Shanghai’s Xiao Hu Robot Stops 87 Pedestrians With LED Helmet, Ignores Pigeons

Shanghai robot cop Xiao Hu, sporting a reflective yellow vest and a helmet brighter than a disco ball, halted 87 pedestrians in Huangpu District while reciting traffic laws and fielding “Is Xiao Hu replacing police?” and “How do robot cops work?” queries. “Red light, please stop,” it intoned, as tourists filmed the humanoid’s LED choreography under neon Shanghai skies.
After Xiao Hu’s disco-helmet debut, Shanghai officials revealed plans to deploy it at 11 more intersections, sparking searches for “world’s first robot traffic cop” and “does China use AI robots for law enforcement.” One netizen mused, “Put that thing in New York and it would be scrapped for parts”—a vision of robotic limbs traded for bagels on Canal Street.
Over four years of development produced Xiao Hu: a reflective-vested robot that answers traffic law questions, directs humans, but steadfastly ignores every stray pigeon crossing its path.