More than 100 humanoid robots were showcased at two exhibitions starting Monday at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Among them was the X2 Ultra robot from China's AGIBOT Innovation, which sang songs, spoke in Mandarin and English, and answered questions from the audience.
Calvin Chiu, chief operating officer of Novautek Autonomous Driving, AGIBOT's Hong Kong agent, said the robot can provide emotional satisfaction through conversations and serve as a teacher for older adults and children. Different robots can be programmed with different personalities.
Some Chinese exhibitors demonstrated capabilities ranging from talking to humans, punching, sand painting, doing backflips, and catching suspects with nets during security patrol demonstrations. EngineAI's PM01 robot performed a front flip, and the company plans to launch two factories in China for mass production this year.
Robert Chan, global strategy officer at EngineAI, noted China's advantages in low-cost engineering and the pattern of sharing know-how between companies, unlike in the US and Europe where technology is often shielded. He foresaw robots with human-like bodies, emotional exchanges, and facial expressions.
Shenzhen DX Intech Technology Co. displayed humanoid robots with female features and soft synthetic faces. Business director Wang Zuhua said the company sold over 400 such robots, some already working in museums and government venues on the mainland, guiding guests to washrooms and offices.
