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

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Chinese scientists develop devilfish-shaped soft robot
Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-05 19:55:46|Editor: huaxia

A biomimetic robot in the shape of a devilfish developed by researchers in Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Shao Rui)

Once completed, the robot can be used for performing search operations, observing the ocean environment and conducting submarine scientific investigations.

XI'AN, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese researchers in Northwestern Polytechnical University have developed a biomimetic robot in the shape of a manta ray, or devilfish, that can flap its wings and slide underwater.

As one of the nature's most efficient swimmers, manta rays possess a unique propulsion mechanism with characteristics such as high propulsion efficiency, high mobility and stability, low noise and large load capacity.

The researchers created the bionic soft robot prototype modeled on the shape and motion of a manta ray. The prototype, with a wingspan of 80 cm, is powered by a lithium battery and can swim at a speed of up to 1.85 km per hour.

"Our team is also developing prototypes that can dive up to 1,000 meters and work continuously for a month," said the project leader Pan Guang, also dean of the School of Marine Science and Technology of the university.

Once completed, the robot can be used for performing search operations, observing the ocean environment and conducting submarine scientific investigations, Pan said.

The team will test the robot in lake conditions soon and in the open ocean next year. They also plan to load more sensors for visual and sound detection on the robot for further research.

 

[JSCh]

China publishes national standard for ground search-and-rescue robots
Source: Xinhua| 2019-09-05 17:02:59|Editor: Li Xia

BEIJING, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- China has published a national standard for ground search-and-rescue robots, according to a source of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Drafting of the national standard, initiated by the Standardization Administration of China, was undertaken by the Shenyang Institute of Automation under the CAS, in cooperation with units including the National Earthquake Response Support Service and a number of leading robot companies.

While specifying the classification, technical requirements, test method as well as transportation and storage requirements of ground search-and-rescue robots, the national standard will provide guidance on designing, production and application of the robots, and on advancing the development of intelligent ground rescue equipment in China.

The application of robots for special purposes has been expanded significantly in China in recent years. Ground search-and-rescue robots are used in response to earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters in the country.

 

[JSCh]

Robotics boom in sight as key tech evolves and production costs fall
By Cheng Yu | China Daily | Updated: 2019-09-09 13:41

A technician runs tests on a robotic arm at a production facility in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The commercialization of Chinese robotics industry is no longer on the drawing board as a wide range of emerging industries unveiled plans for accelerated application of robots recently, industry insiders said.

Xin Guobin, vice-minister of industry and information technology, said a wide range of new robotic forms have emerged in the country, on the back of breakthroughs in crucial technologies and declining production costs.

"In the future, robots will no longer just be tools to boost productivity but advanced, smart assistants to humans, to drive a new era of intelligent transformation," Xin said.

According to a latest report on robotics industry development, Chinese robotics segment has witnessed companies ramping up efforts to develop robots designed for new application scenarios, both in industrial areas and service-oriented niches.

Quicktron, a Chinese intelligent warehouse robot firm, is a shining example. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in August, it announced a cooperation agreement with the Baoshan government of Shanghai to build an industrial park for intelligent robots.

The industrial park will leverage technologies including AI and the superfast 5G technology to accelerate the research and development of intelligent robots. It will also test different scenarios to enrich the applications of such robots.

By enabling robots to pick and deliver goods in the warehouses, Quicktron has offered its services to more than 20 leaders in the field from 15 countries and regions, including China Post, DHL and Chinese vehicle-maker FAW Group.

It has also helped Cainiao, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's logistics offshoot, to establish an intelligent warehouse of over 30,000 square meters with nearly 1,000 intelligent robots operating in it.

Founded by Alibaba and a group of logistics companies, Cainiao is different in that it operates a proprietary logistics information platform that links a network of providers, warehouses and distribution centers. It incorporates different technologies to improve efficiency and save on costs.

"Such cooperation will propel certain technologies including artificial intelligence to the forefront, and out of the laboratory, to be applied in a variety of industries," said Yang Wei, founder of Quicktron.

Yang said the intelligent warehouse robots point directly to the bottleneck that logistics firms have faced and with such robots, the logistics industrial chain will become more flexible and smart.

"Since the robotics industry has been lifted to a new high in the nation, Chinese companies have made breakthroughs to leverage technologies to solve real-life problems," said Huai Jinpeng, an academic with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

With the faster-than-expected pace of robots designed for new application scenarios, the market size of the country's robotics sector is expected to hit $8.68 billion this year, which will make up for about 30 percent of the global robotics market, said the Chinese Institute of Electronics in a report.

Though faced with stiff competition from foreign rivals such as ABB Group of Switzerland, the production of industrial robots in China still hit 59,000 units in the first half of this year, up 52 percent year-on-year.

 

[JSCh]

China remains top robot market
By Wang Ying in Shanghai | China Daily | Updated: 2019-09-19 09:45

Visitors watch smart robots assembling an automobile during the China International Industry Fair in Shanghai on Wednesday. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Nation retains lead position for sixth year with sales of 156,000 units

China retained its position as the world's largest industrial robot market for the sixth year in a row by selling 156,000 units in 2018, with the nation accounting for 36 percent of total installation globally, several industry reports said.

The International Federation of Robotics published its annual report in Shanghai on Wednesday, where it said China, Japan, South Korea, the United States and Germany are the top five markets, representing 74 percent of global installation in 2018.

The report said China topped all markets by installing 154,000 units of industrial robots last year, making up 36 percent of global installation, and surpassing the combined amount of the American and European markets. The total value of installations in China surged 21 percent year-on-year to $5.4 billion, it added.

China also held its top position by sales volume, despite seeing a 1.73 percent year-on-year drop. This resulted from a 7.2 percent decline in the sales of foreign robot makers to 113,000 units, the China Robot Industry Alliance report said. Chinese manufacturers, however, bucked the trend with a 16.2 percent growth from a year ago.

The diverging trend was cause by China's policy to promote domestic manufacturers, along with weakness in the automobile industry here, said IFR Vice-President Steven Wyatt, who is also group vice-president of ABB.

China's robot density, which is the number of robots per 10,000 persons used in the manufacturing industry, reached 140 last year, higher than the global average of 99, the reports said.

"Ten years ago, the robot density in China was about 20, and today it is 140. We still see a lot of capacity potential in the Chinese market moving forward," said Wyatt, who suggested there is the huge potential in China as it continues to improve the level of its robot density in the future.

Qu Daokui, president of China Robot Industry Alliance and CEO of Siasun Robot and Automation Co, agreed.

"In the next decade, we expect the robot density in China will surge to a much higher rate," said Qu. He added it took China 40 years to reach its current robot density of 140 and before 2016, the rate in China was always below the global average.

Robots continue to be the highlight of the China International Industry Fair that will end on Sept 21 in Shanghai.

Siasun Robot and Automation Co published the first Chinese industrial software and control platform on Tuesday, and the system should be the foundation for Chinese industrial internet of things development.

ABB showcased a range of digital products, solutions and services including a watch making factory featuring a model production line assembling customized wristwatches in real time, as well as an AI-enabled waste separation prototype, which is a neural network of robots, computers and sensors that can classify and sort waste into four categories as effectively as a person.

"I see quite a few robots for the first time by our company during this year's event. Many of them are exhibited in China for the first time, tapping into the automotive manufacturing demand from China," said Cao Xi, a sales manager of the robot business management department in Yaskawa Electric (China) Co Ltd.

Cao said Yaskawa Electric showcased more than 30 types of robots during this year's CIIF, including a long arm robot tailored for the Chinese market.

It is estimated that sales of industrial robots will grow by 4 percent in the Chinese market in 2019, and domestic robot sales are forecast to rise by 15 percent.

This is the first time the IFR has published its annual World Robotics report in China. It forecast shipments in 2019 will decline from the record level set in 2018, but expects average growth of 12 percent annually from 2020 to 2022.

"We saw a dynamic performance in 2018 with a new sales record, even as the main customers for robots - the automotive and electrical-electronics industry - had a difficult year," said Junji Tsuda, president of the International Federation of Robotics.

The US-China trade conflict has created uncertainty in the global economy by prompting customers to postpone investments. But the automation trend and technical improvements will result in double digit growth in the industrial robot market, with an estimate of about 584,000 units shipped in 2022, Tsuda stated.

 

[JSCh]

Chinese firm uses cutting-edge tech for construction project
By Xu Keyue in Fuquan Source:Global Times Published: 2019/10/7 17:43:40

Longchang Tunnel in Southwest China's Guizhou Province during construction in 2018 Photo: IC

A state-owned company is saving manpower and ensuring construction safety and quality through the use of pioneering technology in the mechanical construction of a tunnel in Southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Longchang Tunnel, part of the Guihuang Expressway in the city of Fuquan, is two kilometers long and passes through a thick layer of limestone and dolomite, which increases the difficulty of construction.

To meet the challenges posed by the complex environment, China Communications Construction Second Highway Engineering Co has pioneered the use of robots and improved safety with the use of a real-time monitoring system and GPS. Virtual reality (VR) technology is also being used to train construction workers, Ma Jianyun, general engineer of the tunnel project, told the Global Times.

The tunnel is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2019, said Fan Wei, director of a department of the company. After construction, the tunnel will play an important role in regional industrialization and urbanization, and will help to lift surrounding towns and counties out of poverty.

VR pre-job training
Workers have to undergo safety training before joining the construction. The training includes watching animated demonstrations of safety situations based on VR technology and playing assessment games to test their knowledge, the Global Times reporter observed on site.

In the training room, Liu Guiping, the company's safety coordinator, demonstrated how to put out a fire using an extinguisher, along with other VR-simulated situations.

The innovative training method greatly improves workers' awareness of safety, Liu said.

The company is also using nine kinds of robotic machines on the project, each of which has a clear function, such as geological forecasting, tunneling and arched frame installation.

The "robot family," which takes up tasks formerly done by humans, is the main labor force in the construction process, Ma noted.

Workers only need to sit in the air-conditioned cabin of the intelligent three-arm drilling jumbo to press the start button and watch the machine accurately locate and drill holes in the tunnel.

In the training room, Liu Guiping, the company's safety coordinator, undergoes safety training and experiences a simulated safety incident using virtual reality technology. Photo: Xu Keyue/GT

The 17-meter jumbo has telescopic drilling arms and can walk flexibly. The workers have named it "Bumblebee," project manager Chen Jiabao said.

"The traditional manual construction method requires nearly 20 people who have to endure dust, noise and sweat, and take safety risks. The intelligent system now only needs two operators to control the robot, which makes the project faster, more efficient, safer and of higher quality," Ma said.

In addition to the drilling, robots are used in other processes of the tunneling.

"The mechanical construction in the whole process has saved on manpower by 35 percent. The number of people needed for the drilling, arch frame installation and shotcrete processes was reduced from about 40 to 12," Ma said.

Ensuring workers' safety
The company developed a Project Management System based on big data, GPS and AI technology, which can comprehensively monitor the tunnel, track workers, analyze air quality both inside and outside, and record the construction process.

"The system makes the entire construction traceable," Ma said.

Every worker has to wear a uniform inserted with a GPS chip before entering the tunnel. Workers can communicate and share moments with each other in the system on their mobile devices. The company can also respond immediately when emergencies occur, ensuring construction safety.

The system also can provide geological forecasts by using geology radar. In emergency situations, workers in the tunnel can call operators outside by using an emergency broadcasting system.

Tunneling incidents result in fatalities every year in China.

According to media reports, three workers died and one was injured in August at the construction site of a tunnel in Zhaoqing, South China's Guangdong Province. Five workers died in May after the collapse of a subway tunnel that was being constructed in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province.

 

[JSCh]

China's leading robot maker improves lives of the elderly
Source: Xinhua| 2019-10-08 15:07:38|Editor: Yurou

SHENYANG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's leading robot maker, SIASUN Robot & Automation Co., Ltd., said it has been developing robots that can provide better services for the aged.

Based in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, SIASUN's products have been utilized in nursing institutions, medical institutions and hospitals for the elderly.

So far, the company has created more than 20 kinds of robotic products, including intelligent robots for daily care, intelligent beds, semi-automatic bed chairs and walking aids.

The enterprise said robots could assist the elderly in daily care, which would increase efficiency and reduce the labor intensity of nursing staff.

"With the increasing aging population, there is a huge market and room to grow for rehabilitation robots for the elderly in China," said Li Xuewei, general manager of SIASUN's medical and health robot division.

Li said service robots for the elderly and the disabled, such as nursing and rehabilitation robots, would be in high demand in the near future.

As a leading enterprise in China's robotics industry, SIASUN's products have been exported to more than 30 countries and regions.

 

[JSCh]

Sanitation robot family unveiled in C China
Source: Xinhua| 2019-10-16 01:30:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan

CHANGSHA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese company unveiled a series of sanitation robots Tuesday in the city of Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

The sanitation robots, developed by Zoomlion Environment Industry Co., Ltd., can relieve the city's sanitation manpower shortage and rising costs, according to the company.

The robot family includes an electric cleaning robot, an electric washing robot and five other models, the company said.

The robots can be deployed in alleys, schools, industrial parks and other urban areas. The robots have specialties including snow removal and some that are able to climb and clean walls, according to the company.

All seven sanitation robot models can switch between unmanned and manned mode, and can also be equipped with a 5G communication module, said Zhang Bin, innovation director of the company.

 

[Sabretooth]

So when is T-1000 terminator coming to the market coz we need to buy a few.

 

[JSCh]

New version of “Jueying” robot dog released | ZJU NEWSROOM
2018-12-19

A new version of the four-legged “Jueying” robot was released on Dec. 4. The new “Jueying” robot, a small-sized quadruped robot that can handle 20 kg objects, is capable of running and climbing stairs.

The new “Jueying” robot is marked by a better ability to strike a balance while running and a greater capability of adapting to more complicated terrains, said one of the developers.

“Jueying” can issue an order every 0.5 millisecond, adapt quickly to the environment, give an order while it is on the verge of losing its balance and make adjustments with a series of fast-paced mobility.

At present, it has grasped a myriad of skills. It can run, jump, climb stairs, walk on gravel paths, and squat and stand up. Even supposing it falls down, it can automatically adjust its body position and rise to its feet again. It can fulfill multiple tasks and is thereby expected to be a powerful assistant in daily life. It can be used for security check and logistics. It can also replace human labor in various capricious environments. For instance, it can be used to detect life signals in earthquake-hit areas. In the exploration of space, barriers may well get in the way of a wheeled robot, but a quadruped robot can climb over it with great ease.

link to another video

Update on Jueying (developed by DeepRobotics，an entrepreneurial team of Zhejiang University)
2019-11-01

 

[JSCh]

NEWS RELEASE 8-NOV-2019
A 'worker' that flies: Chinese researchers design novel flying robot
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES HEADQUARTERS

The contact aerial manipulator system. CREDIT: Image by MENG Xiangdong

Skyscrapers are rising rapidly around the world, continuously transforming city skylines. However, their repair and maintenance is becoming more and more difficult. So, who can safely perform the job? Will a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man help out?

No, but Chinese researchers at the Shenyang Institute of Automation (SIA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have designed a promising alternative.

Recently, they reported the development of a contact aerial manipulator system that shows high flexibility and strong mission adaptability. They presented their findings at the 2019 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2019), an international conference on robotics and intelligent systems held from Nov. 4-8 in Macao.

Traditionally, regular inspection of high-rise buildings with glass curtain walls has been conducted by humans with gondola systems, which can be very dangerous, costly and inefficient.

The new robot represents a major advance in safety and efficiency. It comprises a single-degree-of-freedom manipulator cube-frame end effector and a hex-rotor UAV system.

Compared with general wall-climbing robots, it is capable of avoiding obstacles and even jumping over grooves on wall surfaces. It can also conduct interactive operations while in flight. Importantly, it has been designed so that the whole system's contact force can be controlled precisely without any force sensors.

"How to control the force is considered the most difficult problem, since flying robots usually are sensitive to external force," said MENG Xiangdong, the robot's designer.

MENG said realizing this objective required first making a flying robot with closed loop control behave like a regular spring system. He said that the elastic coefficient could then be easily changed by altering the control parameters. "It means that we can take the robot as a spring system so that the contact process can be safe enough," said MENG.

The research team also conducted experiments to test the system. For example, the researchers fixed a light switch to a wall, then had the robot press the switch to turn the light on and off. The robot was able to safely and smoothly operate the switch via precise force control. In another experiment, the robot smoothly moved along a glass wall, exerting fixed pressure. The robot then used a pen attached to the end of the aerial manipulator to write "SIA" - for Shenyang Institute of Automation - on the glass wall.

"In the near future, we might see an extensive use of this new system in large infrastructure maintenance, and other special applications, such as scientific sampling." said MENG.


A 'worker' that flies: Chinese researchers design novel flying robot | EurekAlert! Science News

 

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Robot performs first prostatectomy in Shanghai
2019-11-14 16:16:58 Ecns.cn

A robotic system, developed by Shanghai-based tech company MicroPort, has helped complete a Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALRP) at a hospital in the metropolis, China’s first such surgery by a domestically made device. (Photo/China Youth Daily)

(ECNS) -- A robotic system, developed by Shanghai-based tech company MicroPort, has helped complete a Robot Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (RALRP) at a hospital in the metropolis, China’s first such surgery by a domestically made device.

The system, named Tumai, allows the surgeon to move robotic arms and complete the surgery with a better range of motion than that of the human hand, cutting the operation time and creating less impact on nerves and blood vessels.

In the United States, 85 percent of patients receive treatment through the use of RALRP surgery.

Sun Yinghao, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said till now China’s RALRP surgeries were completed using imported systems, meaning a higher cost and limited choice, but Toumai is set to change this situation due its technical strengths.

The robot also applies homegrown technologies and makes it easier for surgeons to operate. A technical innovation, the robot will hit the market after review by China Drug Administration.

 

[JSCh]

Robotic surgery system wins gold
Cai Wenjun
19:25 UTC+8, 2019-12-13

A robotic surgery system targeting hip joint dysplasia developed by local doctors and engineers has won the only gold prize at a global innovation design competition of medical robotics.

The system, developed by Shanghai No. 6 People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai Electric Group’s medical robot research center, can conduct precise positioning and fixing to reduce trauma during surgery.

The hospital’s Dr Zhang Changqing said the purpose of the system was to simplify surgery and offer a more precise and more minimally invasive solution for patients.

Dysplasia of the hip joint is a problem which affects 3 to 5 million people in China. Traditional treatment needs cutting several key bones around the pelvis, leading to high risks and slow recovery.

The key skill in the surgery is cutting bones to allow realignment of the hip joint. A difficult skill but a problem that can be solved through the robotic system’s precise calculations and surgical navigation.

A total of 53 teams from countries and regions including China, the United States, Singapore and Italy took part in the competition. The winner of gold prize receives 500,000 yuan (US$71,633) support and Shanghai Medical Robotic Industry Zone will offer support for incubation and industrialization.

Doctors and engineers explain their robotic system to the judges at an international medical robotic innovation competition in Shanghai.

Source: SHINE Editor: Cai Wenjun

 

[JSCh]

Grid live working robots in service in North China
Xinhua | Updated: 2020-01-06 10:36

Employees of State Grid erect power transmission lines in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. [Photo by CAI ZENGLE/FOR CHINA DAILY]

TIANJIN -- Grid live working robots have been put into service in North China's Tianjin Municipality, replacing humans in the dangerous work on high-voltage power lines.

Zhang Liming, head of emergency repair team of Tianjin Binhai Power Supply Company of the State Grid, presided over the development of the robots.

He said the robots can carry out "minimally invasive surgery" on the grid to effectively solve the problems that are difficult and dangerous in manual repairs.

The robots have been put into service in 10 power supply units of Tianjin Electric Power of the State Grid on a pilot basis.

Zhang said the robots have the abilities of visual recognition, motion control and electromagnetic interference, which give them the functions of accurate positioning, independent path planning in line with technical standards.

The State Grid Corporation has signed an agreement with the Tianjin municipal government in the construction of an industrialization base for the research, development, production, sales and maintenance services of grid live working robots.

Liu Zhaoling, of the Tianjin electric power equipment department of the State Grid, said that the robot industrialization base will further develop the robots' functions to promote the integration of the Internet of Things technology and the robot technology in the service of the power grid maintenance.

 

[JSCh]

China completes artificial knee joint replacement surgery by robot
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-08 18:41:57|Editor: mingmei

BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- An artificial total knee joint replacement surgery conducted by robot has been completed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, according to the website of Science and Technology Daily.

The artificial joint replacement surgery of the total knee is an effective method to treat severely advanced knee diseases and help patients recover quickly. However, it is known for being technically demanding and difficult.

The total knee replacement surgery robot, named HURWA, independently developed by China, has realized intelligent human-machine interaction, with excellent mechanical precision, self-inspection and error correction abilities.

The hospital will cooperate with a number of domestic units to carry out clinical verification and introduce HURWA to the market as soon as possible, Lin Jin of Peking Union Medical College Hospital was quoted as saying by the website.

 

[JSCh]

"Flapping wings" powered by the sun - Headline Science
Feb 19, 2020
American Chemical Society

Artificial wings that flap in natural sunlight could someday be used in robots or in devices that harvest solar energy, according to a recent study in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. ACS' Headline Science shows the tiny wings in action.

“Sunlight-Driven Continuous Flapping-Wing Motion” –Ningyi Yuan and Jianning Ding (corresponding authors) https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/...