Security robots are at Philly Lowe’s stores in the US. Some have already nicknamed them 'snitchBOTs'

Knightscope's K5 autonomous outdoor security robot was first introduced in 2015. Last month, Lowe's stores in Philadelphia began testing the K5 units as part of a pilot project. — The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

PHILADELPHIA: Customers at Lowe’s stores across Philadelphia have encountered an unexpected sight in the parking lots over the last month — a 5-foot-tall, egg-shaped security robot that makes a cosmic whirring sound as it glides across the pavement.

What seems to have surprised Philadelphians most about these new robots, aside from their very existence, is that they’ve managed to survive for several weeks in this city. Given Philly’s sordid history with robots (particularly, hitchBOT), many on social media predicted they wouldn’t make it past a few days.