China puts 'robocops' on traffic duty; a 'Superman' robot claims it can outrun Bolt

In Hangzhou, China is testing robots for real-world policing tasks. A robot called T2, standing 1.88 meters tall and weighing 98 kilograms, is being used to monitor traffic. Developed by SUPCON Information, the robot is equipped with cameras, radar and computing to spot e-bike riders without helmets, passengers on e-bikes, vehicles crossing stop lines, and pedestrians ignoring signals.

The T2 robot cannot arrest anyone nor carry a gun. Instead, it can give warnings, offer directions on parking and traffic rules, and link users with police in emergencies. Its seven-jointed arms can mimic standard traffic police gestures, moving in sync with traffic signals. Since May, SUPCON has placed 15 T2 robots in Hangzhou, issuing over 170,000 warnings.

They claim monthly cases of helmetless riding and vehicles crossing stop lines have dropped by over 40 percent. However, these statistics have not been independently verified.

The T2 robot works continuously from 7 am to 6 pm, moving between preset positions while a central system lets traffic police teams manage and dispatch it as needed. SUPCON says nearly 50 such robots are now in use across eight cities in three Chinese provinces, with plans to have 200 by year-end. China's push into robotics also includes a viral moment with a humanoid robot named "Superman" created by Unitree.

The robot claims to have broken world records for high jumps and speed, potentially outpacing Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record if sustained. However, the claims have not been independently verified, as videos show the robot crashing into walls. As China deploys robots to traffic management and other roles, international use may face challenges.