Latest innovations in technology showcased at global event, Chen Meiling reports.

Mechanical mutts meander through the crowd as robot bats flutter over the heads of awed attendees, many of whom watch a fully-automated rock band kick out the jams or a full-size android Yao Ming shoot hoops. This was the scene at last week's 2018 World Robot Conference in Beijing.

The event, held from Aug 15 to 19, showcased the latest technological innovation in Chinese robotics, covering manufacturing, education, medical health, retail and entertainment.

More than 500 different types of robots from 166 companies in more than 15 countries were showcased at the annual event, which hosted over 20 industry forums and five robot competitions.

Mao Dongjun, deputy director of the Beijing Commission of Economy and Information Technology, one of the organizers, said the conference can help Beijing become a national technological innovation center with a high-grade, precise and advanced economic structure.

At the booth of listed internet company Cheetah Mobile, visitors waited eagerly in line to grab a cup of coffee brewed and served by robotic arms.

Wang Bing, chief strategy officer of Orion, an artificial intelligence subsidiary of Cheetah Mobile, said the company had brought robot greeters, baby sitters and retailers to the conference this year.

"Over the last two years, the robot industry has seen rapid development in China and a boom in services robots is soon to follow," he said.

"Beijing has a good environment for the robot industry. There are many startups and big companies that are innovating - it's an open platform."

Remebot, maker of China's first robot capable of neurosurgery, was a hit at the conference.

Liu Da, CEO and founder of the Beijing-based company, said with the robot can help doctors to reduce surgery time due to its high accuracy and assistance, improve efficiency and shorten recovery times.

Liu said all the parts used to make the robot came from partners in Beijing.

"The whole industrial chain, from guns to bullets, has been built up," he said.

Beijing Canbot Technology Co Ltd is a company listed as a top 10 Chinese robotics company by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2016 and 2017. It displayed how its robots can be used in classrooms and in family life, as assists for teachers and playmates for children.

"Beijing is an ideal location for the development of robots, especially services robots, thanks to its strength in policies, market and professionals," said Liu Xuenan, general manager of the company.

Liu Hongjiao, sales manager of Aubo (Beijing) Robotics Technology Co Ltd, a three-year-old startup, said her company brought collaborative robotics, an emerging segment in which robots can work side by side with humans, to the conference, expecting to find more business partners and increase sales.

Such robots, mainly used in assembly lines, can avoid collisions with workers due to an advanced detection mechanism, which can guarantee production safety. It can also quickly learn how to move under the guidance of humans, she said.

Liu said the Beijing government has provided much financial support, including rental and office decoration subsidies and other government funding.

According to Mao from the Beijing Commission of Economy and Information Technology, the city will encourage greater application of industrial robots and promote the research and development of service robots.

By 2020, the revenue generated by Beijing's robot industry is expected to reach 12 to 15 billion yuan ($1.74 billion to $2.18 billion), and could surge to 60 billion yuan by 2025, Mao said.

More than 282,000 people attended the conference, where agreements worth a record 8.9 billion yuan were signed - the highest in the event's history.

Contact the writer at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn

A robot demonstrates its strength and versatility in moving cars at the 2018 World Robot Conference in Beijing last week.Photos By Wang Zhuangfei / China Daily

(China Daily 08/21/2018 page12)