(ECNS) -- An old man in northeast China's Jilin Province has become a neighborhood star with the "dancing robot" he developed. He also plans to patent the machine, which he deems an excellent assistant for fashion dealers.
The robot developed by Li Zuchen, a 63-year-old retired mechanic, resembles a fashion shop mannequin on first sight. When switched on, however, it can move its limbs and waist, turn around, and even dance to music.
"Different from most robots, whose movements are stiff, my robot can move flexibly and its waist is moveble too," Li said.
The old man added that he spent eight years developing the robot. His idea came from a shopping experience, when he found the attractive mannequins at shops could not move. "They can't display the actual effect of wearing clothes during daily activities, so I decided to make a movable model myself," he explained.
When he started the project, Li found his expertise fell short. He threw himself into bookstores and online forums to learn programming and spent almost all his money on buying parts and engines.
His efforts paid off when the robot was finally put together and debuted in front of friends. "I don't have children. She is my daughter," Li said.
Li is now improving its features and thinking about patenting his invention.
