ROBOTS POINT WAY TO FUTURE

BEIJING: The World Robot Conference is showcasing the latest achievements in robotics – from service robots to robotic nurses and firefighters – but is also entertaining visitors with automaton competitions.

According to experts at the five-day conference, which ends tomorrow, the application of robotic technology in education and health care remained a core priority and the most challenging task.

Exhibited nurse robots can can be programmed to deliver pills at precise times and Chen Liang from China’s FN Robotics said in future robots would carry out complicated medical procedures such as eye surgery.

Zhao Hongchang, an engineer for CITIC HIK KaiCheng, said robot firefighters would one day undertake missions too dangerous for humans.

Some experts are exploring how to enhance human capabilities through robotics. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology presented corsets with sensors that can turn a person into a superman. An engineer said they “can be regarded as a sort of a musculoskeletal system for a person”.

A technician puts contact gel on the cap of a competitor during a ‘braincomputer interface’ robot contest at the Beijing conference.

PICTURES: REUTERS/AFRICAN NEWS AGENCY (ANA)/EPA-EFE A girl poses in front of a robot replica of legendary fantasy character Monkey King at the World Robot Conference.

Visitors watch a robot making drinks.

Robot footballers are a popular drawcard.