Robots make their mark in restaurants, canteen kitchens(2)

Bi said the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology is developing more than 100 principle prototypes to be used in the home, including robot pets and robots that help disabled people to walk.

The robot market in the future could surpass that for cars, covering military, manufacturing and service industries, Bi said.

"The Asia-Pacific region will be the potential market for service robots, given its large population," he said. "And robots integrated with home appliances, communication devices and medical rehabilitation will be our distinguishing features."