AnBot is a riot-control robot just unveiled at China’s Chongqing Hi-Tech Fair. The security robot has been called the country’s first “intelligent security guard” – equipped with an SOS button, autonomous navigation, on-board cameras, and even a riot-control tool that enables it to electrocute noncompliant people.
(China security and service robot)
The five-foot, 170-pound robot was built by China’s National Defense University — and it was built to last. AnBot can work continuously for eight hours on a single charge. All the while, on-board sensors –which mimic the human brain, eyes, and ears, according the China’s state run newspaper, The People’s Daily– allow for intelligent video analysis and autonomous movement.
A top speed of 11 MPH means AnBot can momentarily keep up with most joggers, though the machine’s standard patrol speed is about 0.6 MPH. If people feel threatened within AnBot’s patrol area, they can call for help or notify police by pressing an SOS button on the robot’s body.
AnBot can also escalate it’s security measures and zap people if events get out of hand.
AnBot is a pretty good stand-in for this Security Guard Robot from the 1985 movie Runaway, by Michael Crichton. Watch out - it might zap you.
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'What strange sensitivity! What an amazing development of science was manifested in every move and act and word of this Robot!' - Ray Cummings, 1931.
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