Robocops in Kinshasa
March 16, 2015 9:43 AM   Subscribe

Five Congolese-made robots are now regulating traffic in Kinshasa. Other pictures. Traffic robots in action and interview of Thérèse Izay Kirongozi, robot creator, engineer and leader of Wotech (Women's Technology Association).

The first robot was commissioned in June 2013. It is a first generation robot whose mission is to secure the crossing of pedestrians on boulevard Lumumba, in the municipality of Limete. Placed on one side of the boulevard, this 2.50 meters high robot can raise an arm, bend another and thereby regulate the flow of vehicles on the one hand, and that of pedestrians on the other hand. Therefore, it combines the functions of traffic officer and traffic lights.
posted by elgilito (14 comments total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
I, For One...
posted by ethansr at 9:47 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]


Reminds me of these "robots".
posted by paper chromatographologist at 9:52 AM on March 16, 2015


In the U.S. (and most industrialized countries) we have had these kind of robots for quite a while now. You may call them traffic lights or traffic signals. Modern ones are capable of sensing traffic patterns and adjusting timing and call also 'learn' or be programmed to repeat similar patterns on different days, and even adjust for weekends, special events or emergency services. That shiny cabinet with louvers on it on the corner next to one of the signal columns? that is the robot.

Most of why the rules of the road work (and really societal rules) is because everyone expects them too...
posted by bartonlong at 9:56 AM on March 16, 2015 [2 favorites]


Is this viral marketing for Chappie
posted by prize bull octorok at 9:58 AM on March 16, 2015 [5 favorites]


That shiny cabinet with louvers on it on the corner next to one of the signal columns? that is the robot.

If there's one thing that 1980s movies taught us, it's that robots do fun things like breakdance and talk sass and run amok in shopping malls. Can your louvered cabinet do the Macarena or blurt out a stream of profanity at an inopportune time or teach a young fatherless boy about the meaning of friendship?
No? Then it's not a robot.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:10 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]


No, they're ultimately just very fancy traffic lights. That said, they're very cool fancy traffic lights, and the facts that they're homegrown, built by women, and just so damn iconic and cool gives them a national pride factor that makes them worth it.
posted by NoxAeternum at 10:12 AM on March 16, 2015 [4 favorites]


Looks more Ultraman then Robocop.
posted by PHINC at 10:41 AM on March 16, 2015


I think that anthropomorphizing the traffic lights may also give them a boost in both visibility and people respecting them.

Most of why the rules of the road work is because everyone expects them to

Ah, an excuse to tell one of my favorite dad-jokes!

A man gets in a cab, tells the driver his destination. The driver starts off, and a few minutes later cruises right through a red light. "Er, I'm sorry but do you realize you just ran a red light?" asks the man.
"It's ok." says the driver.
Right then the driver runs another red light.
"I'm not in a big hurry, you don't need to run the lights." says the man.
"It's fine, it's fine. My brother drives this way all the time." says the driver.
The taxi proceeds to run a third red light.
"I must ask you, please don't run the red!" says the man.
"I tell you, it's fine! My brother drives this way all the time!" says the driver.
They proceed further along the way, when suddenly the driver screeches the cab to a halt. Out the front window, the man can see a green traffic light.
"What's wrong?" asks the man.
"My brother might be coming!"
posted by fings at 10:44 AM on March 16, 2015 [2 favorites]


"There are certain drivers who don't respect the traffic police. But with the robot it will be different. We should respect the robot."
— Poro Zidane, taxi driver

This man has good instincts for self-preservation.
posted by Rangi at 10:46 AM on March 16, 2015 [3 favorites]


YOU ARE CURRENTLY BLOCKING CROSS TRAFFIC. YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO COMPLY.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:55 AM on March 16, 2015 [2 favorites]


Blomkamp did it.
posted by Apocryphon at 11:50 AM on March 16, 2015


Meanwhile, in parts of Brazil, there are traffic clowns that mock you if you break any traffic laws.
posted by umbú at 11:53 AM on March 16, 2015 [1 favorite]


Relevant?
posted by Rock Steady at 12:44 PM on March 16, 2015


No one in Kinshasa pays attention to these robots, and they are frequently broken. Often, there will be traffic police standing in the intersection with the robot and directing traffic contrary to the robot. Alternately, the robot will work and people just kind of drive however they want. However, the robots are all on good quality roads (thanks, China), which is something!
posted by quadrilaterals at 9:14 AM on March 17, 2015 [1 favorite]


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