With the development of a series of new 5G sanitation robots, an environmental equipment producer based in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, shakes up the industry and contributes to the city's growing reputation as one of the nation's leading intelligent manufacturing centers.
The sanitation robots, developed by Zoomlion Environment Industry Co., Ltd., can relieve the city's sanitation labor shortage and rising costs. The robot family includes an electric cleaning robot, an electric washing robot and five other models.
According to the company's Innovation Director, Dr. Zhang Bin, Zoomlion has developed the world's first 5G unmanned sanitation robots. The robots can automatically detect and trace garbage, sweep and wash the road as well as collect and transport garbage. The robots can be deployed in alleys, schools, industrial parks and other urban areas and have specialties, including snow removal and some that are able to climb and clean walls.
All seven sanitation robot models can switch between unmanned and manned modes, as Zoomlion increasingly shifts its focus to intelligent solutions by making use of AI and 5G technology.
In an interview with People's Daily Online, Zhang revealed that the manufacturer has plans to further develop its intelligent sanitation equipment and produce it on a large scale 'to help build a national intelligent city system'.
However, Zoomlion not only has plans for national development, as Leon Ou, head of the corporation's overseas business department, points out. 'So far, we have exported machinery to 40 different countries in Southeast Asia, Africa and Europe', Ou told People's Daily Online. He admits that overseas markets bear a lot of challenges, but also see great potential for development, particularly in certain African countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as in Europe.
Given Zoomlion's expansion plans, it may well be that 5G sanitation robots from Changsha will soon contribute to cleaner streets around the globe.