Nanjing showcases next-generation underwater, surgical and inspection robots
Jellyfish-inspired underwater robots, a miniature snake-like surgical robot and a flying car prototype were among the technologies showcased Tuesday at a China Media Group event in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province.
A total of 30 robotics cooperation agreements worth 5.2 billion yuan, or about 779 million U.S. dollars, were signed during the event.
The underwater robots, modeled on jellyfish, attracted particular attention. They are designed to monitor aquatic ecosystems while minimizing disturbance to the surrounding environment.
Developers of the flying car prototype said the technology could eventually reduce disaster-response times from hours to minutes.
Other exhibits included Dudu, a visitor-guide robot developed by Jiangsu Nanda Electronics, a company affiliated with Nanjing University, in cooperation with Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo.
Southeast University presented a miniature snake-like robot designed to navigate blood vessels during surgical procedures.
Hohai University displayed a spider-like inspection robot for water pipelines. According to its developers, the robot can detect cracks as narrow as 0.5 millimeters.
Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics also showcased an inspection robot designed to operate inside pipes and other confined spaces.
In total, the event brought together more than 100 robots from over 50 technology companies.
Nanjing also announced 10 application scenarios for robotics, including smart manufacturing, safety inspections, tourism services and cooperation between educational institutions and industry.
The event also marked the launch of Jiangning District's intelligent industrial robotics cluster and a provincial consortium linking robotics companies with educational institutions.
According to CCTV+, the Nanjing event highlighted how robotics in China is increasingly moving from laboratory research toward practical applications in industry, medicine, environmental monitoring and services.
