Knightscope

Scores by criterion

Each criterion is defined on our methodology page.

Who uses Knightscope and what it's for

Knightscope sells to chief security officers at companies, property owners, and public agencies. The K5 platform made up the majority of its mobile robot deployments in 2025.¹ The company now markets an Autonomous Security Force that combines robots, fixed sensors, AI software, and licensed security officers in one service.^5,2

Buyers compare Knightscope with traditional guard services and camera monitoring companies. Its argument is that robots provide constant visible patrol while officers handle judgment calls and response.⁵

Patrol robots and fixed devices

The K5 is an outdoor patrol robot for structured environments. Knightscope also sells the K1 Hemisphere, a stationary device for entry points, and the K1 Blue Light Tower, and it lists a newer K7 robot.⁵

The Bot Scout, an independent review site, reports that the K5 stands 5 feet 4 inches tall, tops out near 3 mph, patrols for 1 to 1.5 hours per charge, and recharges in about 30 minutes at a docking station it returns to on its own.⁷

A subscription with monitoring included

Knightscope calls its model Machine-as-a-Service. Subscriptions typically run 12 months and are billed annually, quarterly, or monthly.¹ Knightscope says the subscription covers the equipment, nationwide maintenance, 4G or 5G connectivity, and its cloud console, KSOC, where clients schedule patrols, review video, and get alerts. It says most service issues are fixed the same day, 90% of them remotely, and video is kept for 30 days by default.⁶

Growth through an acquisition

In February 2026 Knightscope bought Event Risk, an Indiana company, for total consideration of about $18.0 million, including $5.0 million in cash at closing, about $1.1 million of Event Risk debt that it assumed and paid off, 1,724,418 shares, and $4.0 million in deferred cash payments due from 2027 through 2028. Further payments tied to performance are possible.³ Preliminary revenue for the first nine months of 2026 was about $23.7 million, up 170% from a year earlier, and the company reported about $27 million in renewals, bookings, and client awards since May 2026.²

Competition

Knightscope competes with other companies selling robots as part of a security service. Cobalt AI works indoors, Asylon flies drones, and Ascento sells a legged outdoor patrol robot.

Source: Robotics Reviewed analysis of company product pages, filings, and announcements, October 2026.

Limits

Going concern doubt. Knightscope had an accumulated deficit of $227.0 million at the end of 2025 and says it will need significant additional funding.¹

The K5 needs a paved, load-bearing surface with no steps, cannot open doors or detain anyone, and weighs about 420 pounds, according to The Bot Scout.⁷

Knightscope's own pages do not list a price. The roughly $11 per hour figure comes from The Bot Scout, which attributes it to Knightscope.⁷ Supply chain constraints also slowed parts of the business in 2025.¹

What customers say

Where it helps

Where it falls short

Leadership

• 

  William Santana Li

  Chairman and chief executive officer

  Li has led Knightscope since April 2013. Before that he spent nine years at Ford Motor Company and founded Carbon Motors Corporation.⁴

  Read full profile

• Apoorv S. Dwivedi

  Executive vice president and chief financial officer

  Dwivedi was previously chief financial officer of Nxu, Inc., which he helped take public on Nasdaq in 2022.⁴

• Mercedes Soria

  Executive vice president, chief intelligence officer, and CISO

  Soria has been with Knightscope since April 2013 and previously led IT strategy at Carbon Motors Corporation.⁴

Sources