Police robots will protect China from criminals

There’s a new addition to the police force in Handan, China: three police robots have joined the service. The robots were developed specifically for law enforcement agencies.

The Handan law enforcement agency has recently received three robots. The devices are highly autonomous, so they can hardly be considered purely recreational. The machines will be used to solve a wide range of issues. 

The first robot will be tasked with street patrol. If it identifies a conflict, it can engage with both parties to break it up. The device is not equipped with a weapon, but it has a camera that can record any illegal activity. The machine has its own navigation system, as well as licence plate identification features and covert surveillance.

The second robot specializes in road safety. It is also unarmed, but if necessary it is capable of following and even ramming a criminal’s vehicle. The robot cannot make this decision on its own: it needs to receive a command from an officer. 

The third robot is the smallest of the group. It can be used to assist officers at a crime scene. For example, the robot can patrol a small territory, chase wrongdoers away from the scene, pursue suspects and even communicate with other people. The robot can also work with a remote operator.