New robot security guards have been deployed on-duty guarding China’s Zhengzhou railway station adding on to their regular security roster beginning in the middle of February. Unlike a regular cop or security guard, China’s new robot security officers have minimal downtime and can patrol non-stop (except to charge and swap batteries) and do not discriminate based on any preconceived biases.
Painted black and white, the robot security guards are more than just novelty, they are actually quite functional. It moves around on wheels and utilizing several sensors, it can monitor the station’s air quality and temperature. It can also scan and identify passenger faces as part of a security measure and can respond to often asked questions such as directions. At night it patrols tirelessly and is connected to the station’s system, able to trigger fire or security alarms if it detects any danger.
These robots are not the first security robots ever deployed in China. In September last year, AnBot security was deployed at the Shenzhen International Airport for 24-hour patrol duty in the departure hall of terminal 3. The security robot measures 149 cm tall and weights 78 kilograms with a top speed of 18 km per hour. Korea also utilizes security robots which they use in their prison systems to monitor inmates. The difference is that the Chinese security robot is actually armed with an electric riot control tool.
Security systems are not the only jobs that are being handed over to automatons in China. Earlier this year, a robotic journalist named Xiao Nan prepared content for printing in the newspaper South Dushibao in the Guangdong Province. The reporter robot’s artificial intelligence is able to create small notes and even write extensive editorial content in a span of seconds compared to a human counter-part which could take hours or days.
Skynet is almost here.