The robot, the first of its kind developed in China, is expected to go on sale within two or three months.

Jointly developed by the Civil Aviation University of China and Tianjin YAAN Technology Electronics Co. Ltd., the robot can patrol residential zones, airports, warehouses, department stores and other public places.

The two-wheel differential drive robot, looking like a small car, is 90 centimeters long, 55 centimeters wide and 75 centimeters high, and weighs 55 kilograms.

It can move independently on cement pavements and climb slopes with a 15 to 20 gradient, according to experts from the Civil Aviation University of China.

The robot can move freely on fixed or specially designed routes.

Equipped with Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) and wide-angle cameras, it uses ultrasonic equipment to avoid obstacles and transmits information on suspect sights and noises, such as fires, to a controller.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2006)