China unleashes Dalek-style police robot with 'electrically charged riot control tool' to keep street violence under control
China has built a 1.5m-tall police robot that's designed to keep rioters under control- by electrocuting them.
The "AnBot" can reach speeds of up to 18kph and has been built to help the police patrol the streets.
According to Chinese newspaper People , the 'droid was built by the ominously-sounding National Defense University and "will play an important role in enhancing the country's anti-terrorism and anti-riot measures."
The newspaper goes on to say that the robot's controllers can opt to remotely deploy its "electrically charged riot control tool" if things get too violent.
As well as subduing the crowds, it's also got an S.O.S. button on the robot's body that members of the public can use to alert the police of a problem.
Sensors on the AnBot capture audio and video and act as its eyes and ears. It is able to patrol either autonomously or by remote control for up to eight hours on a single charge.
It was revealed to the public at the Chongqing Hi-Tech trade show in southwest China. However, it's not clear exactly how many robots the university has built or when they may be launched onto city streets.
As well as policing, China also experimented with putting robots in restaurants - before firing them for incompetence .
Spilling soup and drinks, and generally not coming up to the level of quality any of us would expect from staff when we go out to eat, means the little workers' plan for domination has short circuited.
"The robots weren't able to carry soup or other food steady and they would frequently break down. The boss has decided never to use them again," said one employee.
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