A woman identified as Maria from Argentina was able to stand upright with the assistance of an exoskeleton robot at the 139th session of the China Import and Export Fair. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
An Argentinian woman who lives with a disability has become a focus of attention at the Canton Fair in Guangzhou after she was filmed standing with the aid of an exoskeleton device developed by a Chinese robotics firm.
In a video shared widely online from the 139th China Import and Export Fair, the woman identified as a buyer from Argentina called Maria, stood upright with the robot's support at the booth of Hangzhou Taixi Intelligent Technology Co.
"The experience has been both emotional and encouraging," said Liang Linchao, the company's chairman and general manager.
The exoskeleton, now open for pre-orders at $1,200, is expected to enter both domestic and international markets around mid-year, with a final price likely below 10,000 yuan.
The video triggered a surge in interest, with product searches rising nearly 300 percent and daily livestream sales on Douyin exceeding 100 units, alongside growing orders on e-commerce platforms.
During a return visit on Wednesday, Maria was presented with the same model as a gift. Visibly moved, she expressed her gratitude in Chinese and said she hoped more people in her country could benefit from the technology.
Liang said the system integrates multi-sensor data and AI algorithms to interpret user intent and provide real-time adaptive support in scenarios such as walking and navigating slopes, describing it as akin to a "walking brain-computer interface".
He added that the company plans to expand globally, aiming to enhance mobility and quality of life through advanced manufacturing.
Liang Linchao, Hangzhou Taixi Intelligent Technology Co's chairman and general manager. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Taixi Intelligent Technology's exoskeleton robots in Hangzhou on Wednesday. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Maria with Liang Linchao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]