Robot to Disarm Suspects at Airports

Robot to Disarm Suspects at Airports

U.S. Airmen handcuff a simulated assailant during Close Quarters Battle (CQB) training at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Nov. 1, 2011. The CQB training prepared security forces members to handle close range hostage situations and threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle/Released)

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The Chinese AnBot robot was introduced to a terminal in one of China’s busiest airports, Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport, to help with security checks and provide flight information. The droid will patrol the departure hall of terminal three of the airport, reports the People’s Daily Online. China had unveiled the prototype of the robotic crime fighter at an international fair this April.

The idea of introducing the robot is to help relieve the pressure off airport police in their daily patrols and save human resources.

Techworm reports that the AnBot can work around-the-clock and deter suspects with sound and light, and react to emergencies with an electric riot fork.

The intelligent guard is 1.5 meters tall, 0.8 meters in diameter and weighs about 75 kg. It can move at a top speed of 11mph (18kph) and can even disarm people if they are deemed a threat. Capable of eight hours of continuous work.

The security robot is equipped with four high-definition digital cameras, which it can use to snap pictures of travellers’ faces, and then send them immediately to human co-workers for further analysis. It is capable of autonomous patrols, intelligent monitoring, obstacles avoidance and auto recharging.

The robot was developed by the National Defense University to enhance the country’s anti-terrorism and anti-riot measures.

When people around AnBot face security threats, the robot’s control personnel can remotely deploy AnBot’s electrically charged riot control tool. Within AnBot’s patrol area, people can also call for help or press the SOS button on the robot’s body to notify police of a problem.

According to people.cn, the 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.