Footage from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen this week has drawn widespread attention after showing a humanoid robot walking alongside uniformed police officers during what appeared to be a routine public patrol. The brief appearance, captured at the popular Window of the World tourist area, highlights China’s accelerating efforts to move advanced humanoid robots out of laboratories and into real-world environments.
The video, which circulated widely on Chinese social media platforms, shows the human-sized robot confidently walking ahead of two officers, drawing stares and phone cameras from passersby. Authorities have not described the incident as an official deployment. Instead, local reports suggest it was a controlled demonstration linked to recent testing, rather than a permanent addition to Shenzhen’s police force.
The robot was developed by EngineAI Robotics Technology, a Shenzhen-based company founded in late 2023. Online commentators quickly compared the machine’s appearance and movement to science fiction characters such as RoboCop and the Terminator, with one user joking that the robot “casually joined a police patrol like it’s already the future.”
EngineAI has identified the robot as part of its T800 humanoid family, or possibly a smaller variant known as the PM01. The demonstration came shortly after the company publicly introduced the T800 in early December, marking a transition from internal development to public-facing tests that include potential public safety and security applications.
According to the company, the T800 is a full-size humanoid robot standing about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing roughly 165 pounds, including its battery. Designed and built entirely in-house, the platform emphasizes mobility and balance, allowing it to walk quickly, change direction, kick, and even jump. EngineAI says the robot’s hands are equipped with sensors for precise object handling, and its design allows it to operate in demanding environments.
The robot runs on artificial intelligence systems, with some configurations using Nvidia-based processing modules. Depending on workload, it can operate for approximately four to five hours on a single charge. EngineAI claims the robot can walk at speeds of up to 6.7 miles per hour, faster than an average human walking pace. Base versions are expected to start at around $25,000, positioning them as relatively affordable for institutional buyers.
China has increasingly embraced robotics and artificial intelligence across sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, and security. Robots are already used for tasks such as bomb disposal and surveillance. The Shenzhen patrol test underscores how quickly humanoid robots are entering public spaces, raising new questions about how they may one day support, or transform, policing and public safety roles.
Reference: Reports and video footage circulating on Chinese social media, summarized by multiple outlets covering robotics demonstrations in Shenzhen.
