Robotics Introduction: RoboCop is real – and could be patrolling a mall near you

There’s a new sheriff in town at the Stanford shopping center, and he has high-definition infra-red cameras and can process 300 license plates a minute

At the Stanford shopping center in Palo Alto, California, there is a new sheriff in town – an egg-shaped robot.

Outside Tiffany & Co, an unfortunate man holding a baby finds himself in the robot’s path. It bears down on him, a little jerkily, like a giant Roomba.