Daily Archives: April 13, 2017

Robo Global Robotics & Automation ETF holds about 80 stocks in manufacturing and other types of robotics. (salman2/stock.adobe.com)

The field of robotics has captured the imagination like no other industry, as companies develop machines that once were the stuff of science fiction.

Today, robotics are expanding in manufacturing, where they first got a foothold. In the military, drones are now in every battalion and are used in naval warfare. Robo Global Robotics & Automation (ROBO) ETF captures that wave of innovation through a portfolio of about 80 companies either developing or using robotic technology.

Those companies include names in 3D printing, health care, energy, consumer products and other industries. With such a large portfolio, many of the ETF's components are only partially involved in robotics, while others could be regarded as pure plays. The firm says 40% of the fund consists of "bellwether" companies that are leading robotics companies and the rest are firms "that enable robotics/automation with growing revenue contributions."

For example, Nvidia (NVDA) is making strides in the field of self-driving cars but its main business is graphics chips. Intuitive Surgical (ISRG) pioneered robotic-assisted surgery and has been one of the better-performing stocks in the ETF this year.

IRobot (IRBT) is best known for vacuum cleaning and pool cleaning robots. AeroVironment (AVAV) makes drones for industrial and military use, but has other businesses such as electric-car chargers. Cognex (CGNX) makes electronic vision equipment for industrial inspection.

Advances in robotics are accelerating, as digital technology makes it increasingly possible to automate functions with computers. The market for robotics and automation is expected to grow from $64 billion to $1.2 trillion, according to research noted in Robo Global's website. Experts also see a 17.4% compounded annual growth rate in service and consumer robotics from 2015 to 2020.

Robo Global Robotics & Automation is the sole ETF product from Robo Global ETFs, a Dallas-based firm. All components are about equal in weighting of 1% to 2% each. By market capitalization, about 23% of the portfolio is made up of big-cap companies, 37% midcap and 40% small cap.

It is not the only robotics ETF, however. Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (BOTZ) is a newer ETF; it started trading in September. It has fewer than 30 stocks, many of them are in Robo Global Robotics. The ETF, which started trading in October 2013, has surged more than 50% from a low in February 2016. It broke out of a base in December but is now having trouble maintaining support at its 50-day moving average.

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Robotics ETF Taps Growth In Manufacturing, Drones, Other Areas - Investor's Business Daily

CBS DFW

Allen High Robotics Team Ready For Biggest Test CBS DFW ALLEN (CBS11) After a lot of fine tuning and test runs, the Eagle Robotics team from Allen High School is ready to compete on an international scale. The team is getting ready to head to Houston next week to take part in the First Robotics ... and more »

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Allen High Robotics Team Ready For Biggest Test - CBS DFW

TechCrunch

Robotics students and startups: pitch and demo at TechCrunch's robotics event TechCrunch We're pleased to announce the addition of pitches and demos at Session: Robotics, our upcoming event centered around the issues concerning the robotics community. Students and startups should apply now for slots for the event, taking place July 17 in ...

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Robotics students and startups: pitch and demo at TechCrunch's robotics event - TechCrunch

USC Viterbi School welcomes thousands of local children to campus for the 7th annual Robotics Open House

USC computer science doctorate student Katelyn Swift-Spongs Bandit, a rehabilitation therapy coach designed to be used during the critical post-stroke period, is tried out by 1st and 2nd graders from 32nd Street school during Viterbi Robotics Open House, Friday, April 7, 2017. Photo/Gus Ruelas

On April 7, USCs University Park Campus, typically home to industrious college students and researchers, was teeming with schoolchildrenand robots. The USC Viterbi School of Engineering hosted nearly 2,000 students from around Southern California for its most popular STEM outreach event of the year, the USC Viterbi Robotics Open House.

Robots are great ambassadors for STEM, said Professor Maja Matari, USC Viterbis vice dean of research, who launched the Robotics Open House seven years ago. Its important to show young students how cool robotics can be and how it can be whatever they want to make it, including applications in health, education, entertainment and autonomous driving.

Sponsored by USC Viterbi and organized by VAST, Viterbi Adopt-a-School Adopt-a-Teacher, the Robotics Open House welcomed school groups in the morning and families and organizations during the afternoon. With more than fifteen labs and activities across three buildings, the event gave kids a chance to see the cutting-edge research taking place on campus and learn why its important.

Popular stations included Assistant Professor Nora Ayanians aerial robots, which taught visitors about her research on multi-robot coordination. Meanwhile, in the lab of Professor Gaurav Sukhatme, chair of Department of Computer Science, graduate students displayed adaptive aquatic robots, which work together to map out temperature and algae distributions underwater.

For a lot of us, weve been working with robots for so long, you start to forget how novel or strange certain things are, said Stephanie Kemna, a Ph.D. student in Sukhatmes lab.

USC mechanical engineering sophomore student Kiera Salvo, 19, teaches Elias Rojano, 6, a second grader from 32nd Street how to control the Vex U team competition robot during the Viterbi Robotics Open House, Friday, April 7, 2017. Photo/Gus Ruelas

During the lunch hour, children participated in interactive activities, including robot races in the USC Viterbi courtyard fountain and a robot dinosaur petting zoo. USCs undergraduate VexU team, which participates in annual engineering competitions, also welcomed visitors to test-drive the robot they built and ask questions about studying engineering in college.

Visiting groups also watched the premiere of USC Viterbis short film, When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth. Based on research from Matari and the USC Viterbi Interaction lab, the film illustrates how socially assistive robots can help support children with autism.

A major focus of the VAST program, and the Robotics Open House in particular, is to show students who are going through their STEM courses that engineering has tremendous social benefits, said Katie Mills, VAST manager and organizer of the event.

Much of the technology on display, including drones and 3D printing, was also designed to show students how diverse the applications of robotics can be.

When we started this event, robotics was still kind of mysterious and esoteric, and now its really part ofour daily lives, said Mills.

For the Rodriguez family, who came to the open house together after classes ended at the nearby 32nd Street School, robotics has been part of daily life for several years. Sisters Marcella and Michelle, 8 and 12 years old respectively, participate in USCs Robotics and Coding Academy, which provides supplemental STEM education in local schools.

USC computer science doctorate student David Becerra, left, show 1st and 2nd graders form 32nd street school how Kiwi the Owl, an Autistic therapy robot works, during Viterbi Robotics Open House, Friday, April 7, 2017. Photo/Gus Ruelas

I saw their enthusiasm when the Robotics program first came to 32nd Street School, said their mother, Bertha Rodriguez. Since then Ive always encouraged them to attend more events and keep learning.

In addition to supporting local schools through multiyear outreach partnerships, VAST provides lesson plans for teachers to use before and after the robotics field trip, with the goal of expanding the days activities into a long-term learning experience.

We love for this to be an opportunity for teachers to extend the field trip into a real lesson about robotics and the social benefits, said Mills.

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A Day Ruled by Robots - USC Viterbi School of Engineering (press release) (blog)

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Port Huron FIRST Robotics Team 3667 is competing in a Shaping the Future video challenged hosted by Dow Chemical Company.

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Times Herald Published 11:20 a.m. ET April 13, 2017 | Updated 12 hours ago

JEFFREY M. SMITH/TIMES HERALD Mecanum Knights 3667 members Ava Stoneberg and Addie Hughes, both 15, work on their robot in the pit area during a FIRST Robotics District Event on Friday at Marysville High School. Mecanum Knights 3667 members Ava Stoneberg and Addie Hughes, both 15, work on their robot in the pit area during a FIRST Robotics District Event Friday, April 7, 2017 at Marysville High School.(Photo: JEFFREY M. SMITH, TIMES HERALD)Buy Photo

Port Huron FIRST Robotics Team 3667 is competing in a Shaping the Future video challenged hosted by Dow Chemical Company.

Winners will receive a grant for their FIRST Robotics team ranging from $1,000 to $7,500. A total of $25,000 in grant money will be awarded to eight different winning teams.

In less than 60 seconds, robotics teams must describe the way they see robots and technology shaping the future.

Voting is currently open and ends April 16. Winners will be announced April 17. People can vote daily, once a day.

The Port Huron video was produced and edited by Marisa Jones, a Port Huron High School freshman who is a member of the FIRST Robotics marketing team.

To vote, follow the link and search for team "3667:"https://www.facebook.com/DowCorps/app/486254294756872/

Read or Share this story: http://bwne.ws/2paT87x

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ATI Industrial Automation creates robotic tools that automobile companies use to make more

Tucked away in Apex, a robotics company is about to nearly double its headcount.

Robert Little, CEO of ATI Industrial Automation, says the company breaks ground next week on an expansion that will create 275 new jobs and grow its Apex footprint to 185,000 square feet.

ATI Industrial Automation creates robotic tools that automobile companies use to make more

The company currently has 300 employees. Little says it has reached the limits of its Apex facility, and that the new robotics lab will be bigger with state of the art features.

With the new facility, ATI intends to focus on new and better robots with force-control. Little describes it as equipping robots with sensors that feel. The robots can then use that feature to accomplish the kinds of tasks that currently need to be done by people.

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Apex robotics firm plans hiring binge in upcoming expansion - Triangle Business Journal

Lakeview High School's Q Branch Robotics team (wearing the team color pink T-shirts) is competing this week for a chance to advance to a world championship contest in St. Louis.(Photo: Courtesy photo/Bernhard Kerschbaum)

A teamof Lakeview High School students who can design, build and control robots remotelywill represent the Battle Creek area this week in a robotics competition in Saginaw.

Twenty-two members of the Q Branch Robotics team will compete against 39 other squadsin the Dow Division of the FIRST in Michigan District Championship, the robotics version of a state tournament, from Thursday to Saturday at Saginaw Valley State University. A total of 160 teams are competing for 82 slots up for grabs tothe World Championship competitionin St. Louison April 26-29.

"My team is very strong, talented students," said coach John Burdette, an AP physics, physics, astronomy and algebra teacher. "They've worked so hard all year and I've got a very senior-led team and I'm very proud of these students."

FIRST, short for For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a New Hampshire-based organization that organizes robotic competitions around the world.

The Spartans named their team after the Q Branch division of MI6, theBritish spy agency in the James Bond movies.

Therobot they designed and built oversix weeks, Spectre, is named after a villainous organizationin the Bond movies.Spectre can grab, toss, run and climb on command.

Q Branch finished first in the Lakeview Districtcontest on March 3-4 and fifth in a March 17-18 competition at Gull Lake High School.

The students on the team average at least a 3.0 grade-point average and specialize in building robots, computer coding, robot design and business.

Q Branch Roboticsis made up of Ben Berrios, Serena Brondolo, Patrick Caratinni, Aubre Carey, Alayna Carr, Caleb Dunlap, Josh Dunlap, Rebekah Ehart, Elizabeth Espinoza, Elonne Gibson, Brialy Goodale, Dominik Kerschbaum, Bowen Kincaid, Jakob Kinnisten, Bao Le, Logan Mattingly, John Mead, Noah Miller, Kien Nguyen, Alayna Robinson, Joanna Robinson, Trevor Sanchez and Brianna Zuke.

Musashi Auto Parts, Denso Manufacturing Michigan Inc., Battle Creek Unlimited, IAC Group and Geislinger Corp. are sponsoring the team.

Forscores and match information, visit https://www.thebluealliance.com/team/4327/2017.

Contact Battle Creek Enquirer education reporter Noe Hernandez at 269-966-0684 or nhernandez@battlecreekenquirer.com.

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Lakeview students skilled in robotics - Battle Creek Enquirer

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When science fiction author Isaac Asimov devised his Three Laws of Robotics he was thinking about androids. He envisioned a world where these human-like robots would act like servants and would need a set of programming rules to prevent them from causing harm. But in the 75 years since the publication of the first story to feature his ethical guidelines, there have been significant technological advancements. We now have a very different conception of what robots can look like and how we will interact with them.

The highly-evolved field of robotics is producing a huge range of devices, from autonomous vacuum cleaners to military drones to entire factory production lines. At the same time, artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly behind much of the software that affects us on a daily basis, whether were searching the internet or being allocated government services. These developments are rapidly leading to a time when robots of all kinds will become prevalent in almost all aspects of society, and human-robot interactions will rise significantly.

Asimovs laws are still mentioned as a template for guiding our development of robots. The South Korean government even proposed a Robot Ethics Charter in 2007 reflecting the laws. But given how much robotics has changed and will continue to grow in the future, we need to ask how these rules could be updated for a 21st century version of artificial intelligence.

Asimovs suggested laws were devised to protect humans from interactions with robots. They are:

As mentioned, one of the obvious issues is that robots today appear to be far more varied than those in Asimovs stories, including some that are far more simple. So we need to consider whether we should have a threshold of complexity below which the rules might not be required. It is difficult to conceive a robotic vacuum cleaner having the capability of harming humans or even requiring an ability to obey orders. It is a robot with a single task that can be predetermined prior to it being switched on.

At the other end of the spectrum, however, are the robots designed for military combat environments. These devices are being designed for spying, bomb disposal or load-carrying purposes. These would still appear to align with Asimovs laws, particularly as they are being created to reduce risk to human lives within highly dangerous environments.

But it is only a small step to assume that the ultimate military goal would be to create armed robots that could be deployed on the battlefield. In this situation, the First Law not harming humans becomes hugely problematic. The role of the military is often to save the lives of soldiers and civilians but often by harming its enemies on the battlefield. So the laws might need to be considered from different perspectives or interpretations.

The laws ambiguity has led authors, including Asimov, to explore how they could be misinterpreted or incorrectly applied. One issue is that they dont actually define what a robot is. As research pushes the boundaries of technology, there are emerging branches of robotics looking at more molecular devices.

For example, robots made from DNA and proteins could be used in surgery to correct gene disorders. In theory, these devices should really follow Asimovs laws. But for them to follow orders via DNA signals they would essentially have to become an integral part of the human they were working on. This integration would then make it difficult to determine whether the robot was independent enough to fall under the laws or operate outside of them. And on a practical level it would be impossible for it to determine whether any orders it received would cause harm to the human if carried out.

Theres also the question of what counts as harming a human being. This could be an issue when considering the development of robot babies in Japan, for example. If a human were to adopt one of these robots it might arguably cause emotional or psychological harm. But this harm may not have come about from the direct actions of the robot or become apparent until many years after the human-robot interaction has ended. This problem could even apply to much simpler AI, such as the use of machine learning to create music that elicits emotions.

The other big issue with the laws is that we would need a significant advancement in AI for robots to actually be able to follow them. The goal of AI research is sometimes described as developing machines that can think and act rationally and like a human. So far, emulating human behaviour has not been well researched in the field of AI and the development of rational behaviour has focused on limited, well defined areas.

With this in mind, a robot could only operate within a very limited sphere and any rational application of the laws would be highly restricted. Even that might not be possible with current technology, as a system that could reason and make decisions based on the laws would need considerable computational power.

Given all these issues, Asimovs laws offer little more than founding principles for someone wanting to create a robotic code today. We need to follow them with a much more comprehensive set of laws. That said, without significant developments in AI, implementing such laws will remain an impossible task. And thats before we even consider the potential for hurt should humans start to fall in love with robots.

Mark Robert Anderson, Professor in Computing and Information Systems, Edge Hill University

This article was originally published on The Conversationand republished here iwth permission. Read the original article.

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After 75 years, Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics need updating - Cosmos