It's started: Robot Uprising Begins as China Turns to Machines to Fill in Gaps in the Workforce

[Shotgunner51]

Deployment of robots soars 70 percent in Asia

Frankfurt, February 1st, 2017 - Asian industry´s uptake of industrial robots is accelerating: in just five years its operational stock rose 70 percent to 887,400 units, (2010-2015). In 2015 alone, annual sales of robots jumped 19 percent to 160,600 units, setting a new record for the fourth consecutive year. These are results of the World Robotics Report 2016, published by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR).

China is the biggest market for industrial robots in the world and takes 43 percent of all sales to Asia including Australia and New Zealand. It is followed by the Republic of Korea, with a share of 24 percent of regional sales, and Japan with 22 percent. That means 89 percent of robots sold in Asia and Australia went to these three countries in 2015.

China will remain the main driver of growth in the region and will expand its dominance.
By 2019, almost 40 percent of the global supply will be installed in China. Continued growth in robot installations is predicted for all major Asian robot markets: Korea, Japan, Taiwan and other Southeast Asian countries.

Electrical and electronics industry overtakes automotive sector

The main driver of the latest growth in Asia was the electrical and electronics industry. Sales for this segment jumped 41 percent in 2015 to 56,200 units. This compares to 54,500 units in the automotive industry which is just a 4 percent rise. Within only a five year period, shipments of industrial robots to the electrical and electronics industry have more than doubled.

The manufacturing industry - still by far the number one by volume - recorded an annual growth of 25 percent to 149,500 units in 2015.

With regards to robotics density, the current leader is South Korea, with 531 robot units per 10,000 employees, followed by Singapore (398 units) and Japan (305 units). These Asian countries rank in the top 10 most advanced industries. Worldwide, the average robot density is 69 robot units per 10,000 employees.

"China will continue to be a strong future market for the robotics industry. Part of this trend is driven by the Chinese government´s 2025 initiative to support automation. The country aims to become a leader in automation globally,"

says Joe Gemma, President of the International Federation of Robotics.​

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http://www.ifr.org/news/ifr-press-release/deployment-of-robots-soars-70-percent-in-asia-846/

 

[Shotgunner51]

This is important. If domestic supply does not meet the domestic demand, China will continue to rely on imports. Along with demand, domestic supply needs to grow, too.



Naturally, automation in manufacturing will chase out unskilled workforce while more R&D and engineering specialists are employed.

The chasing out will not be instant, hence, these years are critical to train the new generation specialists and canalize the unskilled via training into services as well as entrepreneurship.

Yes, the demand is still huge, though China Mainland now has the largest base, by density smaller nations are still far ahead in automation, see below. Note Taiwan is also way ahead than Mainland, already reached 190 units per ten-thousand workers in 2015, driven by electronics/semiconductor, ranked #6 globally. China Mainland must narrow the gap with Taiwan/SK/JP/Germany asap.

 

[AndrewJin]

Trying to use 1800s articles and 1970s article to talk about robot revolution is a joke!

Autonomous driving will be the decisive move to really usher into robotic age and mass horde of human intensive labour is over.

I know some country is doomed.

Yes, a country will fail is if it not prepared for the incoming challenges.

Yes, the demand is still huge, though China Mainland now has the largest base, by density smaller nations are still far ahead in automation, see below. Note Taiwan is also way ahead than Mainland, already reached 190 units per ten-thousand workers in 2015, driven by electronics/semiconductor, ranked #6 globally. China Mainland must narrow the gap asap.

View attachment 382086

Deploy more robots!

 

[Shotgunner51]

Deploy more robots!

It's happening as we speak. Though density can't match smaller nations yet, in overall scale China is already the largest by now, and accelerating. China's (Mainland only) share is expected to reach 40% of global supply, see below.

 

[TaiShang]

Gree wants homegrown tech for manufacturing robots
China Daily, March 7, 2017

Dong Mingzhu, president of Gree [File photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn]

Gree Electric Appliances Inc, a leading Chinese home appliance maker is stepping up its efforts in intelligent manufacturing by using industrial robots－covered by the company's own intellectual property rights－for a variety of industrial production process.

Dong Mingzhu, president of Gree said: "The supply-side reforms mean we should create and improve technological innovative capabilities. We must stick to independent innovation."

She said: "At present, most of the robots are assembled with imported core components. But it is important that we develop our own technology and create our own brands."

Gree is focusing on intelligent manufacturing at present, with its industrial robots being applied to welding, spraying and transportation, which should greatly enhance productivity and reduce labor costs.

Dong added the trend in realizing automated and unmanned manufacturing was increasing.

She said: "We will concentrate on robots and precision machine tools in upgrading and transformation our manufacturing, as well as providing a batch of completely self-developed high-end equipment for the Made in China 2025 strategy."

Xu Lin, head of the National Development and Reform Commission's planning division, said some core technologies of the manufacturing industry could not meet the demands in an increasingly fierce market.

Xu said the manufacturing industry should improve innovation constantly, enhancing the intelligent manufacturing level.

Song Xiaogang, executive president and secretary-general of China Robot Industry Alliance, said: "From 2009 to 2015, the whole robotics industry entered a period of rapid development, with an average annual growth rate of 15 percent. In 2015, the world's industrial robot sales reached 254,000 units."

China has significantly expanded its leading position as the biggest market with a share of 27 percent of the total supply of industry robots in 2015, according to the statistics from the International Federation of Robotics.

In 2015, Gree produced 23,000 industrial robot units, accounting for 7 percent of the total sales in China. The transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing sector contributed to the development of the Chinese robot market, Song said, adding that Gree has done good work focusing on the Chinese market.

Song said: "We should grasp the opportunity brought about by the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector and intelligent manufacturing to develop robot products and systems, which can be applied to various fields."

***

She looks like my IPE professor.

 

[AndrewJin]

It's happening as we speak. Though density can't match smaller nations yet, in overall scale China is already the largest by now, and accelerating. China's (Mainland only) share is expected to reach 40% of global supply, see below.

View attachment 382124

I don't think density is that important considering the population of China.
But yes, we must accelerate the trend......
Make it 50+% in the coming decade pls!

 

[TaiShang]

China’s Robo Revolution

Big data and robo-patrols are paving the way for smart and secure cities in the Chinese mainland.
02 March 2017, HKTC

A JD.com best-seller: YI Technology's upgraded Dome Camera

Recent developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet technology have unleashed various revolutionary smart-security products in the Chinese mainland, leading to rapid expansion of the sector and offering several lucrative opportunities for tech-savvy businesses.

In recent years, intelligent remote surveillance has become a fact of life in millions of mainland households. The dawn of the two-child era has also resulted in a boost for the smart-home security market, with high-tech products embraced as a key element in monitoring the safety and security of babies and young children.

One company looking to capitalise on this application is YI Technology, the dedicated smart-camera subsidiary of Xiaomi, the Beijing-headquartered electronics giant. Last December, the company released an upgrade to its YI Dome Camera 1080P, the first generation of which sold more than three million units in the domestic and export markets in the past two years. It was also listed among the best-selling items during Amazon's 2016 Black Friday sale in the United States.

As of mid-January, sales of the new camera ranked first among similar products on the JD.com e-commerce platform. Overall, the Rmb169 (US$24.56) camera enjoyed an average positive approval rating of 96 per cent, based on a total of 22,000 user reviews.

According to a member of the company's marketing team, one of the product's key benefits is its use of recognition sensors, a feature that can distinguish the actual sound of a baby crying, reducing the incidence of false alarms. Camera footage can be accessed either via a smartphone or a PC, while the system also includes a two-way intercom facility.

Home security: 360's smart camera
Overall, remotely monitoring children and pets, while keeping an eye out in case of fire or theft has boosted demand in smart security. It has also been fuelled by a number of Central Government initiatives, notably the Smart City and Safe City strategies, as well as the expansion of the Internet Plus digital commercial programme.

Apart from the YI suite of digital products, other market leaders in the mainland's smart-security sector include ZTE Corporation, 360 and Xiongmai. While all of their ranges have a number of individual features, several technical attributes are common to all of them – high-end motion detection algorithms (delivering considerable sensitivity), compatibility with remote smart devices, a 360-degree panoramic option, and an infrared night-vision function.

Automated Security
Recent technical advancements have also ushered in the age of robot plus security, whereby human monitoring/enforcement can be complemented by digital intervention. In line with this, the AnBot – billed as China's first intelligent security robot – debuted at last year's Chongqing High-Tech Fair.

A little shorter than the height of an average woman, the AnBot weighs about 77 kilogrammes and features an array of smart systems and sensor devices analogous to the human brain and visual/auditory senses. Its features are said to include a smart-learning function, intelligent video analysis, an autonomous patrol capability, intelligent monitoring and detection, remote aggression intervention and an auditory/visual alarm system. It has a maximum speed of 18 kilometres per hour, patrols at an average of one kilometer per hour, and is capable of 18 hours of continuous operation.

Apart from the AnBot, other mainland companies have developed intelligent security robots. Robots created by Shenzhen's Smart IOT Technology Group (CIOT), for instance, are already used at a number of industrial parks across the country.

The CIOT robot features an audio and video intercom system, indoor wireless navigation, human-computer interaction, face recognition, autonomous obstacle avoidance, self-charging and an autonomous patrol facility. It is said to be particularly suitable for use in industrial parks and premises where hazardous chemicals are stored.

The success of such systems are said to be down to several factors, most notably shortcomings from the use of human security personnel. First, there are certain areas that are inaccessible to human security guards, making them difficult to monitor. Similarly, the harsh environments and adverse conditions in some facilities make them unsuitable for human patrol.

There are also a growing number of cost issues. Wages for security staff continue to rise every year, with the problem exacerbated by rapid employee turnover and compromised reliability. Automated systems, by comparison, can be relatively cheap to operate, while retaining a high level of scrutiny and continuity of service.

According to the manager of a security firm, one intelligent security robot can manage the workload of up to four staff. As the required technology matures, applications for such systems are expected to open up in the banking, business premises, community, exhibition halls and government building sectors. Many local branches of the China Construction Bank, as well as the Foshan Administrative Services Centre in Guangdong, already rely on robotic security solutions.

Big data: key to public planning
At present, the security sector is seeing traditional patrol protocols gradually being replaced by online high-definition intelligent surveillance systems. This has created soaring volume of video data, all of which has boosted demand for storage and high-end analytical systems.

In terms of storage, the challenge is to deliver continuous, stable and reliable operation, while facilitating the management of a vast volume of data. One of the most popular solutions has been the adoption of a cloud-storage system, which has the dual advantages of freeing-up a user's storage space while offering a convenient cross-region video search facility.

ZTE, for instance, offers up to 30 days of cloud storage for video data, along with several back-up security options. Not to be outdone, YI is looking to introduce an intelligent hard disk video recorder complete with a multiple encryption option and P2P remote connection technology. The latter facility is said to enable users to access a multi-screen viewing and replay option.

In the case of business users, the existing cloud monitoring protocol adopted by Hikvision, Huawei and other well-known companies in the sector is compatible with the services of the majority of hosting service providers and data analysis companies. This allows for access to a variety of intelligent video data analysis options.

Overall, the adoption of big-data technology is considered essential for maximising internal data acquisition, ensuring comprehensive structural analysis, optimising all processing, reducing costs and improving efficiency. Ultimately, integrating information sources from the security sector with data from other industries is an inevitable next step.

In terms of the application of such data, a number of European railway stations already track the flow of millions of their passengers via an array of visual sensors mounted in shared public spaces. Subsequent data analysis has allowed transport staff to optimise passenger flow and integrate such findings into departure scheduling.

In line with this, analysis of smart-security data is expected to be more widely used than just for monitoring premises and providing intruder alerts. Instead, it will provide unparalleled insights into many urban developments and commercial issues, allowing for greater than ever informed decision-making.

 

[TaiShang]

6th China Int'l Industry Robot Exhibition opens
Ecns.cn, March 10, 2017


A robot is on display at the 6th China (Tianjin) International Industry Robot Exhibition in Tianjin, March 9, 2017. Nearly 400 manufacturers from more than 20 countries and regions brought their latest robots to the exhibition, the biggest of its kind in China in terms of dimensions and influence. (Photo: China News Service/Tong Yu)


A robot is on display at the 6th China (Tianjin) International Industry Robot Exhibition in Tianjin, March 9, 2017. Nearly 400 manufacturers from more than 20 countries and regions brought their latest robots to the exhibition, the biggest of its kind in China in terms of dimensions and influence. (Photo: China News Service/Tong Yu)


A robot is on display at the 6th China (Tianjin) International Industry Robot Exhibition in Tianjin, March 9, 2017. Nearly 400 manufacturers from more than 20 countries and regions brought their latest robots to the exhibition, the biggest of its kind in China in terms of dimensions and influence. (Photo: China News Service/Tong Yu)


The “duAro” dual-arm robot from Kawasaki Robotics on display at the 6th China (Tianjin) International Industry Robot Exhibition in Tianjin. Nearly 400 manufacturers from more than 20 countries and regions brought their latest robots to the exhibition, the biggest of its kind in China in terms of dimensions and influence. (Photo: China News Service/Tong Yu)

 

[cirr]

Makeblock raises $30 million for education robots

DEAN TAKAHASHI@DEANTAK

MARCH 16, 2017 7:30 AM

Above: Makeblock's Airblock robot/drone.

Image Credit: Makeblock

Makeblock has raised $30 million in a second round of funding for robotics with an educational twist.

Evolution Media China and Shenzhen Capital Group led the financing for Shenzhen, China-based Makeblock, which has created a variety of robots — from aerial drones to manufacturing robots to toy robots.

The funds support Makeblock’s expansion into new markets, as well as further product development and diversification of science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) education hardware and software, and curriculum resources for educators, children, and hobbyists. Makeblock’s total funding to date is $36 million.

Currently, Makeblock is available in more than 140 countries, with 1,600 channel partners and 20,000 schools and educational organizations implementing Makeblock’s products into their educational curriculum.

Above: Makeblock’s mBot robot for kids.

Image Credit: Makeblock

“We’re excited to support Makeblock at this pivotal point in their growth as they continue to elevate STEM education to a new level” said Jason Ding, president at Evolution Media China, in a statement. “STEM education is the next industry to experience deep disruption, following in the footsteps of the mobile, IoT, and virtual reality industries. Over the past few years, Makeblock has been leading the charge in creating practical products for STEM education in the classroom and at home, and we believe this is just the beginning of their path to transforming education.”

Makeblock has seen rapid growth in the past year, expanding its workforce to over 300 employees worldwide. In addition to furthering STEM/STEAM education distribution, this latest round of funding will be used for the development of new initiatives built upon the company’s most recent work with Microsoft, Intel, and beyond. The infusion of capital will also allow Makeblock to expand its global offices in Beijing, Hong Kong, North America, Japan, and the Netherlands.

The company will be expanding its retail reach in the coming months, deepening its partnership with Barnes & Noble and SoftBank to put Makeblock products in more stores across the globe.

Above: Makeblock’s Airblock drones debuts this spring.

Image Credit: Makeblock

“Creation is happening everywhere at an explosive rate. From schools using Makeblock to teaching STEM concepts, to tech giants like Microsoft, Intel, Apple Education tapping Makeblock to unleash creativity in the classroom, down to parents at home trying to aid in their child’s education, the true power of Makeblock as a platform is to inspire creation,” said Makeblock CEO Jasen Wang, in a statement. “Our goal is to get Makeblock in every school, every home, every creative space to give anyone, at any age the ability to be a creator or inventor.”

The funding will support the launch of Makeblock’s first annual robotics competition later in 2017, which will encourage students to compete with their creative projects using Makeblock’s construction platform. This competition is in support of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s “Thirteenth Five Year Plan” on education, which was announced in 2016.

Makeblock’s latest product, Airblock, a modular STEM drone that raised $830,000 on Kickstarter in December 2016, will be available for purchase in retail stores starting May 2017. And on March 8, Makeblock took to Kickstarter to announce a new product — Neuron, a programmable electronic blocks platform for open-ended gadget building.

The company was started in 2011.

http://venturebeat.com/2017/03/16/makeblock-raises-30-million-for-education-robots/

 

[AndrewJin]

I am shocked to hear many Chinese kids now have robot interest classes after school. China is well prepared for future tech challenges.

 

[TaiShang]

First time I hear about this company. Impressive.


mBot V1.1

• • Entry level - Great for Grades 1-7
• • Graphical programming
• • Compatible with Arduino & App Inventor
• • Free online courses

mBot Ranger

• • 3 building forms – Great for Grades 5-11
• • Program & control via any smart devices
• • Endless ways to play with mBot Ranger
• • Free online courses

http://www.makeblock.com/en

 

[AndrewJin]

First time I hear about this company. Impressive.


mBot V1.1

• • Entry level - Great for Grades 1-7
• • Graphical programming
• • Compatible with Arduino & App Inventor
• • Free online courses

mBot Ranger

• • 3 building forms – Great for Grades 5-11
• • Program & control via any smart devices
• • Endless ways to play with mBot Ranger
• • Free online courses

http://www.makeblock.com/en

These toys are what kids are now playing in kindergarten and primary school. In middle school, they will start seriously playing at the professional level. Once in the college, they can secure them a job in companies like DJI.

 

[TaiShang]

You will also see more and more fences between countries. The fences for uneducated population.

A recently read a report that the number of foreigners of Africa origin in Guangdong has been at record lows due to lack of demand for low-end labor. In this case, IOT made most of those former traders redundant.

This will be the trend and it corresponds well with China's new high-end talent push.

It is becoming a cross-border natural selection; those who fall behind will be left behind because a sovereign nation has no responsibility for the national of another sovereign nation. It is a little bit tough, but, in the end, progress is through promotion of the best.

 

[武成王]

so I would suggest huo ji men living in say rural areas of Yun Nan, Gui Zhou, Si Chuan, He Nan, Shan Dong etc by ALL means (learn from fujian) to enter Australia, which is a strategic country we should compete with esp indians.

 

[TaiShang]

Bionic soft-bodied robot developed successfully
By Zhang Huan (People's Daily Online) March 31, 2017

A team at Beihang University, together with a foreign company, has successfully developed a soft-bodied octopus tentacle robot, which will be used in industrial and medical contexts, among others, Xinhuanet.com reported on March 30.

The bionic soft-bodied tentacle is composed of materials similar to the soft tissues in living organisms. Inspiration for the robot was derived from the physiological structure of mollusks.

Unlike traditional rigid robots, which are often inefficient, insecure and prone to damaging their targets, the bionic soft-bodied robot can move quickly and is able to safely and securely grasp objects, thanks to the sucking function of a built-in disc.

The design, manufacturing process, mechanical analysis and control system of the robot were all developed by postgraduate students at the university in collaboration with Associate Professor Wen Li from the Mechanical Engineering and Automation College.

Research done in the process of creating the robot will not only help to advance scientists' understanding of materials, mechanics and kinematics found in nature, it will also promote the research and development of new materials and robots, according to Yu Junzhi, a researcher at the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.