Robots advance on China's push

Government, innovators, companies and investors highlight win-win global partnerships

In a sprawling warehouse in Tokyo, several robots made by Chinese company HIT Robot Group are busy picking and stacking goods on to the shelves.

Equipped with sensors and image recognition software, they navigate the alleys between the shelves intuitively, choosing unobstructed straight lines that save time and enable efficiency, unlike human workers who might zigzag unconsciously.