Chinese service robotics firms like ECOVACS are expanding their footprint in a growing set of life and work scenarios in the world's largest robotics application market.
The robotic lawn mower developed by Chinese service robotics firm ECOVACS can automatically map a lawn and its boundaries in less than 30 minutes, and mow a lawn of 600 square meters a day. The new product, which will hit the Chinese and European markets in early 2023, marks a bold step for the company to venture beyond traditional indoor household services like floor cleaning. The role of robots is to shape new dimensions of convenience in people's lives, said David Qian, CEO of ECOVACS Robotics.
Chinese service robotics firms like ECOVACS are expanding their footprint in a growing set of life and work scenarios in the world's largest robotics application market. In many Chinese hotels, orders for food can be delivered to the doorstep by robots. In some hospitals, robots can show patients the way. In northeast China, skiing robots have been used to help train athletes. In a school in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, a robot capable of playing and instructing Chinese chess is in place to interact with students. By the end of 2021, China had 101 specialized and sophisticated firms that produced novel and unique products in robotics, according to the ministry. Last year, China's output of service robots reached 9.214 million units, up about 49 percent over 2020.
In 2022, demand in education, public services, and other fields will become the main driving force for the development of service robots, according to a report by the Chinese Institute of Electronics. The market size of service robots in China is expected to top USD 10 billion by 2024. According to a joint plan outlined by the MIIT and other government agencies, China will boost high-end robotics products during the 2021-2025 period. Enterprises are encouraged to set up product experience centers and accelerate the promotion of robots for home services, education, and entertainment, among others, the plan said.