Security robot and patrol robot: indoor, outdoor, sensors and prices

01What is a security robot?

A security robot, or patrol robot, is a mobile robot that runs surveillance rounds on its own. It follows a route, films and records, detects people, vehicles or heat sources, and sends alerts and live video to a control room or a mobile app. It then returns to its dock to recharge.

It complements security guards; it does not replace them. The robot covers repetitive rounds, night shifts and large areas. Guards keep the decisions: alarm verification, intervention, contact with people, calling emergency services. A typical setup pairs one or more robots with an operator who watches several sites from a remote monitoring centre.

Published runtimes range from 2.5 to 3 hours for Knightscope K5 to 10 hours for Robotnik RB-WATCHER XL. Most manufacturers in the catalogue announce 8 hours, which covers a full night shift with a recharge.

02Indoor, outdoor and legged patrol robots

• Indoor robots: offices, shopping centres, hospitals, data centres, warehouses. They move on flat floors and connect to the building systems. Cobalt Robot (155 cm, 68 kg) integrates with Genetec, LenelS2 OnGuard and C·CURE 9000 access control and calls Otis, KONE, TK Elevator or Schindler lifts to change floors. Gosuncn M2 (130 cm, 70 kg) climbs 5° slopes and 20 mm obstacles, with an IPX3 rating.
• Outdoor robots: industrial sites, logistics yards, car parks, solar farms, perimeters. They need weather protection, larger wheels and satellite positioning. Enova PGuard (250 kg) reaches 12 km/h, crosses 20 cm obstacles and 25° slopes, and runs from -20 to +50 °C. SMP Argus S5.3 is rated IP65 and covers up to 24 km per charge. Gosuncn X3 (IP55, 170 kg) has four-wheel independent drive and steering with independent suspension.
• Compact all-weather robots: Ascento Guard weighs 30 kg and is rated for rain, snow and wind. Robotnik RB-WATCHER (IP54) and RB-WATCHER XL (IP55) carry GPS, a 3D LiDAR and a bi-spectral PTZ camera.
• Legged robots (quadrupeds): they climb stairs and cross rough ground where wheels stop. They are used for inspection rounds and patrols on industrial sites. DEEP Robotics X30 is rated IP67, runs from -20 to 55 °C and covers at least 10 km. DEEP Robotics LYNX M20 is rated IP66, carries two 96-line LiDARs and a 15 kg payload. Boston Dynamics Spot carries 14 kg and climbs 300 mm steps. Prices are below; see also the robot dog buying guide.

Read the figures that describe the ground: maximum slope (5° for Gosuncn M2, 15° for Gosuncn F2 and X3, 25° for Enova PGuard), maximum obstacle (20 mm to 20 cm) and wading depth (10 cm for Gosuncn F2 and X3). A robot that stops at a kerb or a ramp leaves a gap in the round.

03Cameras, thermal imaging, LiDAR and runtime

• Panoramic view: 4 HD cameras covering 360° on Enova PGuard, 4 HD wide-angle cameras with 360° Ultra HD recording on Knightscope K5, 6 panoramic cameras on SMP Argus S5.3, 4 × 2 MP panoramic cameras on Gosuncn X3.
• Zoom camera: a PTZ or zoom camera reads details at distance. Optical zoom reaches 20× on Gosuncn F2, 25× on Gosuncn M2, 30× on Gosuncn X3 and SMP Argus S5.3, and 32× on Enova PGuard.
• Thermal imaging: it detects people and hot spots at night and through smoke. It is standard on Ascento Guard, Cobalt Robot, Enova PGuard, Knightscope K5, Gosuncn M2 (256 × 192) and SMP Argus S5.3, and optional on Gosuncn F2 (256 × 192) and X3 (384 × 288). Robotnik uses a bi-spectral PTZ camera.
• Detection range: SMP Argus S5.3 detects people up to 150 m at night with thermal imaging and 100 m by day, and faces from 50 m. Enova PGuard announces observation up to 500 m.
• Navigation: 32-line LiDAR on Gosuncn F2, M2 and X3; 6 LiDARs and 13 sonars on Knightscope K5; 3D LiDAR, RGBD camera and GPS on Robotnik RB-WATCHER.
• Audio: Knightscope K5 has 4 microphones; Robotnik RB-WATCHER carries an IP65 microphone and speakers, so an operator can talk to a person on site.
• Recharge: automatic wireless charging in 2 hours (10 to 80 %) on Gosuncn robots, 20 to 30 minutes on average for Knightscope K5, 2 hours for Enova PGuard, a charging station included with Robotnik RB-WATCHER.

Connectivity decides how video reaches the control room: 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi on most models, private LTE on Knightscope K5, Wi-Fi mesh or private 4G on Enova PGuard. SMP Argus S5.3 streams in ONVIF / RTSP, and Ascento Guard integrates with existing video management systems.

04Rounds, alarm verification and uses by site

• Scheduled rounds: the robot repeats the same route at set times, checks doors, gates and fences, and logs each pass with time-stamped images.
• Alarm verification: when an intrusion sensor triggers, the robot goes to the area and sends live video, so the operator can confirm or dismiss the alarm before dispatching a guard.
• Industrial and logistics sites: long perimeters, yards and car parks at night. Outdoor robots with 8 hours of runtime and thermal cameras fit here.
• Offices and shopping centres: indoor rounds outside opening hours, checks on emergency exits, badge reading. Cobalt Robot carries badge readers and environmental sensors.
• Energy and utilities: substations, solar farms, pipelines. Thermal cameras spot hot spots as well as intruders.
• Events and temporary sites: a robot adds a visible presence and recorded video during the night, alongside the guarding team.

The business case usually rests on hours. A robot that runs a night of rounds frees guards for verification and intervention, and keeps a complete video record of each round.

05Comparison of 12 security and patrol robots

A dash means the figure is not published in the catalogue. Thermal cameras on quadrupeds depend on the payload fitted. Gosuncn offers three formats: M2 for indoors, F2 and X3 for outdoors. Robotnik is the only security brand in the catalogue with public prices. The other manufacturers quote according to the site, the sensors and the service level.

06How to choose a security robot

1. Map the site: indoor, outdoor or both, surface, route length, number of floors, ground type, slopes and kerbs.
2. Define the mission: scheduled rounds, alarm verification, deterrence, thermal inspection, badge checks.
3. Check the ground figures: maximum slope, maximum obstacle, wading depth, protection rating (IPX3 indoors to IP65 outdoors in the table above).
4. Choose the sensors: panoramic view, optical zoom (20× to 32×), thermal camera, audio for talking to people on site.
5. Size runtime and recharge: from 2.5 hours to 10 hours, automatic docking, recharge time against the length of the shift.
6. Plan integration: video management system, access control, lifts, alarm system, remote monitoring centre. Check ONVIF / RTSP support.
7. Check network coverage: 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi on the whole route, or a private network.
8. Prepare compliance and organisation: GDPR, video surveillance rules, who watches the alerts and who intervenes.

Then test on site. A trial night on your own route shows dead zones, network gaps and false alarms better than any datasheet.

07GDPR, video surveillance and safety: points to check

A security robot films, records and sometimes listens. Before deployment, check these points with your data protection officer and your legal adviser:

• GDPR: purpose of the processing, legal basis, retention period of images, information of the people filmed (signs), access rights, record of processing activities and, where required, a data protection impact assessment.
• Video surveillance rules: filming the public highway or places open to the public is subject to specific national rules, which may require a prior authorisation. Filming employees at work is also regulated.
• Facial recognition and biometrics: these are strictly framed by the GDPR and by the EU AI Act. Detecting a face is not the same as identifying a person.
• Audio recording: check whether the microphones record or only stream, and inform the people concerned.
• Private security activity: in many countries, guarding and remote monitoring services are licensed activities. Check who operates the robot and who intervenes.
• Machine safety: a mobile robot moving near people needs a risk assessment and CE marking. Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027; see our Machinery Regulation 2027 guide.

This section lists points to check. It is not legal advice: the company that deploys the robot is responsible for the compliance of its processing and of its installation.

08Security robot prices: buy, rent or RaaS

A security robot costs from 44,990 € excl. VAT in the catalogue (Robotnik RB-WATCHER), and 49,990 € excl. VAT for the RB-WATCHER XL with 10 hours of runtime. Ascento, Cobalt, Enova, Gosuncn, Knightscope and SMP Robotics are priced on quote, according to the site and the services included.

Patrol quadrupeds have public prices: DEEP Robotics LYNX M20 from 42,290 € excl. VAT, Unitree B2 from 48,990 €, Unitree B2-W from 64,990 €, DEEP Robotics X30 from 94,990 € and DEEP Robotics X30 Pro from 146,990 € excl. VAT. Boston Dynamics Spot is on quote.

• Robotnik RB-WATCHER: from 44,990 € excl. VAT, or from 1,529 € excl. VAT per month over 36 months.
• Robotnik RB-WATCHER XL: from 49,990 € excl. VAT, or from 1,699 € excl. VAT per month over 36 months.
• DEEP Robotics LYNX M20: from 42,290 € excl. VAT, or from 1,439 € excl. VAT per month over 36 months.
• Unitree B2: from 48,990 € excl. VAT, or from 1,669 € excl. VAT per month over 36 months.
• DEEP Robotics X30: from 94,990 € excl. VAT, or from 3,229 € excl. VAT per month over 36 months.

The robot is only part of the budget. Plan the site survey, mapping, integration with your video and alarm systems, network coverage, training and the remote monitoring service.

Robot Distribution supplies security robots across Europe:

• Purchase at the catalogue price, with a written quote.
• Rental, to test a robot on your site before investing.
• Monthly RaaS over 36 months, from 1,529 € excl. VAT per month for Robotnik RB-WATCHER.
• Demo in the Tourcoing showroom, in northern France.
• Installation, European after-sales service and spare parts.
• Sourcing on request of brands and models that are not in the catalogue.

See rental and RaaS, book a visit to the showroom or request a quote.