Machines on display at World Robot Conference in China can fly, swim and even do brain surgery

Cutting-edge robots from around the globe are now on display at the 2019 World Robot Conference in Beijing. Nearly 200 guests from 22 countries are expected to attend the conference, running from August 20 to 25. Over 700 robots with more than 21 industrial applications will be exhibited between now and then.

The conference features a series of exhibition areas for new robotic technologies and products - including medical, multi-legged, and smart logistics - as well as four contests with an anticipated 4,500 professional participants.

Among those exhibiting will be HRG Robotics, whose, president Wang Meng, said: 'We will be showcasing a string of successful companies which have got off the ground through the help of HRG, alongside our representative products at WRC 2019, as we aim to form new partnerships with companies around the world.'

Also on display will be SmartBird, created by German firm Festo, whose design was inspired by the herring gull and whose flight mimics that of the bird.

The ultralight flying drone was created with the best aerodynamics and maximum agility in mind and it is able to take off, fly and land under its own power.

Forward propulsion and lift are generated entirely by the beating of the SmartBird's wings, which consumes just 23 watts of power - up to half of the power used by some laptops - even though the SmartBird weighs around 450 grams and has a wingspan of two metres.

Measurements have revealed electromechanical efficiency of up to 45 per cent and aerodynamic efficiency of 80 per cent.

SmartBird can fly for approximately 20 minutes on a standard rechargeable lithium battery, thanks to its low energy consumption.

The sequence of wingbeats and rotation is executed with a cycle time of just a few milliseconds and creates optimum conditions for the flow of air over the wing.

Thanks to its flow-optimised shape and lightweight construction using carbon fibre technology, the SmartBird is also an excellent example of the efficient use of energy.

Also on display will be Laikago, China's answer to US robotic firm Boston Dynamic's 'robo-dog' Spot. Boston Dynamics has previously developed two dog-like robots, called 'Big Dog' and 'Spot', the latter of which looks eerily similar to those featured in an episode of the sci-fi series Black Mirror, where mechanised creatures hunt humans

'Laikago' is named after Laika, the first-ever animal that was launched into orbit in 1957. It is 0.56 metres (22 inches) long, 0.35 metres (13.7 inches) wide and 0.6 metres (23.6 inches) tall and can be folded into a suitcase.

It weighs 22 kilograms (48.5 pounds) and can run for two to three hours after it's fully charged.

Unitree Robotics unveiled the company's 'Laikago', or 'Laika Dog', on October 16, 2017, after having spent one year creating the machine.

The small firm is led by Wang Xingxing, who has had a great interest in robots since childhood.

Boston Dynamics has previously developed two dog-like robots, called 'Big Dog' and 'Spot', the latter of which looks eerily similar to those featured in an episode of the sci-fi series Black Mirror, where mechanised creatures hunt humans in a post-apocalyptic future.