This Country Will Use Robots As Traffic Cops’ Assistants

China continues to make use of technology to maintain law and order in the country by using robots as traffic cops’ assistants in Handan city in Hebei province.

The state-run news agency Xinhua reported that Handan city has deployed a fleet of robots to help traffic police with the task of patrolling, offering information to citizens as well as providing accident alerts.

The AI-powered robots are equipped with sensors which allow them to autonomously move in directions, just like how humans move. If a car violated parking rules, they would snap a picture of that vehicle. Verifying driver’s licenses and directing traffic are also possible. At the moment, according to the government plans, the robots would be in operation for 24 hours in public locations like airports and train stations.

Another state news agency reported that to develop these robots, AI, cloud computing, laser-based navigation, and big data are used. The robots are divided into three different categories. A road patrol robot will wear a white hat, together with a yellow uniform. The robot is capable of identifying drivers, taking pictures as proof for illegal behavior and rebuking jaywalkers.

Commuters, as well as Chinese residents, can find the traffic robot at vehicle management stations where they will answer inquiries, provide guidance, and report to the police any suspicious activity. The final robot’s role is to warn passing drivers if the police are handling a traffic accident.

It’s nothing new for China to using robots to assist law enforcement. Back in 2016, AnBot was released with the role of patrolling the Shenzen airport. In 2017, E-Patrol Robot Sheriff was put in operation to patrol the streets. The country relies heavily on state-of-the-art technology for citizen monitoring like catching criminals using facial recognition systems. All new cars in China are required to have RFID tags with which it will be impossible for drivers to cheat at tollways.

Facial recognition glasses are now given to the country’s police forces to identify suspects or wanted criminals.