Robotics is transforming economies and societies through applications in industry and assistance for people. In industry, robots have driven manufacturing and logistics to become more tech-intensive. Examples include increased online sales on Black Friday and robots helping with hazardous high-voltage line inspection. Robots also provide assistance to disabled, elderly, patients and children, allowing people to be freed from tedious tasks and helping those like a dancer return to the stage after losing a leg. Hong Kong can benefit economically from robotics through techniques supporting industrial upgrading in China. Researchers in Hong Kong are developing technologies like robotic capsules for endoscopy, cell manipulation systems, and algorithms for warehouse logistics.

1. Robotics: Research and Industry
Jia Pan
The University of Hong Kong

2. Robotics and Economy
• From labor‐intensive to tech‐intensive economy
2

3. Success Stories in Industry
•
•
Manufacturing industry
Logistics industry
0
1000
2000
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Online Sales on Black Friday (million US$)
3

4. Robotics and Society
• Provide assistance / service for people
– disabled, aged, patients and children
• Free everyone from tedious housework
4

5. 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

6. Hong Kong’s Role
•
•
Hong Kong can greatly
benefit from robotics
Provide techniques for
economic restructuring
and industrial
upgrading in China
SME
320 K units (98% of HK)
1.3 M persons (47% of HK)
Logistics
Healthcare &
Service
6

7. 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

8. Robotics Research in HK
Key devices
for industrial
robots
Artificial intelligence in robotic
warehousing and logistics
Humanoid robotics Robotic gripper/hand designs 8

9. Research Hotspots
•
•
•
•
New materials
New sensors
New algorithms
New applications
9

10. TheTrend
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Source: Web of Knowledge,Thomson Reuters
Number
of
Publications
(K)
Number
of
robotics
surgery
procedures
(100
K)
10