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Lyro goes global through collaboration with IMI Precision Engineering

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Brisbane, Australia-based Lyro Robotics has been contracted to license their Lyro Machine Intelligence software to US based IMI Precision Engineering.

This technology partnership will deliver smart robots that will replicate the “hands”, “eyes” and “brain” of human capabilities in automation and logistics applications.

The partnership means the two companies will work to deliver a full-stack robotic solution to satisfy the rising global demand for automated bin picking in various industries, such as agriculture, logistics and e-commerce. [Read more…] about Lyro goes global through collaboration with IMI Precision Engineering

KeepTruckin partners with Ambarella to develop next-generation AI device for ADAS

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KeepTruckin, a provider of fleet management technology, has selected Ambarella’s CV22 CVflow edge AI vision system on chip for its new AI Dashcam.

This latest AI Dashcam, also announced today, uses a single CV22 SoC to simultaneously provide AI and image processing for its dual-camera system, which integrates one camera for the front advanced driver assistance system with incident recording, and a second RGB-IR camera for the driver-monitoring system with driver recording.

Additionally, with Ambarella’s industry-leading edge AI processing performance-per-watt, the CV22 enables the AI Dashcam to run KeepTruckin’s proprietary sophisticated and accurate AI algorithms for real-time high-risk behavior detection and active warnings directly on the small form factor device, with minimal heat dissipation. [Read more…] about KeepTruckin partners with Ambarella to develop next-generation AI device for ADAS

US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

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Stratom, a developer of autonomous ground vehicles and robotic systems for logistics and operational applications, has been selected as part of an exclusive team to deliver the US Department of Defense’s Stage II of the Modular Autonomy and Robotic Software program, which involves the collaborative migration of Robotic Technology Kernel software modules from the first version of the Robot Operating System to ROS 2. 

For nearly a decade, the US government has been developing ROS-M (Robotic Operating System-Military), an ecosystem of software architectures, reusable components and supporting infrastructure to enable rapid development and fielding of robotic and autonomous systems.

Built on ROS 1, ROS-M enables the DoD to benefit from open-source development practices while maintaining tight control over the community-developed code. However, ROS 1’s current revision, Noetic, is set to be the last version, with support ending in 2025. [Read more…] about US DoD selects Stratom to migrate robotic systems from ROS-1 to ROS-2

Abu Dhabi starts work on building region’s first-ever quantum computer

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Abu Dhabi’s Technology Innovation Institute, a pioneering global research and development centre that focuses on applied research, today unboxed the cryostat – the initial frame of its quantum computer that is being assembled in the UAE capital.

TII’s Quantum Research Centre (QRC) is spearheading the landmark advanced technology project that aims to give the world a quantum advantage through developing a supercomputer with exponential computational capabilities.

Two helium dilution refrigerators arrived from Finland earlier this week in massive wooden crates, an essential component that uses helium isotopes to cool the quantum chips or the brain of the computer and maintain the quantum information. [Read more…] about Abu Dhabi starts work on building region’s first-ever quantum computer

GE Appliances and Google partner to build ‘next-generation smart home appliances’

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GE Appliances, a Haier company, and Google Cloud have agreed a multi-year partnership to build innovative technologies to elevate the consumer experience in the kitchen and in homes.

As the company continues to reinvent itself and the appliance business, GEA turned to Google Cloud for its world-class expertise in data, analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to accelerate this evolution – and will integrate these capabilities into its entire appliance development process, from ideation to the production line.

The two companies will work together to develop the next generation of smart appliances with Google Cloud Vision AI. [Read more…] about GE Appliances and Google partner to build ‘next-generation smart home appliances’

IEEE adopts MIPI A-PHY, first industry-standard, long-reach data communications for automotive applications

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The MIPI Alliance, an international organization that develops interface specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced industries, has adopted the MIPI A-PHY v1.0 specification as an IEEE standard.

Published as IEEE 2977-2021, IEEE Standard for Adoption of MIPI Alliance Specification for A-PHY Interface (A-PHY) Version 1.0, A-PHY is the first asymmetric, industry-standard, long-reach, serializer-deserializer (SerDes) physical layer interface for automotive applications.

Joel Huloux, chairman of MIPI Alliance, says: “This is the first time MIPI has sought adoption by another standards body for one of our specifications. [Read more…] about IEEE adopts MIPI A-PHY, first industry-standard, long-reach data communications for automotive applications

Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

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Fetch.ai, a Cambridge-based artificial intelligence lab building an open-access decentralized machine learning network for smart infrastructure, says the team of the “Economy of Things” (EoT) strategic advance engineering project at Bosch Research will be initiating machine learning trials on the Fetch.ai Collective Learning network.

The system will attempt to predict potential failures in Bosch’s machinery while maintaining data privacy.

The main focus of Bosch Research is the research and implementation of innovative new technologies. Bosch Research originally entered into a collaboration with Fetch.ai in 2019 and deployed a node on a Fetch test network in early 2021. [Read more…] about Bosch machine learning trials go live on Fetch.ai

Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

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Pratt & Whitney, a world leader in the design, manufacturing and service of aircraft and helicopter engines and auxiliary power units, has chosen Webcon BPS as its enterprise-grade, low-code process management and automation platform to digitalize business processes and accelerate its digital transformation to align with the new remote work reality.

Jocelyn Brulé, Pratt & Whitney digital technology manager, says: “As an industry leader, we must not only ensure operational efficiency, but also focus on innovation. Therefore, for many years we have been using low-code platforms to digitize business processes.

“Webcon BPS, used in our Polish division, was one of them. Due to the efficiency, transparency and speed by which we’ve been able to use it to deliver business applications, and how easily the platform enables change management, we decided to roll it out globally. [Read more…] about Pratt & Whitney selects Webcon to accelerate digital transformation

Getting dressed with help from robots

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MIT has demonstrated a “human-aware motion planning algorithm” that addresses the safety gap in collaboration between robots and humans – and could be used to make robots help people get dressed. (See video below.)

Basic safety needs in the paleolithic era have largely evolved with the onset of the industrial and cognitive revolutions. We interact a little less with raw materials, and interface a little more with machines.

Robots don’t have the same hardwired behavioral awareness and control, so secure collaboration with humans requires methodical planning and coordination. You can likely assume your friend can fill up your morning coffee cup without spilling on you, but for a robot, this seemingly simple task requires careful observation and comprehension of human behavior.

Scientists from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) have recently created a new algorithm to help a robot find efficient motion plans to ensure physical safety of its human counterpart. In this case, the bot helped put a jacket on a human, which could potentially prove to be a powerful tool in expanding assistance for those with disabilities or limited mobility. [Read more…] about Getting dressed with help from robots

Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?

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When robots make mistakes – and they do from time to time – re-establishing trust with human co-workers depends on how the machines own up to the errors and how human-like they appear, according to University of Michigan research.

In a study that examined multiple trust repair strategies – apologies, denials, explanations or promises – the researchers found that certain approaches directed at human co-workers are better than others and often are impacted by how the robots look.

Lionel Robert (main picture), associate professor at the U-M School of Information, says: “Robots are definitely a technology but their interactions with humans are social and we must account for these social interactions if we hope to have humans comfortably trust and rely on their robot co-workers. [Read more…] about Robots who goof: Can we trust them again?