An elderly woman declined to press charges after a humanoid robot startled her in China. The incident sent her to the hospital.
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The incident occurred on March 5 near a residential complex in Macau. While using her phone, the 70-year-old woman suddenly noticed the humanoid robot behind her and became frightened, as reported by PEOPLE.
The Woman Told the Robot, "You're Making My Heart Race!"
In a viral video of the incident, the woman is seen yelling at the robot in Cantonese.
"You're making my heart race," she screamed. "You've got plenty to do, so what's the point of messing around with this? Are you freaking crazy?"
Authorities said there was no physical contact between the elderly woman and the robot. However, shortly after the encounter, the woman said she was feeling unwell and was taken to the hospital. She was later released and did not press charges.
While some clips show officers walking with the robot, officers said they "did not seize" it. They then told the device's operator to "avoid causing danger or alarm" in the future.
Who Owns the Robot?
The robot is a Unitree G1 model. It reportedly belongs to a local educational center. It used it for promotional activities at historical sites, including the Ruins of St Paul's, and along the Cotai Strip.
The robot could not move around the woman due to its programming. A representative from the center explained that it has obstacle avoidance functions. However, because the walkway was narrow and the woman had stopped, the robot paused behind her and waited and did not attempt to maneuver around her.
Mak Kin Choi, the head of the education center, said the robot was well-received at the three promotional events where it appeared. Police said that this incident is the first of its kind between a human and a robot.
