In Hangzhou, DR02 humanoids tested at junctions to help with traffic, even in the rain

According to the company's description, the robot assists officers without replacing them. Staff keep the tasks that call for judgement, such as handling accidents and enforcing against the most serious offences.

Deep Robotics says its humanoid has IP66 protection across the whole machine. The company says it wanted to collect data on continuous operation in sustained rain, but the statement gives neither an operating time nor any measure of reliability.

In places busy with visitors, the DR02 was also tested answering questions in several languages about routes, transport and tourist sites. The statement does not say which languages are supported, nor how accurate the answers are.

Update of 16 October: Robot Newspaper cites the local Chinese outlet Xinjingbao. According to that outlet, the DR02 operated without interruption during the trial. It also says the robot moved around junctions on its own, avoided pedestrians and vehicles, and adjusted its position and route to the situation. According to Robot Newspaper, the robot can also spot certain offences by visual detection: non-motorised vehicles whose riders are not wearing helmets, overloading, offences by pedestrians and encroachment on parking lines. Robot Newspaper finally reports that, by answering tourists' questions about sightseeing routes, the robot reportedly allowed police officers to save time for their core tasks. The article does not say who makes that assessment.