anbots

Anbots, or AnBot units, are autonomous robotic agents primarily developed for public-safety and information tasks. The term is most commonly associated with a family of security robots produced in China, though it is sometimes used more broadly to denote similar autonomous surface robots used in public spaces.

AnBot was developed by the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) and related institutions in the late 2000s. Prototypes and demonstrations showcased capabilities for patrol, crowd monitoring, and interaction with people. Some units were deployed in public spaces for testing and evaluation, with operators able to monitor output remotely.

Anbots are typically designed with a wheeled or upright form, and equipped with sensors including cameras, microphones, depth sensors or lidar, and connectivity for control centers. Core capabilities include autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance, facial recognition and person tracking within a database, voice interaction, and the ability to alert human operators or law enforcement. Autonomy is usually limited by oversight and remote control.

Use cases center on patrol, surveillance, crowd management, and information provision, such as guiding visitors or answering questions. During deployment, concerns have included privacy, data security, potential bias in facial recognition, and the reliability of autonomous decision-making in complex environments.