Dublin's police robot is taking an early retirement after patrolling Rock Cress Parking Garage for less than a year.
The city ended its autonomous robot pilot program on May 12, said Dublin spokeswoman Robyn Gray.
Dublin returned the DubBot robot to its manufacturer, Knightscope.
DubBot began its patrol on July 25, 2025. The person-sized, camera-covered robot that looked like it rolled right out of a sci-fi movie did not identify any criminal incidents, issue any tickets or help with any arrests in its nearly 10 months on the job.
"After evaluating the technology, the city determined it did not fully meet our operational needs and we elected to end the agreement," Gray said.
Dublin initially paid for a second robot that was never deployed, which would have patrolled Riverside Crossing Park.
The price for both robots was $128,080 for one year, but the city expects a reimbursement of $60,532 from Knightscope, leaving the ultimate cost of the autonomous robot pilot at $67,548.
Gray said the program was part of Dublin's commitment to innovation in the public sector.
"The city is always looking for ways to be on the forefront of technology, especially when it can help support residents, enhance safety and improve the way services are delivered," Gray said. "The robot pilot was one example of exploring emerging tools to see whether they could add value in a real-world public setting."
