China puts 'robocops' on traffic duty; a 'Superman' robot claims it can outrun Bolt
Chinese authorities are deploying humanoid robots in Hangzhou to manage traffic, while robotics firms are showcasing machines with record-breaking speeds. These robots perform routine tasks like issuing warnings for traffic violations and providing directions.
Why it matters
The deployment of autonomous robots in public policing roles signals a significant shift in urban management and the integration of AI into daily life in China.
China is putting robots to work in real-world policing, with a traffic-control machine in Hangzhou now issuing warnings to motorists and pedestrians. Meanwhile, another Chinese robotics firm has unveiled a humanoid machine whose claimed top speed exceeds Usain Bolt’s 100-metre world-record pace.At a busy intersection in Hangzhou, the 1.88-metre, 98-kg T2 robot, developed by SUPCON Information, is being deployed to handle routine traffic-control duties. The machine uses cameras, radar and onboard computing to identify helmetless e-bike riders, passengers on e-bikes, vehicles crossing stop lines and pedestrians violating signals.The robot has no power to arrest and does not carry a gun. Instead, it can issue warnings, answer questions about directions, parking and traffic rules, and connect users with police in emergencies.“The robots can also answer questions about directions, parking and traffic rules,” Cao Hui, head of SUPCON’s intelligent unmanned systems innovation centre, told Reuters.
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