Meet China’s Robot Cops: No Gun, No Arrests, No Coffee Breaks

Fifteen robots have been directing traffic and assisting pedestrians around Hangzhou's West Lake district, forming what Chinese state media has described as the country's first dedicated robot traffic enforcement squad.

The robots, built by local technology firm SUPCON Information, stand 1.88 meters tall and weigh 98 kilograms. Known as the T2, they use cameras, radar, and onboard computing to identify riders without helmets, e-bikes carrying passengers, vehicles stopping over marked lines, and pedestrians crossing against signals, according to Cao Hui, head of SUPCON's intelligent unmanned systems innovation center.

The units run autonomously from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., moving between preset intersection positions without remote control, while a central platform lets human traffic police monitor and dispatch them. The robots have no gun and no power to arrest and move on wheels.

SUPCON says the 15 robots have issued more than 170,000 warnings and have helped cut helmetless riding and stop-line violations by more than 40%. The company also says its violation-recognition accuracy exceeds 95%, though it acknowledges cameras and radar can still be affected by strong sunlight, rain, and extreme temperatures.

Beyond traffic duties, the robots answer questions about directions, public transport, and emergency reporting. Their arm gestures are synchronized to intersection signal cycles at the millisecond level.

Deployment focus varies by location. Robots near tourist sites such as West Lake and the city zoo concentrate on pedestrian guidance. Those at intersections focus more on flagging illegal parking, helmet violations, and overloading.

That said, Hangzhou is not the only Chinese city doing this; a few other cities have their own versions. Chengdu introduced a mixed team of quadruped, wheeled, and humanoid robot officers; Shenzhen has used EngineAI's PM01 for patrols; and a robot in Wuhu, Anhui province, has issued cycling safety reminders.

Little is known about expansions to other cities because it would require adapting the robots to local law enforcement IT systems, obtaining certifications, and complying with data protection rules. Furthermore, the machines also carry cameras and other sensors.