4D Age Technology deepens ties to German AI pioneer

Future robots and robotic arms will be equipped with "eyes" and "brains" co-developed by Zhuhai 4D Age Technology and the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). The agreement was signed in Berlin on June 1.

Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz is one of the world's largest nonprofit contract research institutes in the field of innovative software technology based on artificial intelligence. It is headquartered in Saarbrücken while 4D Age Technology is in Xiangzhou District. Last year they agreed to establish the Artificial Intelligence & Intelligent Manufacturing (AI&IM) Research Institute in Zhuhai.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were present as the Zhuhai company officially teamed up with DFKI in research and development of AI and computational vision technology.

Premier Li Keqiang and Chancellor Angela Merkel witness as 4D Age inks pact with DFKI [Photo provided by 4D Age Technology]

The two senior officials also witnessed additional agreements signed between China and Germany in aviation and aerospace, new-energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, finance, and environmental protection.

4D Age Technology, with assistance from the city and district governments, has become one of the most influential domestic companies in AI and computational vision technology in less than three years. The company has developed and manufactured dozens of products utilizing domestically pioneering 3D reconstruction and digital virtual display technologies.

The agreement also states that the parties will jointly develop industrial applications for next-generation robotic vision and AI technologies. Micro 3D technology will be applied to industrial manufacturing to build a robot intelligent sensing system, which is to serve as "eyes" and "brains" for robots and robotic arms, said 4D Age president Cui Yan.

The sensor modeling system can work with binocular cameras to conduct modeling and detection to the products at the micrometer level, and guide robotic arms to do polishing, painting, and shell-flatting. It provides technological support for industrial automation. The project also has begun in cooperation with Gree Electric Appliances, a spokesperson announced.