Bay Area shopping center's security robot hits, injures child

A shopping center has docked its futuristic security robots after one of the guards ran into and hurt a little boy.|
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

PALO ALTO - A San Francisco Bay Area shopping center has temporarily docked its futuristic security robots after one of the mechanical guards reportedly ran into and hurt a toddler.

The San Jose Mercury News reports (http://bayareane.ws/29FUEra) that the 5-foot-tall, 300-pound robot collided with the 16-month-old child, knocking him face down on the ground. The robot then rolled over the boy's right foot, leaving swelling and a scrape on his leg. No one else was injured.

The Stanford Shopping Center introduced the gliding "K5" robots last year. The robot uses cameras and sensors to monitor and report suspicious activity while hopefully deterring crime with its watchful presence, the newspaper reported.

Speaking about the robots, a mall representative emphasized that the center prioritizes shoppers' safety. The robots are used at other facilities, including Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers.

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Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News, http://www.mercurynews.com

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