Looking like a cross between a tank and a crane, the robot was put through its paces at a mock danger zone at the conference center.

Suddenly, a detonator-like object emerges in its sight and the robot immediately locks on target. Rushing toward the danger, it adroitly clamps on to the suspicious object with its silvery white arm, throwing it into an explosive disposal container.

The 56 kg robot is named RAPTOR-EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) and is a latest product of Beijing Universal Pioneering Technology Co., Ltd.

The robot is able to move freely and make tight turns on different surfaces, said Han Guang, production president of the company.

Han said the arm of the robot can grasp an object as heavy as five kilograms and when the arm is fully stretched, the 45-centimeter robot can stretch about 130 centimeters above its head.

The robot is primarily used to detect and diffuse bombs, said senior management.

He said the nimble gadget can carry out tasks freely in narrow places such as an auditorium aisle or airplane cabin, where many other larger robots may get stuck.

The robot sells about 300,000 yuan (about U.S.$37,500),a sixth of the cost of its imported equivalent from the United States, Han said.

Some insiders say that as China becomes more active on the international scene and especially with the approaching 2008 Beijing Olympic, the robot is likely to be widely employed in China.