China's robot revolution, at your service

Robots may soon be ubiquitous in China, with the country’s push to increase their production and use. PHOTO: VCG

A robot at a parking facility. As labour costs increase, there is enormous demand for the use of robots in China. PHOTO: VCG

Robots at the City Social Welfare Centre in Hangzhou. China is in a big hurry to develop its robotics capabilities because of an ageing population and a slowing birth rate. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

KeeKo the robot (above) at a kindergarten in Hebei. It can play games with children, dance, sing, read stories, have a conversation with young pupils and even do mathematics. The robot has the intelligence level of a five-year-old child. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE

A “police” robot (above) on the streets in China. PHOTOS: EPA-EFE

iPal (above) is a social robot that is designed to offer care and companionship to children and the elderly. PHOTO: REUTERS

It is making strides in the field of robotics and accompanying technologies such as AI - but still years behind the West

Published:

Sep 25, 2018, 5:00 am SGT

Danson Cheong China Correspondent In Chongqing

A small crowd has gathered around Ms Feng Zhulin's stall at the Smart China Expo in Chongqing, craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the spherical object she is holding aloft.

It is a robot called Zhiban. Questions about the volleyball-size machine come quickly.

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