SIA New Member Profile: Robotic Assistance Devices

With recent growth in autonomous devices, the Security Industry Association (SIA) has seen an increase in member concerns over artificial intelligence and its capabilities to assist in guiding those devices. Enter Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD), a new SIA Member specializing in exactly that. RAD, based in Laguna Hills, California, is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence and robotic solutions for operational, security and monitoring needs. SIA caught up with Steve Reinharz, RAD President and CEO, to learn more. Visit the company’s website at http://roboticassistancedevices.com.

How did your company get its start? How did it get involved in the security industry?

It’s kind of interesting to think about, but in a way, RAD got its start more than 25 years ago when I was in college and authored a book on artificial intelligence (AI)—what it is, how it works and a guide for students learning about the subject. Throughout my career, I’ve been in the high-tech and security industries, leading a security integration firm and in various leadership roles for a few global security companies. The shift within the industry since we introduced the security robot has been toward a scenario where machines and humans can work together to achieve results and expand the safety and security of people and critical assets.

I’ve been following the emergence of AI and robotics over the years in search for a robotics platform that could deliver the technology that the security industry needs. Soon, I discovered SMP Robotics and developed a relationship with the company. RAD now serves as the master distributor of the SMP Robotics S5 Security Robot across North America. RAD provides sales support, financing, custom RAD security packages, and exclusive power solution, assembly and final testing of the robotic solutions for customers, as well as customization of the robot’s capabilities based on the unique needs of each customer. Through this relationship, RAD facilitates the robot rental program and supports ongoing technology management and maintenance.

Who are the prominent executives at your company? Who would be a key person to meet at an industry networking event?

Along with myself, my team is an important part of what makes our company a strong competitor in the market. Aziz Sekander, our Chief Technology Officer, brings more than 27 years of technology experience to the table. And Matt Klock, our Vice President of Sales, takes the lead on business development and the execution of the company’s sales goals, as well as the development and implementation of overall strategy.

What’s your company’s biggest challenge right now?

While more and more people are becoming open to it, there’s always a hesitation we see when discussing the use of robotics in roles that have traditionally been filled by human guards. However, our aim is to showcase the abilities of robotic guards to help augment human guards and elevate the deliverance of exceptional protection for facilities. We are of the belief that people are a premium resource for an organization, and shifting them into more strategic roles where their abilities can be more beneficial is better for the enterprise. This leaves the more dangerous, mundane jobs to the robots to handle—and it’s what they do best.

What trends does your company foresee for the security industry in the next year?

We will see more and more enterprise organizations look for ways to increase ROI in security investments and protect critical assets from harm using more AI-based technology than previously seen. This may mean implementing security guard robots in facilities but also can mean using artificial intelligence-based analytics to enhance situational awareness of a scene, provide valuable insight into emerging threats and integrate multiple technologies together to create comprehensive, cohesive solutions for these threats.

What does your organization receive from membership in SIA? How do you plan to be active in the association in the near future?

SIA offers us a chance to reach a wide audience through events and networking, as well as to obtain continued education that will keep us up-to-date on the latest trends and news coming from the industry. Additionally, we’re interested in the original research and publications available to us as members so we can stay abreast of the trends emerging in the industry and how they will affect our business moving forward. Being a member of SIA is a great way to bring awareness to the needs of technology manufacturers, while also taking into account the needs of end users who rely on our products to meet their security needs. We’d love to be a part of discussions on emerging technology and standards that are vital to members.

Will your company participate in an upcoming event with SIA such as ISC West, New Product Showcase or Government Summit? If so, what aspect of the event appeals most to your company?

We plan to participate in ISC East 2017 and ISC West 2018, as these shows really help us reach a new audience and gauge interest levels for our products. The networking and education aspects of the shows really appeal to us as we continue to grow and develop our technology for customers.

The views and opinions expressed in guest posts and/or profiles are those of the authors or sources and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Security Industry Association (SIA).