27 humanoid robots debut at the Expo, young reporters live broadcast to explore the robots' "hidden skills"
2024-08-22
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Manipulate robots to throw and drive, learn about the latest developments in humanoid robots, and observe student technology roadshow projects... On August 21, the highly anticipated 2024 World Robot Conference opened. At the World Robot Expo held at the same time, young reporters participating in the "Explore the Top Science and Technology Companies, and Build a Strong Country's Technological Dream" New Beijing News Young Reporters' Summer Study Tour visited the exhibition hall on site and live broadcast with the older reporters, leading netizens to "travel" the expo online, learn about the cutting-edge scientific research results and future development trends of robots, and explore the "hidden skills" of robots.
On August 21, the Beijing News junior reporters visited the exhibition and live-broadcasted with the senior reporters, leading netizens to "travel" the World Robot Expo online. Live-broadcast screenshot
Young reporters explore the mysterious functions of various robots
According to reports, the 2024 World Robot Conference has invited more than 150 leading domestic and foreign robot manufacturers, well-known companies, and industry newcomers to participate in the exhibition. Among them, the 2024 World Robot Expo is full of highlights, with 27 humanoid robots on display, the most in history. Reporters saw at the scene that some of these robots can run and jump over obstacles, some can perform fine movements, and some can perform talents. After planning the live broadcast route, the young reporters experienced the futuristic human-machine interaction one by one.
The live broadcast started on time at 14:00 on August 21. Chen Zekuan, a young reporter from the Beijing News from Beijing No. 2 Middle School Branch, was the first to appear on camera. He took netizens to a preliminary understanding of what he saw. "I am very interested in the models and design principles behind these robots. I also saw robots used in the service industry, which can help the development and innovation of technology." Chen Zekuan told the audience while walking around the exhibition. Gao Yutong, a young anchor beside him, became interested in the robot dog and introduced it to the audience. The robot dog can do 360-degree backflips and can also walk on difficult terrain.
This "cloud technology journey" started from the humanoid robot exhibition hall. Following the camera into the exhibition hall, the scene that came into view was jaw-dropping: the foreign friends chatting on the roadside were actually simulated robots, and the mechanical arms next to them "exposed" how their arm joints swung smoothly. As long as they put on the silicone "skin" that imitated the arms, the humanoid robots had left and right arms that were indistinguishable from the real ones.
Young reporters are exploring interesting exhibition areas on site. Screenshot of the live broadcast
During the live broadcast, Beijing News reporter Jiang Pengfeng and a young reporter discovered a novel robot that highly reproduced the human face and could even simulate human expressions - as long as people made expressions on the screen, the robot would simulate them synchronously. "At first glance, it looks just like a real person!" Chen Zekuan exclaimed. "I think his eyes are very real, and the pupils and blinks are very realistic." Gao Yutong also commented. The person in charge of the booth introduced that this robot can be put into use in the service and entertainment industries, such as doing simple reception work for hotel waiters.
In different exhibition areas, the young reporters from the Science and Technology Research Camp were divided into groups and showed their skills. They first explored the exhibition hall and did their homework, and then conducted interviews and broadcasts. The live broadcast work was orderly. Zhou Yiduo, a young reporter from Huiwen Middle School, found a robot that grinds coffee. During the interview, she learned that this robot has been put into use across the country for 400 to 500 units. The machine only occupies about 3 square meters and does not require any labor costs. The annual cost of use is only 35,000 yuan, and the operation and maintenance time is about 30 minutes, which is convenient and cheap.
Then, three other reporters took over and introduced the robot that can make pancakes. "There are so many people here, queuing up to buy pancakes. I asked around, and everyone said (the pancakes) are 'super delicious.'" Reporter Dai Zejun said that if the robot makes a "bad pancake" due to mechanical failure, it will be thrown away and redone; Sun Zhuohang found that there is a refrigerator in the robot, and the production part is heated to 55 degrees Celsius; Ren Yuheng added that consumers who buy pancakes can also watch the robot make the whole process, without worrying about food safety issues.
A variety of quadruped robots have attracted attention
The robot dog in the Yushu Technology exhibition hall attracted everyone's attention. Photo by Liu Yang
At the scene, the robot dog in the Yushu Technology exhibition hall attracted a lot of attention. It jumped up and down flexibly, sometimes stood upside down, and sometimes rolled over backwards, like a cute puppy. Young reporter Xi Yining introduced that small robot dogs can not only entertain, but also help humans pick up express parcels; large robot dogs can be used in industry. In some chemical plants that are harmful to humans, robot dogs can perform work on behalf of people. He not only introduced the size of the robot dog, but also introduced the scattered infrared scanner and AI voice function, which are functions that can help the robot dog observe, talk with humans, and execute instructions.
Young reporter Deng Yunrui introduced the "bipedal robot" in this exhibition area. There are two models, large and small. The large one is called "all-purpose universal humanoid robot" and can carry goods, and the small one is called "comprehensive humanoid robot" and is used for people's entertainment and play. Wang Qixin, the market director of Yushu Technology, added that the small four-legged robot is positioned as "consumer-grade". Consumers can buy it home to play, pick up express deliveries, carry backpacks, and do some simple things. They can be purchased on e-commerce platforms; while the industrial-grade large robot can be used in firefighting, security and other fields. The load is relatively large, and the maximum load can reach about 100 kilograms, "It is no problem to carry a person." He also praised the young reporter's live broadcast explanation ability.
What are the research and development challenges of making robots do somersaults? Chen Zekuan asked. Wang Qixin said that the robot's somersaults require the cooperation of joint motors to achieve instant bursts of movement, and its athletic ability is trained by artificial intelligence. "We repeat this action in the virtual world, and it may succeed a thousand times or only ten times. After accumulating successful experience, we transfer it to the physical robot, so that it can achieve somersault technology in the real world." Wang Qixin answered.
Educational robots help primary and secondary school students to explore science in many ways
Halfway through the live broadcast, the young reporters stopped at the booth of UBTECH, the "first humanoid robot stock". There were two rows of calf-high mini robots dancing in unison. The uniform "magic" dance attracted the children's attention. Young reporter Sun Zhiran learned that this group of robots is called Alpha Ebot, jointly launched by UBTECH and Tencent. "They are dancing robots. They make people happy when they dance. They are very cute."
In order to understand the main functions of the robot, Sun Zhiran interviewed the on-site staff during the live broadcast. Mr. Liu from UBTECH's marketing department introduced that this robot has three functions. The first is motion control. Its 16 motor joints can move flexibly. In the voice interaction function, it can do English translation and idiom chain, and even accept voice instructions to do push-ups. This is also an educational robot. The "little master" can set instructions for it to complete the educational practice scenario of programming.
Young reporters visited the UBTECH booth at the World Robot Conference before the live broadcast. Photo by Liu Yang, a reporter from the Beijing News
UBTECH's booth has many projects for children to experience. Young reporters Song Yunhui and Wang Yuhan experienced the multi-morphic artificial intelligence educational robot, which has many features such as multi-morphic strong computing power and openness. In school, children can learn programming and artificial intelligence through this robot and solve problems in life, such as simulated fire rescue. A set of teaching aids can build 7 models, including cars, spiders and mechanical dogs, and students can design accordingly to improve their abilities.
Young reporter Zhang Qianyu also discovered a robot competition for primary school students called "Operation Star Chess" in this exhibition area. The red and blue teams used control handles to make the car move and throw the ball. After experiencing it, she felt that the control was simple and interesting.
Renkai School and its sister schools jointly held a roadshow
At the expo that day, not only were there exhibition areas for enterprises in various fields displaying the cutting-edge achievements and development trends of robots, but primary and secondary schools also joined in to display their own educational achievements. In the exhibition area of Renmin University Affiliated Middle School Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone School (referred to as "Renkai School"), teachers and students were rehearsing for the "Looking for You Who Love Technology" student technology roadshow project on the second day. It is reported that this year is the sixth time that Renkai School has participated in the exhibition. Unlike previous years, the school this year joined hands with 20 brother schools including Renkai West Campus, Renmin University Affiliated Middle School Yizhuang New Town School and the Fourth Coordination Group of National Science Education Experimental Schools to co-host the roadshow.
In front of the booth of Renkai School, children are demonstrating a technology roadshow. Photo by Liu Yang, a reporter from the Beijing News
Young reporter Li Yujun learned from an interview that the theme of the exhibition of Renkai School is "Respecting Individuality, Exploring Potential, Opening Innovation, and Cultivating New Productivity". There are 9 exhibition areas on site, including the roadshow area for youth science and technology creative works, the Renkai speech area, the miniature factory science and technology cultural and creative area, the work display area, and the experience interaction area.
In the exhibition area, students from Renkai School showed off their robots' unique skills. After a remote-controlled robot car is started, it can rotate all the rubber band wheels to roll plastic blocks into the bucket. The wheels can also distinguish between large and small blocks, and finally put the two groups of blocks into the designated area to score points. "We spent more than half a year and six iterations to design this machine. When the rubber band roller sucked the blocks, we also added a shield to prevent them from rolling out." The students on the scene introduced. The school students showed their design works one by one, including the "Bus Driver Emergency Rescue and Avoidance System" based on 3D printing and the "Electric Rental Car Shed" with a voice prompt system.
According to Wang Jiajing, a teacher at the School of Science and Technology Innovation of Renkai University, the roadshow lasted for five days. The school brought 49 scientific and technological projects for the rotating roadshow, covering areas such as electronic information, intelligent manufacturing, and basic disciplines. They were designed and developed around the positioning of the four major industrial clusters in the Economic and Technological Development Zone.
Beijing News reporter Liu Yang
Edited by Wu Hui
Proofread by Yang Xuli
