A Glimpse into 2050: Hangzhou hosts technological innovation conference

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Now to Hangzhou in east China, where more than 10-thousand young techies from across the world have gathered for a conference on innovation. Entitled "2050", the three-day non-profit event aims to serve as a platform allowing youths and entrepreneurs to share their insights into technology and the future. Our reporter Yang Zhao has this report.

When the geeks around China get together, you can expect some exciting things to happen.

From a robot dog that can walk and keep balance to an Artificial Intelligence Go player, from a drone that takes off from the palm of your hand to drones that can dive underwater, welcome to the 2050 conference where thousands of young scientists, entrepreneurs, and creators have gathered in China's Hangzhou city to share their thoughts on the future.

Mao Yiqing is a flight fanatic who wants to expand people's understanding about drones. He made this super large but light drone relying 100% on solar power. This tireless flying machine can stay in the air for days, but it's not designed for carrying cargo, people or cameras.

MAO YIQING OXAI AIRCRAFT PRESIDENT "In many areas like mountains, or sea or in the air, there are no WIFI signals. This plane can act as a high-altitude platform to beam wifi signals to these areas. If an earthquake or some other natural disaster strikes, the plane could be launched to reconnect the network.”

Zhang Chi also has passion for planes. He works for China's passenger jet maker COMAC, leading a special lab to design the next generation of planes. They've brought a scale model of an airliner called Lingque-B that exploits design elements not found in western passenger jets.

ZHANG CHI COMAC "Lingque-B has vastly increased its wing area to a delta plan wing and uses a V-shape tail. This design will dramatically increase the maneuverability and fuel efficiency."

The biggest machine at the expo is this, a rocket developed by a young team called Link Space. They want to build a Chinese version of the American multi-use Falcon rocket. Their latest test shows that 5 meter-high rocket can take off to 5 meters in the air, and move about 10 meters before safely landing.

HU ZHENYU LINK SPACE "The gap between us and the United States is still very big. Our work is just the first step in reusable rocket technology, but the US might have taken 70 or 80 steps. But we should not fear the gap, we need to do it because we all know this technology is valuable."

Like Link Space, Deep Robotics is also chasing an American target. This team admits it took its inspiration of the robot dog from the one developed by Boston Dynamics, but it says it explored the technology inside from scratch."

ZHANG JIANGYUAN DEEP ROBOTICS "From the outside, ours may look alike their robot dog, they can do the same things. But the core technology inside is different. No one knows how Boston Dynamics made theirs and they don't know how we made ours."

These new technologies may someday reshape our lives. The geeks attribute their creativity to youth and passion.

ZHANG CHI COMAC "If I am going to retire in 3 years, why would I do this? But if I am only 30-something, why not make something crazy?"

YANG ZHAO HANGZHOU "From multiple-used rockets to functioning robot dogs, Chinese products are no longer low-end, but designed to change the world. These young geeks are challenging the best of the best here in China and around the world."