CRI听力:Worldskills 2011 Fair

Imagine a robotic arm that can mimic the movements of an elephant's trunk.

It is highly flexible and strong but can grip delicate objects - like a lemon or a small boy's head - with precision.

The bionic handling assistant consists of three basic elements for spatial movement as well as a hand and a gripper with adaptive fingers.

The system is designed to be used wherever humans need non-hazardous support from machines, as an aid for the handicapped or even as an advanced handling support system in factories.

The manager of Festo Education, the company behind the design of the robotic arm, says that by following examples found in nature, automated movement will be able to be made even more energy efficient and productive in future technologies.

Another example of this kind of design is the AquaJelly - a robot in the shape of a jellyfish.

It's uncanny how much it actually behaves like a real life jellyfish - but nothing is down to coincidence: the AquaJelly has been specifically designed to simulate the swarming behavior of wild jellyfish.

It consists of an electric drive unit and intelligent adaptive mechanism. The control board is housed in a translucent dome. It has a water-tight body and eight tentacles.

The AquaJelly has no real function, but here, at Worldskills, they have been given a new, funkier job - to spin CDs and dance for the crowds.

Another entertaining robotics stall is provided by Middlesex University, a UK university specializing in research into Autonomous Robotic systems.

They're displaying a pet robot dinosaur - longing for cuddles, and responding like a real-life pet.

Robotics can prove to be a fascinating area for young students, who, in this day and age, are used to multitasking and excelling in numerous disciplines.

Canadian Robotics expert Bob Towns explains, robotics brings together a mix of technology skills.

"We believe that it is a multi disciplined area were young people might learn many different areas of technology. They must understand mechanical systems, electrical systems, computer control systems, radio-controlled systems and it brings students a variety of directions. They come interested in one part and may find that they have a skill or a talent or an interest in another area they were not aware of."

Given the popularity of the robotics area at Worldskills, it seems there's a whole generation of robotic experts in the making.

For CRI, I am Li Doing.