Beijing’s 2015 World Robot Conference introduced three robots that specialize in reconnaissance, armed attack, and disposing small explosives – toy-sized ones that can very well coordinate with one another while in battle.
The robots debuted amid growing global threats of terrorist action and following the series of coordinated attacks in numerous areas in Paris, France.
Wu Yanpeng, Harbin-based HIT Robot Group engineer and developer of the three robots, explained each one’s capabilities.
The reconnaissance robot – known as scout – takes field detection on using sensor or camera. Once it senses a suspicious explosive item or chemical, it transmits information to headquarters for further probe.
The small explosive ordnance disposal robot as well as the armed attack robot – basing on the data analysis and need to evacuate – will begin their mission: the small EOD robot will move and defuse the bomb, while the attacker robot will hit target from a long distance using its minor-caliber weapons, rifles, and grenade launchers.
If the situation is more complex than the small EOD robot can handle, the office-based bomb experts will produce a solution, added Wu.
A soldier working alone can carry on his back the 12-kilogram or about 26 pounds small EOD robot, made of industrial plastic and aluminum alloy. But the robots are seen to work not just for warfare, but also for simpler public security operations, firefighting, agriculture, and forestry.
The set of robots is priced at around $230,000 or 1.5 million yuan, said HIT Robot Group sales manager Chen Deqiang. And it now has its fair share of buyers, according to the company, including the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau.
China itself is on national alert due to terror threats in Xinjiang province as well as the rest of the nation following the deadly attacks in Paris. China police Chief Guo Shengkun, at a televised meeting, called on officials to stay on heightened alert and terrorism prevention.
China, the world’s second biggest economy, leads the pack in marketing industrial robots with its share of a quarter of global sales. Service robots for homes and offices, however, were pinpointed to be the true opportunity for the market.
"There are now fewer than 100,000 robots in Chinese families, not including vacuum cleaners," said Canbot CEO Liu Xuenan at an executive roundtable during the robot conference.
Horizon Robotics head Yu Kai, on the other hand, estimated a greater role for the automated helpers in the future, predicting: “[E]ach person might have 10 robots.”
Photo: Michael Mooney | Flickr
