In the Chinese city of Hangzhou, traffic is being controlled by a robot-regulator at one of the busy intersections, according to Reuters. The T2 robot, weighing 98 kg, developed by the local technology company SUPCON Information, has taken on some of the most repetitive functions of traffic police officers as part of a pilot program.
The robot uses cameras, radar, and built-in computing systems to detect helmetless drivers, electric bicycles carrying passengers, vehicles crossing the stop line, and pedestrians crossing the street on red lights. It can also answer questions about traffic directions, parking, and road rules, and can contact local police if necessary.
The robots operate autonomously from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, moving between pre-defined positions without remote control. Traffic police officers can monitor their work through a centralized platform and direct them to specific areas if needed.
According to Reuters, since May, SUPCON has installed 15 such robots in Hangzhou. The company claims they have already recorded over 170,000 warnings and helped reduce monthly incidents of riding without a helmet and crossing the stop line by more than 40%.
SUPCON reports that about 50 such robots are already operating in eight cities across three provinces in China, and by the end of the year, their number could approach 200.
