Footage circulating this week from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen shows a humanoid robot walking alongside uniformed police officers during what appears to be a public patrol, highlighting the strength of China's efforts to test advanced robot technology in public security roles.
A video shared on Chinese social media shows a human-sized robot walking confidently in front of two police officers at a popular tourist spot called the “Window of the World.”
Officials did not call the appearance an official deployment. The report said the patrol was a demonstration related to a recent inspection and was not part of regular law enforcement operations.
Terminator-style humanoid robot cop
The robots, created by Shenzhen's EngineAI Robotics Technology, have been compared to characters from popular science fiction movies such as “Robocop” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day.”
One source on social media noted that the robot “casually joined police patrols as if it were already 2049.”
EngineAI calls the robot part of the T800 humanoid family. Or perhaps they call it a smaller version called PM01.
The demonstration came shortly after the company launched the T800 in early December, marking its transition from laboratory development to real-world testing, including potential public safety applications.
EngineAI was founded in October 2023, is based in Nanshan District, Shenzhen, and focuses on general-purpose humanoid robots.
The startup quickly introduced several models, including the SE01 and PM01, as China ramps up investment in artificial intelligence and robotics.
The T800 is EngineAI's flagship full-size humanoid robot, designed and manufactured entirely in-house.
The company says the robot is built for high mobility and demanding environments, with potential applications ranging from industrial work to hospitality to public safety support.
EngineAI says the platform is intended for mass production.
Height 5 feet 8 inches
The T800 is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters) tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds (75 kg) including the battery. This makes them approximately the same size as an average adult.
The robot can kick, jump, and change direction quickly. Its hands have sensors that help it handle objects accurately.
EngineAI says the robot's human-like design makes it agile and powerful, allowing it to perform smoothly even on difficult tasks.
The T800 is designed for use in high-pressure situations such as factories, customer service areas, and security testing.
It runs on artificial intelligence and uses Nvidia-based processing modules in some models.
According to the company's specifications, the robot can operate for about four to five hours on a single charge, depending on the workload.
In terms of maneuverability, the robot can walk at up to 10.8 kilometers per hour (10.8 kilometers per hour), which is faster than a typical human walking speed, according to EngineAI.
Prices for the base model are expected to start at around $25,000, making it more affordable for organizations than individual buyers.
China, like many other countries, is considering using robots for security tasks such as police work, bomb disposal, surveillance and threat detection.
The patrol in Shenzhen appears to have been a controlled test. Still, the video shows how rapidly humanoid robots are entering public life and raises new questions about how robots will work with human police officers in the future.
