Robotic dogs are patrolling apartment complexes in Atlanta to provide proactive security and deter crime [1].
This shift toward automation comes as the security industry faces a severe labor crisis. The adoption of autonomous patrols allows property managers to maintain surveillance during a period of historic instability in the human workforce.
Undaunted, an Atlanta-based startup led by founder and CEO Bryan Dinner, is deploying the robots across downtown and West Midtown apartment complexes [1, 2]. The company provides these autonomous units as a solution to a persistent guard shortage and high employee turnover [1, 4].
Labor data indicates that security guard turnover reached 89% in 2026 [4]. The quit rate for these workers is nearly twice that of other employees [4]. These staffing gaps have created an opening for robotics companies to offer alternatives that are more reliable and less expensive.
Robotic dogs cost approximately 50% as much as traditional human security guards, Undaunted said [1]. The robots are designed to navigate complex environments and provide constant monitoring without the fatigue or turnover associated with human personnel.
Local deployments have already yielded results. On May 21, 2026, a robot dog captured an incident that helped identify suspects involved in car break-ins at an apartment complex [3, 5].
While Undaunted is leading these deployments in Atlanta, other firms such as Asylon are also utilizing robot dogs and drones to patrol large facilities [6]. The integration of these technologies represents a broader trend of replacing entry-level security roles with AI-driven hardware to ensure consistent coverage.
“Robotic dogs cost about half as much as traditional security guards.”
The deployment of autonomous security robots in residential areas marks a transition from human-centric patrolling to a hybrid surveillance model. By leveraging a significant cost advantage and solving for a volatile labor market, companies like Undaunted are normalizing the presence of robotics in public-facing urban spaces. This trend suggests that labor shortages in low-skill, high-turnover sectors will continue to accelerate the adoption of AI and robotics in the U.S.
