A woman on an evening stroll in Macau was briefly hospitalized after a humanoid robot shocked her and left her feeling ill, police told AFP on Wednesday.
Police said they received a call for help for the woman, who was “shocked to suddenly notice a robot behind her while using her mobile phone”.
Video widely shared online showed a woman angrily confronting a robot as it waved its metal arms at her as a crowd of curious onlookers gathered around.
“With so many other things to do, why bother me? Are you crazy?” the woman yelled at the unconcerned bot in Cantonese as she gestured anxiously at him.
The woman was not injured and had no physical contact with the robot, but she required hospital treatment, police said in a statement.
“She has since been released and has not been charged in connection with the incident,” which occurred earlier this month, the statement said.
Social media videos showed officers leading away a derelict robot, though police stressed they “did not capture” the robot.
The robot was operated by a Makane man in his 50s, who said he was conducting a test and intended to use it to promote his business.
Police said they reminded him to remain alert while using the robot to “avoid causing danger or alarm” to bystanders.
The robot in the images resembled a humanoid model made by Chinese startup Unitree.
Beijing has encouraged domestic firms to develop humanoids, hoping to lead the global robotics industry.
These increasingly flexible robots have proven capable of performing choreographed dances, participating in competitions and even capable of doing backflips.
But fully automated robots are still a rare sight, with the most impressive displays pre-programmed or remotely operated.
