Slew of emerging trends reshaping robotics sector globally: expert

Marina Bill, President of the International Federation of Robotics, on Wednesday laid out major trends in the global robotics market that are on display at the ongoing World Robot Conference 2024 (WRC) in Beijing, noting that China is playing a role in advancing the burgeoning industry.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Bill said global robotics is at a "very interesting stage" as she outlined five major trends she has observed in the sector.

"The first one is really the usage and putting robotics together with AI and this is really leveling up how we can use robotics both now and in the future. Another trend is the adaptation of cobots. That has been going on for a long time, but the robots can work hand in hand with people and also here doing new types of tasks and also being secure for people. Another trend that is a little bit newer is the mobile manipulators. So, putting the robots on a moving robot and also be there in the area of logistics and healthcare and so on. We see a lot of movements there," she said.

"Then, the digital twin. And also here, all manufacturing sites are digitalizing more and more and by having digital twins with robots, we can simulate robots. We can also do it safer, more efficiently and optimize it, and also get it connected then to the rest of the factory. And finally, as we see here today, the humanoids and all the different technology that is coming with the humanoids. And it will be interesting to see how that will develop in the future," Bill continued.

She also acknowledged that China has made fruitful achievements in the development and adoption of industrial robots.

"China has gone through a fantastic journey and I'm excited to see how this will continue. So, only 10 years ago there were about 60,000 industrial robots installed here in China and now it's 290,000. And that means that it's more than half of every industrial robot that is being installed. So, 52 percent is installed here in China. So, China is a huge market and a lot of development is happening in China is also one of the countries who firstly had an AI strategy for the country, which has helped a lot," the expert said.

With over 400 professionals from home and abroad joining, the latest edition of the event, which will conclude on Sunday, is showcasing over 600 advanced robotic products.

Slew of emerging trends reshaping robotics sector globally: expert

The Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip has risen to 50,423, with 114,638 injured, after nearly 18 months of Israeli military operations, Gaza health authorities said Wednesday.

Local medical sources noted that since the Israeli army resumed its operations on March 18, the number of fatalities has reached 1,066, while 2,597 have been injured.

In the past 24 hours alone, hospitals in Gaza received 24 fatalities and 55 injured. Many bodies remain trapped beneath the rubble, with ambulances and civil defense personnel struggling to reach them.

According to a report by the Times of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that it had carried out strikes on over 50 sites belonging to Hamas and other militant groups, ahead of a major ground push into the southern Gaza Strip. During the day, dozens more strikes were carried out across Gaza.

In addition, the IDF issued a statement on Wednesday night that it had intercepted two rockets launched from northern Gaza. Air raid sirens were activated in areas near the Gaza Strip, and local media said that there are no reports of injuries or damage in the attack. The Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attack.

According to Palestinian media reports on Wednesday, the Israeli air force targeted a medical facility operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The head of Gaza-based health authorities reported on the same day that 19 people were killed in the attack.

The Israeli military stated on Wednesday that it had struck a Hamas command center in Jabalia.

On Wednesday night, Al Jazeera quoted relevant sources as saying that Hamas officials had received Israel's response to the ceasefire proposal, which had been put forward by mediators and accepted by Hamas. Based on this response, they concluded that Israel had rejected the proposal.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 50,423