Security robot

Good Samaritan Hospital gets a little help from AI

It’s not actually a robot in the sense that it can move of its own accord. But this security trailer in the parking lot behind Green Gables Guest House at Northwest 22nd and Northrup was exercising too many of its powers on its first days on the job. It was blinking its blue night and verbally warning suspected trespassers to leave the area, which proved annoying to nearby residents, dog walkers and others who want to sleep through the night.

So Matt Schulz, manager of safety and security at Good Sam, dialed back the features of the “live view technology” trailer, one of three on a 30-day trial on hospital grounds beginning Feb. 13. No more blinking light. No audio warnings. The device just alerts live security personnel, who quickly check out the scene. It also makes a video recording.

Since reining in the LVT trailer, Schulz said he has received no more complaints from neighbors, “and they all have my phone number.” A group of people who used to hang out in the area has left. Instead of about half-a-dozen security “interactions” per day, there have been none in about three weeks.

“After the bugs were worked out, I’m impressed with the results,” he said.