On the streets of Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, robot 'police officers' have officially been deployed—an innovative measure by Chengdu in anticipation of the 2025 World Games.
According to Xinhua News Agency, at Tianfu Square—which sees a maximum daily foot traffic of up to 100,000 people—five robot 'police officers' have begun regular patrols together with human officers.
They usually operate in groups of two, taking shifts every two to three hours. During patrols, they upload live footage and report anomalies to the command center in real time, and help notify nearby officers.
This real-world pilot program in Chengdu features robots of various forms and functions, including quadruped robots, wheeled robots, and humanoid robots. Since June 16, they have officially begun practical training, with the main goal of optimizing operating algorithms in real urban environments so they become more intelligent and flexible to adapt to complex scenarios.
These robots have capabilities such as autonomous navigation, intelligent obstacle avoidance, real-time audio and video transmission, and remote voice broadcasting. They can assist in police work, serve tourists, and maintain traffic order. In addition, they can autonomously return to charging stations, enabling around-the-clock, uninterrupted operation.
Industry research data shows that in 2024, China's embodied intelligence market reached a scale of over 480 billion yuan (approximately 85.8 billion Singapore dollars). As foundational AI models continue to advance, the market growth potential is huge, with projections estimating it may surpass one trillion yuan by 2031.