BEIJING, Aug 26 (Reuters) – As China pushes ahead with the development of anthropomorphic robots, its supply chains showcased cheap and innovative parts at the World Robot Conference in Beijing, but some officials warned the industry still has to improve product reliability.
Vison Technology (Shenzhen), known for its flexible robot manipulators, does not rely on motors and reducers (transmission devices commonly used in robotics), but instead uses 3D-printed plastics and relies on pneumatic artificial muscles to power its robots.
Cao Wei, an investor in Wisson through venture capital firm Lanchi Ventures, of which he is a partner, said this less costly method of production allows the price of its flexible arms to be about one-tenth of the price of traditional robot arms.
Visson said on its website that Pliable Technology will build the robotic arms, which will cost about 10,000 yuan ($1,404).
“(Viseon's) flexible arms can be used in anthropomorphic robots,” Cao said, adding that the company has already provided prototypes to foreign companies that make anthropomorphic robots, but he did not elaborate.
Yi Gang, founder of Shanghai-based Ti5 Robot, a company specialising in integrated joints, highlights some of the problems he has seen in the robotics supply chain.
“The whole supply chain still needs to address product reliability issues,” Yi said, adding that his company can only produce products in quantities of up to 1,000 because of the defect rate.
He said harmonic gear, which refers to machinery that plays a key role in speed-control, was a key issue.
China's robotics effort is backed by President Xi Jinping's policy to develop “new productive forces” in technology – a point also made in a brochure for last week's event.
Gao Xiang, who was previously an executive director at Chinese autonomous driving start-up Momenta before founding Galaxia AI, a start-up focused on robot hardware and embodied AI, said smart driving is rapidly catching up with advances in robotics.
“Automated driving means AI-plus cars, which are also a type of robot,” Gao said.
At the closing of the conference on Sunday, Premier Li Keqiang said it is of great significance to implement President Xi's guidelines on the importance of the robot industry.
“The robot industry has broad prospects and huge market potential,” Li said, according to China's state-run news agency Xinhua.
Describing robots as “an important benchmark for technological innovation and high-end manufacturing power,” Li called for efforts to maintain supply chain stability and progress on the international stage.
“It is necessary to promote the expansion and popularity of robots in various fields such as industry, agriculture and service industry,” he said.
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Reporting by Qiaoyi Li and Kevin Krolicki in Beijing; Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Michael Perry
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
