A domestically developed robotic traffic officer has begun duty on the streets of Wuhu City in east China’s Anhui Province, marking a new step in the application of intelligent technology to urban management.

Currently undergoing on-the-job training, the robot has been deployed at a busy intersection, where it works alongside human officers to direct traffic, remind motorists of road rules and promote more civilised road behaviour. Wearing a white police cap and traffic vest, it uses standard hand gestures and voice prompts to guide vehicles and pedestrians.

Local residents have responded with curiosity and approval. One passer-by remarked that it “looks just like a real person at first sight”, while also projecting “a strong sense of technological sophistication”.

Equipped with six cameras and a light detection and ranging system, the robotic officer can perceive road conditions, avoid obstacles autonomously and relay real-time data to a backend system. Future training will focus on traffic education, intersection control and identifying uncivilised behaviour.

Source: China Central Television