Police patrols in Shenzhen, China, are looking a little different these days—thanks to humanoid robots joining officers on the streets. Dressed in high-visibility vests, these futuristic machines are now interacting with the public, sparking both curiosity and debate.
Photo via South China Morning Post
Standing 1.38 metres tall and weighing 40kg, the PM01 is far from your average security bot. Developed by Shenzhen-based startup EngineAI, these robots are built with advanced reinforcement learning algorithms, allowing them to walk naturally, navigate complex environments, and even perform impressive manoeuvres like front flips.
Each unit comes with a price tag of 88,000 yuan (RM54,000), and their ability to respond to voice commands and interact with people in real-time makes them stand out from traditional surveillance technology.
A viral video showcases the PM01 marching alongside human officers, shaking hands with pedestrians and responding to commands. Some viewers were amazed by its human-like presence, while others questioned whether these robots could genuinely contribute to law enforcement beyond public engagement.
Photo via South China Morning Post
Online discussions have been divided—some see this as a groundbreaking step towards automation in public safety, while others remain sceptical about their practicality. Comparisons to RoboCop and Iron Man have flooded social media, with concerns about potential future roles in policing and surveillance.
For now, the PM01 is not replacing human officers but rather assisting them in patrol duties. Whether they become a standard part of police forces worldwide remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Shenzhen is pushing the boundaries of automated policing, and the world is watching.
