AI Patrol Robots Now Available on Public Procurement Platform

Artificial intelligence (AI) patrol robots will now be available as a rental service through Nara-jangteo, the government's public procurement system. This initiative expands procurement options, enabling public institutions to acquire patrol (security) robots via rental agreements, complementing direct purchase methods. The Public Procurement Service announced on the 17th that it has published a bid for catalog contracts to supply these AI-based patrol (security) robot rental services.

AI-based patrol (security) robots are designed to autonomously navigate predetermined areas, detecting abnormal situations such as fires, safety accidents, and crimes, and responding with alerts and notifications. This rental service is expected to alleviate the financial burden on public institutions by reducing upfront purchase costs and help overcome technical and operational challenges.

The Public Procurement Service has steadily expanded rental contracts for various robot services in the past, including delivery robots and companion robots. Kang Sung-min, Deputy Administrator of the Public Procurement Service, stated that the agency will actively support the entry of new technology services into public procurement to help public institutions adapt to changes in the industrial environment, such as declining birth rates, an aging population, and the spread of physical AI.