China is introducing spherical robots to chase down criminals; the robots will eventually replace humans in fighting crime

The following is a summary of an article published by the US Sun titled ‘Ball & Order: China unveils all-terrain SPHERICAL robocops to chase down, bludgeon & catch criminals using net-launching cannons’

China has unveiled the RT-G, an all-terrain spherical robot designed to assist and eventually replace humans in crime-fighting situations, developed by Chinese robotics company Logon Technology.

The RT-G is a relatively unbreakable, AI-powered robot that can operate on land and in water, withstand four tonnes of impact damage and reach a speed of 22mph, despite weighing 125kg.  It is designed to be strong and durable, with the ability to withstand harsh environments and situations.

The robot is equipped with non-fatal police gear such as net guns, tear gas sprayers and sound wave dispersal devices to aid in law enforcement. It can detect disturbances or abnormalities around it using its facial recognition software, making it a valuable tool for crime detection and prevention.

The RT-G can identify and stop criminals, call for backup or solve issues on its own, and has been spotted patrolling cities alongside human law enforcement.

The robot’s showcasing video demonstrates its ability to chase suspects, knock them to the ground and fire a built-in netgun.  The US Sun has embedded this video in their article.  We have instead embedded a longer video by China Observer which delves into the technology a little more and reveals it is not only China that is developing spherical robocops; the US had already developed something similar over a decade ago called the GuardBot.

Further reading: Rolling justice: China’s sci-fi spherical robot cop can capture criminals in style, Interesting Engineering, 10 December 2024

The RT-G is part of China’s efforts to roll out robot technology to help solve crime, following the introduction of a robodog equipped with wheels that can speed through rough terrain and perform stunts.

The robodog, a quadruped robot developed by Deep Robotics, is described as “unstoppable” even in extreme weather and can run down steep slopes, hop over obstacles and climb stairs.

The rise of robots in everyday life is also marked by the development of humanoid robots, such as the Clone Alpha, an eerie humanoid robot with synthetic organs and artificial muscles, set to be released in 2025 by the Polish company Clone Robotics.

Elon Musk’s humanoid bot, Optimus, is designed for more domestic and personal uses, such as babysitting, teaching and assisting with household chores, with a potential price tag of under $20,000 and a release window of 2025.

A second version of Optimus, dubbed Optimus II, is reportedly 30 times faster, 10kg lighter, and has a more human-like build, with plans for release in 2026.