TOKYO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua Silk Road) -- Chinese companies showcased a range of artificial intelligence (AI) applications at two major industrial exhibitions in Japan, highlighting efforts to bring the technology into real-world settings.
The four-day event, including Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (CEATEC) and Japan Mobility Show Bizweek, concluded on Friday at Makuhari Messe in Japan's Chiba Prefecture. Held in tandem this year, the two exhibitions attracted a total of over 1,000 exhibitors.
At the booth of Chinese robotics company LimX Dynamics, a full-size humanoid robot named Luna swayed to an upbeat Latin tune, moving its limbs and changing dance steps with ease.
Two visitors from Mexico danced along to the music as they watched. "These robots dance better than I do!" Hugo said. His companion Luisa was also amazed at the performance. "It's incredible how flexibly the robot moves its limbs."
Luna was one of three robot products presented by the company, along with Oli, a full-size general-purpose humanoid robot, and TRON 2, an embodied robot with multiple configurations.
Rather than limiting its products to preset demonstrations, the company allows users to develop additional applications, a staff member said. The robots can be adapted for a series of functions, including voice interaction, mobility and object manipulation. In Japan, the company is exploring applications in the following scenarios, such as education and research, inspection, visitor guidance and commercial performances.
Beyond the exhibition stage, AI-powered machines are also being developed to address practical challenges in the workplace.
Neolix, a Chinese autonomous driving company, displayed unmanned delivery vehicles designed for urban logistics at the tech show. The vehicles offer Level 4 autonomous driving services, or highly automated driving, the second highest stage in automated driving, according to Yang Jiaxiang, director of the company's Japanese branch.
As Japan is facing a shortage of workers and rising labor costs, autonomous delivery vehicles could help logistics operators cut transportation expenses, deploy fleets more flexibly and keep deliveries running during night time.
The company is now testing its vehicles and providing transport services in restricted areas, including the Tokyo Ryutsu Center, as it works to build a track record in Japan. The country's regulatory requirements for autonomous driving and commercial deployment make local testing an important step toward wider adoption, said Yang.
According to the company, the vehicles being tested adopted autonomous driving technology that does not require high-definition maps, which could reduce map-related deployment costs by 90 percent.
A gradual approach to deployment is also advocated by Koji Sato, chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). New technologies should be introduced on a small scale before being expanded more widely, he said, citing autonomous driving as an example.
"Even if the scale is very small, we should be willing to give it a try," Sato said. Trials could begin in designated areas, with experience gained there used to guide deployment elsewhere, he added.
At Japan Mobility Show Bizweek, China's tech company iFLYTEK focused on another setting where AI is increasingly being applied, vehicles.
The company demonstrated in-car audio systems with Japanese brand vehicles, allowing visitors to experience the integration of audio hardware and software. It also showcased an intelligent cockpit powered by a large language model, with support for Japanese, English and other languages.
In-car audio and intelligent cockpit systems are best assessed through direct experience, said Wang Jiawei, iFLYTEK's vehicle audio marketing manager.
As Chinese automakers expand overseas, iFLYTEK is also taking products and technologies already used in China to global markets and working with overseas automakers to develop solutions for local customers, Wang said.
The exhibitions reflected a broader effort of Chinese enterprises to move AI from technical demonstrations into practical use, whether helping robots interact with people, easing pressure on logistics workforce or changing how drivers and passengers listen in a vehicle.
Kiyoshi Shikano, executive producer of CEATEC, said the exhibition aimed to provide visitors with a tangible sense of how AI is becoming more accessible and being put to use in society. (Contributed by Li Shimeng, edited by Li Xueqing with Xinhua Silk Road, lixueqing@xinhua.org)
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