Chinese-built airport robot Sanbot speaks 28 languages and fights crime

Passengers making their way through airport customs could soon be greeted by a fleet of pint-sized robots. Looking more robo-penguin than Robocop, the Chinese-built Sanbot is being trialled in a number of industries, but will be used at airports to process travellers. Designed and built by Shenzhen-based Qihan, Sanbot is designed to interact with people in a range of environments. It can answer programmed questions in 28 languages, and transfer people to a human operator. In place of arms, the robot has a pair of flippers and moves around on a set of wheels. Sanbot uses a Microsoft Kinect-style tracking system and HD camera.