China Tests Autonomous ‘Spherical’ Robot Police Unit in Cities

China has put a giant AI-powered bowling ball on patrol.

The autonomous robot, known as RT-G, was developed by Shenzhen-based Logon Technology and is already patrolling urban streets alongside human officers. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and facial recognition technology, the RT-G can detect criminals, alert law enforcement, or even immobilize suspects using its built-in non-lethal arsenal, including net guns, tear gas, sound-wave dispersers, and grenades.

Videos from 2024 that recently went viral online show the robot navigating rough terrain, mud, and water, demonstrating its amphibious capabilities and remarkable resilience. At 125 kilograms and withstanding impacts of up to four tons, the spherical design ensures the RT-G can keep rolling even in challenging environments without getting stuck or tipped over.

Beyond raw durability, the RT-G brings advanced AI to city patrols. It can identify known criminals through facial recognition, detect disturbances, and respond autonomously or summon human backup. Footage shows the robot chasing suspects, knocking them down, and coordinating with police officers on the street, offering a glimpse into how robotics may reshape public safety in China.

According to researchers from Zhejiang University’s State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, the RT-G was originally engineered to explore extreme or unknown environments, including fire fields, underground caves, and even other planets.

Versatile mobility

The RT-G is designed for versatility. It can roll at up to 22 mph (35 km/h) on land, navigate water, and survive tough impacts. Its internal heavy pendulum system allows smooth motion across uneven surfaces. At the same time, its spherical shape prevents it from being immobilized by being flipped onto its back, a common limitation for humanoid or wheeled robots.

China has increasingly experimented with robotic policing. Models like wheeled robodogs from Deep Robotics can navigate slopes, stairs, and obstacles, combining wheeled and quadruped mobility to operate in extreme conditions. These robots are used in security, rescue, and surveillance operations, highlighting the country’s push toward integrating robotics into public safety.

Models like RT-G suggest a shift toward robotic policing, in which AI-assisted devices could reduce risks to human officers while improving the efficiency of crime prevention. RT-G’s developers say the robot can operate for up to 10 hours on a single charge, enabling extended patrols without interruption. Its amphibious design ensures it is effective in urban areas prone to flooding or difficult terrain, and its AI-driven responses promise faster intervention than conventional methods.

For now, the RT-G is still best understood as a highly visible signal of where robotic policing may be heading, not proof that autonomous enforcement is ready for everyday deployment. The harder questions are not whether the robot can roll through mud or water, but how much authority cities are willing to give machines in public spaces.

The RT-G is just one example of China's broader push into embodied AI, a field gaining momentum across the region as startups such as Spirit AI earn recognition for advances in physical-world AI systems.