China puts robocops on traffic duty, minus arrest powers

Nearly 50 robots operate across about eight cities, with deployments expected to approach 200 by year-end.

Hangzhou/Beijing: China is putting robots on traffic duty, with machines spotting violations and directing road users but lacking powers to arrest, Reuters reported.

Technology firm SUPCON Information has deployed 15 T2 robots in Hangzhou since May. The 1.88-metre robots use cameras, radar and onboard computing to detect helmetless e-bike riders, vehicles crossing stop lines and pedestrians violating signals. SUPCON says the robots have issued more than 1,70,000 warnings and helped cut some violations by over 40%. Nearly 50 robots operate across about eight cities, with deployments expected to approach 200 by year-end.