China has developed a robot dog that carries patients on stretchers.

Two animatronics, made by a Hangzhou company, were seen being tested to transport patients inside the Binjiang Campus of the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University in Beijing on October 11.

Footage shows the machine moving on its four legs while a stretcher, carrying a dummy simulating a fractured patient, rests on its back.

Zhang Mao, an emergency medicine expert, and vice president of the Second Hospital of Zhejiang University, said: 'In the past, emergency medical rescue in the field often lost contact when it reached no man's land, and the front and rear situations could not be communicated in time. But now, with satellite plus mobile 5G communication, a tent can be installed for the entire hospital, gathering high-quality medical emergency resources from the whole hospital. 5G helps to regain valuable emergency time.

'The application of 5G technology makes medical emergencies more efficient and convenient. It breaks the limitations of time and space, and allows high-quality expert resources to provide medical services to patients anytime and anywhere,' he added.

Robots are being developed in several countries, with China and the United States leading the 'tech arms race.'

A military-style robot dog was even seen protecting President-Elect Donald Trump in Florida earlier this month. Meanwhile, in Texas, Elon Musk's Tesla hopes to have its version of a humanoid robot, called Optimus, available for sale in 2026.

Musk - who played a prominent role in the recent US election victory of Donald Trump - recently presented Optimus, describing it as a multi-functional assistant capable of handling household chores, playing with children, and assisting with various repetitive tasks.