"Parking is strictly prohibited on this section of road. Your action has been recorded; please move your vehicle immediately…" A crisp voice rang out. A motorist scrolling on their phone at the roadside looked up to see a blue‑and‑white unmanned traffice police patrol vehicle stopped nearby, its "gaze" locked on the illegally parked car. The driver quickly started and drove away; the patrol vehicle then signaled, changed lanes, and smoothly merged back into traffic.

The scene took place in the Hefei High‑Tech Industrial Development Zone. Drivers are becoming familiar with this "unmanned traffic officer" — topped with flashing police lights and an intelligent gimbal and equipped with loudspeakers, it can patrol autonomously and issue voice warnings. Officially called an "autonomous intelligent patrol vehicle," it functions more like a mobile electronic police unit: it can automatically inspect along preset routes, use a 360‑degree panoramic sensing system to accurately identify illegally parked vehicles, and implement a full closed‑loop process from detection to warning to coordinated handling.

Specifically, the autonomous intelligent patrol vehicle follows a "detect, warn, then penalize" mechanism. First, the vehicle conducts routine road patrols for traffic education and violation detection. Second, when it encounters an illegally parked vehicle, it immediately identifies the vehicle, takes photographic evidence and uploads it, issues a voice warning via the onboard loudspeaker, and sends a text message to the owner requesting them to move the car. Finally, if the patrol vehicle passes the same spot again after 10 minutes and the vehicle remains, it will take a second photo and upload it. After review and confirmation by police in the backend, the images are entered into the system as evidence for off‑site violation penalties.

"It's not only an enforcement tool but also a pioneer of guidance," said Guan Wenzhou, deputy captain of the High‑Tech Unit of Hefei Public Security Traffic Management Brigade. "Rather than focusing on punishment, it emphasizes immediate reminders and proactive persuasion. Many citizens correct their violations after hearing the voice prompts, bringing a warmer, more compassionate approach to traffic management beyond mere enforcement," Guan said.

Source: Hefei Evening News