Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

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Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks

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MIT researchers exhibit a new advancement in autonomous drone navigation, using brain-inspired liquid neural networks that excel in out-of-distribution scenarios

In the vast, expansive skies where birds once ruled supreme, a new crop of aviators is taking flight. These pioneers of the air are not living creatures, but rather a product of deliberate innovation: drones.

But these aren’t your typical flying bots, humming around like mechanical bees. Rather, they’re avian-inspired marvels that soar through the sky, guided by liquid neural networks to navigate ever-changing and unseen environments with precision and ease.

Inspired by the adaptable nature of organic brains, researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory introduced a method for robust flight navigation agents to master vision-based fly-to-target tasks in intricate, unfamiliar environments. [Read more…] about Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks

Intel’s new AI chip enables ‘real-time learning for robots’

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Intel Labs, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology and the Technical University of Munich, has introduced a new approach to neural network-based object learning.

It specifically targets future applications like robotic assistants that interact with unconstrained environments, including in logistics, healthcare or elderly care.

This research is a crucial step in improving the capabilities of future assistive or manufacturing robots. It uses neuromorphic computing through new interactive online object learning methods to enable robots to learn new objects after deployment. [Read more…] about Intel’s new AI chip enables ‘real-time learning for robots’

Deep learning networks prefer the human voice – just like we do

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Columbia engineers demonstrate that AI systems might reach higher performance if programmed with sound files of human language rather than with binary data labels. (See video below.)

The digital revolution is built on a foundation of invisible 1s and 0s called bits.

As decades pass, and more and more of the world’s information and knowledge morph into streams of 1s and 0s, the notion that computers prefer to “speak” in binary numbers is rarely questioned.

According to new research from Columbia Engineering, this could be about to change. [Read more…] about Deep learning networks prefer the human voice – just like we do

Teradyne and Syntiant partner to ‘significantly shorten time to market’ for new AI chips

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Teradyne, a supplier of automated test solutions, says the company’s UltraFLEX test platform has enabled AI chip company Syntiant to successfully ship millions of its microwatt-power, deep learning Neural Decision Processors to customers worldwide.

Built from a clean sheet, hardware/software co-design methodology that optimizes silicon and deep learning models together, the Syntiant NDP100 and Syntiant NDP101 Neural Decision Processors bring hands-free, cloud-free, always-on voice and sensor AI applications to battery-powered edge devices.

Pieter Vorenkamp, COO at Syntiant, says: “Our deep learning NDP10x chips leverage our custom designed near-memory compute architecture, so we were looking for a partner with a deep understanding of the AI chip market. [Read more…] about Teradyne and Syntiant partner to ‘significantly shorten time to market’ for new AI chips

Continental building supercomputer on Nvidia platform to use for vehicle AI

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Continental is building a supercomputer based on the Nvidia computing platform. The system is intended for vehicle artificial intelligence system training.

The two companies say they are building the high-performance cluster based on Nvidia DGX AI systems, adding that this will “boost autonomous driving development performance”.

The new cluster reduces development time from weeks to hours, say the companies and among its main uses are deep learning, simulation and virtual data generation. [Read more…] about Continental building supercomputer on Nvidia platform to use for vehicle AI

IDS launches training software for its industrial vision systems

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Imaging Development Systems, or IDS, a specialist supplier of industrial cameras, has launched new training software for its industrial vision systems.

The company says the software’s ease of use lowers entry barrier for users without prior knowledge.

IDS NXT lighthouse is described as “intuitive AI training software”, and does not require programming knowledge. Camera hardware and training software are available via IDS NXT ocean Design-In Kit. [Read more…] about IDS launches training software for its industrial vision systems

IDS showcases its industrial cameras with AI built in

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Industrial camera specialist Imaging Development Systems is showcasing its machine vision technology, saying companies can keep their competitive edge with the systems because they use artificial intelligence. 

IDS says the popularity of the solutions is growing along with the field of robot vision as well as novel AI-based vision applications.

“Ease of use” is becoming more and more important, which is why the recently launched AI system IDS NXT ocean was designed to train and execute neural networks on industrial cameras even by non-experts. [Read more…] about IDS showcases its industrial cameras with AI built in

NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

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NXP Semiconductors has agreed a lead partnership role with Arm for Ethos-U55 microNPU (Neural Processing Unit), a machine learning accelerator targeted at resource-constrained industrial and IoT edge devices.

As an industry-leading innovator of microcontrollers (MCUs), NXP intends to implement Ethos U-55 in its Cortex-M based microcontrollers, crossover MCUs and real-time sub-systems in applications processors.

The expansion builds on the company’s growing ML offerings including the recently announced i.MX 8M Plus applications processors with a dedicated NPU. [Read more…] about NXP becomes lead partner for Arm Ethos U-55 machine learning accelerators

FLIR launches ‘industry’s first’ deep learning camera

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Imaging company FLIR Systems has launched what it says is “the industry’s first” deep learning camera for applications ranging from industrial inspection to autonomous driving and others.

FLIR says the Firefly DL enables systems designers to build neural networks that are capable of decision-making at the edge.

FLIR is believed to be the world’s largest commercial company specializing in the design and production of thermal imaging cameras, components and imaging sensors. [Read more…] about FLIR launches ‘industry’s first’ deep learning camera

FLIR launches new camera capable of deep learning

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FLIR Systems has launched a camera which includes deep learning capabilities – the Firefly DL – for applications ranging from industrial inspection to autonomous driving and others.

Deep learning is a type of artificial intelligence which tends to ingest, or collect, far more data than does the machine learning method.

Both deep and machine learning types of AI tend to require large computing systems, generally necessitating clusters in the cloud, or at least a powerful PC. [Read more…] about FLIR launches new camera capable of deep learning