China deploys waterproof humanoids for rainy traffic trials

China's DEEP Robotics tested waterproof humanoid robots in Hangzhou during the National Day holiday in early October. The trials aimed to assess the robots' ability to perform routine roadside tasks while helping traffic personnel manage crowded streets in rainy weather. The robots, known as DR02, were deployed at intersections along Zheda Road and West Wenyi Road in Lingyin Subdistrict, as well as near Xixi National Wetland Park, where there were heavy visitor traffic and persistent rainfall.

The DR02 robots were equipped with an IP66 protection rating, allowing them to operate in demanding outdoor environments. During the tests, the robots displayed traffic guidance, pedestrian monitoring, and public assistance capabilities. They communicated with pedestrians using spoken warnings and instructions, helping to reduce repetitive questions from tourists.

The robots were designed to recognize unsafe behaviors, such as electric bicycle riders not wearing helmets, overloaded electric bicycles, pedestrians crossing designated boundaries, and vehicles stopping beyond marked lines. Their deployment was experimental and not intended to replace human traffic officers, as human personnel remained responsible for enforcement, emergency response, and decisions requiring professional judgment.

The trials provided valuable information for improving the robots' environmental perception, movement control, and task execution capabilities, but no independently verified performance figures were disclosed.