During the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the heroic medical staff and volunteers, there is a special team battling on the front lines of epidemic prevention, composed of robots equipped with various “special skills” known as the “unmanned combat team.”
From medical care to medication delivery and disinfection temperature measurement, this unmanned combat team has completed many tasks typically performed by doctors and volunteers, while also reducing the risk of infection and improving the efficiency of epidemic prevention.
In fact, with the development of artificial intelligence technology and the improvement of living standards, robots have already begun to infiltrate various industries. However, the production and demand have generally remained average.
This pandemic has catalyzed explosive demand for intelligent robots, with a significant increase in domestic and international orders, even attracting attention from the investment community.
A New Economy Represented by Intelligent Robots
Have We Entered a “Golden Era” of Development?
“Unmanned Combat Team” Robots from Various Fields Join Forces
Recently, the last makeshift hospital in Wuhan was closed. The 5G cloud-based intelligent medical robot from Shanghai Datar, affectionately referred to as a “comrade” by medical staff, participated in the farewell ceremony.
Medical team at the makeshift hospital with Datar intelligent service robot
Datar robot teaches how to wear a mask
Standing over a meter tall, with big eyes, flexible arms, and a nimble figure, the 5G cloud-based intelligent robot is currently demonstrating the correct steps for wearing a mask to patients. Huang Xiaoqing, founder and CEO of Datar Technology, told reporters that during the pandemic, six types of robots have been deployed in major hospitals, widely welcomed for their safety and work efficiency.
Huang Xiaoqing:There are six main categories of robots: medical care and assistance, infrared thermal imaging temperature measurement, patrol temperature detection and security, disinfection and cleaning, medication and meal delivery, and handheld ultrasound. Their use has greatly aided epidemic prevention; for instance, an average disinfection robot can replace about two people. For cleaning, an average robot can replace three people. Entering contaminated areas and performing disinfection are quite dangerous, so we use robots to achieve unmanned and zero-contact operations, significantly reducing the need for human labor and minimizing contact between service personnel and patients, which is why they are so popular.
Datar 5G cloud-based intelligent robot
On the front lines of epidemic prevention, robots developed by companies such as Neusoft Medical and Damo Academy for cleaning, disinfection, and meal delivery have played important roles. Jiang Tao, Vice President of Neusoft Group and General Manager of the Ubiquitous Application Solutions Division, stated that in response to the rigid demands of hospitals for epidemic prevention, corporate resumption of work, and personnel return, they have empowered software to provide real-time decision-making information for hospitals and governments, and five new hardcore service robots have been dubbed the “Five Metal Warriors.”
Neusoft Group’s five hardcore new service robots for epidemic prevention
Jiang Tao:These include medical care robots, temperature detection and prevention robots, disinfection robots, delivery robots, and intelligent information collection systems, which have quickly gained customer recognition.
Neusoft disinfection robot
The Core Technology of the “Unmanned Combat Team” — Artificial Intelligence
These highly skilled robots rely on their core technology, which is artificial intelligence (AI). AI has also played a significant role in medical diagnosis and result analysis during this pandemic. The AI deployed at Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital has greatly improved treatment efficiency, reduced mortality rates, and achieved precise diagnoses.
Lin Jun, Public Relations of Alibaba Group Technology Line:It can provide a CT image analysis result with 96% accuracy in just 20 seconds, accurately identifying the location of lesions and calculating the changes in the proportion of lesions, capturing subtle changes in patients’ conditions throughout the treatment process. AI diagnosis covers the entire process from the admission to discharge of COVID-19 patients, helping doctors adjust treatment plans in a timely manner and reducing the conversion rate to severe cases.
CT image analysis results from Damo Academy AI
During this COVID-19 pandemic, more enterprises and consumers have recognized the value of new technologies and the new products and applications they bring. Unmanned vehicles, as a type of multifunctional disinfection robot, are currently quite popular in the market. The New Stone AI unmanned vehicle has been responsible for epidemic prevention and disinfection work at designated hospitals and communities such as Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital. Huang Tiangang, Senior Brand Director of New Stone, stated that the New Stone AI unmanned vehicle has significantly improved the efficiency of epidemic prevention while also having its own unique features.
Huang Tiangang:We have a total of 50 epidemic prevention vehicles nationwide. They are mainly used for epidemic prevention, transportation of materials, and disinfection and spraying tasks. Among them, 18 unmanned vehicles are working in Wuhan. The product integrates new energy electric vehicles, robotic service capabilities, and AI brain computing.
New Stone AI unmanned vehicle
“Unmanned Combat Team” Sees a Surge in Domestic and International Orders
The pandemic has been a sudden test, but those who were prepared saw opportunities, accelerating product deployment and injecting new momentum into the entire industry. Wang Aihua, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance and Chief Engineer of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, analyzed that this pandemic has provided a concentrated display of intelligent robot applications, accelerating the development of the entire industry.
Wang Aihua:Currently, intelligent robots are also performing well in public service, healthcare, smart elderly care, and smart factories. We believe that in the process of rebuilding after epidemic prevention, related industries will accelerate their maturity and penetrate into more fields. This pandemic has increased people’s exposure to AI services, and the process from recognition and familiarity to trust has been achieved in a short time, which is very beneficial for industry development.
Huang Xiaoqing, founder and CEO of Datar Technology, stated that after the mission of the makeshift hospital was completed, they are working on iterating and upgrading related products. Currently, they have received orders from multiple hospitals, and the company is rushing to resume production, allowing these intelligent medical robots, which have been tested in real combat, to be applied more quickly in daily medical services. Not only has domestic demand surged, but they have also received a large number of orders from Italy, the United States, and regions in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
Huang Xiaoqing:Currently, we have received orders for at least two to three thousand units. This field will have an even larger market, especially as we plan to release some smaller temperature measurement devices. We predict that the orders could exceed 100,000 units.
Investors are keenly aware of the safety, precision, efficiency, and intelligence of artificial intelligence robots in this fight against the pandemic, leading to strong demand.
Jiang Tao, Vice President of Neusoft Group, General Manager of the Ubiquitous Application Solutions Division:There is a supply shortage; currently, orders are already queued for about two months. We are increasing supply, and with the resumption of work and return of personnel, demand is quite strong.
Enhancing Core Technologies and Quality to Create a New Economic “Golden Era”
In recent years, the development of the new economy represented by artificial intelligence robots in China has been continuously improving, but the industry has faced the situation of “good reputation but low sales.” Wang Peng, Deputy Director of the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, analyzed the reasons behind this.
Wang Peng:From a technical perspective, it has not yet reached a level that can truly create value for users. The integration of artificial intelligence and robotics has produced intelligent robots, but many products are homogeneous or similar, relatively low-end, leading to good reputation but low sales.
It can be seen that this COVID-19 pandemic has indeed acted as a “catalyst” for the new economy represented by intelligent robots in China. So, have we entered a “golden era” of new economic development? Wang Aihua, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance and Chief Engineer of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, believes that for the new economy of artificial intelligence to develop fully in the future, core technologies and quality are fundamental guarantees.
Wang Aihua:It still relies on breakthroughs in the research and development of some key core technologies, the improvement of the localization rate of key core components, cost reduction, and the rapid iteration and updating of some algorithms and model functions. Currently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is promoting the industry towards higher technical levels, better product quality, and creating better service value.In the future, we will assist relevant authorities in opening new tracks for more artificial intelligence products and services, allowing more artificial intelligence products to meet the needs of epidemic prevention and improve the quality of life for the people.
Central Radio and Television Station Reporter: Zhang Mianmian, Guo Peng
Source:China Central Radio and Television Station’s Voice of China “News Overview”
More News:
New Cases Zeroed! A Voice Review of Wuhan’s Fight Against the Epidemic Moments →
The medical team embarks on their return journey, leaving behind these two fruits, which carry a bright meaning…
