Mount Tai in Tai'an City, east China's Shandong Province introduced robots to help people climb mountain as throngs of visitors have flocked to the scenic area during the Chinese New Year holiday.
Regarded as the foremost one of the Five Sacred Mountains of China, Mount Tai is over 1,500 meters above sea level, and its crest could only be reached after ascending thousands of steps. The scenic area has seen a surge in visitors since the eight-day holiday began on Tuesday, who are eager to witness the sunrise and breathtaking views from the summit.
"I came to climb Mount Tai, taking advantage of this Spring Festival holiday. I want to challenge myself while experiencing the mountain's magnificence firsthand," said Li Zhijia, a visitor from Beijing.
Over the first three days of the holiday, the mountain saw the arrivals of 160,000 visitors. Along with the stunning scenery, visitors enjoyed an array of cultural activities, including traditional folk performances like drum parades, dragon and lion dances, and shadow puppet shows, as well as local delicacies.
Among the crowd, climbers with robotic exoskeletons have stolen the show. The robot is introduced to assist elderly visitors and those with limited physical strength.
With advanced ergonomics, power systems, electronics, and AI algorithms, these wearable robots are able to anticipate the wearer's leg movements to provide assistance with each step.
"It feels like my legs are being lifted automatically. Climbing the mountain with this feels even easier than walking on the ground," said Wang, a visitor from Jinan City.
Robotic exoskeletons help visitors climb Mount Tai during Spring Festival holiday
Robotic exoskeletons help visitors climb Mount Tai during Spring Festival holiday
