Cousins? AnBot and a Dalek. (Photo : Xinhua)
You're tempted to call it Robocop but one look at AnBot, a robot now patrolling an airport in China, makes you want to laugh instead.
This tin can cop, however, is armed with a taser that zaps suspects with at least 50,000 volts of electricity, and that's no laughing matter. A far longer stare at the robot currently patrolling the glossy floors of the Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, however, will make you move your head from side-to-side since AnBot does resemble either a vibrator on wheels or a metallic "d*ck."
Fans of Dr. Who will swear AnBot resembles a Dalek, an alien race of mutants from the Dalek Empire out to conquer the Universe.
Despite these resemblances, the Chinese are absolutely fine with having AnBot in their selfies.
AnBot stands 1.4 meters tall, weighs 75 kg and can push its portly frame forwards to a speed of 18 km/h. Its weapon is a taser activated remotely by a policeman watching through the robot's eyes.
AnBot is the first robot in China programmed to carry out security checks. It patrols the departure hall of terminal three at the Shenzhen airport in southern China 24/7. Its makers also claim AnBot can be used to deter terrorist attacks.
They also said using AnBot can relieve pressure on airport police during the airport's busy periods.
AnBot is also helpful like Casper the Friendly Ghost. The robot provides flight information to anyone interested.
Its eyes are four high-definition digital cameras that can use mobile face recognition to weed out suspect. The Images the robot sees are transmitted for analysis to security personnel manning computers.
AnBot has four policing duties: independent patrol, face recognition, intelligent service and emergency response. It was developed by Shenzhen Public Security Bureau, the National University of Defense Technology and a Chinese technology company.
