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Robotics
TechTech Trends

Chinese-built robot that can do quick Covid-19 oral swab tests, other pandemic-related automata shine in Beijing tech show

  • Covid-19 and healthcare-related robotic applications made up a quarter of 36 new machines featured at the annual World Robot Conference in Beijing
  • That reflects the urgency of putting robots on the front lines to help human workers deal with Covid-19 control measures being enforced across China

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World Robot Conference 2022 attendees flock to see a machine that collects Covid-19 oral swab samples on August 18, 2022. This automaton was built by Siasun Robot & Automation Co, a Shenzhen-listed company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Photo: Simon Song
Coco Feng
An automaton that can perform a Covid-19 oral swab test in 35 seconds became a star attraction at the opening on Thursday of the World Robot Conference 2022 in Beijing, where a quarter of the 36 featured robotic innovations are built for pandemic prevention and medical care.
That new robot was designed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp (CASIC) – a state-owned enterprise known for developing and manufacturing spacecraft, launch vehicles and tactical missiles – to mark the company’s initial foray into automated Covid-19 testing products. This machine could soon be deployed by the General Administration of Customs in Beijing to test arriving airline passengers from abroad, according to Wang Shunwei, head of CASIC’s technology innovation centre.

While work on that robot started in 2020, Wang said CASIC needed to overcome several technical challenges, such as adjusting the robotic arm’s power upon touching a person’s throat and completely disinfecting after each test, before the machine was exhibited in public.

Conference attendees on Thursday also flocked to see another machine that collects Covid-19 oral swab samples built by Siasun Robot & Automation Co, a Shenzhen-listed company under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Visitors at the opening of the World Robot Conference 2022 in Beijing on August 18, 2022, are seen testing artificial intelligence-powered robotic walkers that can assist people who have difficulty walking. Photo: Simon Song
Visitors at the opening of the World Robot Conference 2022 in Beijing on August 18, 2022, are seen testing artificial intelligence-powered robotic walkers that can assist people who have difficulty walking. Photo: Simon Song

The interest in machines for pandemic prevention and medical care at this year’s World Robot Conference, which concludes on August 21, reflects the urgency of putting these robots on the front lines to help human workers deal with Covid-19 control measures that are being enforced across China.

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