An intelligent robot capable of accurately telling the white from the black has been developed in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Helongjiang Province.

Installed in the robot's body was a pair of highly sensitive infrared ray reflective tubes similar to human's eye in terms of function. The tubes emit infrared ray waves when at work. Most infrared rays are absorbed while encountering the black color and reflected while encountering the white color.

According to researchers, the receiver in the "brain" of the robot can recognize the black or white color in light of the intensity of signals reflected. The signal is changed to digits by the micro-computer installed in the robot's body and the walking device is controlled through integrated circuits.

Researchers first drew three tracks in black, red and white colors separately on the experimental board. They then entered the words "select the black color" into the robot. When switched on, the robot walked exactly along the black-color track after searching around.

Dr. Bao Qingshan with Harbin Poly-technical University, said that the new robot enjoys a great development potential. He and his colleagues plan to take it as a research platform to develop intelligent toys for children.

(People's Daily 05/17/2001)