Robotics: making life easy

Advancements in robotic technology enthral audience at Beijing conference

KARACHI:

The rapid advancement in robotics is bringing about significant changes in a host of industries as the human-like machines become ultra-intelligent while doing delicate and risky work, making life easy for human beings.

Being a market leader in producing industrial robots, China is mainly focusing on humanoid robots with a view to deploying them in houses, companies, stores and other areas.

China is known as the world's factory because of its astonishing economic growth over decades, powered by scores of factors including low labour costs, ample raw material, business-friendly and long-term policies, safe and secure environment, a large local market and striking research and development (R&D) work.

The five-day World Robot Conference was held in Beijing, China from August 21 to 25 where technology researchers and enthusiasts stole the limelight.

More than two dozen Chinese companies and over 169 companies from more than 10 countries displayed 600-plus innovative robot models, encompassing 27 humanoid robots. Most of the companies showcasing cutting-edge products are based in China.

Products of the companies enthralled the audience with mind blowing advancement in the field of robotics. Of particular interests were new humanoid robots. Women, who were actually humanoid robots, astonished visitors with excellent and natural facial features.

International Islamic University Islamabad Vice President (Research & Enterprise) Professor Dr Ahmed Shuja Syed said, "More than two dozen Chinese companies showcased humanoid robots intended for use in factories and warehouses at the World Robot Conference in Beijing. Others displayed the precision parts manufactured in China that are required to construct the robots.

"This seems to be a direct threat to Tesla-led US activity and the Japanese robotics programme. Besides some of the military aspirations, China wants humanoid robots to perform manual labour and automate elder care as its demographics change."

Advancements in robotics are predicted to completely transform a number of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, transportation and entertainment. Robots are growing increasingly clever, flexible and able to carry out difficult jobs as a result of the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

For the 11 year running, China has remained the top market for industrial robots worldwide, as announced by its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, he said. Investment in research and development as well as the share of China in the robotics industry worldwide surpassed 52% in the year 2022, which clearly reflects the direction and trend in this very competitive technology.

When considered as a whole, cheaper manufacturing is still China's primary competitive edge in the robotics sector. In terms of operating systems, industrial software and smart manufacturing equipment, domestic businesses in the nation fall behind international competitors.

China is focusing on these allied areas to complement the global robotics ecosystem, though the country is not making a humanoid society.

At the moot, robotic dogs remained the hot favourites as both local and foreign visitors took great interest in them. A couple of Chinese companies, like Unitree from Hangzhou, were working on robotic dogs.

Robotic dogs manufactured for factories can carry supplies and be sent into a fire or in an emergency situation.

In the run-up to the conference, robotics startup Agibot revealed five new robots that were capable of making deliveries. The Shanghai-based venture, founded by a former Huawei employee, hopes to have the humanoid delivering items by mid-October while manufacturing a large batch of 300 robots.

Besides delivery, these robots have also been designed to act as sales people, gallery guides or pickers of factory parts, according to CNBC.

US electric vehicle giant Tesla Inc has designed a humanoid robot, named Optimus, for use in factories. Both the US and China are striving hard for supremacy in the development of robots, but China is going to be a robotics powerhouse with humanoid robots in the years to come.

The Indian Express reported that Tesla's flagship Optimus humanoid robot also made an appearance at the World Robot Conference. However, the model reportedly sat motionless in a glass case as attendees clicked pictures of it. Recently, Elon Musk-led Tesla began hiring people to wear motion capture suits and virtual reality (VR) headsets in order to train the humanoid.

The writer is a staff correspondent