On chinadaily.com.cn
Society: Robotic traffic police relieve pressure
Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, has put a team of robots into operation to aid traffic police in tasks such as patrolling, information consulting and providing accident alerts. The robots are loaded with sensors and can move autonomously in all directions. They can assist traffic police by taking photos of vehicles violating parking rules, directing traffic and verifying driver’s licenses. Ma Zhanshan, chief of the local public security bureau, said the bureau aims to use the robots around the clock in important public locations to reduce the police’s workload.
Tech: High-tech clocks go into production
A superthin rubidium atomic clock, which is just 17 millimeters thick, has been put into mass production, according to its manufacturer, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. The clock is the key to the positioning and timing accuracy of Beidou navigation satellites. It uses a plug-in design, making it easy to insert and remove on
a circuit board. With stronger resistance to high temperatures, it can work at 70 C.
Travel: Sitting banned on steps in Rome
Sitting on the staircase at Rome’s Spanish Steps has been banned, according to Italian news agency ANSA. The move is reportedly part of a raft of strict new regulations to be enforced by the police. The 18th-century steps, known as the Scalinata di Trinita dei Monti, are classified as a monument, meaning that sitting or lying on them is prohibited. Those caught in breach of the new ban face a fine of $280, which can rise to $450 if the steps are dirtied or damaged, according to ANSA. The baroque-style stairway with its
136 travertine steps connects Piazza di Spagna with the Trinita dei Monti church above.
Education: AI offers tailored teaching plans
Students at a high school in Anhui province are having all their math tests marked by a computer, which also analyzes the results for teachers. Artificial intelligence can automatically give a student new exercises based on performance in exams and assignments. It’s in use in more than 10,000 schools nationwide. The targeted teaching program, based on big data, was developed by AI company iFlytek. A middle school in Ruili, Yunnan province, adopted the big data analysis service two years ago and now has a personalized learning program for every student. With the AI algorithm, computers can select exercises for students based on individual learning situations.