Wenzhou Lucheng Public Security's 'Spherical Robot' Makes Its Debut

"Wow! How cool is that! It looks like it's straight out of a movie!" Recently, an impressive spherical robot has appeared on the streets of Lucheng alongside SWAT officers, drawing waves of admiration from citizens. This stylish spherical robot can not only follow SWAT officers to complete patrol duties but also adapt to complex terrains such as wilderness, tidal flats, and deserts. It can be used for police tasks including confrontation handling, disposal, and integrated search-and-attack operations. Currently, it is undergoing pilot operation with the Special Patrol Police Unit of the Lucheng District Public Security Bureau.

The spherical robot assists SWAT officers in completing patrol duties. Photograph provided by Wenzhou Daily

This round robot has quite a significant background—it was researched and designed by the College of Control Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, originating from the needs of Mercury landing exploration. It uniquely employs an advanced motion principle of"spherical structure + pendulum drive + high-speed rolling," for which related patents have been applied for and granted globally. According to Wang You, associate professor at the College of Control Science and Engineering at Zhejiang University, this spherical robot weighs 125 kilograms, can reach a maximum speed of 35 kilometers per hour, and requires just about 2.5 seconds for acceleration. Due to rolling being the mode of movement with the least friction, the spherical body rolls forward without needing additional stabilizing mechanisms, thus achieving energy efficiency 8 to 9 times higher than legged robots, capable of continuous operation for 10 hours or travel up to 120 kilometers.

"This robot can handle falls, strikes, and other dangerous and confrontational scenarios; through modular modifications, it can perform tactical actions such as enemy identification, tracking, and apprehension. Because this robot can accomplish various tasks in non-friendly environments, it can make up for the shortcomings of existing intelligent equipment like drones and robot dogs owned by the Lucheng police," said Wang You.

"The most significant feature of this spherical robot is its ability to function in confrontational environments; even if it suffers close-range strikes, it won't lose functionality. It can move freely in extreme environments or complex crowds, greatly enhancing our on-site handling capability," explained Huang Sufeng, deputy commander of the Lucheng Public Security Special Patrol Police Unit. He added that the robot is now equipped with net guns, tear gas sprayers, and loudspeakers on both sides."Imagine a nearly indestructible iron ball rolling towards you at high speed; the deterrent effect is evident," Huang Sufeng said.

It is understood that the deployment of the spherical robot represents a new attempt at smart equipment assisting the Lucheng Public Security's'Rapid Response Fortress' in upgrading its intelligence. Since 2020, Lucheng Public Security has been constructing the'Rapid Response Fortress' police system, forming the'Falcon' Rapid Response Mobile Unit covering the core urban area. This unit patrols the streets 24/7 and can arrive within three minutes of receiving an alarm, providing strong support for emergency response by police stations and significantly improving the efficiency of handling major incidents. The addition of the spherical robot can not only enhance the patrol and control effectiveness of the Lucheng Public Security but also boost its handling capabilities, especially during the Ministry of Public Security's recent'Winter Action,' where the spherical robot and the'Falcon' SWAT team made a formidable appearance, offering considerable deterrence and increasing public safety.

Currently, the robot is still in the pilot operation phase. As it further integrates with the Lucheng Public Security through more exercises and as various types of police drones and equipment continue to be introduced to assist in the upgrade of intelligence, it is believed that more functional applications will be developed in the future. This will realize the replacement of manpower by machines, liberate part of the police force, and improve the police's handling capabilities.（Du Yichuan）