Late on October 10, 2026, a most unusual incident unfolded in Cologne, western Germany.
A red-and-gold humanoid robot, approximately 120 centimeters (3 feet 11 inches) tall, allegedly approached a 16-year-old girl from behind, touched her buttocks, and made inappropriate thrusting movements.
Police began investigating the robot's 16-year-old owner and his 19-year-old companion. The two were suspected of filming the incident, livestreaming it on social media, and providing commentary as it happened.
Then came the part that made this case especially unusual: police confiscated not only two mobile phones, but the humanoid robot itself.
The central question is not simply what the robot did. Who, or what, determined its movements? And what can investigators learn by examining the machine itself?
