Robot guide dog debuts in China amid severe lack of furry counterparts

A Chinese defence industry research facility has unveiled what it calls the world’s first wheeled and legged robot guide dog for visually impaired people, in an example of the sector’s push into a growing range of civilian applications.

Hangzhou-based Zhiyuan Research Institute, affiliated with China North Industries Group, the country’s largest defence contractor, launched the robot, dubbed Xiaoyuan, on Friday at the China Care and Rehabilitation Expo in Beijing.

Equipped with wheels for smooth movement on flat ground and four legs for climbing stairs, the robot was designed to help visually impaired people navigate independently, according to the institute.

The wheeled design allowed the robot to move quietly, an important feature for those who rely on their hearing to perceive their surroundings, the institute said. Meanwhile, it could also identify overhead obstacles such as low-hanging branches, which could be difficult to detect with traditional mobility aids such as canes.

The robot offered centimetre-level outdoor positioning accuracy, with an error margin of less than 30 centimetres, while its obstacle-avoidance success rate was at least 99 per cent indoors and 96 per cent outdoors, according to the institute.

Xiaoyuan is connected to services including disability federation systems, an accessibility map and a remote assistance portal for volunteers, allowing users to seek help remotely when needed.