As a benchmark for the latest technologies in China's manufacturing and industrial development, the 21st China International Industry Fair opened in Shanghai on September 17.

The products displayed in the university exhibition area are quite amazing for the average consumer, since life will be more convenient if they are applied to food, clothing, housing and transportation.

Delivery robots to become reality

A cute and smart robot is sending the steaming takeaway food to you after you make an order. This may no longer be your imagination, but actually is showcased at the fair. The third-generation intelligent distribution robot Roboway, independently researched and developed by the RoboWay team of Fudan University, is likely to make this futuristic vision a reality.

According to the team, "Roboway" has already started operational testing on campus, where an optimal distribution route is planned by the back-end dispatch system after obtaining the user’s order information.

With an autonomous navigation system of multiple sensors, the robot’s functions include high-precision modeling, recognition, and obstacle avoidance for the surrounding environment and it can automatically switch the delivery path in the case of road congestion. With a running speed of 0.7 to 1 meter per second and the maximum being 2 meters per second, it is expected to be put into use in the fields of parcel delivery, take-away food delivery and supermarket shopping.

Waste clothes to be recyled efficiently

As people's living standards have been raised and consumption patterns have changed, they are no longer living a life bereft of clothes but swamped by them. It is estimated that by 2020, the total reserves of waste textiles will reach nearly 200 million tons, while the production capacity of recycled spinning is only 10 million tons.

So Wang Huaping, a professor of the Chemical Fiber Research Institute of Donghua University, and his team is showcasing how to build a circular economy in the textile industry.

Wang introduced that due to the “Efficient Recycling of Waste Polyester and Industrialization Integration Technology for Fiber Manufacture” project, waste textiles can not only be used for automotive interiors and environmental protection apparels after the polyester is recycled, but can also be widely adopted in anti-cracking reinforcement of sea-crossing bridges, water conservancy dams and highways. So, while we may not be able to wear much of our old clothing again, it can still be put to good use.