My company hosted The Great Conversation in Security in March and quickly followed up with a trip to Las Vegas for ISC West 2017.

The abilities of robots have grown significantly in recent years. In some areas of the world, they are beginning to replace human workers at an increasing rate.

Researchers at Cornell University are developing a system to enable teams of robots to share information as they move around and, if necessary, get help in interpreting what they see.

Consolidation, technology, training and partnerships are among the watchwords for security officer firms and their clients as the calendar turns toward 2017.

These 10 new security and risk management products are to be showcased at this year’s ASIS International 62nd Annual Seminar & Exhibits in Orlando, Florida.

 Late September, MIT researchers unveiled an oval-shaped submersible robot at the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems. The football-sized machine can perform ultrasound scans underwater, looking for cracks in nuclear reactors’ water tanks. The robot could also inspect ships for false hulls and propeller shafts that smugglers use to hide contraband.  

According to a study from the National Center for Credibility Assessment, programs using computer-generated interviews can be less “time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly to the Federal Government,” and that interview subjects are more likely to admit certain things to a robot, such as alcohol use and mental health.

Thirty “PackBots” will be provided by Massachusetts-based iRobot to the Brazilian government in a $7.2 million deal for the FIFA World Cup. According to Robohub, it is expected that the 12 host cities will share the high-tech machines to help boost security and examine any suspicious packages. The PackBot has been used previously in military zones, where soldiers use them to cross minefields and clear buildings.