• About Us
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Privacy Policy

Data Center Frontier

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing.

  • Cloud
    • Hyperscale
  • Colo
    • Site Selection
    • Interconnection
  • Energy
    • Sustainability
  • Cooling
  • Technology
    • Internet of Things
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Edge Computing
    • Virtual Reality
    • Autonomous Cars
    • 5G Wireless
    • Satellites
  • Design
    • Servers
    • Storage
    • Network
  • Voices
  • Podcast
  • White Papers
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Companies
    • Data Center 101
  • Jobs
You are here: Home / Design / Switch Developing Security Robots to Patrol Edge Data Centers

Switch Developing Security Robots to Patrol Edge Data Centers

By Rich Miller - August 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

Switch Developing Security Robots to Patrol Edge Data Centers

A Switch Sentry security robot patrols the grounds of the Switch Las Vegas campus. (Photo: Switch)

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

There are always going to be humans involved in most data centers. But we are already seeing a disconnect between the enormous volume of servers and storage that must be managed, and the volume of skilled workers available to manage them.

Robotics will be part of the toolkit as the data center industry seeks to accelerate the automation of cloud. Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic also provides plenty of incentive for a broader use of robotics in data center management scenarios.

Technology infrastructure specialist Switch is on the forefront of this trend with the development of Switch Sentry security robots, which it plans to deploy at future edge data centers and will also sell to enterprise customers.

The robots are the latest high-tech innovation from Switch founder and CEO Rob Roy. The wheeled Switch Sentry units are nearly six feet tall, and designed to provide security for mission-critical facilities.

Switch says each Sentry is autonomous, with the ability to navigate on its own or be steered by a human. Each robot can be equipped with motion detection sensors, night vision and LIDAR (laser light detection sensors) and use 3D mapping to navigate its environment. On-board security features include facial recognition, temperature detection for fevers, and a bullet-resistant exterior for active shooter scenarios. Each unit is equipped with two-way voice and video communication, and can speak with either a male or female voice.

Switch first discussed its robotics offering in May. On the Switch earnings call last week, company officials said Switch Sentry will be a stand-alone product offered to enterprises.

“One of the concerns regarding edge deployment is physical security,” said Switch President Thomas Morton. “Deploying 24x7x365 human guards at edge locations isn’t economically or physically practical. To address this issue Rob Roy has developed a robotic AI human-in-the-loop security solution. In addition to the use at our own data center facilities, the excitement generated from these enterprise alpha test client partners has led to Switch offering the Switch Sentry Robot as a stand-alone security platform to the general market.”

The Next Frontier for Data Center Automation?

Switch is among the many players seeking to build edge computing infrastructure to bring data and compute power closer to end users, improving performance and enabling new latency-sensitive applications. The company’s edge data centers will extend the modular deployment approach employed in Switch’s Core and Prime data center campuses.

The Switch Sentry offering addresses a key challenge of edge computing – maintaining a distributed network of smaller computing facilities. Many edge computing companies are building unstaffed, highly-automated facilities. Robotics has emerged as one solution, and also may address concerns about workforce health during the COID-19 pandemic. In a contactless, socially distanced economy, robots will likely play a larger role.

The Switch Sentry is 70 inches high and 32 inches wide, and weighs about 250 pounds.

Free Resource from Data Center Frontier White Paper Library

ashburn
A Case Study: Aligned Ashburn Data Center Campus
When complete, the Aligned Ashburn 26-acre 180 MW master-planned data center campus will offer over 1 mm sq. ft. of space. Download a new case study that explores how Aligned constructed a 368,755 square-foot data center and built out the first fully-commissioned 12 MW of data center space, expandable to 60 MW, in less than six months.
We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

Get this PDF emailed to you.

“We initially envisioned robotics as being augment to the security systems for Switch Edge,” said Morton. ” But we had so many customers asking us, ‘hey, can we deploy this at our facilities or at our industrial locations?’ As enterprises seek solutions for mission critical data storage, we believe there is an industry-wide deficiency in the physical security environment supporting hybrid cloud storage offerings. They are absolutely available to those who don’t have colocation with us, and can be deployed in non-colocation environments just as effectively as colocation facilities.”

Robots Add Density Option for Edge Deployments

Switch isn’t he only edge player looking at robotics as a component of their offering. Edge colocation provider DartPoints has partnered with cooling specialist TMGcore, which recently launched a data center enclosure that uses robots to swap high-density servers immersed in coolant fluid. It’s one of the most ambitious efforts yet to create a “lights out” autonomous data center.

TMGcore has developed robotics technology that can swap servers, removing a failed server from the immersion bath and replacing it with a fresh server. The immersion approach allows tenants to deploy extremely dense workloads in a small space, consolidating 600 kW of compute into an enclosure with a footprint of just 160 square feet,

“Partnering with DartPoints allows us deliver a turnkey solution, quickly, in edge markets, allowing customers to easily interconnect and distribute their content and applications,” said John David Enright, CEO of TMGcore. “These markets are eager to gain access to locally generated and consumed content and applications in a way that is optimized while remaining cost efficient.

One of the most interesting applications of robotics has been in interconnection. In Frankfurt the interconnection specialist DE-CIX created a robotic system which it named Patchy McPatchbot, which has automated the provisioning and upgrading of networks.

Data Center Frontier recently examined the future of robotics in data center management in a feature story and accompanying podcast). Visit our Robotics Channel for additional coverage.

 

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Tagged With: DartPoints, Data Center Security, Robotics, Security, switch, TMGcore

Newsletters

Stay informed: Get our weekly updates!

Are you a new reader? Follow Data Center Frontier on Twitter or Facebook.

About Rich Miller

I write about the places where the Internet lives, telling the story of data centers and the people who build them. I founded Data Center Knowledge, the data center industry's leading news site. Now I'm exploring the future of cloud computing at Data Center Frontier.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Voices of the Industry

How to Simplify Distributed IT Management? Focus on the Tools to Improve Flexibility and Efficiency

How to Simplify Distributed IT Management? Focus on the Tools to Improve Flexibility and Efficiency Russell Senesac, Director of Data Center Strategy at Schneider Electric, explores how to address distributed IT management and the tools available today.

DCF Spotlight

The COVID-19 Crisis and the Data Center Industry

The COVID-19 pandemic presents strategic challenges for the data center and cloud computing sectors. Data Center Frontier provides a one-stop resource for the latest news and analysis for decision-makers navigating this complex new landscape.

An aerial view of major facilities in Data Center Alley in Ashburn, Virginia. (Image: Loudoun County)

Northern Virginia Data Center Market: The Focal Point for Cloud Growth

The Northern Virginia data center market is seeing a surge in supply and an even bigger surge in demand. Data Center Frontier explores trends, stats and future expectations for the No. 1 data center market in the country.

See More Spotlight Features

White Papers

colocation services

Integrating Colocation Services with Business Operations

A&M helps companies around the world address complex business issues to boost their productivity and performance. Get the new white paper from QTS that explores how Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) has benefited from integrating colocation services with business operations.   

Get this PDF emailed to you.

We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

Newsletters

Get the Latest News from Data Center Frontier

Job Listings

RSS Job Openings | Peter Kazella and Associates, Inc

  • MEP Commissioning Manager - Salt Lake City, UT
  • Data Center Facility Manager - Montreal, Quebec
  • Mechanical Construction Sales Rep - Ashburn, VA
  • Data Center Facility Manager - Richmond, VA
  • Data Center Facility Manager - San Jose, CA

See More Jobs

Data Center 101

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center Frontier, in partnership with Open Spectrum, brings our readers a series that provides an introductory guidebook to the ins and outs of the data center and colocation industry. Think power systems, cooling, solutions, data center contracts and more. The Data Center 101 Special Report series is directed to those new to the industry, or those of our readers who need to brush up on the basics.

  • Data Center Power
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Strategies for Data Center Location
  • Data Center Pricing Negotiating
  • Cloud Computing

See More Data center 101 Topics

About Us

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing. We write about what’s next for the Internet, and the innovations that will take us there. We tell the story of the digital economy through the data center facilities that power cloud computing and the people who build them. Read more ...
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Our Founder

Data Center Frontier is edited by Rich Miller, the data center industry’s most experienced journalist. For more than 15 years, Rich has profiled the key role played by data centers in the Internet revolution. Meet the DCF team.

TOPICS

  • 5G Wireless
  • Cloud
  • Colo
  • Connected Cars
  • Cooling
  • Cornerstone
  • Coronavirus
  • Design
  • Edge Computing
  • Energy
  • Executive Roundtable
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Hyperscale
  • Interconnection
  • Internet of Things
  • Machine Learning
  • Network
  • Podcast
  • Servers
  • Site Selection
  • Social Business
  • Special Reports
  • Storage
  • Sustainability
  • Videos
  • Virtual Reality
  • Voices of the Industry
  • White Paper

Copyright Data Center Frontier LLC © 2021