China puts robocops on traffic duty, minus the arrest powers

The Chinese city of Hangzhou has introduced a new form of traffic enforcement: a 6-foot-2-inch tall, 216-pound robot named T2. This "robot cop" is part of a pilot program designed to help police with traffic control duties. Unlike the RoboCop from the 1987 movie, this robot has no arrest powers, but it can still effectively manage traffic.

Developed by SUPCON Information, a local technology firm, the T2 robot is equipped with cameras, radar, and onboard computing to identify violations. It can detect helmetless e-bike riders, vehicles carrying passengers on e-bikes, vehicles stopping over marked lines, and pedestrians crossing against signals. The robot issues polite warnings and even moves in sync with traffic lights.

In Hangzhou, the robots have issued over 170,000 warnings and reduced monthly cases of helmetless riding and vehicles crossing stop lines by more than 40%. While the robots can answer questions about directions, parking, and traffic rules, they cannot arrest offenders.

The robots have been tested in various conditions, including tourist areas, school zones, and rush-hour traffic, with a 95% accuracy rate in violation recognition. They work autonomously from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., moving between pre-set positions at intersections. SUPCON aims to deploy nearly 50 robots in about eight cities across three Chinese provinces, with a goal of reaching 200 deployments by the end of the year.

While there is potential for police robots in overseas markets, particularly in regions with challenging weather conditions, there are hurdles to overcome. Police robots would need to integrate with local law-enforcement IT systems, obtain certifications, and comply with data-protection rules, especially concerning camera and sensor use.