Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has been using robots to help fight desertification.

Each robot, powered by solar panels, can plant eight to 10 mu (0.53 to 0.67 hectares) of grass in the desert every day, while humans can only plant around five mu of grasses daily, said Wang Tianzun, founder of the project.

Although the government provides subsidies to workers that help treat desertification, people are in short supply due to the harsh environment, so robots can play their role in preventing desertification, Wang said.