High-tech on display at smart healthcare zone

At a smart healthcare exhibition booth inside the Canton Fair Complex in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, a wheelchair demonstrates its ability to independently navigate the stairs, attracting the attention of many foreign visitors.

"It is not just a wheelchair — it is a robot with the form and function of a wheelchair," said Huang Zhou, deputy general manager of XSTO Co, which is based in Zhongshan, a manufacturing and trade hub in Guangdong.

Based on a 360-degree automatic balance control technology, the robotic wheelchair can travel on various terrains, such as stairs, slopes, and uneven surfaces like grass and sand, according to Huang.

"More than 10 motors and gyroscopes are present within the wheelchair to adjust balance in real-time, which, unlike traditional wheelchairs, effectively reduces the risk of tipping over on bumpy surfaces," said Huang.

Like the robotic wheelchair, a number of cutting-edge technological achievements in medical robotics, intelligent diagnostics, wearable devices, smart massage therapy and health monitoring are being displayed at the newly established smart healthcare zone during the third phase of the China Import and Export Fair, popularly known as the Canton Fair.

The smart healthcare zone, with 140 exhibition booths, has attracted 47 leading domestic companies to showcase their technological achievements during the fair, also widely seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade. The fair will conclude its 138th edition on Tuesday.

"By introducing the smart robotic wheelchair, we hope to enable more elderly and disabled individuals with mobility challenges to enjoy the conveniences brought on by technology," said Huang.

The company has applied for over 300 technology patents, with its independently developed products being exported to more than 80 countries and regions. The company's overseas sales account for over 70 percent of its total business revenue.

China's continuous development of smart medical technology has helped a number of companies to develop highly personalized and precise eldercare services, according to Huang.

Besides the smart wheelchair booth, an AI embodied therapy robot, developed by Shenzhen Deyee Medical Technology Co, has also become particularly popular with overseas buyers.

Based on human-machine voice interactive technologies, the robotic machine is capable of understanding and performing the massage, after users state their issues, such as shoulder or neck pain.

Additionally, the robot's therapeutic probe integrates various physical therapies, including nano red light, radio frequency and muscle electrical pulses. Users can also control the temperature, intensity and speed via voice commands.

"We aim to make therapy more intelligent and personalized," said Zheng Hongxia, a sales manager with Deyee, adding that the company has brought six flagship smart products to the fair.