Latest news with #KenqingTechnology
Borneo Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Futuristic robots in scenic areas refresh China's tourist experience
This undated handout photo shows a tourist climbing the Taishan Mountain with the assistance of an exoskeleton robot developed by Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based robotics company, in Tai'an, east China's Shandong Province during the Spring Festival in 2025. (Kenqing Technology/Handout via Xinhua) BEIJING (May 12): As China's tourism industry further embraces technology, robot-assisted hikes and AI-guided sightseeing tours are among a number of futuristic travel experiences that have become increasingly common across the country. Over the recent May Day holiday — one of China's busiest travel periods each year — many tourist attractions were empowered by high-tech to offer visitors unique and immersive experiences, ranging from virtual reality equipment providing digitized tours to drones creating spectacular patterns in the sky or monitoring crowd density in scenic spots. In the Shichuan Ancient Pear Orchard — a pear blossom tourist attraction in the inland county of Gaolan, northwest China's Gansu Province — robots developed by Unitree Robotics were seen leading tourists around the orchard's iconic sights, displaying dynamic obstacle avoidance and terrain climbing skills. The technology company based in east China's Hangzhou rose to fame after its humanoid robots staged an arresting performance on China's 2025 'Spring Festival Gala' television show. Also in Gaolan, an agriculture museum saw robots interact with traditional farming tools, presenting a dialogue between ancient and modern times for visitors, and showcasing how China's ancient farming civilization has evolved to embrace modern technology. 'It was a pleasant surprise! I didn't expect to make friends with high-tech in the ancient pear orchard,' said a visitor surnamed Zhang, who experienced the cutting-edge technology firsthand by shaking hands with a robot. 'Its movements were very flexible, and it seemed to be listening intently to me. It was just like communicating with a real person,' he said. In line with the 'AI plus consumption' initiative outlined in the latest plan released by China's State Council to stimulate consumption, AI applications are now evident in many online and in-person scenarios. The tourism industry, which is generally associated with scenic views and cultural heritage, is undergoing a significant transformation with the integration of robotics and advanced technologies. One notable example of this integration is the recent use of exoskeleton robots, which have become a hit among mountain climbers in particular. The devices were met with overwhelming demand during the holiday at Mount Tai, a famed scenic area in east China's Shandong Province. 'Our exoskeleton robots were all rented every day, with some tourists waiting for up to two hours,' said Li Gang, a manager of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group, which organizes trips to Mount Tai. The wearable, lightweight smart devices can reduce human exertion by sensing user intentions and dynamically outputting mechanical force to core body parts. They have an instant pull force capacity of 200 kilograms and an eight-hour endurance. As Mount Tai's picturesque scenery and cultural heritage unfold during the steepest sections of its hiking trails, the device can effectively ease the pains of intense exercise, cutting what should be a three-hour hike by half. Priced at 80 yuan (about 11 U.S. dollars) for three hours, the robots were fully booked in advance during the holiday, Li added. The devices can also monitor the physical condition of their wearers, and have emergency call and scenic-area guidance functions, among others. Similar robots have also debuted at other mountainous tourist attractions across multiple provincial-level regions, including Hebei, Ningxia, Anhui, Shaanxi and Jiangxi. During the five-day holiday, Chinese travelers made an estimated 314 million domestic trips. Among that number were millions who were delighted by novel AI-empowered experiences or human-machine interactions. In the economic powerhouse of Guangdong Province alone, 42 activities organized by tech firms or telecom operators and showcasing novel AI application scenarios were attended more than 2.1 million times. And the tourism industry's integration of robotics is not limited to entertainment and assistance; robots are also being utilized for safety and security purposes. In the Beijing (Tongzhou) Grand Canal Cultural Tourism Scenic Area, a four-wheeled robot named Xiaoyu is currently being tested for patrol and security inspections. Xiaoyu is able to provide timely safety alerts for tourists, and can detect smoke points and locate their source fire via its built-in thermal imaging and temperature-sensitive camera. It can also assess the health of trees and detect signs of pests or diseases. When tourists encounter an abnormal situation, they can press the SOS button on the robot's shoulder to contact the site's staff. From enhancing visitor experiences to improving safety and efficiency, these innovations are reshaping the way Chinese people travel and experience the world. The May Day holiday provided a glimpse into an exciting future in which the boundaries between humans and technology are blurred, and in which new possibilities for tourism are unlocked. A recent China News Service article quoted Guo Qiang, a sales manager at a humanoid robotics company in central China's Hunan Province, as saying that the company has received more than 100 orders from tourist attractions, which aim to task the robots to perform Tai Chi, serve tea or provide hiking assistance. 'Robots are walking into China's scenic areas on a large scale and in an explosive manner, serving as a catalyst for an upgrade of cultural tourism services,' Guo said. – Xinhua China high tech robotics tourism
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Tourists are renting robotic legs to climb up a mountain
For many vacationers, a trip might involve a challenging climb up a mountain for a spot of exercise and to enjoy the amazing views from the top, the sense of satisfaction enhanced by all of the effort expended to reach the peak. But for some tourists taking on Mount Tai in Shandong, China, the required exertion seems like a waste of … well … energy. Especially when a pair of robotic legs can do the job instead. It's true. Tourism officials at Mount Tai recently came up with the idea of offering tourists a robotic exoskeleton that lets your leg muscles take a back seat, CNN reported. The 5,000-foot (1,525-meter) mountain has 7,000 steps and — thanks largely to viral TikTok videos showing exhausted climbers on all fours or simply in a heap on the ground — has earned a reputation for being a tricky ascent. This prompted tourism officials to offer the exoskeleton for less confident climbers, including older folks. On the first day of the rental service last month, more than 200 people paid around 70 yuan (about $9.50) to hire the robotic legs. The contraption was created by Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, in partnership with Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. Weighing a mere 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms), the device fits around a person's waist and thighs. With a battery life of approximately five hours, the robotic legs are designed to transform your walk, putting something of a spring in your step. One tourist who used the robotic legs told Xinhua News Agency that they 'really work,' adding that it 'felt like someone was pulling me up the hill.' Another user said that while it definitely made the climb easier, he 'felt a bit clumsy' after removing the robotic legs and walking under his own power again. These particular robotic legs are currently in beta testing but could hit the mass market as soon as next month. Besides helping low-energy folks to complete a climb, technology like this can be useful for older people who have trouble walking, or in particular kinds of jobs, such as those that require a lot of lower-body movement. A growing number of tech firms are developing robotic legs, and designs are becoming much sleeker and less bulkier than before. You never know, with a little more refinement and a bit of added power, elderly climbers may soon be bounding all the way to the top of Mount Tai as if they were teenagers again. Now that we'd like to see.
CNN
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Robotic exoskeletons help Chinese tourists climb the country's most punishing mountain
A towering 5,000 feet high, with more than 7,000 steps, Mount Tai, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, is known for turning legs to jelly for anyone game for scaling to the top. Videos all over Chinese social media, such as TikTok's sister app Douyin, show even the fittest hikers shaking, collapsing or trying to climb downhill on all fours. Some visitors hire 'climbing buddies' to help them make the summit. But tourism officials in Shandong have come up with another idea: robotic legs. On January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, ten AI-powered exoskeletons debuted at Mount Tai (Taishan in Mandarin), attracting over 200 users for a fee of 60 yuan to 80 yuan ($8 - $11 USD) per use during a week-long trial, according to Xinhua News Agency. Co-developed by Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, this device is designed to wrap around users' waists and thighs and weighs in at just 1.8 kilograms, according to the firm's product introduction. Powered by AI algorithms, it can sense users' movements and provide 'synchronized assistance' to ease the burden of legs, according to Kenqing Technology. Each robotic exoskeleton runs on two batteries, lasting for about five hours, according to Wang Houzhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. It generally takes six hours to climb to the top. 'It really works!' Li Chengde, a 68-year-old tourist from the capital Jinan, told state-run Xinhua News Agency after trying out the device. 'It felt like someone was pulling me uphill!' 'This can help more people hike up the mountain and enjoy the scenery of Mount Tai… without it being too strenuous,' Wang told Chinese state media. Jacky, a content creator from Shandong who requested a pseudonym for privacy reasons, tested the device last Sunday for half an hour over hundreds of steps. While echoing the general positive feedback as many others, he told CNN there is still room for improvement. 'The experience is definitely easier,' he said about climbing with the device on. 'But once I took it off, I felt a bit clumsy walking (on my own).' The 29-year-old said he felt like a 'puppet' with the machine doing all the work but once he got used to not exerting himself, it was 'really tiring' after he removed the exoskeleton and went back to climbing of his own power. Jacky added he also found the device inconvenient when he needed to use the bathroom and tie his shoelaces while wearing it. The exoskeleton requires extra hands to put on and take off and fully squatting down could risk breaking the tight straps. He also said that the battery needed more juice. Wang from the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group said the team will extend battery life and set up replacement spots along the hiking trails, according to Chinese state-linked media. Currently in beta testing, the exoskeletons are expected to hit the mass market in early March, according to the local publicity department. Despite a few hiccups, Jacky deems the exoskeleton robots a 'good product' and a 'true blessing' for the elderly, children and mobility-impaired visitors. Half of the hikers who opted to try out the prototype exoskeletons at Mount Tai were senior citizens. In addition to making mountain climbing a whole lot easier, these walking supports have sparked online discussions about their wider applications in a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population. Last year, 22% of China's population was over 60, and that figure is expected to rise to 30% by 2035, with the elderly population surpassing 400 million, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. And the market size of smart elderly care in China was estimated at 6.8 trillion yuan (about $934 billion) in 2024, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Kenqing Technology, the robotic exoskeletons' co-developer, which was founded in 2015, is eyeing this vast elderly care market. It has rolled out an exoskeleton specifically designed for elderly users, weighing 2.4 kilograms and priced at 17,000 yuan ($2,334 USD) on China's e-commerce giant Taobao. To fully unlock the potential of elderly care robots, industry insiders told Xinhua News Agency that stronger policy support is needed to scale up their production while keeping prices affordable for all.
CNN
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Robotic exoskeletons help Chinese tourists climb the country's most punishing mountain
A towering 5,000 feet high, with more than 7,000 steps, Mount Tai, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, is known for turning legs to jelly for anyone game for scaling to the top. Videos all over Chinese social media, such as TikTok's sister app Douyin, show even the fittest hikers shaking, collapsing or trying to climb downhill on all fours. Some visitors hire 'climbing buddies' to help them make the summit. But tourism officials in Shandong have come up with another idea: robotic legs. On January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, ten AI-powered exoskeletons debuted at Mount Tai (Taishan in Mandarin), attracting over 200 users for a fee of 60 yuan to 80 yuan ($8 - $11 USD) per use during a week-long trial, according to Xinhua News Agency. Co-developed by Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, this device is designed to wrap around users' waists and thighs and weighs in at just 1.8 kilograms, according to the firm's product introduction. Powered by AI algorithms, it can sense users' movements and provide 'synchronized assistance' to ease the burden of legs, according to Kenqing Technology. Each robotic exoskeleton runs on two batteries, lasting for about five hours, according to Wang Houzhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. It generally takes six hours to climb to the top. 'It really works!' Li Chengde, a 68-year-old tourist from the capital Jinan, told state-run Xinhua News Agency after trying out the device. 'It felt like someone was pulling me uphill!' 'This can help more people hike up the mountain and enjoy the scenery of Mount Tai… without it being too strenuous,' Wang told Chinese state media. Jacky, a content creator from Shangdong who requested a pseudonym for privacy reasons, tested the device last Sunday for half an hour over hundreds of steps. While echoing the general positive feedback as many others, he told CNN there is still room for improvement. 'The experience is definitely easier,' he said about climbing with the device on. 'But once I took it off, I felt a bit clumsy walking (on my own).' The 29-year-old said he felt like a 'puppet' with the machine doing all the work but once he got used to not exerting himself, it was 'really tiring' after he removed the exoskeleton and went back to climbing of his own power. Jacky added he also found the device inconvenient when he needed to use the bathroom and tie his shoelaces while wearing it. The exoskeleton requires extra hands to put on and take off and fully squatting down could risk breaking the tight straps. He also said that the battery needed more juice. Wang from the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group said the team will extend battery life and set up replacement spots along the hiking trails, according to Chinese state-linked media. Currently in beta testing, the exoskeletons are expected to hit the mass market in early March, according to the local publicity department. Despite a few hiccups, Jacky deems the exoskeleton robots a 'good product' and a 'true blessing' for the elderly, children and mobility-impaired visitors. Half of the hikers who opted to try out the prototype exoskeletons at Mount Tai were senior citizens. In addition to making mountain climbing a whole lot easier, these walking supports have sparked online discussions about their wider applications in a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population. Last year, 22% of China's population was over 60, and that figure is expected to rise to 30% by 2035, with the elderly population surpassing 400 million, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. And the market size of smart elderly care in China was estimated at 6.8 trillion yuan (about $934 billion) in 2024, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Kenqing Technology, the robotic exoskeletons' co-developer, which was founded in 2015, is eyeing this vast elderly care market. It has rolled out an exoskeleton specifically designed for elderly users, weighing 2.4 kilograms and priced at 17,000 yuan ($2,334 USD) on China's e-commerce giant Taobao. To fully unlock the potential of elderly care robots, industry insiders told Xinhua News Agency that stronger policy support is needed to scale up their production while keeping prices affordable for all.
CNN
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Robotic exoskeletons help Chinese tourists climb the country's most punishing mountain
A towering 5,000 feet high, with more than 7,000 steps, Mount Tai, in the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, is known for turning legs to jelly for anyone game for scaling to the top. Videos all over Chinese social media, such as TikTok's sister app Douyin, show even the fittest hikers shaking, collapsing or trying to climb downhill on all fours. Some visitors hire 'climbing buddies' to help them make the summit. But tourism officials in Shandong have come up with another idea: robotic legs. On January 29, the first day of Chinese New Year, ten AI-powered exoskeletons debuted at Mount Tai (Taishan in Mandarin), attracting over 200 users for a fee of 60 yuan to 80 yuan ($8 - $11 USD) per use during a week-long trial, according to Xinhua News Agency. Co-developed by Taishan Cultural Tourism Group and Kenqing Technology, a Shenzhen-based tech company, this device is designed to wrap around users' waists and thighs and weighs in at just 1.8 kilograms, according to the firm's product introduction. Powered by AI algorithms, it can sense users' movements and provide 'synchronized assistance' to ease the burden of legs, according to Kenqing Technology. Each robotic exoskeleton runs on two batteries, lasting for about five hours, according to Wang Houzhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group. It generally takes six hours to climb to the top. 'It really works!' Li Chengde, a 68-year-old tourist from the capital Jinan, told state-run Xinhua News Agency after trying out the device. 'It felt like someone was pulling me uphill!' 'This can help more people hike up the mountain and enjoy the scenery of Mount Tai… without it being too strenuous,' Wang told Chinese state media. Jacky, a content creator from Shangdong who requested a pseudonym for privacy reasons, tested the device last Sunday for half an hour over hundreds of steps. While echoing the general positive feedback as many others, he told CNN there is still room for improvement. 'The experience is definitely easier,' he said about climbing with the device on. 'But once I took it off, I felt a bit clumsy walking (on my own).' The 29-year-old said he felt like a 'puppet' with the machine doing all the work but once he got used to not exerting himself, it was 'really tiring' after he removed the exoskeleton and went back to climbing of his own power. Jacky added he also found the device inconvenient when he needed to use the bathroom and tie his shoelaces while wearing it. The exoskeleton requires extra hands to put on and take off and fully squatting down could risk breaking the tight straps. He also said that the battery needed more juice. Wang from the Taishan Cultural Tourism Group said the team will extend battery life and set up replacement spots along the hiking trails, according to Chinese state-linked media. Currently in beta testing, the exoskeletons are expected to hit the mass market in early March, according to the local publicity department. Despite a few hiccups, Jacky deems the exoskeleton robots a 'good product' and a 'true blessing' for the elderly, children and mobility-impaired visitors. Half of the hikers who opted to try out the prototype exoskeletons at Mount Tai were senior citizens. In addition to making mountain climbing a whole lot easier, these walking supports have sparked online discussions about their wider applications in a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population. Last year, 22% of China's population was over 60, and that figure is expected to rise to 30% by 2035, with the elderly population surpassing 400 million, according to the Chinese National Bureau of Statistics. And the market size of smart elderly care in China was estimated at 6.8 trillion yuan (about $934 billion) in 2024, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported. Kenqing Technology, the robotic exoskeletons' co-developer, which was founded in 2015, is eyeing this vast elderly care market. It has rolled out an exoskeleton specifically designed for elderly users, weighing 2.4 kilograms and priced at 17,000 yuan ($2,334 USD) on China's e-commerce giant Taobao. To fully unlock the potential of elderly care robots, industry insiders told Xinhua News Agency that stronger policy support is needed to scale up their production while keeping prices affordable for all.
