Robots Are Making Roads Safer and Less Congested in Africa - NYTimes.com

 

"When I contemplate the future impact of artificial intelligence on humanity, African roads come to mind. Giant locally made humanoid robots are already policing the streets of Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The solar-powered, eight-foot-tall robots are stationed at the center of a handful of intersections where they keep traffic down and drivers and pedestrians safe.

These robot traffic cops work around the clock, are beloved by locals, and they don’t accept bribes. Created by Thérèse Izay Kirongozi, a Kinshasa engineer, the robots have rotating chests that enable them to do the job of four traffic lights. They’re also equipped with cameras that record and monitor drivers. These robot traffic cops work around the clock and are beloved by locals -- and they don’t accept bribes.

There is already talk of bringing robot cops to other African intersections. Once they’re installed in traffic-crippled cities like Lagos and Cairo, the next logical step would be to upgrade them with artificial intelligence so they can perform their complex tasks better. The roads of Africa’s greatest cities will unclog, paving a way for efficiency to take over on a broader scale."

(Robots Are Making Roads Safer and Less Congested in Africa - NYTimes.com  Via.)