The World Robot Conference 2022, also called China Robot Expo, is being held in Beijing from 18 to 21 August. Around 130 Chinese and foreign exhibitors have been showing off the latest innovations in robot technology, including drones, robot servers, exoskeletons for the health care sector, and humanoid robots used in search-and-rescue missions,
The robot makers at the China robot expo said they are expanding fast beyond the industrial droids with innovations that can care for the elderly in a rapidly aging society or deliver hotel room services.
Industrial robots that can help lift boxes or assemble cars account for the bulk of sales in the world’s biggest market, i.e., China. Now, Chinese robot makers are increasingly eyeing the health care and service sectors due to the reformed government policies that aim to turn China into an innovation hub by 2025.
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Shuai Mei, chairwoman of Beijing AI-robotics Technology, said they have the first-move advantage and market advantage in terms of technology. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, last year, China’s production of industrial robots topped 330,000 units from January to November, surging 49% from the previous year.
In 2020, China was ranked first globally for sales of industrial robots by the Frankfurt-based International Federation of Robotics. The industry data showed that the operating income in 2020 topped 100 billion yuan for the first time. According to Macquarie Research, the sector is expected to post an annual growth rate of 20% through 2025.
