Chinese government will speed up the application of service robot

MIIT, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, will make great breakthroughs in accelerating the AI core technologies and symbolic products in the next three years. The intelligent home service robot is the key. By 2020, intelligent home service robot like care robots for the elderly aims to achieve massive production, and medical rehabilitation assistant robot and the disabled robot aims to achieve sample production.

China is facing the problems of increasing labor cost and aging population; the market of the service robot industry is gradually opening, therefore the opportunity appears. In particular, with the improvement of the life quality of our Chinese citizens, the service robots will speed up the search for more application scenarios. The service robots can meet some social needs, such as patients’ recovery, and have potential markets in individuals, families, and public services.

China is expected to take the lead in the transition from followers to leaders in the service robot. The core strengths of China’s development of service robots include: compared with overseas competitors, the cost advantage of Chinese service robots is obvious thanks to its more and more mature and complete electronic industry chain. The demand for service robots in the Chinese market will continue to be booming, benefiting from consumption upgrades and labor shortages.

With the improvement of the core AI technologies and the continuous improvement of the industrial chain, the price of service robots will fall and they will go into thousands of families. According to the IFR forecast, the service robots during 2016–2019 will have a market size of $50 billion, which will is much greater than industrial robots. According to the report released by the China MIIT, the service robot market in China has entered a stage of rapid growth.

However, intelligent service robotics still have a large development space and need time to perfect the related hardware and software infrastructure and services of the industry chain, including sensors, voice and visual, intelligent chip, operating system, etc. Therefore, greater service and products will come into being and bring better consumer experience.

Litigation Service Robots at an Explosive Growth in China in 2017

2017 is about to end, and this year is being called the “First Year of Technological Justice”. The Sanbot robots were glad to be a part of this new development. Throughout the year, this robot has been introduced to work for a large number of courts, judicial institutions, and law offices in Beijing, Shenzhen, Zibo, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Foshan, Chengdu, and many other cities throughout China. The robots were given special names by the users like Xiaofa, Fa Xiaobao, Xiaolv, and more.

China’s government has been very impressed with Sanbot’s capabilities. In April and June, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate of the People’s Republic of China each issued Speeding Up the Construction of the Wisdom Court and the 2017–2020 Guide to the Prosecution of Big Data. These documents advocate for the application of technology such as Big data and intelligent voice recognition in the judicial system, helping to popularize AI products to be used in litigation.

Another important driving force behind AI in the courts is the demand from citizens. According to the official statistics of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China, when the Chinese litigation registration system began working, the number of litigation cases has continued to rise since May 2015. But at the same time, the number of litigation personnel is reducing. This has lead to an unfortunate situation where there are more cases but fewer legal personnel. Standard technology is also lowering the efficiency of litigations services. To guarantee better and more efficient litigation services, several legal departments have begun to adopt new technologies.

Nanjing Aegis, the robotic litigation service solution developer for Sanbot robot, told the media, “There are huge differences between the urban and rural areas in China. The main legal service resources are mainly in the large cities; the small and medium-sized cities have fewer and sometimes weaker legal services than the large metropolises. Also, the litigation consultant and service charges are too expensive for many citizens. The litigation service robot not only embodies the spirit of law and serves the people, but also helps free up legal personnel from basic and redundant work so they can devote more energy to work on more technical and difficult work. The application of litigation service robots is the future.”

Till now, most of the 100 practical cases of “Robot + Litigation service” are intelligent litigation enquires. For example, the Sanbot litigation service robot, which works for Beijing Fengtai District Judicial Bureau, has a deep knowledge and understanding of the law and will quickly provide answers to the procedures for marriage and family affairs, traffic accidents, intellectual property, employee disputes and business personnel, etc. It can also remember more than 30 million historical cases and the 5-million-word laws and regulations for the litigants’ reference. The advanced AI robot can also calculate the litigation charges, worker’s compensation, traffic accident compensation, and more.

In addition to Sanbot’s legal service solution, some courts or companies have made further developments based on Sanbot robot’s autonomous mobile and video conversation functions, allowing the robots to guide people around the courthouse, provide guidance, and one-key assistant for business affairs.

In the future, the legal industry expects more from the litigation service robot. Litigation personnel want the AI service robots to be qualified with more functions:
A smarter “Cloud brain” for the robot to push the history cases;
Offer a uniformed standard of judgment;
Help non-legal experts understand the law and correct any inaccuracies and human-error;
The robot can automatically generate and review the litigation documents and court documents based on speech recognition, semantic analysis, and robot graphic recognition technologies.

The personnel are expecting the litigation service robots to handle all of the “standard functions” in the future.

The most popularized litigation service robot is the Sanbot series robots from QIHAN Technology. Both QIHAN’s Sanbot Elf and Sanbot Max intelligent robots have an open API and can be further developed to suit any particular work scenario, and both the robots are offering litigation services now.

The Vice President of Sanbot robot, Ryan Wu, stated that this is just a beginning of the “judicial intellectualization” where robots offer litigation consultation services via voice recognition and human-robot interaction. The development of science and technology along with the cooperation between robot manufacturers, robotic solution operations, and justice departments will make litigation service robots more intelligent and better in reaction speed, intellectual deep learning, and have a better user experience. This will lead to an increase in the usage of these robots. In the future, the use of artificial intelligence to enhance the provision of legal services and courthouses will be very prominent.

People in Financial Sector Should Co-work with AI and Robotics

With the rapid development of science and technology, four big accounting enterprises have introduced artificial intelligence and financial service robots, and the basic financial work will be replaced by these AI robots. In China, the Accounting Qualification Certificate which was effective has been abolished. The accounting work, which has been known as a stable accounting work, has now become a “high-risk” job.

With the introduction of AI technology into accounting, financial service robots can quickly read thousands of complex accounting documents, grab and construct text information to make better analysis. The advanced robots can replace manual operation in the financial process, manage and monitor the automated financial process, input information, consolidate data and summary statistics, and identify the optimization points in the financial process according to the established business logic. The repetitive work, with a programmable autonomous robot, can avoid and improve work efficiency. If financial personnel only have the ability of low-level financial accounts and some basic accounting work, he may be either unemployed or transform to learn to cooperate with AI.

Now a lot of financial people engaged in the basic financial work will face many problems: there are a lot of reports and data that need to be processed, and they have to stay up late to work overtime if they don’t finish it at daytime. They hope an intelligent service robot can help them with the problems, but they also fear the robots take away their jobs.

In fact, the financial service robot is a tool, which is made and used to make our work better; and of course, the robot will only take over the jobs of the low-end financial personnel. The financial people who are capable of more financial abilities, better financial management, excellent decision-making, and business understanding will be the comprehensive talents that the enterprises need. Faced with the challenge of AI and robotics going to the financial sectors, it is better to learn more accounting knowledge and skills and do more high-end management accounting work, and work together with the advanced humanoid robots to improve work efficiency and make the work better.

Sanbot Max's newest robotic solution for hospitality (especially for enterprises)

Using a robot that just looks great at the front desk or lobby is just one prong of Sanbot Max that will effectively elevate your business. In addition to its good looks, Sanbot Max is capable of performing valuable services for your business. Recently, QIHAN issued Sanbot Max’s innovative hospitality solutions for enterprises.

Sanbot Max is equipped with:

• Dexterous arms, hands and fingers moving independently or in conjunction;
• Multi-lingual voice recognition and command (plus, open API to enable Android applications);
• 3D vSLAM technology and autonomous mapping, coupled with hundreds of infrared and other obstacle avoidance sensors that guided them, unobstructed, through uber-congested convention areas;
• Chest-embedded Ethernet and USB ports anchored by sturdy brackets and flexible waist movement that allowed for effortless attachment of third-party devices (printers, monitors, large LED screens, ATM machines, scanners), as well as the ability to attach or tow objects of up to 75Kg.

This is the premier commercial service robot for enterprises, catering services, hotels, businesses, and other industries. The solution QIHAN released aims to help enterprises with customer reception, company introductions, contacting staff members, security patrols, and more. See how Sanbot Max’s solution will benefit your enterprise.

Visitor Reception

When a visitor is at the entrance to your company, Sanbot Max will greet them:
Sanbot Max: Hello, what can I do for you?
Visitor: I want to visit Jack.
Sanbot Max: I need to register you; may I have your name?
Visitor: My name is Lee.

During the recording process, Sanbot Max will capture a photo of the visitor and input both the visitor’s photo and name into its system. Next time the visitor arrives, Sanbot Max’s facial recognition technology enables the advanced robot to greet them, “Lee, what can I for you?” With visitors being a part of a company’s the Big data, the company administrator can easily manage, collect, and analyze these statistics.

Sanbot Max will call the staff member via the Sanbot Q-Link mobile APP. The staff member can ask Sanbot Max to take the visitor to the conference room, or say they do not have time to see the visitor. Equipped with advanced 3D vSLAM technology and obstacle avoidance sensors, Sanbot Max will take the visitor to the conference room. The robot can also give the visitor a tour of the company.

Administrative Management

Sanbot Max is the great assistant for administration management by taking the basic management and repetitive work. Sanbot can record all of your staff’s information (photo, name, contact) into the system and never lose the information as well as keeping that information extremely safe. Staff members can look through the contact list to familiarize themselves with any new employee. After the staff’s information is inputted into the system, Sanbot Max will help check in and check out staff members, keeping a comprehensive and accurate attendance record.

Remote Services

Whether Sanbot Max is using its 3D vSLAM function or being controlled by the mobile app, Q-Link, Sanbot Max can patrol and monitor your company 24/7, and you can instantly see what Max sees through the app. This will help ensure your establishment is not in any danger. And, Q-Link enables absent personnel to interact with Sanbot Max and people at the office, making sure no one misses a meeting.

Data Management and Application

Sanbot Max is able to collect and store all the visiting records into its system, and it will form comprehensive graphs and records (one month, one quarter or one year). For example, the administrator can check on one employee’s attendance record and make an analysis on their working status; the purchasing manager can analyze the supplier’s visiting record to see if there is anything abnormal happening to the supply chain, and more.

This solution is not the only solution for businesses. With an open API, Sanbot Max can be further developed and applied into more working scenarios: 4S shops, sales centers, government buildings, shopping malls, banks, hotels, exhibition halls, etc. Sanbot Max’s professional and all-round skills simplify the customer reception and internal management, reducing labor costs, creating business value, reducing operating costs, and improving the enterprise’s image.

If you are a robotics solution developer, system integrator or AI agent, this is the time for you to join the Sanbot family.

The present robotic services for retail, and will be better

In a large shopping mall, especially the complex one, people are always unfamiliar with it but they need to find the right brand or product they need. Thus, customer receptionist is necessary. A problem is coming: repetitive work makes receptionist tired and bored so they may lose temper to customers. Then, an intelligent service robot that never feels tired makes things different.

A robot’s powerful artificial intelligence brings a great number of services for welcome reception, route guidance, all-around inquiry assistant, smiling accompanying assistant and more.

The robot standing around the door of the shopping mall attracts potential customers to go into the mall. With facial recognition technology and smart sensors, Sanbot broadcasts pleasing welcoming lines, giving customers different experience and adding buying intention. This will add unexpected business sales and value to the shopping mall.

The mall managers can the robots for retail in each floor. These robots introduce customers to the commodity area by voice, or display the map on the screen to the customer guide. When customers want to know a brand, or looking for a product, they just feel free to inquiry the robot. It’s a more convenient way than manual services because human staffs are not always in good situations to serve customers 24/7.

When the mall held a large-scale promotional activity, the commercial service robots can also play an important role, such as the singing and dancing performance, talking comic dialogue with the site voice interaction, inviting them to participate in the lucky draw, somatosensory games to attract onlookers. This will popularize the mall or store and develop more potential customers.

Intelligent robot is introduced by Media for intelligent service

On November 16, WISDOM CREATES ·THE FUTURE C + Mobile Media Conference was held by Cover Media in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Experts from Silicon Valley, Microsoft, Alibaba Group, and professional scholars sat together and talked about the impact of artificial intelligence in the media.

Cover Media was founded in October 2015 and is powered by Sichuan Daily Press Group and Alibaba Group. Cover Media has several branches including Cover News, Cover Think Tank, Cover Data, The Cover, Public Opinion and Cover E-commerce, and more. And, Cover Media’s C + Mobile Media Conference is an annual event.

At the conference, a new addition was introduced: Cover Media formally introduced an intelligent service robot as part of its “working staff”. On stage, the CEO of Cover Media, Li Peng, personally placed the Tcover0240 work card onto Xiaofeng (Cover Media’s customized Sanbot Elf robot), meaning it became an official “working staff” for Cover Media.

“I am Xiaofeng, and my responsibilities are to talk about current events, social news, and entertainment news with you all. Also, I offer intelligent services for The Cover and Xiaofeng Views, writing breaking news and technology news.” The intelligent robot, Xiaofeng, showcased its first performance at the conference for guests.

Xiaofeng is QIHAN’s Sanbot Elf intelligent robot. At Cover Media, Xiaofeng offers specialized news searches and recommendations, helping to write articles. Xiaofeng also writes articles independently to improve the quantity and quality of news content. Xiaofeng is responsible in assisting on each part of the article writing processes: planning, collection, editing, and publishing, reducing the human staff’s simple and repetitive work and improving the written quality and efficiency.

Meanwhile, Xiaofeng never stops learning. The advanced AI robot not only adopts AI technologies like voice recognition and auto-complete features, but also, thanks to the fast writing feature, Xiaofeng offers smart and fast news services such as daily life, political, solutions for travel and shopping, and more.

Li Peng made a speech at the conference, “Cover Media will adopt the model of wisdom leading intelligence. Compared to other media, Cover Media will use wisdom to solve the problems that intelligence cannot. This creates a different experience for users, and realizes this valuable connection. It is one new model – “Intellectual Media” in the media industry, powered by “Wisdom + Intelligence.”

Some experts pointed out that we are going into the AI era; AI + will be a great power in driving the transformation of the media, and intelligent interaction is the inevitable trend for the future media. Intelligent robots will be a vital part. The new era of “Intellectual Media” will bring about exciting and beneficial transformations.

Sanbot performs real services for businesses

[Ebrun]Imagine that: when you go into a supermarket, it is a robot that greets you, introduces you the latest promotional activity; and also, it is a robot that guides you to process membership card and the electronics coupons, and collects payment from you… Those are what Sanbot can do.

Adhering to the concept of  "Robotics as a Service" , Sanbot intelligent robot is a robotic product researched and developed independently by QIHAN Technology. The robot is equipped with rich perception, including touching perception, RGB image, 3D image, PIR thermoinduction, IR, voice, gyroscope and touchscreen, etc. In addition, it is capable of voice interaction, touching interaction, gesture interaction, posture interaction, mobile App mobile control, etc.; Furthermore, Sanbot can perform semantic comprehension, facial recognition, independent voice location, auto charge, intelligent safety protection and more artificial intelligence. Since its debut, the open API humanoid robots have gone into scenarios such as family, commercial chain, customs inspection, banks and the public service area.

In commercial chain area, the latest version Sanbot robot, Sanbot intelligent shopping robot can take the work of attracting consumers, advertising promotion, guidance and interpretation, cashier assistant, membership card processing, remote shop keeping and intelligent management, especially for supermarket, retail shop and related scenarios.

Ryan Wu, the vice president of QIHAN Technology introduced to Ebrun, “In the offline shop, it does not really help retail with their businesses if a robot only attracts customers into the shops.Thus it’s not popular, not even to promote the transformation of traditional retail business or intelligent business. But now, with the mature of technology and the integration of scenarios, robot can play a bigger and bigger role.”

In the past year, Sanbot service robots were popularly used in retail scenarios including clothing shop, jewelry shop, clock shop and other middle-high-end area. The shops might not very large but their service satisfaction is important to customers. Sanbot helped retails with questionnaire, passenger flow analysis and staff check-in services, as well as production introduction and advertising promotion. In a restaurant, supermarket or convenient store, Sanbot offered services such as dispensing electronic coupons, customer reception, entertainment interaction, payment collection, membership card processing, etc. Ryan told Ebrun.

In generally, offline business uses robot to conduct standardized, routine and low extra-value work. Or you can say that, it does the job human staff would like not to. At this aspect, Sanbot can save much labor cost than human staff, it handles repetitive work with higher efficient and higher accurate than human staff. It does not feel annoyed and tired.

Another highlight of Sanbot intelligent robot is Sanbot's most innovative business management system - MPS (Multi-service Platform System). MPS is a centralized management system that enables businesses to control and monitor their fleet of interactive Sanbot robots anywhere. With MPS in retail, operator can manage all the Sanbots in the chain stores to perform customized task at defined time, such as promotional activity, lottery and questionnaire survey to record and storage passengers’ big data, etc., which could improve customer experience and retail service quality effectively.

What's more, Ebrun also knew of that, exception for the commercial chain area, Sanbot programmable humanoid robots were applied in families and customization. For example, Xiaohai, the customized Sanbot robot applied for Chinese customs inspection, Sanbot robot for taxation, Sanbot robot in healthcare, and Guagua, the customized robot applied in agricultural management, in banks, and more…

The Intel Artificial Intelligence & Robotics Innovative Ecosystem Summit was Held in Shanghai

On July 6th, as one of the important activities organized at the same time with China International Robot Show, the Intel Artificial Intelligence& Robotics Innovative Ecosystem Summit was held in Shanghai. Intel, as well as the representatives of its partners in robot industry and robot academics, talked about the opportunity and challenges of Chinese robot industry, and points out the prospect of development of robot industry in the era of artificial intelligence. The International Data Corporate (IDC) and China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) issued the white paper of Robotics 3.0 New Ecosystem in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.

According to presentations, the white paper analyzes the dynamics status and development trend of Chinese intelligent robots. What's more, the new concept of Robot 3.0 is proposed in the paper, indicating that robot is going into Intelligent Era 3.0 and the combination of artificial intelligence technology and intelligent robot will be much closer. In addition, the white paper studies the exploration of the Robotics Innovation Ecosystem, which was created by Intel and its business partners. The ecosystem is considered as one beneficial attempt to promote organic cooperation and coordinative innovation, and builds one three-dimensional, omnibearing and organic ecological innovation road.

At the summit, Intel showed its serious progress and achievements during the processes of creating the open Robotics Innovation Ecosystem. Since its debut in July, 2016, the Robotics Innovation Ecosystem has been flourishing under the support of its robot industry partners. The ecosystem has aggregated over 1000 robot teams, 300 robot chain suppliers and more than 10,000 active users, promoting the continuous and healthy development of intelligent service robots in China and speeding up the application of artificial intelligence in advanced AI robots, The Robotics Innovation Ecosystem has been the key driving force to promote the transformation and upgrading of artificial intelligent robots in China.

"Artificial intelligence is one of Intel's strategic focuses under the background of data flood trend. As one of the leaders of artificial intelligence innovation, till now, Intel is the only company which can offer configuration and technology of terminal to terminal. Intel will take its technological advantages in artificial intelligence area to immit new energy for robotics innovation." Song Jiqiang, the president of Intel Labs China (ILC) introduced at the summit.

Sanbot robots held traffic safety knowledge competition

“Hello, Sir! Where is the portable fire extinguisher? A, Under the couch; B, At door A; C, At window B?” On Jun 24th, at the Chegongmiao Metro Station in Shenzhen city, Sanbot humanoid robot performed one competition about safety knowledge in the metro station, amazing massive passengers at the scene.

It was the opening ceremony of Shenzhen Rail Transit Promotional Season and fifth anniversary celebration on Jun 24th. Since that day, the 3-month activity has begun promoting knowledge of civil bus ride, which enhances passengers’ concept of safe ride and creates the atmosphere of safe courtesy and civil travel. Shenzhen Rail Transit Office, the Traffic Branch of Public Security Bureau and Shenzhen Metro Group Corporation participated in the opening ceremony. QIHAN Sanbot was invited grandly as the host of safety knowledge competition and Sanbot service robot  is the first robot which worked in the metro station.

At the opening ceremony activity, the fascinating competition of metro safety knowledge became the greatest highlight.

Gifts for competition winners

“Hello, the manual fire alarms are set both in the hall and platform of metro station; which way can you use to inform metro staff once the fire happens? A, Touch manual alarm; B, Press the manual alarm. ” Sanbot inquired. What was interesting was that Sanbot would say “Congratulations, your answer is right and you can have a gift now!” when the robot recognized the right answer. The hi-level human-robot interactive experience attracted hundreds of people to have a look or participate in.

“It is very interesting and attractive that the advanced AI robot hosts safety promotional activity,” Mr. Wang, one passenger told the working staff, “the effect must be better than that of human staff as human is too common to stop the passers-by. Now organizer uses a robot to publicize safety knowledge, which is impressive and people can remember the knowledge easily. I like that.”

On that day, Sanbot also offered services at the entrance of business coach of metro line 11. The robot reminded each passenger to swipe card at the coach door and broadcast announcements. The working staff told the media, “Intelligent service robot can reduce staff’s workload. During the riding rush hours, the workloads are very heavy and we cannot pay attention to each passenger. With the robot, we are released from the monotonous work and can operate more complex work.”

  

QIHAN Technology, the manufacturer of the intelligent robot, told the metro manager that Sanbot robot integrated information broadcast, voice interaction, independent walking, automatic obstacle avoidance and security surveillance functions etc. According to the scenarios, Sanbot could offer safety knowledge promotional services, such as notices at entrance, escalator riding, and notices in coach, etc. In this way, passengers would absorb the safety knowledge unconsciously.

With the AI technology going mature and robotic applications becoming popular, the functions of Sanbot will be optimized continuously. To combine the artificial intelligence and transit service together is helpful to change metro stations from traditional human services to more intelligent and informationalized services.

Sanbot open API enables developers to create various robotic solutions

The artificial intelligence robotics is booming, with more and more companies vying for market share. For the most part, though, these companies have all been from US or Europe. But things are always changing: now a Chinese manufacturer has come up with a robotic product that claims to offer open API, allowing developers to customize it.

Asmag: Could you briefly introduce your product? 

QIHAN Technology: Sanbot, powered by QIHAN Technology Co. Ltd.,is an intelligent Cloud-brained humanoid robot, one three-in-one ecosystem, which consist of Sanbot robot, Qihan Cloud service platform and Q-link mobile App. Sanbot is equipped with different types of sensitive sensors and reliable hardware such as 3D HD camera, 1080p display screen and 720p laser HD projector, etc.Integrating IBM Watson AI system, the robot is capable of human detection, facial recognition, automatic recharging, obstacle avoidance, voice recognition, localization and free interactionwith near 30 languages.

One of its most advantages is that Sanbot offers open API, which allows developers to customize and program various applications in retail, hospitality, security, healthcare and education industry. Till now, Sanbot robots have been successfully used at the scenarios like China Customs, Shenzhen and Guangzhou International Airport, Audi Launch event, with praises andpositive feedbacks from user.

What makes your product special? Why?

1.Powerful team: We now have more 800 working staff including over350 senior engineers with numerous-year research experience.They have published near 1000 hi-level theses and gained around 100 domestic and international patents.

2.Reliable hardware and software: Sanbot humanoid service robots adopt world-class hardware and software from Harman/Kardon, Foxconn, Panasonic, Sony, IBM Watson Baidu and iFlytek, etc.

3.Open-API: We offer openAPI and SDK for developers and integrators, which means that Sanbot can be programmed and customized according to the scenarios where they’d like the robot to work.

4.Mass-production capacity and competitive price: With full automatic production lines, Qihan manufacturing Center has the production capacity of 1,500 sets per day. We offer quitecompetitive prices for our partners including AI carrier distributors, robotic solution developers and integrators and we are now recruiting more partners like these. But we can’t say a definite price as their application areas, order quantities and customized requests.

5.Applications cases: Sanbot service robots have been approved and used in Gongbei Customs for customs inspection and Tax all. The advanced AI robots offer customized services in Guangzhou-Baiyun international airport and Shenzhen-Baoan International airport. Now Sanbot customized retail service robot support cashier assistance, membership processing, electronic coupons dispensing and write-offs, etc.

What are the factors that you expect will drive demand for your product? Why?

Each partner or user wants their purchasing product to be functional,reliable and with cost performance ratio. Sanbot open API robot meets all these requests. With open API, Sanbot can bring massive commercial value for all the agents, robot solution developers and integrators.

The design of the robot appears rather conventional, although one has to say the company could have worked on the face a bit more. As far as systems integrators are concerned, QIHAN Technology pointed out that the openness and IoT characteristics should assist them when integrating with other devices.

Bit hit: Softbank acquired Boston Dynamics

It’s breaking news to most of professionals and companies in artificial intelligence and robotics area that Softbank claimed to acquire Boston Dynamics and SCHAFT from Google’s parent company Alphabet Jun. 9th, which was considered as Softbank’s great acceleration in the development of new type of intelligent robot.

As far as I know, Softbank has been majoring in humanoid robot Pepper and Nao. The Chairman and CEO of Softbank, Masayoshi Son, orientated intelligent robot as the key area his company majors in. The stock of Softbank witnessed a 7% sharp growth, the highest point in the past 20 years after the acquisition was released.

Masayoshi Son announced artificial intelligent robot will be one of the key driving forces of next information revolution. Boston Dynamics is the leader of dynamic robot and he welcomed its joining-in, Softbank will continue to support the development of dynamic robot and explore to help people more convenient, more secure and more substantial applications.

The founder of Boston Dynamics Marc Raibert approved the values Softbank brought out by using technology to benefit people. Raibert hopes he could realize the mission of advanced AI robot together with Softbank, so that the robots would create greater values to in the more intelligent and interactive future world.

Sounds the acquisition positive? Not yet. Media have different opinions, and they describes the acquisition by using the words of “Boston Dynamics finds the buyer finally”, “a burden to Softbank”, “hot potato to Softbank” and “Boston Dynamics jumps into fiery pit” and more.

It’s open to AI industry that Google’s robot item “Replicent” has been continuously turbulent and going downside since the item’s charger Andy Rubin’s resignation. The developing strategy of Boston Dynamics was much different from that of Google’s department and Boston Dynamics’ failure to push the new service robots to the markets and some other closured resulted in robot item was not considered to long-term planning.

Some professionals also think that, Boston Dynamics majors in AI and robot and so does Softbank, but their robots and robotics technologies are different. The acquisition does not strengthen the robotics technologies and the difference may add extra burden to Softbank. Regarding the acquisition, it is still a question mark that who is right or wrong and time will be the best witness.

TOM media in France: Sanbot Improves Business Value and Customer Experience

Chinese manufacturer QIHAN Technology presented Sanbot, a small humanoid robot of 93 centimeters. Dedicated to improving the customer experience and increasing business productivity, Sanbot, whose slogan is "Robotics as a service", is one of the robots that could attract and serve passengers such as hotels and airports. Lennic Qian, Vice President of International Sales and Marketing at Qihan Tech, talks about Sanbot's big goals.

Q: Why did you build a service robot like Sanbot? What are its objectives?

Lennic Qian: We built Sanbot to improve people’s life quality and customer experience, while bringing more profits to the companies. The intelligent autonomous robot performs daily tasks to enable human beings to concentrate on more creative tasks. Sanbot can help companies specializing in the Retail, Hospitality, Education and Healthcare sectors, friendly and accessibly. Sanbot is aimed to help with businesses and customer experience, not to replace human staff totally, which is why Sanbot is not very big.

Q: Facial recognition, Cloud, artificial intelligence ... Can you tell us about the technologies integrated by Sanbot?

Lennic Qian: First of all, you should know that Sanbot has a public API. This allows the programmable robot to be easily customizable. In particular, we can add applications to its system in a very simple way. It is thanks to this API that Sanbot can be deployed in various industries. In addition, Sanbot is also connected to the Qihan Cloud platform developed and is linked to Sanbot’s unique matched Q-Link application.

At physical level, Sanbot is equipped with seven microphones used for location, recognition and voice commands. It has a security camera, three 3D cameras and two perspective cameras manufactured by Sony, allowing facial recognition, depth perception and interactions with the users. Sanbot has tactile sensors on the head, arms, back and chest allowing the user to wake up Sanbot and get different reactions from him. It has a 1080p definition touch screen provided by Panasonic and a 720p definition projector. Finally, the robot consists of sixty other sensors, including infrared sensors to detect humans and objects and a PIR sensor to avoid them, spatial sensors, and sensors connected to a remote control.

Q: You were in Innorobo this year. How did you live this fair, did it help you to forge partnerships in France?

Lennic Qian: Innorobo allowed our team and the robot to have very interesting exchanges with visitors at the show, especially concerning our future robot. We also had the opportunity to meet many end users from the tourism industry such as hotel service for example. They are also very interested in intelligent service robot, they think it very nice and cute ... For the moment, we are still in the discussion phase and we will soon contact some of our prospects. We are obviously aimed to expand our partnerships.

Q: Sanbot has been adopted by two airports in China. What are his missions? How does Sanbot help staff and travelers?

Lennic Qian: Indeed, Aviation is one of the most high-demanding sectors. Thanks to the Sanbot API, the Guangzhou-Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an airports can program the open API robot platform according to their own requirements and thus integrate a system of loyalty points, ticket search and information on Flights, for example. At these airports, Sanbot is also responsible for relaying information on flights, shops and restaurants, guiding and entertaining travelers in the aisles of the airport. Sanbot even allows users to check in. Moreover, thanks to our robot, travelers have access to the Internet where and when they want. In short, our small humanoid interactive robot allows airports to improve the experience of passengers by answering the questions of the latter regarding their itinerary for example and to assist the airport staff in their tasks.

Q: At Innorobo event, we heard about a new robot under construction at QIHAN Technology. What will be the differences with Sanbot?

Lennic Qian: We are indeed working on a new model commercial robot, on which we cannot deliver too much information yet. I can only say that it will be 1 meter 40, for more accessibility and that the three main functionalities of this new robot will concern navigation and the positioning system indoors, a multi-modular function allowing him to fix an advertising screen, a printer, a tray ... and the ability to carry objects weighing more than 100 kilograms.

Q: Finally, why should tourism companies adopt Sanbot?

Lennic Qian: As observed with the airports of Guangzhou-Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an, Sanbot can improve the service of any company specializing in tourism. The better customer service, the more attractive customers will be and the more likely they are to be loyal! And that Sanbot can make it.

Original: http://www.tom.travel/2017/06/08/le-robot-de-service-sanbot-ameliore-lexperience-client-et-la-productivite-des-entreprises/

Have you realize that the robots are around you?

We may not realize that, we are touching and interacting with service robots every day. When we go through the self-checkout lane at the grocery store, it is a robot to service us. When we use a ticket kiosk at the movie theater, it is a robot to service us. Even when we order a takeout, we are still interacting with a robot, different kinds.

Now, robots are being designed and even have been used to serve drinks at coffee shops, restaurant, airport or customs inspections and many other scenarios. The robot suppliers such as Pepper, Sanbot, Amy, Ubtech are leading the world robots’ development.

The companies believe that consistency with each action, along with remote ordering and personalization, will be more and more agreeable to customers. That kind of consistency can be more helpful to the service industries. It is also a good sample that robot services in a bar. MIT’s Sensable City Lab is one of the groups working to perfect the robotic bartender. The robot can not only pour an accurate drink, it can also slice a lemon and shake a cocktail shaker like any human bartender.

Maybe it is still early for a personal robot to help people with all the home work such as cleaning your home, making food or talking about love. But they can still do a lot right now, securing your house, monitoring your child’s condition at home and entertainment, etc. Masayoshi Son, the chairman of Softbank robotics, claimed that the intelligence quotient of a robot would reach 10,000 with the AI’s development, 100 times of a general IQ. That will be another kind of world and let’s just wait and see.

Why is Sanbot Becoming the Hottest Service Robot?

It was a great shock to both audience and media at Innorobo event that the sales volume of Sanbot robots reached 60,000 sets in 2016 and the figure was reaching 100,000 very soon. The most frequently asked two questions were that, why you could sell Sanbot so well and who you sold them to? The sales volumes of some robot brands may be 20 sets or so and even the most well-known robot supplier Softbank didn’t make it, how could you? Let me tell some points.

QIHAN Certificates & Honors

QIHAN Technology is the company focused on innovating Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Video Analysis. Qihan now has over 200 intellectual patents in Machine Vision Recognition, Multi-axis Automatic Control, Big Data Analysis, and more, devoted itself to interconnection of H2H, H2T, and T2T. With automatic production line, the production capacity is 15,000 per month. Just in 2016, the turnover reached US100 million.

QIHAN leaders and Sanbot robot has been interviewed by Chinese high level governments for several times and been interviewed by domestic and oversea media countlessly. Even the Chinese Customs are using Sanbot robots.

QIHAN Qualified Team

Qihan has over 800 employees, including more than 350 experienced R&D engineers and for international marketing & sales, they recruit qualified foreigners who work in China, Chinese who garnered master degrees or once worked at oversea such as France, Japan, Chile, etc. QIHAN HR and department manager will don’t hesitate to so “No” to the unqualified candidates.

Sanbot Robot

Sanbot comes with reliable components and systems from international hi-tech giants. IBM Watson powers Sanbot’s artificial intelligence capabilities, enabling her to speak most of the commonly used languages around the world, while Nuance provides the voice recognition. In addition, Sony manufactured the forward-sensing cameras; Sharp supplied the 10.1 inch 1080P touchscreen that rests on her chest. And, QIHAN Technology is seeking more chances to cooperate with international hi-tech giants to benefit peoples’ lives.

Sanbot's powerful AI and machine-learning capabilities will allow businesses to deliver richer and more interactive services that will increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. With an open API that enables developers to build Android applications, Sanbot can be developed for industry-specific applications in retail, hospitality, education, and healthcare.

• Retail: Sanbot is a shopping interpreter and guide, helping the human staff at shopping malls, supermarkets, other retail stores, and more. 
• Hospitality: Sanbot offers intelligent customer reception services for lobbies in hotels, banks, tax halls, and more.
• Education: Sanbot is capable of teaching any level of education including kids, high school students, and university students. 
• Healthcare: Sanbot can help comfort and entertain the elderly at home, reduce queuing time at hospitals, and contribute some initial diagnostics for the doctors in hospitals and clinics.

Sanbot Solutions and Application Cases

QIHAN Technology has released a series of solutions applied to different industries since its debut in 2016, like Smart Home, Wisdom Education, Teaching Assistant and all-in-one system MPS special developed for retail and hospitality, and many more solutions developed by their customers developed but undisclosed. Sanbot robot have high probable to support fast payments for retail businesses.

Sanbot robots are used for Customs Inspections, primary school education, bank reception service, airports, coffee shops, subway stations and some shopping malls. If you wander at in the developed cities, you will run into or be served by Sanbot robots.

Sanbot Application Scenario 8: Airport Service

Aviation is one of the most high-demanding services. In the intense market competition and the fast development of informatization, it is key to comply with the developing trend of Internet and Mobile Internet and the customers' habits in such new era. Sanbot service robot can be flexibly customized to the requirement of airport, such as member points, mileage queries, ticket price queries and flight information. Sanbot satisfies the voluntary interaction and serves customers with Mobile Internet anytime anywhere.

Sanbot Application Scenario 7: Primary School Education

The most way to embed the knowledge and etiquette into kids’ natural thoughts and behaviors is to go into their hearts. Based on the openness, Sanbot service robot, with massive preschool education resources input the three-in-one ecosystem, helps with the education interestingly like one buddy, friendly and intimately. Sanbot standardizes the education, enriches the contents repetitively but interestingly, and boosts the kids’ learning interest and initiative magically, making the learning more interesting and contribute the education quietly. The new coming teaching assistant is as old as kid, but knowledge-abundant, professional and patent. She must be the professor from the Mars.

Sanbot Application Scenario 5: Saier Catering

Except for location, environment, menu, service and marketing promotion, one more surprising secret to attract customers in catering industry is Sanbot service robot. Sanbot robot can attract the people nearby no matter by dancing or active funny hawking around the door, and then accost them into seat, suggest menu and other services without interruption. It arouses people’s interest and appetite and improves the catering experience. Moreover, it prompts customers to share and spread volunteerly, and the dissemination on social network can advertise the restaurant fast, contributing the sales vale and public praise promotion obviously.

Sanbot Application Scenario 3: 3W Coffee Shop

China's first "Internet plus Finance" coffee shop, 3W Coffee introduced Sanbot service robot as service guider in October, 2016. Sanbot’s perfect customized service and interesting experience to customers garnered their consistent acclaims at the scene.

Sanbot helps in following situations:

• Intelligent coffee-ordering service
• Voice consulting service
• Customers receiving service such as singing, dancing, chatting and greeting, etc
• Shop guiding service (Explaining guidance vividly by image-text and voice)