A glimpse into future at World Robot Conference in China
By Alvaro Alfaro
Beijing, Aug 19 (EFE).- Robots that care for the elderly, conduct PCR tests, and deliver packages are some of the highlights of the 2022 World Robot Conference underway in Beijing.
The event, organized between Aug.18 to 21, brings together more than 130 companies that showcase the latest advances in robotics in China, where the sector had a turnover of 83 billion yuan ($12.23 billion) in 2021.
The participants display how robots can contribute to different sectors, including the restaurant industry, medicine, elderly care, agriculture, and manufacturing.
One of the main event attractions is the robots that carry out PCR tests.
After a series of coronavirus outbreaks in the country in spring, the inhabitants of large cities undergo several weekly PCR tests to gain entry into public places, including stores, parks, and even the conference.
The authorities of the Chinese megalopolises have fixed a target of setting up testing booths so every resident can find one within a 15-minute walk.
It has led to thousands of such booths on the country’s streets.
The robotic cabin developed by a laboratory affiliated with Tsinghua University promises to test a sample in 35 seconds with a 99.9 percent effectiveness.
With the push of a button, a mechanical arm comes out of the cabin and places a stick of cotton in the mouth of the person being tested.
Owing to their ability to work for many hours at a time, these robots could help ease the long queues outside testing booths in high populated areas.
Healthcare robotics occupies a prominent place in the event with robots that perform dental procedures, high-precision surgeries, and vaccinations.
Companies are also displaying their creations in the elderly care sector, which is expected to grow considerably in the future as the Chinese population ages.
The robot developed by Robint is equipped with a camera and is capable of moving around an elderly person’s house, keeping track of the medicines they have taken, and alerting if any have been skipped.
It also has a thermometer and a blood pressure monitor with data synchronized to monitor the patient’s health.
“In China, there are more than 260 million elderly people,” a company representative told EFE.
“If only a small percentage of them buy these products, we would already be talking about a huge market.”
By 2035, people over 60 are expected to constitute more than 30 percent of the Chinese population compared to the current 18 percent.
Two Chinese digital giants, the JD e-commerce platform and the Meituan food delivery firm, were also present at the event.
For years, these companies have been at the forefront of developing logistics robots to save millions of dollars in wages for their delivery personnel.
What will humanoid robots be used for in the future?
2022/8/18 12:48 (EDT)
© Agence France-Presse
Photo Courtesy of Xiaomi
While waiting for other players to enter the fray, the humanoid robot war is already raging between the United States' Tesla and China's Xiaomi. From assembly line work to personal services, these robots could have very practical uses once they're made operational.
While waiting for other players to enter the fray, the humanoid robot war is already raging between the United States' Tesla and China's Xiaomi. From assembly line work to personal services, these robots could have very practical uses once they're made operational.
Whether the Tesla Optimus or the Xiaomi CyberOne, these robots are the size (between 1m70 and 1m80 or 5 ft 6 inches to 5 ft 9 inches) and the weight (about 50 kilos or 110 pounds) of an average human, and can walk and move like a person. The more elaborate of the two, Xiaomi's CyberOne, is also capable of perceiving space in 3D as well as recognizing individuals as well as their gestures, their expressions and their emotions. Artificial intelligence gives it the capability of interacting with humans, such as comforting someone who is unhappy. Meanwhile, Tesla's Elon Musk has long spoken of his dream of grafting an artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence onto his robots. A first prototype of the Optimus robot is set to be revealed before the end of the year.
The potential of such robots seems nearly limitless. However, it's within an industry setting that these robots will first need to demonstrate their worth. As Elon Musk himself announced, this type of robot would be perfect for alleviating humans of "repetitive, boring and dangerous tasks." In the factory, they could work on a production line, carry heavy loads or screw in bolts. In everyday life, they could do errands like mowing the lawn or walking the dog.
Once their operations have become more elaborate and "intelligent," these humanoid robots could very well be used to assist elderly or dependent people. But to start with there's more chance of seeing them on a production line than in a nursing home or in a regular home setting.
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