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Over Ten Leading Products Launched, Humanoid Robots Steal the Spotlight — Beijing E-Town Establishes a Complete Robotic Industry Chain

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Humanoid Robots

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 August 2024 – After achieving the world’s first humanoid running with a full-sized pure electric humanoid robot, “Tiangong” has demonstrated new skills. Walker S Lite has started its training in automotive smart factories, and the world’s first orthopedic surgical robot equipped with AI deep learning technology has been unveiled. Soft robots have also broken through industrial application bottlenecks. On August 21, the 2024 World Robot Conference opened in Beijing E-Town (Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area), showcasing over ten innovative products from Beijing E-Town at the 2024 World Robot Expo, with humanoid robots taking center stage. Through “Robot Mobilization,” Beijing E-Town has developed internationally leading humanoid robots, AI medical robots, and autonomously controlled key components, transforming these advancements into new productivity and continuously enhancing the innovation capability of the robot industry.

Dancing, bowing, greeting, grabbing objects by sound… when the nation’s first general-purpose humanoid robot platform “Tiangong” demonstrated these new skills, it once again caught attention. The last sensation was in April this year, when “Tiangong,” independently developed by the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center (referred to as the “Innovation Center”), achieved the world’s first humanoid running at a stable speed of 6 km/h with a full-sized pure electric humanoid robot. Four months later, “Tiangong” has been upgraded again, using a predictive reinforcement imitation learning method based on state memory, mastering more varied movements and speech-interactive grabbing capabilities under the support of a large embodied intelligence model. “When a person gives a voice command, the embodied intelligent robot can complete a set of grab-and-release actions based on the ‘open vocabulary object detection and arbitrary object segmentation multimodal model.’ We have now connected the embodied intelligence model pipeline, meaning robots can understand human commands, break down tasks, and complete them. In the future, robots will be able to help humans with more tasks,” explained Zhang Qiang, a humanoid robot algorithm expert at the Innovation Center. “We are committed to the development of key technologies and ecosystem construction for embodied intelligent robots. Currently, we are based in Beijing E-Town, and through the ‘Tiangong’ and ‘Kaiwu’ projects, we aim to promote technological innovation and industrial development, leading the industry in solving common problems.”

“We are launching two new products,” said a representative from the “Little Giant” enterprise, Tsino-Dynatron. “Among them, targeting the development trend of humanoid robots, we have independently developed the CoolDrive Mini ANT networked micro servo drive, which features high power density, high switching frequency, high bandwidth response, and low loss, suitable for applications requiring compact size and high bursts, such as humanoid robots and mechanical dogs.” Lingzu Times, established in Beijing E-Town just over eight months ago, has broken through the innovation bottleneck between lightness and stability in robot joints. Founder and COO Shao Yuanxin said, “Robot joints are the key to making humanoid robots as flexible as humans. Our self-developed Robstride04, a 120N.m integrated joint module, can drive medium-sized bipedal humanoid robots or full-sized quadruped robots.” The robotic arm used a “blue claw” to steadily grab and move a pot of tea, while soft robots demonstrated the secrets of “soft fingers” in industrial applications through an intelligent interactive robot tea art demonstration platform. The company’s self-developed flexible gripper can handle nearly 96% of irregular and fragile objects in industrial production, a level of technical complexity that only two companies globally have mastered.

In addition to significant breakthroughs in key technology development, more robots in Beijing E-Town have transformed into new productivity. UBTECH, which established its humanoid robot headquarters in Beijing E-Town this year, showcased its “humanoid robot troupe,” including Walker S and Walker S Lite, and demonstrated industrial humanoid robot solutions on-site. Haobao Yu, Vice President of UBTECH Robotics and Chairman of Beijing UBTECH Intelligent Robotics Co., Ltd., explained, “Combining end-to-end imitation learning, precise visual recognition, and fine full-body motion control technologies, the industrial version of the humanoid robot Walker S Lite has already ‘joined’ several automotive factories, such as collaborating with employees at the CTU inbound loading station in the Zeekr factory to perform handling tasks. It is the first humanoid robot in China to perform the entire process of material box handling tasks, both in execution and public display, with its operational completion and execution difficulty among the top in the industry.”

In the field of high-end medical equipment, Longwood Valley MedTech has launched ROPA, the world’s first orthopedic surgical robot equipped with AI deep learning technology. This AI+ROBOT innovation achieves surgical precision at the sub-millimeter level, addressing traditional surgical challenges such as reducing operation time, minimizing surgical risks, and alleviating patient pain,” said Dr. Zhang Yiling, Chairman of Longwood Valley MedTech. “With AI deep learning technology certified as ‘internationally leading’ by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, ROPA acts like a ‘super brain’ for orthopedic experts, allowing doctors to create individualized 3D surgical plans in just 5-10 minutes using only a patient’s CT scan. The sub-millimeter precision optical positioning system, akin to a ‘digital eye,’ provides real-time monitoring and tracking of the patient’s intraoperative position, helping surgeons overcome the visual limitations and blind spots of traditional surgeries. Paired with the ‘digital hand,’ an independently developed intelligent follow-up technology, every critical step in the surgery is executed with precision, achieving breakthroughs in surgical accuracy.” UNION STRONG showcased an intelligent surgical solution for intracranial aneurysm surgery, including a catheter shaping robot. Qin Lan, founder, chairman, and general manager of UNION STRONG, explained, “This solution is a disruptive innovation product that is both an original Chinese creation and the first of its kind globally. Its core AI software received China’s first Class III registration certificate for innovative medical devices for AI treatment, recognized as ‘internationally leading’ through national scientific and technological achievement evaluations. Through AI treatment and AI decision-making, this solution resolves critical clinical challenges, achieving ‘fully autonomous driving’ for key steps in intracranial aneurysm surgery. It not only enhances surgical precision but also improves safety and effectiveness in treatment.” This reflects Beijing E-Town’s accelerated efforts to build a global hub for “intelligent drug manufacturing.”

Moreover, SMC, a world-class manufacturer of automation control components with a 30-year history in Beijing E-Town, showcased a series of intelligent, energy-saving, and collaborative robot products, including the SMC ZXPE5 series electric vacuum gripper and the MH-X7654 series elastic fingers, which, when paired with Universal Robots, enable workpiece gripping and weighing. The Yaskawa Shougang Robot Co., Ltd.’s practical function training platform demonstrated robot capabilities such as vision-based palletizing and depalletizing, adhesive application, and robot health diagnostics, suitable for vocational college industrial robot teaching and training. JD Logistics presented a “Red Show” with its latest fifth-generation intelligent delivery vehicle, integrating 10 core technologies, including high-precision positioning, fusion perception, and behavior prediction. This vehicle represents the most scalable L4-level autonomous driving application in the industry, featuring remote on/off capabilities and monitoring, allowing real-time vehicle status management to enhance safety and efficiency. Jingcheng Machinery Electric focused on the equipment manufacturing field, showcasing innovative applications of AI technology, including AI-guided welding systems and industrial applications for welding, material handling, and smart brewing production lines. The robot machine tool loading and unloading workstation can be customized based on different characteristics of factory buildings, machine tools, and production materials, using a modular control system covering industries such as metal processing and general parts manufacturing.

Additionally, Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot made its Beijing debut, featuring 28 active joints and 11 degrees of freedom in its hands. Ti5 Robot launched the new T230 humanoid robot. Yi Gang, Founder of Ti5 Robot, stated, “The T230 is the first humanoid robot in China, standing 2.3 meters tall, primarily used for heavy object handling. By leveraging self-developed lightweight reducers and other core components, we have achieved a robot that is light yet powerful, with strength equivalent to three times that of a normal adult.”

New products and technologies that are both internationally and domestically pioneering continue to emerge and are being transformed into new productivity, thanks to the excellent industrial ecosystem and efficient organizational model of Beijing E-Town. An official from the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area explained that as the permanent venue for the World Robot Conference, Beijing E-Town has established the “Five Ones” working mechanism: one park, one batch of platforms, one center, one fund, and one group of talents. This mechanism accelerates the construction of a national robotics industry highland, with innovation elements rapidly gathering, capabilities significantly improving, vitality fully released, and innovation entities continuously expanding.

To date, more than 100 robotics ecosystem enterprises have been established, over half of which are specialized and innovative enterprises, with a production scale nearing 10-billion-yuan, accounting for 50% of the city’s robotics industry. Significant breakthroughs have been made in core components such as precision reducers and high-performance servo actuators, and innovative achievements have been realized in specialized and intelligent drilling machines. Particularly in the embodied intelligent robotics industry, key layouts include high-level innovation platforms represented by the Embodied Intelligence Innovation Center, with leading companies like UBTECH and key component companies such as Chietcom, Tsino-Dynatron, and Lingzu Times, forming a comprehensive embodied intelligent robotics industry chain covering core components, main bodies, and applications.

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Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) Announces Finalists for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

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AWIEF

This year, the finalists have been selected from a diverse group of talented women founders and business owners across the continent, each demonstrating excellence in their respective fields

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 19, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF) (www.AWIEForum.org/) is delighted to announce the finalists for the prestigious 2024 AWIEF Awards, set to recognize and celebrate the achievements of Africa’s women entrepreneurs and business leaders. The awards, held annually as part of the AWIEF conference, honor the impact of women entrepreneurs in driving innovation, promoting gender equality, and contributing to Africa’s economic development.

This year, the finalists have been selected from a diverse group of talented women founders and business owners across the continent, each demonstrating excellence in their respective fields. The finalists span categories such as agriculture, technology, creative industries, social entrepreneurship, and more. Their accomplishments are a testament to the power, resilience, and innovative spirit of African women in business.

Here are the finalists (in alphabetical order) for the 2024 AWIEF Awards:

1. Young Entrepreneur Award

Mpho Hlongwane – MH Automotive Engineering (South Africa)

Adeline Pelage – Madinina Foods (Cameroon)

Jessy Radwan – Carerha (Egypt)

2. Agri Entrepreneur Award

Naledi Magowe – Brastorne (Botswana)

Ifeoma Okonkwo – Ifgreen Industries & Investment (Nigeria)

Cherotich Rutto – Tawifresh Kenya Limited (Kenya)

3. Creative Industry Award

Thabo Makhetha-Kwinana – Thabo Makhetha CC (South Africa)

Jenny Edwige Mezile – L’École D’Arts les Pieds dans la Mare de Jenny Mezile (Côte d’Ivoire)

Jane Mpholo – Jane Mpholo Pty Ltd (South Africa)

4. Empowerment Award

Fomum Victorine Agum – Global Women Emancipation in Sports (Cameroon)

Judy Makira – Centre for Women Empowerment in Technology (Kenya)

Creseldah Cassandra Ndlovu – CLM Clothing & Textile (South Africa)

5. Tech Entrepreneur Award

Ynes Hafi – ARSELA (Tunisia)

Peace Iraguha – Lifesten Health (Rwanda)

Christiana Okere – myStash (Nigeria)

6. Social Entrepreneur Award

Osen Iyahen – Optimal Greening Foundation (Nigeria)

Temitope Mayegun – Avilla Naturalle (Nigeria)

Tsholofelo Ramokoka – AddressDox (South Africa)

Recognizing Africa’s Women Leaders

The AWIEF Awards continue to celebrate women who are making waves across industries, empowering communities, and setting new benchmarks in entrepreneurship. The finalists represent a diverse array of sectors, highlighting the depth and breadth of women’s contributions to Africa’s economic landscape.

AWIEF Awards Ceremony

The winners of the 2024 AWIEF Awards will be announced at the AWIEF Awards Ceremony on November 29, 2024, during the AWIEF Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. The event promises to be a night of inspiration, celebration, and a testament to the transformative power of women-led businesses in Africa.

Join us for AWIEF2024

Don’t miss this opportunity to join the celebration and be part of Africa’s most impactful conference for women entrepreneurs.

Register Now: https://apo-opa.co/4eMq1Nh

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF).

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Unleashing Africa’s Next Big Play: Namibia’s Emerging Oil and Gas Sector (By Rachel Mushabati)

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Namibia

One of the primary drivers of Namibia’s attractiveness as an investment destination is its supportive government and investor-friendly policies

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 18, 2024/APO Group/ — 

By Rachel Mushabati, Senior Associate Attorney, CLG Namibia (www.CLGGlobal.com).

Namibia, a nation renowned for its breath-taking scenery and abundant wildlife, is becoming more and more well-known for its booming oil and gas industry. Namibia is quickly rising to the top of Africa’s oil and gas exploration and investment destinations because to notable discoveries and a favourable investment climate. Here are some reasons for investors to be interested in Namibia’s developing economy and how business advice and strategic law might improve investment prospects.

A Treasure Trove of Potential

Namibia’s oil and gas sector has garnered international attention due to its substantial potential. Recent exploratory drilling has revealed promising reserves off the coast, particularly in the Namibian offshore region. After several years of extensive exploration, Namibia realized its first oil discoveries. In early 2022, Shell, QatarEnergy, and NAMCOR made a landmark discovery in the deep-water well in the Orange Basin, offshore southern Namibia. This was followed by another significant find in 2023, when TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, and NAMCOR discovered light oil with associated gas on the Venus prospect, also in the Orange Basin. In 2024, Galp Energia, Custos, and NAMCOR further solidified Namibia’s status with a high-quality light oil discovery in the Mopane-1X well, located in the same prolific basin.[1] These discoveries, alongside notable formations such as the Kudu Gas Field, have positioned Namibia as a key player in the global energy market. The country’s geological formations, particularly in the Orange Basin, have demonstrated significant hydrocarbon potential, making it an attractive destination for exploration and production.[2]

Government Support and Favourable Policies

One of the primary drivers of Namibia’s attractiveness as an investment destination is its supportive government and investor-friendly policies. The Namibian government has implemented a range of initiatives to foster a conducive environment for oil and gas investments. Namibia’s Investment Promotion Act[3] is a pivotal component in the country’s strategy to attract and support investors. This comprehensive legislation provides a range of incentives to enhance the financial viability of projects and reduce initial costs[4]. It also ensures robust legal protections, safeguarding investors’ property rights and offering non-discriminatory treatment compared to domestic investors. By streamlining licensing processes and providing one-stop-shop services[5], the Act simplifies the investment process and reduces bureaucratic hurdles. Additionally, it supports priority sectors such as oil and gas, reinforcing Namibia’s commitment to fostering a transparent, stable, and investor-friendly environment. Namibia’s commitment to creating a stable and attractive investment environment is evident through its proactive approach in engaging with international investors and offering competitive terms.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure

Namibia’s strategic location along the Atlantic Ocean provides a crucial advantage for oil and gas operations. The country’s well-developed port infrastructure, particularly the Port of Walvis Bay, facilitates efficient export and import processes.[6] Additionally, Namibia’s proximity to key international markets enhances its appeal as a hub for energy resources. The development of supporting infrastructure, such as pipelines and storage facilities, further strengthens Namibia’s position as a key player in the global energy supply chain.

Economic Growth and Sustainable Investment Opportunities in Namibia’s Oil and Gas Sector

Investing in Namibia’s oil and gas sector not only presents a wealth of economic opportunities but also aligns with the principles of sustainability and responsible investment. The sector’s expansion is expected to stimulate ancillary industries such as construction, logistics, and technology, benefiting local businesses through increased demand for related services and products. The influx of foreign investment is anticipated to drive job creation, infrastructure development, and overall economic growth. Concurrently, Namibia places a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship. The government and industry stakeholders are committed to responsible investment practices that protect local communities and ecosystems. Investors who prioritize these practices will not only contribute to positive environmental and social outcomes but also bolster their own reputation and long-term success in the market.

Conclusion

Namibia’s emerging oil and gas sector offers a compelling opportunity for investors seeking to capitalize on new and promising markets. With its substantial hydrocarbon potential, favourable government policies, strategic location, and burgeoning economic opportunities, Namibia is poised to become a prominent player in the global energy arena. The sector’s growth is anticipated to drive significant benefits across various ancillary industries and create widespread economic development. Additionally, the emphasis on sustainability and responsible investment practices aligns with global standards, ensuring that investments contribute positively to local communities and the environment.

However, successfully navigating this promising landscape requires expert guidance. Engaging with local legal and business advisory services can provide investors with crucial insights, help manage regulatory complexities, and enhance overall investment strategies. By leveraging the expertise of these advisory services, investors can maximize their potential for success and make a meaningful contribution to Namibia’s oil and gas sector. For those ready to explore the opportunities in Namibia’s oil and gas industry, the time to act is now. With the right expertise and strategic approach, investors can unlock substantial rewards and play a pivotal role in the growth of this exciting sector.

Namibia’s oil and gas sector has garnered international attention due to its substantial potential


[1] NAMCOR. Press Releases. Retrieved from https://apo-opa.co/3XO3SZ4. Last accessed 5 September 2024.

[2] Koning, T. “The Orange Basin, Deepwater Namibia- What’s Going on with Its Resources, Reserves and Future Production of Natural Gas?”. Retrieved from https://apo-opa.co/3XMKCv1. Last accessed 6 September 2024.

[3] Namibia Investment Promotion Act 9 of 2016

[4] Namibia Investment Promotion Act Section 4 (4)

[5] Namibia Investment Promotion Act Section 7

[6] Namport. “Welcome to the Port of Walvis Bay”. Retrieved from https://apo-opa.co/3Xq02UC. Last accessed 6 September 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CLG.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) Essentials for Small Businesses to Drive Growth and Save Time

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GoDaddy

With AI, business owners can quickly craft personalized responses, such as thank-you emails to customers after they make a purchase or sign-up for a service, reminder emails, and responses to inquiries or complaints

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 18, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) is not new, however the recent boom in AI tools available to anyone such as image-generation tools and AI-driven applications, while offering new opportunities, can also place small business owners in new and unfamiliar territory.

GoDaddy shares some ways in which generative AI can help small business owners and entrepreneurs enhance creativity, streamline operations and support customer engagement.

  1. Generate creative and unique business names – The biggest barrier to getting started is sometimes a blank screen. Generative AI is great for helping to get creativity started. If thinking of a catchy business name isn’t your strong suit, consider using AI to kick-start the process. GoDaddy AI Domain Search can help generate potential business names, giving entrepreneurs a list of unique and creative names that they might not have come up with otherwise.
     
  2. Automate content creation – By simplifying the content creation process and enhancing the effectiveness of published materials, such as website content, newsletters or blogs, AI can help save entrepreneurs both time and money.

Using advanced natural language processing algorithms and deep learning techniques, AI-powered content-generation tools can analyze existing content within a specific industry or niche. Using that information, AI tools can then generate relevant and engaging content. And then, you can update the output to match the overall vibe of your unique business.

GoDaddy is equipping small business owners with AI tools and guidance to help them boost their content creativity and streamline operations

To help entrepreneurs be successful in creating prompts to use with AI tools, GoDaddy created a free guide. This guide offers small business owners tips for how to create text and visual prompts.

  1. Enhance customer service – With AI, business owners can quickly craft personalized responses, such as thank-you emails to customers after they make a purchase or sign-up for a service, reminder emails, and responses to inquiries or complaints. By providing fast and personalized responses to customers, using AI-powered tools can help to enhance the overall customer experience, leading to higher satisfaction rates and a stronger brand reputation, and help to drive further engagement with customers.
     
  2. Support for social media management – Engaging on social media channels is an important part of growing a business in today’s digital environment, but managing multiple platforms and attempting to brainstorm creative new content can feel daunting. AI can help here as well.

    Tasks AI can support with include creating a list of key moments and relevant events for a target audience, craft ad copy to grab people’s attention, write simple video scripts, create editorial calendars, and provide creative captions for image-based posts.

    GoDaddy Studio creates professional-looking content for a business or personal brand. Anyone can easily and quickly produce engaging content without needing advanced design skills. This free tool is available for anyone looking to enhance their online presence and take advantage of branded content for their social media channels, website, customer email communications, and more.

While AI tools can help save time and money, it is crucial for a human to closely review the output of the AI tool that you choose to use, as AI can return incorrect, false or outdated information or may include content containing third parties’ intellectual property.

“In today’s fast-changing digital world, GoDaddy is equipping small business owners with AI tools and guidance to help them boost their content creativity and streamline operations, saving them time to focus on growing their businesses,” said Selina Bieber, Vice President of International Markets at GoDaddy.

GoDaddy offers a wide array of online resources to help small businesses and entrepreneurs thrive in the digital world, from website building and ecommerce tools to email and digital marketing solutions.

For more information on how GoDaddy can help your business, visit GoDaddy (www.GoDaddy.com).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoDaddy.

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