AI, robots & mecha suits take centre stage at Global Digital Trade Expo

Fighting robots, giant mecha suits, robotic massage therapists and automated baristas were among the technologies drawing crowds at the fifth Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE), as artificial intelligence took centre stage in Hangzhou.

Held from September 23 to 27 at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center under the theme “Meet the AI Future at GDTE,” the expo brought together more than 2,000 exhibitors and over 12,000 registered overseas buyers.

Dozens of Fortune Global 500 companies were represented, alongside a record international presence, reinforcing Hangzhou’s growing role in China’s digital economy and global technology trade.

Organisers estimated that more than 200,000 people visited the expo, although final figures were still being compiled.

Sino Carib News was on the ground for a closer look at some of the technologies attracting attention.

Robots enter the ring

Robots were not just on display, they were competing.

Humanoid machines took part in boxing, basketball, sprinting and other sporting demonstrations, while another group performed synchronised martial arts moves before large crowds.

UBTech Robotics also showcased humanoid robots designed for companionship and “emotional support,” featuring synthetic skin and the ability to mimic human movements.

The technology points to an emerging market for increasingly human-like robots designed to interact directly with people.

Giant mecha suit steps out of science fiction

One of the expo’s biggest attractions looked like something straight out of a science-fiction film - a roughly nine-foot mechanical suit capable of moving on two or four legs.

The machine is designed to carry a human operator and use AI-assisted systems to navigate uneven terrain while maintaining balance.

Such technology could eventually have applications in search and rescue operations, disaster zones and heavy industrial environments where sending humans alone could be dangerous.

Coffee, massages and everyday automation

AI-powered robotics also moved into everyday tasks.

Visitors saw robotic systems capable of preparing coffee, making sandwiches, handling laundry and assisting with clothing.

A robotic massage system used sensors to adjust the movement and position of its mechanical arm based on instructions entered by the user.

Sino Carib News Contributor Jarryl Bryan got a first-hand demonstration, experiencing one of the robotic massages on the exhibition floor.

AI meets aerospace

Beyond consumer robotics, exhibitors demonstrated how AI is being integrated into advanced manufacturing.

Xizi Union, which produces aircraft components and provides services for international aviation companies, showcased how digital technologies are being incorporated into aerospace production.

A company representative stressed that human oversight remains critical, particularly when providing the precise data AI systems require to support manufacturing.

Shanghai-based Motozolo Aerospace, meanwhile, displayed a desktop Airbus A320 cockpit simulator featuring a detailed instrument panel designed to provide a realistic flight experience.

Company representative Gina Cheng told Sino Carib News that gamers and aviation students are among its main customers.

“There are already a lot of gamers purchasing the simulator… And the second one is students from flight school,” Cheng said, explaining that the system can serve as an entry-level training product.

From humanoid robots and automated services to aerospace manufacturing and flight simulation, the fifth GDTE offered a glimpse into how quickly AI-powered technology is moving from experimental concepts into practical applications.

For China, the expo also provided another platform to showcase its expanding digital economy and technological capabilities to international buyers and visitors.

Reporting by Sino Carib News Contributor Jarryl Bryan in Hangzhou, China.