China tests humanoid traffic robots in Hangzhou

At an intersection in Hangzhou, a 1.88-meter-tall, 98-kilogram robot stands where traffic officers would otherwise direct the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. Since May, the Chinese metropolis has been testing Supcon Information's Shenzhi T2. Its main purpose is to take on repetitive routine tasks.

Using cameras, radar and dedicated computing hardware, the T2 detects several typical violations: E-bike riders without helmets, unauthorized passengers, vehicles behind the stop line and pedestrians crossing the road on a red light. It uses a loudspeaker to call for corrective action. If three warnings are ignored, the machine records the incidents and forwards them to the responsible authorities.

The humanoid robot can move between designated positions on a four-wheeled platform. Its arms perform standardized hand signals used by traffic police; at the same time, the T2 is connected to the traffic-light control system and synchronizes its movements with the signal phases. A display on its upper body provides directions, information about parking options and traffic regulations. In emergencies, the robot can establish a connection with the police.

In practical terms, this means that in Hangzhou the machines are deployed daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and relieve officers of making announcements, providing basic information and directing traffic. Supcon reports around 5,200 operating hours, more than 170,000 warnings, over 500 hours of traffic direction and more than 8,000 information requests for the 15 robots. According to the company, violations such as riding without a helmet and crossing stop lines fell by more than 40 percent per month.

These figures come from the manufacturer. The T2 remains in pilot operation and works from designated positions rather than acting as a freely operating replacement for the police. According to Supcon, nearly 50 traffic robots are now operating in around eight cities and three Chinese provinces; by the end of the year, their number is expected to rise to nearly 200. This moves robotics in China another step out of the laboratory and into real-world, clearly defined workflows.