DEEP Robotics tests DR02 humanoid directing traffic in Hangzhou rain
DEEP Robotics ran field trials of its DR02 humanoid robots in early October in Hangzhou's Xihu District, testing them at busy intersections such as Zheda Road and West Wenyi Road and at tourist sites including Xixi National Wetland Park, where they directed traffic and handled visitor questions in heavy rain. The IP66-rated robot uses environmental perception and motion control to navigate around pedestrians and vehicles while adjusting its position and hand signals, and the company says it can spot riders without helmets, overloaded vehicles and line-crossing pedestrians and issue voice reminders. DEEP Robotics framed the trials as product testing and released no figures on accuracy, uptime, cost savings or traffic-flow improvement, so they do not establish a commercial deployment or a replacement for human officers.
It is an early field check on whether humanoid robots can take on repetitive public-facing work in spaces built for people, though the trials do not yet show they beat existing cameras and fixed traffic-control equipment.
Commuters braving heavy downpours in eastern China encountered an unexpected crossing guard: a waterproof humanoid robot directing traffic.
DEEP Robotics conducted field trials of its DR02 humanoid robots in early October across Xihu District, Hangzhou, China, where persistent rain and heavy tourist traffic placed additional demands on local traffic management.
The robots were tested at busy intersections, including Zheda Road and West Wenyi Road, as well as tourist destinations such as Xixi National Wetland Park. The trials examined whether humanoid robots could assist with traffic direction, pedestrian safety and visitor information in crowded public spaces.
Image: DEEP Robotics
The DR02 features IP66-rated protection against dust and water, which the company tested under sustained rainfall. Its environmental perception and motion-control systems allow it to navigate around pedestrians and vehicles and adjust its position and hand signals while directing traffic.