Crime-fighting robot hits, rolls over child at Silicon Valley mall

A security company has apologized for a "freakish accident" after its crime-fighting robot hit a 16-month-old boy on the head and ran over him at a shopping mall in Palo Alto. Knightscope Inc. said attempts to reach the family haven't been successful, but the company invited them to its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., to prevent similar incidents from happening. "Our first thoughts are for the family, and we are thankful that there were no serious injuries," said William Santana Li, the company's chairman and chief executive officer. "Our primary mission is to serve the public's overall safety, and we take any circumstances that would compromise that mission very seriously." The company said the child ran toward the robot, which veered to avoid him as it was patrolling, and the toddler then ran backward and directly into the robot.