 "Meet RT-G, 'spherical' robot that is helping China to tackle crime")
Rolling on the floor, patrolling.
China’s latest crime-fighting innovation is one that is making heads turn and looks like a character from a sci-fi novel—enter, RT-G, an AI-powered spherical police robot that not only stops crime but somehow detects it too.
When a Shenzhen-based robotics company unveiled the RT-G in a “technological breakthrough” the other month, people believed it to be a bizarre marketing stunt. Cut to the present, these bot beasts have actually been spotted on the streets of China alongside human cops.
Footage shows one of the autonomous spherical robots rolling around a city, carefully patrolling for any potential crime that could occur.
But how does RT-G catch criminals? Here’s a closer look.
How does China’s spherical police robot work?
Developed by Chinese tech firm Logon Technology, these rolling police bots are engineered to assist law enforcement in high-risk situations and, eventually, replace human officers in the line of fire.
According to The Sun, the spherical robot can operate both on land and water, besides being able to withstand rough terrains and mud with ease.
“Narrow terrain, extreme weather, dangerous work environments, violent conflicts and wars, all pose huge threats to human life and activities. Thus an amphibious, intelligent robot emerged to replace humans in these style environments. This is the Rotun spherical robot,” the company’s video announced.
Chinese spherical police robot, designed to move both on land and in water and pursue criminals. It even has a net "gun" 🤣
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) December 6, 2024
Handcuffing may be a problem though 🤣pic.twitter.com/Qbm89PBx5M
The AI-powered robocops are capable of withstanding impact damage of up to four tonnes, thwarting attempts by criminals to disable or destroy them.
An Instagram page wrote, posting a video of RT-G, “China’s just rolled out a spherical police robot that can chase down criminals, shoot nets, and even handle falls from heights! It moves at speeds up to 35 km/h — talk about a futuristic crime fighter!”
Recently spotted rolling through Hangzhou, a bustling city with a population nearing 12 million, the robotic guardian was accompanied by four human officers.
China has revealed a spherical police robot designed to autonomously pursue and immobilize criminals by shooting nets and rolling at speeds of up to 35 km/h. pic.twitter.com/nkwRkEpCoA
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) December 8, 2024
Reportedly, the AI-based balls can also detect “disturbances or abnormalities around them.” They will also use facial recognition to detect criminals known to police and thus help law enforcement officials to identify them faster.
Further, it can alert law enforcement or autonomously immobilise suspects using a built-in net gun. It is also equipped with other non-lethal gear including tear gas sprayers, some grenades, loudspeakers and sound-wave dispersal devices, ensuring adaptability in various scenarios.
Currently, the production costs range for these AI-powered robocops varies from 300,000 to 400,000 yuan (approximately $41,300 to $55,000), Wang You, an associate professor at Zhejiang University who led the robot’s research team, told the Chinese state-run Global Times.
Netizens react
While some were mesmerised by the futuristic device, others seemed less than impressed.
Social media platforms buzzed with reactions to the viral videos showcasing the futuristic tech. Some users made it clear they weren’t entirely convinced by its capabilities.
“What is that gonna do? It nearly cannot keep the balance at snail’s pace,” wrote one Instagram user.
Another chimed in, “I once tried to join the police. I had to jump over a lot of hurdles during the physical and climb things."
A third sceptic remarked, “What is it going to do? Roll over the criminal???"
China also has a robo-dog
This spherical robocop isn’t China’s first foray into robotic crime-fighting tech. The country has been rolling out innovative devices to assist law enforcement.
Before the RT-G, there was the robo-dog, a quadruped robot equipped with wheels that enabled it to speed through rugged terrain and perform stunts.
According to The Sun, Deep Robotics—a Chinese tech firm specialising in humanoid robots—describes the robo-dog as “unstoppable” even in “extreme weather.”
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army soldier can be seen walking alongside what appears to be an armed robot dog pic.twitter.com/jYCN3gI4p8
— Quandale (@qdingleanon) May 23, 2024
The wheels allow it to race down steep slopes and hop over obstacles effortlessly. Additionally, the wheels can lock, enabling the robot to walk traditionally, climb stairs, and execute acrobatic movements.
While the police use of so-called police robots – machines capable of using force without human intervention – is a controversial topic in the West, authoritarian China appears less hesitant to integrate such technology into law enforcement.
With input from agencies
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