Once, the field of domestic educational robots was dominated by well-known foreign brands, and the parts in the hands of children that could move the building blocks made a lot of money in the Chinese market. Today, our "Jinan" educational robot has mastered a number of core technology patents and is launching a counterattack in overseas markets.
拍摄时间：3月25日
拍摄地点：艾克瑞特教育科技有限公司
拍摄内容：国产教育机器人
曾经
核心技术“卡脖子”
“这是'龙门吊'， It can sense forward, backward, and lift hooks by gestures..."
"The movement of the 'pilot simulation cabin' can be directly controlled by the knob, and the rotation direction and speed can be controlled by programming..."
"This is a 'helicopter' ', in addition to learning programming knowledge, it can also give them a preliminary understanding of gear transmission and other related mechanical knowledge. You see, pulleys are involved here..."
Behind the closed glass doors, the staff Sitting around a table, each displayed his educational robot works. The pieces are colorful, lifelike, and there are multiple ways to get them "moving." In addition to gestures and knobs, you can also put forward, backward, whistle, turning and other control modules on the programming board. Press the start button, and the robot can complete the action according to the instructions. "This is actually programming thinking. For children who want to engage in programming and technology research and development, this is the first step to know programming and understand programming logic."
Zhang Zuping, chairman of Shandong Acrete Education Technology Co., Ltd., used to be a teacher in a provincial experimental primary school. He knows the significance of educational robots in cultivating the next generation of scientific and technological innovation talents for the country." Around 2000, the country began to hold The purpose of the China Robot Competition is to let more people, especially young students, understand and love robots, popularize modern scientific knowledge to them, and cultivate more outstanding talents for my country's robotics business. At the same time, through robot competitions and technical seminars, it can also promote and promote the development and innovation of robots and automation technology, and contribute to the rapid and sustainable development of our country. "Zhang Zuping said that when he started his business in the field of educational robotics, the public knew little about it. As the concept of robotics became more and more popular, robotics teaching also shifted from simple splicing of building blocks to "moving".
"The education that everyone sees now The core components of the robot are all independently developed by us, but in the past ten years, we have been restricted by , LEGO . Zhang Zuping told Jinan Daily reporter that in almost all scenarios involving educational robots before, the teaching aids used were from Lego, an internationally renowned building block brand. Moreover, the replacement of products is very fast. We can only continue to purchase new-generation products. In order to meet the needs of students, we cannot cut this expense. "
Zhang Zuping reluctantly said that without core technology, it can only be "stuck in the neck".
Now
is supported by dozens of national patents Controllers, programming boards, and various boards full of connectors and wires.It is these small components that allow relevant domestic institutions to hand over the funds that could have been used to improve the quality of teaching and study scientific and technological innovation and development to "foreigners".
The company's decision to "challenge" with Lego began in 2017, but facing Lego, which has inherent advantages in terms of capital, popularity, and technology, this move is not easy. "In the first year, we spent more than 5 million yuan to recruit outstanding graduates from a number of 985 and 211 universities to participate in research and development. Since then, the funds invested every year have almost accounted for the vast majority of corporate profits." Zhang Zuping said that the development of the times has given enterprises Development has put forward requirements and brought opportunities. Especially in recent years, the country has paid special attention to independent innovation. Enterprises should also make "open source" products to benefit more institutions and families in need. Therefore, capital investment cannot be avoided. "Blood".
Zhao Xinying is the vice president of the Ekrit Robotics Educational Content Research Institute. In his view, the independent research and development of educational robots is not only an enterprise's due action and responsibility, but also to improve the training of national robotics and programming-related talents. building. "Foreign products are not universally applicable in the field of education, and can only meet the initial learning needs. The instructions of a product cannot be modified, but can only complete inherent actions. How can they satisfy children's freshness and desire to explore?" Zhao Xinying said. In the process of independent research and development, they have produced more and more functional new products in combination with practical application scenarios, enhancing the interaction between students and robots.
Nearly 5 years of research and development have created nearly 100 core control components in six categories. Now, the company has completed "de-Lego", only some teaching aids retain LEGO products as "skeleton", and will gradually be replaced by domestic products. Today, the company has successfully obtained more than 30 patents, and more than 20 are still being declared.
"At present, we are the only educational robot research and development enterprise with its own brand and research and development team in the country, and also a national high-tech enterprise , which has won awards in many scientific and technological innovation competitions." Zhang Zuping said.
In the future
"Jinan" educational robots go overseas Substitution is actually the common goal of many institutions and enterprises. With their own brands and R&D achievements, they can firmly grasp the pulse of the market, get rid of the control of international giants, and keep most of their profits domestically. Based on this consensus and excellent products, the educational robots independently developed by Accutec have gained a large number of "fans". Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and other provinces have ordered large-scale customers and signed long-term cooperation agreements. Primary and secondary schools and kindergartens are also using "Jinan" domestic robots for teaching.
"The recognition we have won is inseparable from the state's emphasis on technological innovation and the strong support of relevant Jinan departments." Zhang Zuping said that in 2020, companies affected by the epidemic had problems with their funds, and research and development was once interrupted. As a leading talent in the Taishan industry of technological innovation, he successfully applied for a "talent loan" of 10 million yuan, which solved the urgent need. "Not only that, the government has a lot of policies that favor high-level talents and high-tech enterprises, which makes my team and I feel very at ease and a sense of belonging in the process of starting a business."
In 2022, Jinan will implement the "Science and Technology Leading Development" reform and innovation action, and propose to improve the layout of the scientific and technological innovation platform, strengthen the main role of enterprises in innovation, open up channels for the transformation of achievements, continue to strengthen scientific and technological research, cultivate new driving forces for development through innovation, and focus on shaping innovation and development. New advantages. Taking advantage of this shareholder trend, domestic educational robots are also gradually opening up overseas markets.
"Now our customers in Boston, the United States, have already used the 'Made in China' robot, and and customers in New Zealand are also negotiating. "Zhang Zuping proudly said, news came from New Zealand customers, "Our domestic robot is 'fascinated' by foreign children! "
(Cao Yaxin, Dai Shengbao, Zhang Yi, Fusion Media Report Team of Jinan Daily)
Related Links
What is an educational robot? Courses related to robot learning have been set up among students. Educational robots are "entry teachers" for learning programming at all ages. Through the manipulation, assembly, and function design of small robots, the introduction to programming is realized. It is also an important way to cultivate the next generation of scientific and technological innovation talents.
