AI-powered robot will issue fines to violators of rules set for electric scooters and bicycles in Dubai

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) made this public on Thursday when it started the smart robot's trial phase at the Jumeirah 3 beach region. The robot, equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI), is assigned to monitor the usage of soft mobility devices, such as electric scooters, and bicycles, by sharing, analysing, and detecting infractions in conjunction with Dubai Police. 

The director of RTA's Enterprise Command and Control Department, Hamad Alafeefi, listed the five major infractions as follows: riding scooters and bicycles on walking tracks or in pedestrian-only zones; abandoning scooters in unapproved areas; riding scooters by multiple riders; and assembling crowds on cycle tracks.

Penalties for these infractions can reach Dh300. Alafeefi states that the trial period's main objectives will be to investigate the accuracy of AI detection and the caliber of data monitoring during the eight-hour operation duration. During the trial period, the robot will be available from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends. After the testing period, the real operating phase will see the deployment of these robots in other areas, changing the operational hours once again.

With state-of-the-art technology that complies with the highest safety regulations, it can send data in five seconds, identify infractions with over 85% accuracy, and have a surveillance range of up to two kilometres. The robot is also built to function well in a variety of weather situations and has sensors installed that cause it to stop when it approaches an item or person from a distance of 1.5 metres, protecting everyone using Dubai's roads.