Humanoid robot ‘arrested’ by police after startling elderly woman; she was taken to hospital

A video from Macau is getting attention online after an unusual moment between an elderly woman and a humanoid robot. In the clip, police officers are seen escorting the robot away, which led many people on social media to joke that the robot had been “arrested.”

The moment has since sparked curiosity about how people react when robots suddenly appear in everyday public spaces.

Surprise encounter on the street

As reported by the South China Morning Post, the incident reportedly took place last Thursday near the Lok Yeung Fa Yuen residential area in Patane, Macau. The elderly woman was walking while looking at her phone when she suddenly realized that a humanoid robot was right behind her.

The unexpected sight startled her, and she reacted angrily.

Police officers arrived shortly afterwards. In the now-viral video, one officer can be seen placing his hand on the robot and guiding it away from the woman.

Woman taken to hospital as precaution

The woman was not injured, but she was taken to a hospital for a precautionary check. As mentioned in the report, authorities later confirmed that she was discharged soon after and did not file any complaint.

Robot was part of a promotional activity

The robot belongs to a local education center and is usually used during public demonstrations and promotional events.

At the time, the center operated the robot using a combination of programming and remote supervision.

They also said the narrow pavement may have contributed to the situation. The robot had stopped behind the woman, and its lights might have added to the surprise.

Robot has appeared in public before

Over the past few months, the same robot has been showcased at several locations around Macau. It has previously been seen near the Ruins of St. Paul’s and in areas along the Cotai Strip, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

After the incident, the education center apologized if the moment caused any concern.
Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)