The company responsible for supplying electricity in Macau has begun testing robots to ensure the safety of the territory’s power network.
Sou Kit Hou, a representative of the Companhia de Eletricidade de Macau (CEM), told Lusa that the company acquired a quadruped robot, or “robot dog,” manufactured in China, which has been tested over the past six months.
This “robot dog” is equipped with infrared thermal imaging and high-definition cameras, allowing it to detect equipment failures and send real-time alerts.
“The robot was placed in a substation, and through the camera installed on it we can remotely monitor generator temperatures to see if they are overheating. We can also control the people present there, checking if they are authorized,” Sou said during the 2026 Macau International Environmental Cooperation Forum and Exhibition (MIECF).
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“In this way, we can monitor the safety of the power grid, and it works 24 hours a day. For now, we only have one, but if the tests are successful, we will acquire more.”
CEM holds the exclusive concession for the transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in high, medium, and low voltage in Macau, as well as its production infrastructure.
The territory’s power transmission network includes 29 high-voltage substations, where the new “robot dog” has been tested. It was acquired through an agreement with a Guangzhou-based subsidiary of the state-owned China Southern Power Grid International.
“In the future, we could use them in power plants or even on the streets. In mainland China, it is already common to use robots for these tasks; their applications are nearly limitless,” Sou added.
China has become a global leader in the innovation and commercialization of drones and both bipedal and quadrupedal robots, supported heavily by the government.
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Chinese quadruped robots, developed by companies such as Unitree Robotics and DEEP Robotics, are now widely used for industrial inspections, security patrols, emergency rescues, and military applications.
Unitree gained prominence when its humanoid robots performed complex movements and martial arts during China’s CCTV Lunar New Year Gala, the country’s largest televised event.
In August last year, a quadruped robot from Zhejiang University in eastern China completed a 100-meter sprint in 16.33 seconds, setting a new Guinness World Record.
Sales of Chinese humanoid robots are expected to surpass 23 million units by 2040, a significant increase from the 28,000 units projected for this year, according to Morgan Stanley analysts in January.
