The security robot industry is booming, with several companies vying for market share. For the most part, though, these companies have all been from US or Europe. But now a Chinese manufacturer has come up with a product that claims to offer open API, allowing developers to customize it.
Sanbot, as it is called, is a product from the Shenzhen-based company Qihan. Speaking to asmag.com, Darren Wang, the APAC Marketing Manager of the company said that Sanbot is an intelligent, cloud-enabled service robot, controlled by a three-in-one system that consists of the device itself, Qihan’s cloud platform and a mobile app.
Its major attraction is the open API itself. With this, developers in various verticals can customize the solution to their requirements.
“We offer open-API for developers, which means that Sanbot can be programmed and customized by developers,” Wang said. “Therefore, Sanbot can be used in many different vertical industries especially in retail, hospitality, security, healthcare and education industries.”
Other attractions the company claims are mass production capability and price factor. Wang said that Qihan’s manufacturing center produced about 60,000 pieces in 2016 alone. That’s a massive number for a field that’s still emerging and is in the early adopters’ stage.
“Furthermore, good cost control enable Sanbot’s affordable prize—US$12,000 for end users and flexible prize for distributors,” Wang said. “Both of the mass production capacity and affordable prize are rare in robotics industry.”
Qihan has partnered with companies such as IBM Watson to achieve voice recognition is many languages. It recently partnered with MasterCard, to enable the use of Masterpass on the robot. More partners include Harman/Kardon, Foxconn, Panasonic, Sony, Baidu and iFlytek.
“With HD camera equipped on Sanbot’s head, users can monitor the conditions in front of Sanbot by the mobile APP Q-link,” Wang said. “Meanwhile, Sanbot can set alert [monitor] area. Sanbot will sound the alarm and take photo and video automatically once an intruder is detected in the area. If the suspects’ facial ID is planted into the system, Sanbot will help to recognize suspects and strike crimes. The advanced function has been applied in Gongbei customs in China.”
The design of the robot appears rather conventional, although one has to say the company could have worked on the face a bit more. As far as systems integrators are concerned, Wang pointed out that the openness and IoT characteristics should assist them when integrating with other devices.