Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT

  Robots capture visitors’ attention at 138th Canton Fair

Buyers watch the performance of robotic dogs at service robots zone of the 138th Canton Fair in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, on October 16, 2025. Photo: Chi Jingyi/GT

The 138th Canton Fair continues to feature a dedicated service robots zone, where 46 companies showcased their latest products, which has garnered significant attention from foreign buyers.

The debut of several cutting-edge products not only packed the exhibition area with enthusiastic crowds but also drove on-site transactions. 

On the fair's opening day on Wednesday, robot companies reported promising deals. 

Fan Yiwen, Marketing Director of Sichuan TLIBOT Co. Ltd., told the Global Times on Thursday that a Canadian client bought the only sample of the company's ultra lightweight collaborative robot on the first day. 

"The buyer will pack the sample product for shipment to Canada after the first phase of the edition concludes on October 19. Additionally, a Brazilian buyer purchased the only sample of a collaborative robot palletizing station showcased at our booth," Fan said.

"Having participated in three Canton Fairs, our products have secured export orders and enhanced our brand popularity," Fan said. "Our goal is to promote high-tech Chinese products, boost international recognition, and tap into global markets. The fair has helped us attract buyers from Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia, with deals finalized with multiple agents in North America and Europe, including on-site transactions."

For Guangzhou Inbot Technology Ltd., three deals of purchase of its PadBot robots were realized soon after the 138th Canton Fair opened.

Shu Xuqiong, Deputy General Manager of Inbot Technology, told the Global Times that a buyer from Brazil paid cash on the spot for a singing and dancing robot, with plans to visit the company for further inspection, potentially leading to more orders.

Yuanhua Robotics, Perception and AI Technologies Ltd. at the Canton Fair showcased KUNWU Robotic Surgical System, which is China's first such system covering replacements of hip, knee, and unicompartmental joint, having completed 5,000 clinical validations. 

Meng Li Aili, Chairman of Yuanhua Robotics, Perception and AI Technologies Ltd., told the Global Times that the company aims to explore "technology + training + service" integration in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, marking a systematic effort to build global medical trust, while highlighting partnerships with medical institutions in over 20 countries and ongoing EU CE certification assessments.

"From core software algorithms to precision mechanics and intelligent control systems, the KUNWU surgical robot is 100 percent independently developed," she said, calling the Canton Fair a vital bridge for "Made in China" to reach the world stage.

Dobot Technology unveiled several new products, including an AI-powered moxibustion robot, realizing precise laser acupuncture and temperature control without human intervention; and a massage robot using AI to target human fascia for accurate therapy, Li Jiaxian, Brand Manager of Dobot Technology, told the Global Times.

Innovative products for high-risk scenarios also shone. Lingdu Intel-tech Development Co., Ltd. (X-Human) launched an obstacle-crossing curtain wall cleaning robot Y3. 

"Traditional flat high building cleaning robots struggle with aluminum frame with width of 3-5 centimeters or bar obstacles, severely limiting their applications," Huang Jian, COO of X-Human, told the Global Times at the Canton Fair. The new Y3 robot can overcome obstacles up to 20 centimeters, expanding its application scenarios by about 40 percent, offering a flexible solution for the high building cleaning industry.

The attractiveness of Chinese robotic products highlighted the industry's rapid innovation, through leveraging technical advancements, cost-effectiveness, and robust supply chain advantages, exhibitors said.
The bustling scenes at the Canton Fair mirror the robust overseas expansion of Chinese robotics. Multiple exhibitors reported impressive growth in international business, with X-Human projecting over 40 percent revenue growth from exports in 2025. 

Li of Dobot Technology said their collaborative robots have reached over 100 countries and regions, leading China's exports of such products for eight consecutive years. With nearly 100,000 robots deployed globally - topping China's rankings - overseas revenue now accounts for 52.4 percent of their total income.
Service robots zone takes center stage at 138th Canton Fair; buyers snag samples on-site, exhibitors say

Members of the Qingbo subdistrict comprehensive administrative law enforcement team in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, patrol Nanshan Road with an AI-powered robot dog, on October 2, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of Qingbo subdistrict office

A silver-gray inspection robot dog has recently begun field patrol on Nanshan Road in Qingbo subdistrict in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province to assist local law enforcement patrols, the Qingbo subdistrict office told the Global Times on Thursday.

It is currently in a "trial period" and undergoing field testing, which is expected to officially go on duty at the end of October, and will continue to "learn" and improve afterward, Wu Wei, a deputy leader of the Qingbo subdistrict comprehensive administrative law enforcement team, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Equipped with an AI "brain," high-definition camera, and multi-sensor fusion,  the robot dog can perceive its surroundings autonomously and make intelligent decisions, Wu said. 

It can autonomously patrol for issues such as illegal parking, blocked roads and unauthorized wiring, and once a violation is detected, it can be triggered remotely to record video evidence in real time, assisting follow-up law enforcement, according to Wu.

During patrols, the robot broadcasts clear voice reminders to residents: "Please do not accept unsolicited ride offers, do not board unlicensed passenger vehicles, and beware of scams."

On a full charge, the robot dog can operate continuously for three to four hours. During routine patrols it primarily  moves on four wheels to save power, can climb slopes up to 35 degrees, and if it encounters obstacles it can switch gaits to easily cross them, according to the subdistrict office.

Wu said robot dogs can enhance response speed and precision by transmitting real-time location and audio visual evidence, and better use of human resources as officers could focus more on communication instead of repetitive patrols. Beyond improving management at a single site, Wu added, their use signals broader possibilities for AI-empowered urban governance.

"This model brings cutting-edge technologies out of the lab and into real-world application, solving governance challenges and providing companies with a platform to deploy their technologies," Wu said.

Wu said the robot dog's use cases are being refined and expanded. Once the "trial period" assessment passes, its patrol routes and the range of issues it can handle will be further expanded.

More cities are now conducting trials of humanoid robots, and robot dogs for smart patrols. In May, for example, robot dogs were put into use for patrol and accurately detect potential safety hazards in a railway station in Longhua district, Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, according to local authorities.

  Robot dog begins field patrol in Hangzhou, advancing AI powered urban governance