Philomath by trained personnel. It is already in use at several Salem locations, including Salem Center Mall and the 45th Parallel Building.

Equipped with video capabilities, Daxbot provides mobile patrols. When it detects a person, live monitoring begins. Staff assess activity and respond as needed, contacting security or emergency services if required. Otherwise, the robot continues its patrol.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do we think this is a good option?

Why not just more cameras?

• Cameras are not a deterrent to inappropriate behavior. They can assist with a response to inappropriate or criminal behavior, but the cameras and video in a Daxbot, are better. The Daxbot can be closer to the activity and can capture better angles.  Installing recorded camera systems is estimated to be about $187,000.  Camera systems would be useful to record inappropriate behavior but, would not be monitored routinely without additional investment in staffing.

Why not another security person? What is the expected response time in the event of a crime or emergency?

• The City employs security guards. The Daxbot is a supplement and a pilot project to see if it improves security.
• Daxbot is live monitored out of Philomath and can call 911 in an emergency situation or human security in a non-emergency situation. That allows human security to cover multiple parking garages and a dedicated Daxbot that can communicate issues in real-time.
• Daxbot will patrol the garage, and if it identifies a person, live monitoring is activated. The monitor will determine if the person is engaged in acceptable or unacceptable behavior. If it's a person walking, getting into their car, etc., the Daxbot will move on. If a person appears to be engaged in vandalism, partying, theft, or some other inappropriate activity, they will monitor and, depending on the activity, contact human security, which will redeploy from their patrol to where the activity is occurring, or directly contact 911. If someone appears to be injured or if a crime is in progress, 911 will be contacted, and the timeline will be the typical 911 response.

What happens if someone tries to steal or damage the Daxbot?

• Daxbots are rented from the company. If someone steals or damages the Daxbot, the company can track the location of the Daxbot, and they will repair or replace the Daxbot at no extra cost to the user.

What is the cost?

• The cost is $12.00 per hour for daily 15-hour patrols.