Rise of the robots a lift for Shanghai

Name: GR-1
Manufacturer: Fourier Intelligence
Height: 165 cm
Weight: 55 kg
Capabilities: The robot can walk at a speed of 5 km per hour and carry a load of up to 50 kg. It can move to avoid obstacles, ascend and descend a slope with stability, as well as withstand shocks. Using cognitive intelligence provided by tools such as ChatGPT, the robot is capable of collaborating with humans to complete various movements.

Plowing on

Wang Jinyue, the son of a peasant family, started his business with a vision that one day agriculture will no longer be a backbreaking chore.

Seven years ago, he resigned from his position as the operations director of an Internet company and set up Shanghai Sweet AI Technology Co to invest in agricultural AI robots.

His robots cover the complete farming process, including rotary plowing, bedding, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. They can be controlled by smartphones via the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and a 5G connection.

The sharp decline in the working population in agriculture is a problem facing all countries.

However, the issue in China is compounded by aging agricultural workers, Li Daoliang, a professor from China Agricultural University told the Shanghai Observer.

Wang believes technology has the solutions. "Although our products are only used in six provinces at the moment, a breakthrough in our supply chain allowed us to launch mass production," he said.

"We are expecting to see thousands, tens of thousands or even 1 million of our robots replacing farmers in the future."