The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is looking for your feedback regarding a security robot program is testing in Silver Spring.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Montgomery County Department of Transportation is planning a security robot pilot program for a Silver Spring parking garage ─ and they want to know what you think.
The 5-foot-tall security robot would patrol the Town Square Parking Garage. The department says the robot, named “Parker,” is equipped with security cameras.
The department wants to use the robot over the course of one year in order to bolster its security efforts.
The robot does not have facial recognition technology and it does not record audio, officials say.
It can detect the presence of people and read license plates.
If an emergency demands it, the robot can call for help from the authorities.
Security footage recorded by the robot will only be used to assist in police investigations.
County officials will hold a series of outreach events to gather public response. Amharic and Spanish interpreters will be available at such events:
- Wednesday, Aug. 20, 8 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.
- Sunday, Aug. 31, noon to 5 p.m. Ethiopian Day Festival, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza,1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring.
- Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Silver Spring End of Summer Festival, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring.
- Thursday, Sept. 18, 5 to 7 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.
- Saturday, Sept. 27, noon to 4 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.