A humanoid robot that can house a fully functional artificial womb is about to be unveiled in China, which could be a groundbreaking development for reproductive science.
According to a Monday Indian Times publication, the project, which Guangzhou-based Kaiwa Technology is leading, is expected to debut in 2026.
The scientific basis is already strong, according to project lead Zhang Qifeng, who spoke at the World Robot Conference in Beijing. The next phase will concentrate on incorporating the artificial womb into a humanoid robot for “interactive pregnancy.”
Modus operandi of artificial wombs
The use of artificial wombs is not new. They use artificial amniotic fluid and a tube that resembles an umbilical cord to transport nutrients and oxygen, simulating the uterine environment.
The feasibility of the idea was demonstrated in 2017 when US scientists kept premature lambs alive for weeks in these “biobags.”
Kaiwa’s project aims to build a robot that can oversee the entire process from fertilisation to full-term delivery, which makes it revolutionary.
With an estimated cost of 100,000 yuan (£11,000), the solution is significantly less expensive than traditional surrogacy and could be a game-changing option in light of the rising rates of infertility, especially in China.
Humanoid robot games
The Chinese government has heavily invested in robotics to dominate the sector. One recent innovation is hosting the first-ever humanoid robot games in Beijing last week.
In competitions ranging from kung fu to the 100-meter hurdles, over 500 androids alternated between jerky tumbles and real strength demonstrations.
At the National Speed Skating Oval in the Chinese capital, which was constructed for the 2022 Winter Olympics, hundreds of robotics teams from 16 different nations are competing for gold.
Traditional sports like basketball and athletics are included in the games, along with useful jobs like cleaning and classifying medications.
An excited 18-year-old spectator, Chen Ruiyuan, told AFP, “I believe in the next 10 years or so, robots will be basically at the same level as humans.”
At one of the first events on Friday morning, five-a-side football, ten robots the size of seven-year-olds shuffled around the field, frequently colliding or collapsing as a group.
But in a 1500-meter race, the humanoids of domestic champion Unitree thrashed the course at a remarkable pace, handily defeating their competitors.
Compared to the human men’s world record of 3:26:00, the fastest robot AFP saw finished in 6:29:37.
A single mechanical racer struck a human operator. The human was knocked flat but did not seem hurt, while the robot went on standing.
According to a paper released Thursday by the International Federation of Robotics, humanoids are now at the “centre of their national strategy.”
“The government wants to showcase its competence and global competitiveness in this field of technology,” it added.