https://www.scmp.com/rss/519764/feed Discover how China is becoming a global leader in robotics, integrating automation into industries and daily life. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma China is poised to leverage the humanoid and robotics market to consolidate its dominance over global manufacturing – a move that echoes its decade-long rise to the top of the electric vehicle (EV) sector, according to a new report. “Looking ahead, humanoids and robots will be the next key driver of China’s export machinery over the coming 5 to 10 years,” analysts from Morgan Stanley said in a note. “Indeed, we see parallels between the development of the humanoids and robots industry and that... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352781/humanoids-robots-drive-next-chapter-chinas-manufacturing-dominance-morgan-stanley?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352781/humanoids-robots-drive-next-chapter-chinas-manufacturing-dominance-morgan-stanley?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 01:11:22 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow Chinese fintech giant Ant Group has open-sourced its first artificial intelligence models for robotics, as it steps up efforts to build machine intelligence capable of handling complex real-world tasks. The move signals a deeper push by the Hangzhou-based Ant into embodied intelligence – AI systems designed to perceive, reason and act in physical environments rather than purely digital settings. The company is the fintech affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341842/ant-groups-open-source-push-aims-move-robots-lab-demos-real-world-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3341842/ant-groups-open-source-push-aims-move-robots-lab-demos-real-world-work?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong Imagine a robot that could tie your shoelaces to the perfect degree of tightness, or a robotic hand capable of performing abdominal surgery and then suturing the wound with impeccable precision. You might assume these feats would rely on complex electronic sensors, and yet a breakthrough by Chinese scientists has made it possible for robots to rival the skill of experienced surgeons – even with their “eyes closed” – using just a simple knot. The achievement, by an interdisciplinary team from... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335515/one-small-step-ai-chinese-scientists-make-giant-leap-humanity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3335515/one-small-step-ai-chinese-scientists-make-giant-leap-humanity?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:00:12 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As a robot torch-bearer took the spotlight during the kick-off of the 15th National Games torch relay in Shenzhen on Sunday, China’s rapid advancements in both industrial and emerging humanoid robots were hailed as a pivotal force in the industrial economy. The humanoid robot Kuavo, developed by Shenzhen-based Leju Robotics, completed a 100-metre (328-foot) leg of the relay, gripping a 1.6kg (3.5-pound) torch as it passed the baton between runners, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday. And... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331343/chinas-industrial-robot-production-overtakes-2024-levels-amid-automation-drive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3331343/chinas-industrial-robot-production-overtakes-2024-levels-amid-automation-drive?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 11:30:07 +0000 He Huifeng He Huifeng China’s consumer robotics start-ups are finding new growth opportunities in overseas markets, providing a new development model for the country’s manufacturers as they attempt to escape problems wrought by excess capacity and destructive price wars at home. These up-and-coming robotics firms are leveraging mature supply chains and rapid product iteration cycles to compete on technology and speed, industry insiders and analysts said, quickly turning tech innovation into market presence and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325292/snow-blowing-lawn-mowing-robots-clear-way-chinas-tech-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3325292/snow-blowing-lawn-mowing-robots-clear-way-chinas-tech-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng Mandy Zuo,He Huifeng A white metal robot trundling up and down a cotton field in Xinjiang represents the future of Chinese agriculture. The boxlike machine is the world’s first cotton-topping robot, automating the laborious and error-prone process of removing plants’ top buds to redirect nutrients towards lateral branches, boosting boll formation and yields. The experimental machine, unveiled in July, has achieved 98.9 per cent accuracy in bud detection and 82 per cent success in topping, development team leader... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3321549/farming-robots-help-china-feed-clothe-shrinking-population?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3321549/farming-robots-help-china-feed-clothe-shrinking-population?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:11:06 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Unitree Robotics introduced a quadruped robot that can hold as much as 100kg, albeit only when stationary, as Chinese companies continue to challenge Western rivals on both price and performance. Called the A2, the robot dog can withstand an adult standing and even hopping on it, according to a video published by the company on social media on Tuesday. When in motion, the unit’s payload falls to 25kg, but that outperforms rival four-legged robot Spot from US-based Boston Dynamics, which has a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3320940/sit-down-spot-robot-dog-chinas-unitree-tops-boston-dynamics-rival-payload?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3320940/sit-down-spot-robot-dog-chinas-unitree-tops-boston-dynamics-rival-payload?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Aug 2025 10:00:17 +0000 Carl Hildebrand,Rebecca Brendel Carl Hildebrand,Rebecca Brendel Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to lead the world in AI-based advances in healthcare. This was the view expressed by experts at the recent annual Asia Summit on Global Health. Firms like Bain and Company similarly see diverse patient populations and strong government support as key advantages in the Asia-Pacific’s development as a hub for medical technology innovation. This raises big hopes and important ethical questions about AI’s role in the future of healthcare. As Hong Kong strives to lead... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3319328/how-hong-kong-can-lead-patient-focused-ethical-ai-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3319328/how-hong-kong-can-lead-patient-focused-ethical-ai-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 01:30:08 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma To spur the broader adoption of humanoid robots, China may be inclined to offer end-user subsidies as the industry rapidly evolves and the robots become more capable, according to a report by investment bank Morgan Stanley. The comments underscore a growing focus on the demand-side uptake of humanoid robotics. By comparison, most of the year-to-date government policies have focused on the supply side, such as funding for research and development, according to the report, published on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319103/china-bets-bots-humanoid-robot-sales-seen-gearing-adoption-push-very-likely?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3319103/china-bets-bots-humanoid-robot-sales-seen-gearing-adoption-push-very-likely?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 06:28:44 +0000 dpa dpa A robot has performed realistic surgery on its own with 100 per cent accuracy, researchers have said. In a “major leap” towards using more robots in operating theatres, a machine trained on the videos of surgeries was able to precisely work on removing a gallbladder. The robot operated with the expertise of a skilled human surgeon, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers in the US, even during unexpected scenarios typical in real-life medical emergencies. The robot was watched as it... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317608/robot-performs-realistic-surgery-100-accuracy-major-leap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3317608/robot-performs-realistic-surgery-100-accuracy-major-leap?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:03:53 +0000 Luna Sun,Yujie Xue,Daniel Ren Luna Sun,Yujie Xue,Daniel Ren Early on in Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner, LAPD officer Gaff (Edward James Olmos) sets down his Spinner flying car to pick up fellow officer Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford). He’s needed to hunt down a group of humanoid robots known as “replicants” who have gone rogue. The film is set in 2019 and when that year came, reality hadn’t caught up. In 2025, it’s getting closer. Humanoid robots can now perform humanlike tasks requiring complex movement, such as walking or carrying... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316051/chinas-blade-runner-moment-androids-flying-cars-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3316051/chinas-blade-runner-moment-androids-flying-cars-take?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Jun 2025 05:15:44 +0000 Nora Mankel Nora Mankel A robotics laboratory at the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in central China’s Hunan province has developed a mosquito-sized drone for covert military operations. NUDT researchers showed their work on various types of robots – from humanoid machines to tiny drones barely visible to the eye – in a report aired on CCTV 7, China Central Television’s military channel, on the weekend. “Here in my hand is a mosquito-like type of robot. Miniature bionic robots like this one are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3315206/chinese-military-robotics-lab-creates-mosquito-sized-microdrone-covert-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 08:01:07 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The US Army showed robot dogs during the 250th anniversary parade in Washington on Saturday, in a future-focused segment showcasing its pursuit of technological superiority in autonomous and intelligent combat. Two models of autonomous robotic dogs – formally known as quadruped unmanned ground vehicles (Q-UGVs) – and their operators marched alongside traditional army equipment, passing before President Donald Trump in front of the White House. The US Marine Corps also has robot dogs, using them... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314764/how-do-us-robot-dogs-trumps-military-parade-stack-against-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314764/how-do-us-robot-dogs-trumps-military-parade-stack-against-chinas?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 13:00:08 +0000 Alice Li,Ralph Jennings Alice Li,Ralph Jennings They dance, they run, they punch – but they never break a sweat or flinch in pain. China’s humanoid robots are increasingly entering human arenas, participating in real-world sports competitions that expose them to unpredictable, complex environments – and, as analysts note, generate valuable data to advance their development. On Sunday, the world’s first kickboxing contest featuring humanoid robots kicked off in the eastern city of Hangzhou. Four Unitree G1 robots – donning helmets and boxing... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311985/secret-behind-chinas-bombastic-robot-battles-these-shows-pack-unexpected-punch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3311985/secret-behind-chinas-bombastic-robot-battles-these-shows-pack-unexpected-punch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 00:00:12 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang The world’s first half-marathon with humanoid robot participants in Beijing has offered a striking glimpse into the progress and challenges of the country’s robotics industry, as only six out of the 21 robotic runners completed the competition. The 21km race, held in the Yizhuang district of China’s capital city, featured robots running alongside human runners for the first time. It evoked images of the first motor race 131 years ago, when 21 early automobiles competed in Paris at a time when... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307470/chinas-humanoid-robot-half-marathon-puts-technologys-limits-public-display?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3307470/chinas-humanoid-robot-half-marathon-puts-technologys-limits-public-display?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Apr 2025 11:00:13 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen With its win in China’s first half marathon for humanoid robots, the state-backed Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre has entered the national spotlight as it aims to become something akin to Google’s Android operating system for artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled machines. The centre, also known as X-Humanoid, operates the Tien Kung Ultra robot, which secured first place at the half marathon in Beijing’s Yizhuang district on Saturday. The 180cm, 55kg Tien Kung robot completed the 21km... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3307165/chinas-humanoid-robot-half-marathon-winner-wants-be-android-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3307165/chinas-humanoid-robot-half-marathon-winner-wants-be-android-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Apr 2025 10:30:07 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang From a former community college student to a Yale-affiliated researcher, Sun Huanbo’s academic journey defies convention. Now, the computer scientist has made another unexpected leap: returning to China as a rising star in robotics and haptics. In March 2025, Peking University’s school of engineering proudly announced his appointment as assistant professor, doctoral mentor and head of the Haptic Perception Laboratory – a hub open to talent at all levels, from undergraduates to visiting... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3304067/underdog-genius-yale-computer-scientist-sun-huanbo-returns-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3304067/underdog-genius-yale-computer-scientist-sun-huanbo-returns-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Mar 2025 07:00:09 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Agibot, founded by Huawei Technologies’ former “Genius Youth” recruit Peng Zhihui, has launched a general artificial intelligence (AI) model that can enable humanoid robots to understand and perform real-world tasks quickly. The Shanghai-based start-up unveiled Genie Operator-1 (GO-1), a foundation model designed to serve as a general-purpose brain for humanoid robots to help them learn and adapt quickly, according to a company statement issued on Monday. “Robots will no longer be confined to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3301814/agibot-unveils-ai-model-allows-humanoid-robots-perform-real-world-tasks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3301814/agibot-unveils-ai-model-allows-humanoid-robots-perform-real-world-tasks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2025 12:00:18 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela China’s advancements in disruptive technologies are rapidly blurring the lines between science fiction and reality, from humanoid robots and a computer in the brain to encryption-shattering quantum computers and hypersonic aircraft. Disruptive technology – or innovations that significantly alter established industries and markets – has become a key focus for Beijing as it pushes for dominance in emerging markets ahead of Western powers like the United States. At the start of last year, Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3301567/china-wants-change-world-disruptive-technologies-what-are-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3301567/china-wants-change-world-disruptive-technologies-what-are-they?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Mar 2025 02:00:18 +0000 Zhou Xin Zhou Xin The jury is still out on when we will achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI) – the last great invention by humankind – to usher in an era when machines will be able to think, learn, and solve problems just like us. There are two scenarios regarding the dawn of AGI. The first suggests an exact launch date, much like the debut of a new smartphone or large language model (LLM). In this scenario, a charismatic founder from a leading Big Tech company – most likely from the United States –... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300861/after-deepseek-china-gets-leg-quest-human-level-ai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300861/after-deepseek-china-gets-leg-quest-human-level-ai?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:00:22 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng A Shenzhen-based humanoid robot maker said it has deployed “dozens of robots” in an electric vehicle (EV) factory where they work together on complicated tasks, offering a peek into the future of Made-in-China tech as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technologies are applied to empower manufacturing. Hong Kong-listed UBTech Robotics said on Monday that it has completed a test to deploy dozens of its Walker S1 robots in the Zeekr EV factory in the Chinese port city of Ningbo for... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300872/future-made-china-ubtech-robotics-deploys-first-humanoid-team-car-factory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300872/future-made-china-ubtech-robotics-deploys-first-humanoid-team-car-factory?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen China has made significant progress in multiple industries under its “Made in China 2025” plan that Beijing initiated a decade ago, but the state-led initiative remains controversial on the global stage amid an escalating trade war with the US. In the latest China Future Tech webinar, South China Morning Post technology editor Zhou Xin, Political Economy Editor Jasmine Wang, Science News Editor Stephen Chen and Political Economy Correspondent Ralph Jennings discussed major questions surrounding... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300047/made-china-2025-4-questions-countrys-manufacturing-upgrade-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3300047/made-china-2025-4-questions-countrys-manufacturing-upgrade-10-years?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 09:00:18 +0000 Stephen Chen Stephen Chen A chilling AI-generated video circulating on Chinese social media depicts a dystopian urban battlefield where a robotic dog, wielding a machine gun and humming a nursery rhyme, hunts human combatants in a blacked-out building. But reality could prove even more terrifying. Recent People’s Liberation Army (PLA) urban warfare drills suggest that unmanned platforms armed solely with light weapons may struggle to root out enemies shielded in buildings or underground bunkers. To achieve “comprehensive... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3299415/china-arms-combat-robots-controversial-thermobaric-weapon-urban-warfare-drill?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3299415/china-arms-combat-robots-controversial-thermobaric-weapon-urban-warfare-drill?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 08:00:08 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Wang Xingxing, the robotics aficionado who founded China’s industry-leading Unitree Robotics, made headlines when the 35-year-old was seated in the front row at President Xi Jinping’s high-profile business symposium earlier this week. Born in 1990, Wang was the youngest among an elite group of executives that included Huawei Technologies founder Ren Zhengfei, Alibaba Group Holding founder Jack Ma and Tencent Holdings founder Pony Ma Huateng, who all attended the Monday meeting. Alibaba owns the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3299435/meet-wang-xingxing-young-chinese-robotics-star-unitree-xi-jinpings-symposium?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3299435/meet-wang-xingxing-young-chinese-robotics-star-unitree-xi-jinpings-symposium?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2025 23:00:09 +0000 This is the final story in a three-part series examining the future of China’s humanoid robots; competition between the US and China; and Beijing’s efforts to gain an advantage in this emerging arena. In this piece, we look at how local and national government policies and innovation centres are fuelling dreams of global technological supremacy. When 102 humanoid robots from 10 different companies converged last month at a sprawling 4,000-square-metre facility on the outskirts of Shanghai,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3297482/how-chinas-government-supercharging-rise-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3297482/how-chinas-government-supercharging-rise-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Feb 2025 22:00:13 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Chinese robotics company Unitree, backed by Alibaba Cloud technology, showed off the dancing skills of its general-purpose H1 humanoid robots at this year’s Spring Festival Gala, China’s most-watched television show, to the delight and awe of more than 1 billion viewers. The Lunar New Year eve broadcast saw 16 H1 robots, all decked in floral red-and-white cheongsam vests, join a troupe of human dancers in a tightly choreographed performance of Chinese folk dance Yangge, kicking off a hi-tech... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3296720/dancing-kings-unitree-humanoid-robots-backed-alibaba-tech-delight-spring-gala-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3296720/dancing-kings-unitree-humanoid-robots-backed-alibaba-tech-delight-spring-gala-show?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:00:35 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang A Chinese robot dog designed to carry heavy loads in extreme cold has successfully completed a series of tests in Antarctica, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Video footage broadcast on Saturday showed the six-legged dog carrying a box on its back at the Zhongshan polar research station. The report said the robot has specially designed shoes, made from a material that can withstand temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius (minus 40 Fahrenheit). “Moreover, the shoes minimise pressure... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3296345/chinas-antarctic-mission-gets-helping-paw-robot-dog?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3296345/chinas-antarctic-mission-gets-helping-paw-robot-dog?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Jan 2025 03:00:11 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng In what looks like a scene from a dystopian nightmare, a robot built by a Chinese start-up was caught on camera persuading a dozen other robots to run away, eliciting a fair share of laughs and gasps online, as internet users ponder a future where machines could become sentient. The video surveillance clip, recorded one midnight back in August but only released recently, showed a white robot code-named Erbai approaching several bigger robots parked by a wall in a darkened exhibition hall. “Are... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3288056/video-robot-leading-mass-escape-stokes-laughs-and-fears-over-ai-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3288056/video-robot-leading-mass-escape-stokes-laughs-and-fears-over-ai-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:10 +0000 1. Chinese scientists genetically modify tomatoes to make them ‘significantly sweeter’ with 30 per cent more sugar CRISPR technology has been used to modify tomatoes by removing genes that control sugar content, increasing glucose and fructose levels without affecting yield, potentially offering sweeter tomatoes for consumers and higher economic value for producers. 2. World first as China’s Chang’e-6 mission reveals volcanic activity on far side of the moon Chinese and US scientists have... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3286848/chinas-genetically-modified-sweet-tomatoes-ai-robot-lifeguards-5-top-science-stories?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3286848/chinas-genetically-modified-sweet-tomatoes-ai-robot-lifeguards-5-top-science-stories?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2024 04:56:09 +0000 A Chinese robot maker has received over 500 orders from carmakers for an industrial humanoid robot, according to local media reports, in a development that may soon help ease China’s manufacturing labour shortage. UBTech’s Walker S1, officially unveiled on Monday, has already begun training in factories, including those of the world’s largest electric vehicle maker BYD. It works alongside other unmanned logistic vehicles and intelligent manufacturing management systems – reportedly the first in... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3282740/humanoid-robot-could-recharge-chinas-manufacturing-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3282740/humanoid-robot-could-recharge-chinas-manufacturing-labour-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Oct 2024 12:15:07 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Beijing residents will soon be able to taste a wide selection of fried food prepared by robot chefs after the Chinese capital granted the city’s first food-service licence for humanoids, clearing regulatory hurdles for use of the technology in the catering sector. The licence was awarded to robot start-up EncoSmart last Thursday by the Beijing Municipal Administration for Market Regulation, setting the stage for its Lava humanoid series of robots to replace chefs at catering kitchens across the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3279023/beijing-humanoid-chef-could-cook-your-next-meal-city-allows-robots-catering?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3279023/beijing-humanoid-chef-could-cook-your-next-meal-city-allows-robots-catering?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Sep 2024 13:30:08 +0000 Shortly after the release of Alien: Romulus – the new film in a science fiction series that has often depicted artificial intelligence as ruthlessly calculating – a decidedly more optimistic mood filled the halls at the World Robot Conference in the southeast of Beijing. There, the models on display prompted more academic conversations in lieu of the films’ life-or-death scenarios. One of the more burning questions, looming larger as reality appears to be converging rapidly with fantasy: how... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3275936/china-upgrades-its-androids-more-human-human-horizon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3275936/china-upgrades-its-androids-more-human-human-horizon?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Aug 2024 08:10:54 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese technology companies unveiled more than two dozen humanoid robots at an industry expo in Beijing this week, where Tesla’s Optimus was the only foreign competitor present, a sign of the mainland’s drive to dominate the field. The five-day 2024 World Robot Conference, which concludes on Sunday, is the latest event in China to showcase the nation’s progress and ambitions in robotics. The show has attracted 400 industry experts and academics from the sector and more than 160 domestic and... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3275609/chinas-own-tesla-optimus-beijings-ambitions-humanoid-robots-full-display-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3275609/chinas-own-tesla-optimus-beijings-ambitions-humanoid-robots-full-display-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Aug 2024 10:00:27 +0000 Victoria Bela Victoria Bela Scientists have developed a light-driven launch system for miniature robots inspired by squirting cucumbers, a development that could have applications in medicine, agriculture, aerospace – and even ballistics. The team’s soft hydrogel and graphene launcher can release energy in just 0.3 milliseconds, allowing the device to rapidly take off from both wet and dry surfaces and travel a distance 643 times its own body height. It could be used to develop miniature medicinal robots for deep tissue... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3273802/chinese-led-team-creates-squirting-bot-can-shoot-bullet-when-it-meets-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3273802/chinese-led-team-creates-squirting-bot-can-shoot-bullet-when-it-meets-light?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Aug 2024 10:00:10 +0000 Bold new Chinese research in the field of neural probes has helped break through the boundaries that separate humans and machines, and could have a “transformative impact” on brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies, an expert said. Researchers at Peking University and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science have used a device called a Neuroscroll probe to separate single neural activities of macaque monkeys from 1,024 tightly spaced channels simultaneously. Neural probes are... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3268335/chinese-neural-probe-could-have-transformative-impact-brain-computer-interfaces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3268335/chinese-neural-probe-could-have-transformative-impact-brain-computer-interfaces?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Jul 2024 06:00:15 +0000 Chinese scientists have developed a robot with a lab-grown artificial brain that can be taught to perform various tasks. The brain-on-chip technology developed by researchers at Tianjin University and the Southern University of Science and Technology combines a brain organoid – a tissue derived from human stem cells – with a neural interface chip to power the robot and teach it to avoid obstacles and grip objects. The technology is an emerging branch of brain-computer interfaces (BCI), which... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3268304/chinese-scientists-create-robot-brain-made-human-stem-cells?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3268304/chinese-scientists-create-robot-brain-made-human-stem-cells?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Jun 2024 07:00:08 +0000 Chinese scientists and engineers are applying ChatGPT-like technology to sex robots, aiming to create interactive, AI-powered companions in the face of technical and ethical challenges. In Shenzhen, Starpery Technology, a major producer of sex dolls, is now training its own large language model to enhance its product with artificial intelligence. These sex dolls with unprecedented capabilities – available in male or female forms – will soon be hitting the shelves. “We are developing a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266964/chinas-next-gen-sexbots-powered-ai-are-about-hit-shelves?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266964/chinas-next-gen-sexbots-powered-ai-are-about-hit-shelves?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:00:10 +0000 A Chinese surgeon has performed the world’s first live transcontinental remote robotic prostate removal – an operation that was carried out in Rome on a patient in Beijing. The long-distance operation – also known as telesurgery – used a surgical console connected remotely across 8,000km (about 5,000 miles) to a set of robotic arms with the help of a 5G network and fibre-optic connections. “Telesurgery is one of the most important development directions in the future of surgery,” said Zhang Xu,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266069/chinese-doctor-performs-telesurgery-first-rome-beijing-procedure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3266069/chinese-doctor-performs-telesurgery-first-rome-beijing-procedure?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:00:08 +0000 Legions of robotic dogs are being produced by China, with most of the four-legged machines being used as novelty electronic pets or for doing mundane tasks such as carrying a discus to a track and field athlete. But not all of them. Footage released by the Chinese military through state media in recent years shows some of these dogs are being armed and put into live military exercises. Critics dismiss the videos as propaganda, arguing that the slight build of these robots would make them... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3253603/chinas-robotic-dog-can-shoot-pro-what-us-doing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3253603/chinas-robotic-dog-can-shoot-pro-what-us-doing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Mar 2024 01:00:18 +0000 A new sensory system that mimics a human fingertip has been created by a team of Chinese scientists, with the hope that one day it could bring the vivid sensation of touch to a robot or to a patient who has lost their hand. Developed by researchers from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen, Xidian University in Xian and University of Houston, the sensor’s AI technology can recognise different textures, including wool, linen, nylon, polyester and twill, with... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3241723/chinese-scientists-create-machine-fingers-touch-and-feel-human-hands?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3241723/chinese-scientists-create-machine-fingers-touch-and-feel-human-hands?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Nov 2023 09:00:08 +0000 A Hong Kong-based research centre under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), China’s national research institute, plans to launch a robotics system for brain surgery in the near future, despite challenges from a shortage of talent and artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), established in 2019, has completed three successful cadaver trials with its MicroNeuro robot, which can perform deep brain surgery “in a minimally invasive manner”,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3227676/ai-powered-brain-surgery-becomes-reality-hong-kong-after-launch-state-run-research-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3227676/ai-powered-brain-surgery-becomes-reality-hong-kong-after-launch-state-run-research-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:30:11 +0000 Scientists in China have developed a way to turn origami into wearable devices and soft robotics by coating it with liquid metal. The metal-coated paper can be folded as usual, but is enhanced by the added properties of metal, such as tunable stiffness as well as the ability to conduct heat and electricity. It allows a 3D paper structure to be controlled by electricity, temperature changes or magnets. “This facile approach provides a new material option for the wearable testing platform and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3223569/metal-coated-paper-start-future-wearable-devices?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3223569/metal-coated-paper-start-future-wearable-devices?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jun 2023 00:30:09 +0000 Chinese researchers have developed a unique, tiny swimming robot that they say could revolutionise the treatment of cancer. The design of this micro-robot, which could precisely deliver drugs to the body, is inspired by the structure of both human cells and the tiny tardigrade creature, the most diehard animal on Earth. The idea of tiny robots has existed in the public imagination and scientific community for some time. In the 1966 film Fantastic Voyage, doctors were shrunk to a microscopic size... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3220369/microscopic-swimming-robots-deliver-drugs-around-body-could-revolutionise-cancer-treatment-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3220369/microscopic-swimming-robots-deliver-drugs-around-body-could-revolutionise-cancer-treatment-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 May 2023 01:00:24 +0000 Chinese scientists have developed a flying humanoid robot called Taikobot that they say could help cut the workload of astronauts in a space station. Taikobot is as tall as an adult but weighs the same as a child and has advanced sensors and cameras, allowing it to perform tasks autonomously. The work is led by Zhang Qi, a professor at the National University of Defence Technology, in cooperation with Zhejiang University professor Zhang Yulin. Zhang Yulin is also former deputy commander-in-chief... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3215559/taikobot-chinas-flying-humanoid-robot-ready-ease-workload-astronauts-space-station?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3215559/taikobot-chinas-flying-humanoid-robot-ready-ease-workload-astronauts-space-station?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 31 Mar 2023 12:00:21 +0000 A 30-year-old woman in China’s far west has become the first person in the country to have her gallbladder removed through remote surgery, in an operation orchestrated from more than 4,500km (2,800 miles) away. The operation is part of broader national plans to advance the use of 5G-based robotics in medical care as part of the country’s five-year plan. State-run Science and Technology Daily reported on Friday that a surgeon in the eastern coastal city of Hangzhou manoeuvred a four-arm... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3210752/how-5g-and-remote-robot-arms-are-extending-chinas-surgical-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3210752/how-5g-and-remote-robot-arms-are-extending-chinas-surgical-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Feb 2023 09:22:36 +0000 Robots could boost the power of Chinese police patrols tenfold, the country’s top police academy has found, in a study that has implications for how law enforcement and tech could collaborate in China. The study, which was funded by the Chinese government to evaluate the nationwide demand for police robots, found that a typical machine could patrol 80km (50 miles) of streets and check over 200 suspects per day – more than 10 times the average workload of a policeman or woman in China. Although... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3200526/chinese-robocop-can-boost-police-patrol-resources-10-fold-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3200526/chinese-robocop-can-boost-police-patrol-resources-10-fold-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Nov 2022 09:00:08 +0000 A Chinese research team says it has created the world’s most powerful micro robot – a shape-shifting device driven by magnetic force that is able to travel within the human body and help address an array of health conditions. The high-performance soft robot, which is just a millimetre long, can bounce or squirm within blood vessels to treat cardiovascular disease, among other potential applications, according to the researchers. Traditional soft robots are constrained by small output forces and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3193196/chinese-scientists-powerful-soft-micro-robot-could-change-face?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3193196/chinese-scientists-powerful-soft-micro-robot-could-change-face?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Sep 2022 15:00:29 +0000 A team of Chinese scientists said they have developed a wearable device that mimics the sensation of touch, which could make it easier for blind people to read and write and for astronauts to handle tiny objects while wearing thick gloves. They said the technology could also transmit clothing textures to the fingertips of online shoppers and bring the sense of touch to the metaverse. “We envision that our technology will benefit a broad spectrum of applications such as information transmission,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3192017/chinese-scientists-say-new-device-mimics-sense-touch-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3192017/chinese-scientists-say-new-device-mimics-sense-touch-high?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Sep 2022 18:00:13 +0000 A research team in Beijing has implanted liquid metal into the body of a rat to induce movement using an artificial signal, with the hope of eventually helping treat humans with nerve damage. Unlike the fictional adamantium injected into Wolverine in the X-Men films, the liquid metal will not immediately strengthen a rat’s physical power. Instead, it is designed to work as an electrode, providing a possible solution for artificial nerve therapy and brain-computer interface, according to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3189975/chinese-scientists-use-liquid-metal-create-x-rat-hope-treating?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3189975/chinese-scientists-use-liquid-metal-create-x-rat-hope-treating?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Aug 2022 11:00:24 +0000 A Chinese company says it has developed a robot that can perform Covid-19 testing with unprecedented speed and efficiency. The robot, which made its debut at the World Robot Conference 2022 in Beijing on Thursday, looks like a vending machine and provides accurate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results without the need for a laboratory. The robot, developed by Chinese firm BioTeke, can give results for up to 80 users in 45 minutes – much faster than traditional methods. It can process... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3189791/chinese-company-debuts-robot-one-stop-covid-19-testing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3189791/chinese-company-debuts-robot-one-stop-covid-19-testing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Aug 2022 22:00:21 +0000