Robotics: Research and Industry
Jia Pan
The University of Hong Kong
Robotics and Economy
• From labor‐intensive to tech‐intensive economy
2
Success Stories in Industry
• Manufacturing industry
• Logistics industry
2000
Online Sales on Black Friday (million US$)
1000
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
3
Robotics and Society
• Provide assistance / service for people
– disabled, aged, patients and children
• Free everyone from tedious housework
4
Success Stories in Society
Robots help the hazardous work
of high‐voltage transmission line
inspection.
Robotic prosthetic device helps Adrianne
Haslet‐Davis, a dancer who lost a leg during
Boston bombing, to return to stage
5
Hong Kong’s Role
• Hong Kong can greatly
benefit from robotics
• Provide techniques for
SME
320 K units (98% of HK)
1.3 M persons (47% of HK)
Logistics
Healthcare &
Service
economic restructuring
and industrial
upgrading in China
6
Robotics Research in HK
Robotic wireless capsule endoscopy
Robotic cell manipulation system
Robot assists hysterectomy surgery
Real‐time 3D ultrasound scanner
for robotics surgery sensing
7
Robotics Research in HK
Key devices
for industrial
robots
Humanoid robotics
Artificial intelligence in robotic
warehousing and logistics
Robotic gripper/hand designs
8
Research Hotspots
• New materials
• New sensors
• New algorithms
• New applications
9
Number of Publications (K)
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Source: Web of Knowledge, Thomson Reuters
2012
2013
Number of robotics surgery procedures (100 K)
The Trend
10