Weighing 125 kg (276 lb), this robotic ball looks and acts like it could break out of its batpod. A self-balancing sphere capable of tracking criminals at speeds of up to 35 km/h (22 mph) on land or sea and attacking them with a variety of non-lethal weapons.
The basic platform has been in development for several years and has been commercialized as the Rotunbot RT-G through a company called Logon Technology. The company says it moves fairly quietly, using gyroscopic self-stabilization to keep the wide contact patch in contact with the ground.
It can run all kinds of sensors, including GPS, multiple cameras and ultrasonic sensors for positioning, to see its surroundings and track threats and targets without rolling into people or other obstacles.
Chinese police now have a new help: a spherical patrol robot that can reach speeds of 30 kilometers per hour in just 2.5 seconds. Inspired by the concept of the original Mercury rover project, this high-speed machine is ready to roll on both land and water. #FutureChina pic.twitter.com/q0sdEkYfxB
— China Xinhua News Agency (@XHNews) December 14, 2024
It’s sturdy enough to take an impact, knocking it off a knee-high shelf or possibly rolling down a flight of stairs. It can handle mud, slush, and mild off-road conditions with ease, at least until the camera gets dirty, and it’s also waterproof and buoyant, so it can happily roll into the river and back out again if needed.
It is currently being tested with police patrols in the commercial district of Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, on China’s southeastern coast. According to Chinese authorities, for police purposes Global TimesUpgraded with appropriate crime-fighting tools, including tear gas, smoke grenades, horns, acoustic crowd dispersers, and net shooters, you can tangle and subdue suspects at close range.
Looking at the video, it appears that the robot police ball is currently operating by remote control, but as things progress, autonomy is definitely on the menu.
It seems to shake somewhat when turning, and there doesn’t seem to be any footage that makes it particularly difficult to escape. In fact, an enterprising swindler will only have to climb a few flights of stairs and the roboball will remain at the bottom, swearing.
On the other hand, there are many applications for existing police robots, especially for non-lethal subduing of dangerous criminals. This is where these machines can outperform current technology. This is the first security/police robot we’ve ever seen. It was designed explicitly with pursuit in mind.
Source: Rotunbot
