SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
By Eduardo Baptista
The computers from Chinese companies such as DroidVP and Noetix Robotics came in all shapes and sizes, some shorter than 120 centimetres, some as high as 1. 8 feet. One organization boasted that its robot looked almost animal, with female features and the ability to smile and grin.
Some companies tested their computers for days before the competition. Beijing authorities have described the event as more tantamount to a race car contest, given the need for architecture and navigation groups.
“The drones are running pretty well, quite stable… I feel I’m witnessing the development of robots and AI, ” said audience He Sishu, who works in artificial intelligence.
The drones were accompanied by mortal instructors, some of whom had to actually help the machines during the competition.
A few of the computers wore running shoes, with one donning fighting boots and another wearing a purple hat with the terms “Bound to Win” in Chinese.
The winning machine was Tiangong Ultra, from the Beijing Innovation Centre of Human Robotics, with a period of 2 days and 40 days. The individual success of the competition had a period of 1 hours and 2 minutes.
The heart is 43 per cent owned by two state-owned companies, while tech large Xiaomi’s technology arm and leading Chinese humanoid robot strong UBTech have equal share in the sleep.
Tang Jian, chief technology officer for the automation heart, said Ultra’s achievement was aided by long feet and an engine allowing it to resemble how people run a workout.
“ I don’t want to boast but I think no other robotics firms in the West have matched Tiangong’s sporting achievements, ” Tang said, adding that the robot switched batteries just three times during the race.
While some computers completed the contest, people struggled from the beginning. One fell at the starting range and lay straight for a few minutes before getting up and taking off. Another crashed into a wall after running a dozen yards, causing its individual operator to slide through.
Although human computers have made looks at sprints in China over the past month, this is the first day they have raced alongside people.
China is hoping that expense in sectors such as technology can help build new vehicles of economic development. Some analysts, while, query whether having drones enter marathons is a reliable indication of their business potential.
Alan Fern, teacher of computer technology, artificial intelligence and robotics at Oregon State University, said opposed to statements from Beijing officials that such a contest requires “A I breakthroughs”, the program enabling human computers to work was developed and demonstrated more than five years ago.
“Chinese companies have really focused on showing off walking, running, dancing, and other feats of agility, ” Fern said.
“Generally, these are interesting demonstrations, but they don’t demonstrate much regarding the utility of useful work or any type of basic intelligence. ”
Tang, the robotic centre’s chief technology officer, said: “A focus going forward for us will be industrial applications for humanoid robots so they can truly enter factories, business scenarios, and finally households. ”
