Latest news with #ZhangMiao
TimesLIVE
13-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
China's AI-powered humanoid robots aim to transform manufacturing
Widening deployment of humanoids, especially into factories, is likely to accelerate data collection. MagicLab, another humanoid startup, said in an interview that its focus on the robots' brains has allowed it to recently begin deploying prototypes in production lines for tasks such as quality inspection, material handling, and assembly. "These breakthroughs lay the foundation for our focus in 2025 on real-world applications," said CEO Wu Changzheng, adding that MagicLab has integrated its robots with AI models like DeepSeek, Alibaba's Qwen, and ByteDance's Doubao. "DeepSeek has been helpful in task reasoning and comprehension, contributing to the development of our robots' 'brains.'" China's clearest advantage, however, is its domination of the hardware that makes up a humanoid. The country is capable of making up to 90% of humanoid components, lowering barriers to entry, according to analysts and startups. As a result, China now accounts for the majority of manufacturers working on such projects globally and dominates the supply chain, according to Morgan Stanley. Some Chinese startups are selling robots as cheaply as 88,000 yuan ($12,178). "If you have a requirement in the morning, suppliers might come to your company with materials or products by the afternoon, or you can go directly to their site to see for yourself," said Zhang Miao, chief operating officer of Beijing-based startup CASBOT. "It's difficult to achieve this level of efficiency overseas," she added, as companies would need to import materials from China. The sector has seen an explosion of new firms. In 2024, 31 Chinese companies unveiled 36 competing humanoid models versus eight by US companies, according to Morgan Stanley. At least six companies in China, including market leaders Unitree and UBTech, have said they have entered mass production or are preparing to do so this year. Jobs at risk? While the industry remains incipient, Chinese lawmakers have begun to discuss the far-reaching implications intelligent humanoid robots could have for the workforce. Some 123-million people work in manufacturing in China, according to a 2023 survey by the National Bureau of Statistics. At this year's National People's Congress, social security expert Zheng Gongcheng warned that the development of robots and AI would affect around 70% of China's manufacturing sector, which could lead to a steep decline in social security contributions. At the same gathering, Liu Qingfeng, chairperson of domestic AI firm iFlytek, suggested the creation of an AI unemployment insurance program that would provide six to 12 months of coverage for workers replaced by robots. Tang Jian, chief technology officer at the government-backed Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Beijing robot half-marathon in April that its prototypes were targeting jobs that humans don't want to do due to their boring or repetitive nature, as well as dangerous tasks. Despite concerns about the impact on jobs, Beijing sees the technology as key to plug labour shortages in areas such as elderly care, where demand is increasing as China's 1.4-billion population ages. China's government published a national elderly-care plan in December that encouraged integration of humanoid robots and AI. Soon after, tech giant Ant Group announced the creation of new subsidiary Ant Lingbo Technology, whose humanoid robots will focus on elderly care, among other areas. "The robots in five or 10 years could organise a resident's room, pick up a package or even transfer people from a bed to a washroom," said AgiBot's Yao.
The Star
25-04-2025
- Science
- The Star
China strengthens space technology cooperation with Global South nations
BEIJING (Xinhua): In the second week of April, Lusaka became a hub of agricultural innovation as technicians from Southern African countries gathered for a unique three-day training session. Unlike typical workshops, this one provided a customized experience. Participants brought data from their own countries and practiced on the satellite remote sensing agricultural monitoring platform developed by Chinese scientists, tailoring their learning to fit local needs. This exemplified China's increasing collaboration with Global South countries in space technology -- not merely through memorandums or broad agreements, but by translating cutting-edge innovation into tangible, real-world applications. CALLING EARTH The platform they learned is CropWatch, a cloud-based tool developed by the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It analyzes agroclimatic conditions, assesses crop growth status, tracks the dynamics of cropland use, estimates crop areas, predicts yields, and evaluates global food supply prospects. "Food security is increasingly a global priority, but establishing satellite-based platforms for agriculture monitoring requires significant investment, which most developing countries simply cannot afford," said Zhang Miao, a workshop trainer from the AIR. He had just flown back from Lusaka when interviewed by Xinhua. Unlike the traditional Western approach of delivering ready-made crop-related information and reports, the Chinese team has embraced a collaborative model with Global South countries -- "teaching a man to fish" by empowering them through knowledge transfer and platform self-customization. Over 30 participants from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mauritius and South Africa received one-on-one guidance in the training. "A customized approach acknowledges the specific context and challenges faced by Mozambicans," said Hiten Jantilal, an officer of the Crops and Early Warning Department in Mozambique. "This method can lead to more effective learning and better outcomes." "Africa's cropping system is quite different from China, especially the small-holder farming, with issues like widespread weeds and common mixed cropping," said Zhang. "Our platform has proven effective in addressing these challenges." The AIR team has incorporated advanced AI models, including DeepSeek and ChatGPT, into the mobile APPs and a CropWatch Analysis component. This upgrade enables more intelligent interpretation of in situ crop photos and remote sensing maps and products, significantly enhancing the precision and efficiency of satellite data analysis. According to Zhang, these field-collected data, numbering in the millions, not only support the crop monitoring in CropWatch but also contribute to partner countries for internal applications. CropWatch is now used in over 20 Global South countries, including Mozambique, Mongolia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan. PUBLIC BENEFITS In a heartwarming video taken last June, an elderly woman at a Rayong care home in Thailand sat in bed, chatting via real-time video with a local rehab specialist via a test terminal at Mahanakorn University of Technology in Bangkok, which was linked to the eight-satellite experimental constellation built by the Chinese space firm GalaxySpace. The seamless high-speed video stream showcased the power of real-time mobile-to-satellite communication in Thailand's remote areas, where traditional networks are unreliable. "It will further enhance Thailand's capacity building in aerospace technology and applications," said Suphongsa Khetkeeree, a scientist from the satellite research lab at the University. In February this year, GalaxySpace signed a Memorandum of Understanding with True Corporation, a major Thai telecommunications operator, to collaborate in areas such as the Starlink-like low-orbit satellite communication technology. "We are thrilled that this collaboration will bring cutting-edge innovative technologies to Thai consumers," said Manat Manavutiveth, CEO of True Corporation. The Beijing-based satellite manufacturer is now actively forging partnerships across Africa and Southeast Asia to deploy cutting-edge satellite internet technology to empower underserved local communities. Moreover, China's commercial satellite constellation, Spacesail, is set to provide satellite communication services to Brazil and broadband internet access to the country's remote and underserved regions. Spacesail is a low-Earth orbit constellation with full frequency bands and a multi-layer and multi-orbit design. Its commercial network construction was officially launched last August. The constellation is expected to bring its commercial services to Brazil in 2026. At a space city in Egypt, the ground station for MISRSAT-2 featured a prominent white dome with a red emblem of Chinese aid. Launched from China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on December 4, 2023, MISRSAT-2 made Egypt the first African nation with full satellite assembly and testing capabilities. Haitham Medhat Akah, a program manager from the Egyptian Space Agency, said that the MISRSAT-2 project helped Egypt become a leader in the field of space satellites in Africa and the Middle East. The satellite is now playing an important role in areas such as agriculture, mineral exploration, urban planning, and monitoring changes along the coastline. In Sriracha, Thailand, Atipat Wattanuntachai, a mechanical engineer, pointed to a Chinese-made vibration testing machine designed to evaluate the country's earth observation satellite THEOS-2's performance and reliability. "Thanks to China's support for Thailand in the space technology field, the cooperation with China has promoted the rapid development of Thailand's space industry," Atipat said. Such collaboration has expanded to deep space exploration. Previously, only spacefaring powers had invested in these curiosity-driven activities. China has invited scientists from Nicaragua, Indonesia and Senegal to join a planned lunar research station project. China has also announced plans to select and train two Pakistani astronauts for space missions, with one set to serve as a payload specialist on a future flight to the Chinese space station. - Xinhua
