China: AI-powered police robots to regulate traffic

In Yongkang, in China's Zhejiang province, motorists are now seeing a new type of officer at intersections. Police robots equipped with artificial intelligence are being tested to help regulate traffic and improve traffic flow.

These machines can monitor their surroundings, guide users, and intervene in certain traffic control operations. Their presence is specifically aimed at assisting human officers in areas with particularly heavy traffic.

The model tested in Yongkang also stands out for its battery life. It is reportedly capable of operating for approximately four hours after only 30 minutes of charging, allowing for extended use in the field.

This experiment is part of the rapid development of artificial intelligence technologies in China. After transportation, industry, and security, AI is gradually gaining ground in public spaces and urban services.

For the authorities, these robots can be an additional tool to improve traffic management. But their use also raises a broader question about the role that machines could gradually play alongside human agents in cities.

Yolande Bazié