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" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="200301" data-entity-type="organization">China North Industries Group, the country’s largest defence contractor, launched the robot, dubbed Xiaoyuan, on Friday at the China-care-and-rehabilitation-expo" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="200306" data-entity-type="event">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.