From autonomous bug zappers to android pianists and driverless ice-cream trucks, machines rule the world – at least at China’s Asian Games.
The Games opened Saturday after a one-year delay because of Covid with about 12,000 athletes and thousands of journalists, technical officials and spectators descending on Hangzhou.
The city is the unofficial home of China’s tech industry and robots and other mind-boggling gadgets are set to serve, amuse and police visitors.
An automated mosquito trapper roams the vast Games Village, zapping the pests after luring them in by mimicking a human’s body temperature and breathing.
Robot “dogs” that can run, jump and flip over patrol power-supply facilities. Smaller versions dance while a bright-yellow android plays the piano.
Driverless minibuses are set to shuttle visitors through the nearby city of Shaoxing, where baseball and softball venues are located.
Athletes can put their reflexes to the test against a table-tennis playing “Pongbot”.
At the massive media centre, a blushing plastic-and-metal receptionist with a number pad and card slots built into its torso greets customers at a makeshift bank.
Even venues were built with the help of construction robots which organisers say are “very cute, with unique skills”.
Summing up how keen China is to push the theme at the Games, the mascots are three humanoid robots – Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen, whose smiling faces adorn massive signs across Hangzhou and other nearby host cities.
Dog meets ‘dog’
Hangzhou, a city of 12 million people in China’s east, has built up a reputation as a home for tech startups.
That includes a thriving robotics sector eager to close the gap on industry-leading rivals in countries such as the United States and Japan.
At a business park, staff from DEEP Robotics put some of their most advanced models through their paces, commanding one four-legged bot to walk through construction rubble and sending another up a nearby pedestrian bridge slick with rain.
At one point, a real dog turns up and sniffs its robotic equivalent curiously.
Elsewhere, office workers pick up lunch from vending machines that can steam the food and, according to maker Kuaie Fresh, check the temperature so the meal is just right.
The machine also collects data on customer preferences.
In some countries, that would give rise to concerns about where their personal information is going and how it will be used.
But at least one customer was impressed.
“Its cooking skills are better than most people who don’t know how to cook,” said Hu, 29.
A global race to push the limits of artificial intelligence brought AI-enabled humanoid robots to a UN summit in July, where they claimed they could eventually run society better than humans.
And industrial robots have raised fears around the world that machines could make millions of jobs obsolete.
“I wouldn’t say that robots will replace humans, but rather they are a tool, and they will help humans,” Qian Xiaoyu, a DEEP Robotics executive, told AFP.
A temperature-taking robot had been lined up to take people’s temperatures and report if they showed signs of a fever.
It can also remind visitors to wear a mask.
But the gadget will probably remain in its toolbox after China’s ruling Communist Party abruptly lifted its draconian zero-Covid policy late last year. – AFP Relaxnews
Machines are taking center stage at China’s Asian Games in Hangzhou. With a year delay due to the Covid pandemic, the Games kicked off on Saturday, attracting about 12,000 athletes and a multitude of journalists, technical officials, and spectators. Hangzhou, known as China’s unofficial tech industry hub, is showcasing robots and incredible gadgets that serve, entertain, and monitor visitors.
One such gadget is an automated mosquito trapper in the Games Village. It lures mosquitoes by simulating human body temperature and breathing before zapping them. Robot “dogs” equipped with running, jumping, and flipping capabilities patrol power-supply facilities, while miniature versions dance and a yellow android plays the piano. Driverless minibuses are available to transport visitors around the neighboring city of Shaoxing, home to the baseball and softball venues. Athletes can also test their reflexes against a table-tennis playing “Pongbot”.
The massive media center features a blushing plastic-and-metal receptionist with a built-in number pad and card slots, greeting customers at a makeshift bank. Furthermore, construction robots played a significant role in building the venues, with organizers praising their unique skills and adorable appearance. To emphasize the technological theme, the Games’ mascots are three humanoid robots named Congcong, Lianlian, and Chenchen, prominently displayed on signs throughout Hangzhou and nearby host cities.
Hangzhou, with its population of 12 million, has gained a reputation as a thriving tech startup hub. The city’s robotics sector is eager to close the gap with industry-leading rivals from countries like the United States and Japan. At a business park, DEEP Robotics showcases its advanced models, including a four-legged robot navigating through construction rubble and another ascending a wet pedestrian bridge. Onlookers observed as a real dog curiously sniffed the robotic counterpart.
In addition to robots, Hangzhou also showcases other technological advancements. Office workers can conveniently purchase lunch from vending machines that steam the food and ensure it is served at the perfect temperature, while also collecting data on customer preferences. While this may raise concerns elsewhere about data privacy, some customers are impressed by the machines’ cooking skills.
The rise of artificial intelligence has sparked debates and fears worldwide. AI-enabled humanoid robots were a highlight at a UN summit in July, claiming their capability to eventually surpass humans in running society effectively. Industrial robots have also raised concerns about job displacement. However, Qian Xiaoyu, an executive at DEEP Robotics, believes that robots are tools that assist rather than replace humans.
Originally, a temperature-taking robot was planned to monitor visitors’ temperatures and remind them to wear masks. However, following the lifting of China’s zero-Covid policy by the ruling Communist Party, the gadget will likely remain unused.
Source: AFP Relaxnews
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
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