Space engineers help to make life easier for all

BEIJING: Chinese space engineers are known for creating interesting gadgets that make everyday life more convenient.

In their hands, for example, rocket and missile technologies have been turned into a popular air purifier, a sought-after air-conditioned jacket and a “magic” vacuum flask that can cool scalding water to drinkable temperature in seconds.

Their latest achievement is a small robot that can make window cleaning and signal-tower inspections easier, safer and more efficient.

Looking like the robotic arm on space shuttle orbiters built by the United States, the robot was designed by engineers at the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, the nation’s largest missile-maker.

The machine is based on space robot technologies and is capable of moving around on the surface of almost anything.

Li Haiyuan, an engineer at the academy and chief designer of the robot, said his team made it because they noticed there is an absence of such devices on the market.

“It is slow and risky for humans to wash the glass of skyscrapers or examine the structural integrity of signal towers or oil tanks,” he said.

“Cleaning machines now on the market are only able to clean architectural glass but can’t crawl over obstacles, like a window frame. They also need a great deal of manual assistance in operation.

“By comparison, our product can autonomously move and operate almost anywhere on a structure’s surfaces, including a building’s curtain wall or the exterior of signal towers or oil containers.”

People can use it to carry out cleaning, inspection or rust-removal operations, depending on the apparatus mounted on the robot, Li said, noting it will help users reduce costs and improve efficiency. — China Daily/Asia News Network