Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, August 20, 2025

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is hosting a series of public outreach events to provide information and gather feedback about a planned pilot program of a security robot in the Town Square Parking Garage in Silver Spring.

The five-foot-tall security robot, named "Parker," is equipped with 360-degree security cameras and can navigate the garage’s parking decks using lidar, a sensor that detects objects in its path.

MCDOT is planning a one-year pilot to bolster the growing security effort that has been adding cameras to County parking garages over the last three years. MCDOT's pilot program will help measure if the robot’s presence deters crime.

Located at 786 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring, the Town Square Garage is one of the County’s largest and most frequented, with seven levels, 1,280 parking spaces and more than 9,000 customers monthly.

“We know that crime and vandalism are concerns for the public in our parking garages, and the addition of Parker will provide extra security presence,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “The security robot can also be used to summon help during an emergency.”

In the event of an emergency, the robot has lights and sirens that can be activated. A call button connecting to security is located on top of the robot.

The security robot can detect the presence of people and read license plates; however, it does not have facial recognition capabilities or record audio. There are no plans to use Parker for parking enforcement.

Security footage from Parker is the property of the County and will be stored for 30 days. The security footage will be shared with the police for investigative purposes only.

“We will present the feedback we receive to the County Council after completing public outreach this fall and what we hear from the community will guide the future of the pilot,” said Conklin.

A series of outreach events with Amharic and Spanish interpreters is planned to provide information, answer questions and gather feedback via electronic and paper surveys. A life-size cut-out of the robot will be available to give the public a sense of its size.

The following public outreach events are planned in Silver Spring:

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 8–10 a.m. and 3–5 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.

Sunday, Aug. 31, noon–5 p.m. Ethiopian Day Festival, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring.

Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Silver Spring End of Summer Festival, Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring.

Thursday, Sept. 18, 5-7 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.

Saturday, Sept. 27, noon–4 p.m. Parking Store, 801 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.

For information on MCDOT programs and services visit montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdot, follow @MCDOTNow on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and X and subscribe to MCDOT’s “Go Montgomery!” newsletter.

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Release ID: 25-133
Media Contact: Emily DeTitta, 240-372-2282