Visitors look at a service robot at the 21st China International Industry Fair in Shanghai. Photo: VCG

Imbued with technology from both high-end manufacturing and artificial intelligence (AI), China's service robot sector is poised to usher in a golden period, as shown at the 8th Shanghai (China) Technology Fair, where firms showed off their latest products and technologies.

Held in the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from Thursday to Saturday, the exhibition covers an area of 35,000 square meters with more than 1,000 exhibitors, setting records despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the organizer. 

As a highlight of the show, a number of cutting-edge technologies, such as robots for the elderly and unmanned logistics services, were displayed, as the digital transformation in China continues to deepen, bringing scientific and technological advances closer to daily life.

At an AI Magic Mirror, users can complete facial scans and the digital monitor will show the individual's face, age, gender, BMI index, blood pressure, blood glucose, blood lipids and other physiological indicators.

Developed by the Life Sciences Institute of the DeepBlue Academy of Sciences, the robot is based on facial visual data and facial imaging, combined with subcutaneous optical information using AI modeling algorithm, a staffer told the Global Times on Thursday. 

"We accelerated research and development on service robots despite the COVID-19 pandemic last year," she said.

CloudMinds Technology, a smart robot producer, brought its Cloud Ginger cloud service robot to the show. With 34 flexible joints, it can grasp items smoothly and be remotely connected with 5G. As long as the robot is on the network, it can be controlled to pick up a glass of water or complete other services.

In another stall, users can place orders using their phones, and a robot will pick up the food from a vending machine stand and deliver to the designated area automatically, avoiding physical contact.

"Our sales increased 50 percent last year. As China becomes an aging society, we predict this will have a strong impact on domestic consumption," Zhu Wenbo, regional sales director of Padbot, told the Global Times on Thursday.