36 h. ago Study shows how robots replaced master workers in Chinese military drone factory

In a Beijing defence drone facility, a black carbon-fibre body frame sits on a workstation ready for drilling. The material is light and strong, but a fractional error in angle or positioning could affect stealth performance and lead to the scrapping of the entire part. Master technicians once performed this task – breath held, hands steady – relying on years of muscle memory. Despite their skill, human limitations capped the speed of production and kept costs high. That changed with a...

Events

40 h. ago China’s top drone maker DJI comes down to earth with launch of robotic cleaner

Chinese drone giant DJI is expected to launch a vacuum cleaning robot in a move set to intensify competition in the country’s crowded robotic cleaner market, according to a report by the state-backed financial newspaper China Securities Journal, citing internal sources. Shenzhen-based DJI will introduce a combination vacuum cleaner and mopping robot this month, a project that has been under development over the past four years, according to the report. The product is called DJI ROMO, according...

Events

45 h. ago Hong Kong can support taxi sector by using levies to create fund: Uber executive

Hong Kong’s taxi trade and ride-hailing services can work together on the same platform, Uber’s global head of public policy has said, while suggesting that authorities look at how other jurisdictions have adapted and used levies to set up a fund to support cabbies. In an interview with the Post, Andrew Byrne said that Hong Kong could learn from Australia’s use of a A$1.2 (78 US cents) levy, initially set at A$1, on ride-hailing and taxi services to compensate cabbies impacted by the...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump moves to block foreign drone makers from selling new models in US

US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders meant to rebuild America’s drone industry, tighten airspace security and boost military readiness, potentially squeezing Chinese manufacturers like DJI and Autel Robotics out of the market. “Immediate action is needed to ensure American sovereignty over its skies,” Trump stated in one of the orders, warning that foreign-made drones were “endangering the public” and compromising critical infrastructure. The orders also call for federal...

Politics

4 d. ago Hong Kong’s food delivery scene soars with drone services to Ma On Shan

Food delivery in Hong Kong has reached a new height as a major provider has started to use drones to send orders, cutting waiting time by 35 minutes. The service, provided by Keeta Drone, a subsidiary of mainland Chinese food delivery giant Meituan, delivers orders from two fast-food restaurants in Science Park to a landing zone on Ma On Shan Promenade. The operator said it was planning to expand the service to other locations in the new town using the company’s automatic kiosk system. “The...

Society

1 week ago China’s smart cities are streets ahead, but same challenges apply the world over

Each night in the darkest hours, a fleet of drones patrols the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, watching over potentially dodgy areas such as underground station exits and the riverside to deter any would-be criminals. The nightly routine has been operating since last year, according to a report published in April by the city’s police bureau, which detailed its use of artificial intelligence to plan patrol routes. According to the report, the AI puts a laser focus on patrolling Nanjing’s blind...

Politics

2 w. ago Chinese drone maker EHang sees flying taxis take off by 2030 on the mainland

EHang, which is conducting trials in Guangzhou and Hefei, will offer services in restricted corridors in these two cities by year-end.

Events

2 w. ago Chinese drone maker EHang sees regular flying taxi services by 2030

Flying taxis could be used for public transport within the next five years on the mainland, according to a senior executive of Chinese passenger drone maker EHang Holdings. “I believe that by 2030, China will likely have fixed-route air shuttle services,” chief financial officer Conor Yang said in an interview on Tuesday. “It’s also possible that in some cities, with sufficient infrastructure such as take-off and landing points, air taxi services could emerge.” The Nasdaq-listed developer of...

Events

3 w. ago Trump’s trade war is cracking the West’s unity, former Chinese envoy says

Wu Hailong tells Global Prosperity Summit that fault lines are emerging between US and allies that could reshape the international order.

Politics

3 w. ago Chinese drones hailed in global market as 'sharp' weapon against terrorism

Chinese drones hailed in global market as 'sharp' weapon against terrorism  China Daily

Events

4 w. ago Sweltering 30 C day turns icy night: parts of Beijing hit by egg

Sweltering 30 C day turns icy night: parts of Beijing hit by egg-sized hail, observatory issues warning  Global Times

Events