Robots won't threaten existence of human race: British experts

On the occasion of the World Robot Conference 2015(WRC 2015) being held in Beijing, the British delegation of science and innovation did an interview with People's Daily Online and held a cultural salon about the robotics industry.

Professor David Lane and Geoff Pegman, two British representatives of the robotics industry, shared their opinions with us.

China, UK both benefit from co-operation in robotics industry

"The reason that we are here is to strengthen the links with China and in fact the UK has a lot to offer particularly in the next generation of robotic systems. We are on the same journey, and the thing we both want to do is to make robots smart. We have strategic plans in the UK and what we are doing is finding funding in China. It's definitely a good time because we are both just starting the journey," said Professor David Lane, who has been devoted to the robotic industry for many years.

At the same time, China and UK also have common challenges. "We both have aging societies and room for automation in the food industry etc," said Geoff Pegman, who is the managing director of RU Robots and had over 22 years experiences with the advanced robotics industry.

Robots can give people happier lives

As one of the eight great technologies that Britain has invested in and supported, robotics has close relations with health care and people's daily lives.

"I think within five to ten years, we will have systems that are able to assist and help people to stay at home longer and actually give them happier lives," said Geoff Pegman.

Professor David Lane also predicts one exciting scenario in the future: The people who have no hands could have robot hands. And the old people who suffer from dementia could have robots to talk with. And the robot assistants won't get annoyed when old people ask the same question again and again.

"Avanta" Band robots dance to the music at the World Robot Conference 2015. (People's Daily Online/Ma Xiaochun)

Will robots threaten existence of human race in the future?

"No! I think you are not talking about industrial accidents. If you are talking about the robots taking over the world, technology is a very long way from being able to do that," said Geoff Pegman.

As China's Vice President said in the opening ceremony of the WRC 2015, it is foreseeable that robots will become our indispensable assistant just like mobile phones and computers; we are looking forward to the changes and conveniences that robots create in the world.