capital’s Zhongguancun university district, a hub
for tech companies. Liu said the company gets a
break on rent and other official support.
Its researchers are working on technologies
including machine learning, computer vision
and autonomous navigation, according to Liu.
ZhenRobotics has a testing center in the
southeastern province of Zhejiang, south
of Shanghai. Manufacturing is in Shenzhen,
adjacent to Hong Kong.
One of its robots patrols Shanghai’s Taikoo Hui
shopping mall. It can spot customers with bare
faces and remind them to put on a mask. It
gives out hand sanitizer and broadcasts anti-
virus information.
The RoboPony has been used by Suning.com
Group Ltd., one of China’s biggest retailers,
to delivery food and other necessities to
households during the outbreak.
Demand for e-commerce soared after the
government cut most access to cities with a total
of 60 million people in late January. Hundreds
of millions more in other areas were to told stay
home whenever possible.
The Beijing city government gave ZhenRobotics
a marketing boost by including it on an official
list of “anti-epidemic new technology.”
The RoboPony, which is controlled through a
mobile phone app, can carry 40 kilograms (90
pounds) and travel at up to 10 kph (6 mph). Liu
declined to say what the robot costs.
After shutting down for the Lunar New Year in
January, Liu went back to work Jan. 26. Other
employees started to return on Jan. 30.
All but two of the 50 employees were back
by March 10, Liu said. The remaining two are
Image: Mark Schiefelbein