Robotics, 5G a potent pair, says technology executive
Beijing: Mak Hin-yu of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region expects a strong performance next year for his company - a developer of 5G-enabled motion-controlled humanoid robots as 5G telecom service is set to begin in China.
Company revenue could easily reach 100 million yuan (FJ$30.98m), with applications possible in a wide range of areas including public security, customs and hospitals, said Mark Mak, co-founder and chief technology officer of Roborn Dynamics.
Through a self-developed algorithm, four controlling sensors, and the operator’s body and finger movements, the robot can be directly controlled at the whim of the user, he said.
The technology can help in life-threatening missions as well as in rehabilitation and education. A mid-to high-end Roborn robot costs about 400,000 yuan (FJ$ 123,945.90).
Founded in 2017, Roborn started collaborating on 5G applications with telecom operator China Mobile and telecom vendor ZTE Corp in November. Thanks to the large bandwidth and low time delays, 5G technology allows smoother robot actions and better synchronisation between the operator and the robot, he said.
“Telecom operators are also promoting 5G applications. I’m optimistic about the market,” Mr Mak said, adding that his team has promoted the products in almost all provinces in the country. The company employs seven people in Hong Kong for project management and software development and about 50 in Jiangmen, Guangdong province, where a research and development centre is located and a manufacturing facility is planned. The staff at the centre is set to exceed 100 by the end of this year.
It also runs a sales and management office in Guangzhou and electric motor developing operations in Dongguan, two other cities in Guangdong.
The greater integration of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has provided greater convenience for Hong Kong startups and more flexibility to employees, Mr Mak said, citing easier transport via a high-speed railway and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.