China unveils robo cop that electrically zaps 'potential threats'

Chinese inventors have developed a robot that zaps people with an electric charge if it determines them to be a potential threat.

The AnBot, touted as an intelligent security robot, would be deployed for riot control. The robot which stands five feet tall, weighs 175 pounds, and uses artificial intelligence coupled with cameras to analyse situations.

The robot can travel at speeds up to 11-miles per hour, and can work up to eight hours at a stretch.

According to China's People's Daily, the robot, developed by China's National Defence University, was designed to aid in the country's anti-terrorism and anti-riot measures.

The Anbot also features an SOS button to allow people to use the robot for calling the police.

The robot was debuted at the Chongqing Hi Tech Fair on 20 April. The Anbot also features capabilities of environmental monitoring and biochemical detection, according to the fair's web page.

Thanks to the sensors it comes equipped with the Anbot can navigate completely autonomously.

''AnBot has a high degree of autonomy,'' Xiao Xiangjiang from the National Defence University said at the event. ''It can patrol, avoid obstacles, identify and recharge on its own.

''It is equipped with weapons to prevent and control violence by remote control. Moreover, it could be a service provider, which makes it more practical.''

According to People's Daily, the patrolling robot featured built-in sensors which 'mimic the human brain, eyes and ears.' The article explained that when the AnBot detected a potential security threat, its human controller could remotely activate its 'electrically-charged riot control tool,' presumably a type of laser or taser device, the stack.com reported.

'AnBot represents a series of breakthroughs in key technologies, including low-cost autonomous navigation and intelligent video analysis, which will play an important role in enhancing the country's anti-terrorism and anti-riot measures,' the publication added.