News Desk

It’s less furry than a traditional companion, but a six-legged chinese robot “guide dog” could one day help vision impaired people live with more independence, according to its research development team in Shanghai.

With the help of cameras and sensors, the robot dog—which is already undergoing field testing—can navigate its physical environment and recognize traffic lights, something that regular guide dogs are not able to do.

It is around the shape of an English Bulldog but a little bit wider. Thanks to AI technology integrated into its voice acknowledgment, route planning, and traffic light identification, it can communicate by listening to and chatting with a visually impaired operator. Its six legs, according to the researchers, aid in its smooth and stable gait.

“Like a camera tripod, even when three legs are raised, three legs remain. Professor Gao Feng, who oversees the study team at Jiao Tong University’s School of Mechanical Engineering in Shanghai, stated that this design is the most stable.

Among the visually handicapped individuals assisting the Jiao Tong University team in testing the robot using Chinese-language commands are married couple Li Fei, 41, and Zhu Sibin, 42.

Zhu has limited vision and Li is totally blind. He typically uses a cane to help him go around.

“At least it could solve some of my problems when traveling alone if a robotic guide dog comes onto the market and I could use it,” Li remarked. “For instance, I can’t go out alone to go to the hospital, the supermarket, or work right now; I need to go with my family or volunteers.”

While other nations, including Australia and Britain, are developing robot guide dogs, China is severely lacking in canines of the classic kind.

According to Gao, there are about 400 guide dogs in China for every 20 million blind individuals.