A research team in Shanghai, China, is developing a guide dog robot that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) technology to assist visually impaired individuals in moving more conveniently.
The robot dog is currently in the testing phase in Shanghai. It is sized similarly to a real dog but features six legs, allowing it to move smoothly and maintain maximum stability.
Guide dog robot integrated with AI technology. (Photo: Reuters).
Thanks to the integration of AI technology and voice recognition capabilities, the robot dog can “hear” and “respond” to commands from visually impaired users. Additionally, by utilizing AI alongside camera systems and sensors, the robot dog can plan routes and navigate traffic, including the ability to recognize traffic signals. These are functionalities that conventional guide dogs cannot perform.
The demand for guide dogs in China is quite high. Statistics show that the country currently has just over 400 guide dogs serving approximately 20 million visually impaired individuals. Meanwhile, the supply of traditional guide dogs is limited due to challenges in breeding and the requirement for extensive training processes.
Professor Gao Feng, the leader of the research team at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, believes that the mass production of robot dogs could address the aforementioned shortage, providing greater opportunities for the visually impaired community in China as well as globally.
Guide dog robots are also being researched and developed in several other countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom.
