China deploys traffic robot to direct vehicles, pedestrians in streets

China has introduced an AI-powered humanoid traffic robot named Hangxing No. 1 in Hangzhou’s Binjiang district to assist with urban traffic management. Standing 1.8 meters tall and equipped with cameras, sensors, and gesture-based signaling modeled on real police officers, the robot directs vehicles and pedestrians at a busy intersection. It can signal stop, proceed, or wait commands, sound a digital whistle, and synchronize with traffic lights. Beyond directing traffic, Hangxing No. 1 monitors compliance in real time, detecting violations such as helmetless riders, motorists crossing stop lines, and jaywalking, issuing polite voice warnings to correct behavior without confrontation. Powered by a swappable battery lasting 6 to 8 hours, the robot autonomously returns to a charging dock after peak traffic periods. It operates under an integrated AI system that continuously analyzes live camera feeds to detect infractions, logging incidents and forwarding them to a police database. A human officer remains nearby during early deployment to intervene if needed.