Chinese robot ‘guide dog’ aims to improve independence for visually impaired

A visually impaired person walks with a six-legged robot ‘guide dog’ during a demonstration of a field test for a Shanghai Jiao Tong University test team, in Shanghai, China. — Reuters

SHANGHAI: It's less furry than a traditional companion, but a six-legged Chinese robot "guide dog" could one day help vision impaired people live more independently, according to its research development team in Shanghai.

The robot dog, which is currently being field-tested, is able to navigate its physical environment via cameras and sensors, including recognising traffic light signals, which traditional guide dogs are unable to do.