Daily Archives: May 10, 2023

Explore the next generation of systems that enable businesses to efficiently adapt production to variable market demands at Booth #5623.ABBs mission is to provide flexibility and simplicity to companies of all levels of technical sophistication. ABB to preview two major innovations: two higher payload GoFa collaborative robot variants, and a completely new series of large robots.

ABB Robotics will feature next generation robotic technologies that enable businesses to efficiently adapt production to variable market demands at Automate 2023, May 22-25 at the Huntington Place Convention Center in Detroit, Michigan (Booth #5623).

The CRB 1300 SWIFTI industrial collaborative bridges the gap between industrial and collaborative robots. Combining class-leading speed and accuracy with expanded load handling capability of up to 11kg, the SWIFTI CRB 1300 can be used in a wide variety of production and product handling applications. Powered by ABB's OmniCore C90XT controller, the SWIFTI CRB 1300 is up to five times more precise than any cobot in its class, making it ideal for tasks requiring consistent accuracy and repeatability.

GoFa Collaborative Robot Welding Package The new package is a breakthrough solution featuring the Easy Teach Device and Wizard Easy Programming software that empowers first-time robot users to create high-quality welds without the need for in-depth knowledge of robot programming. The new robotic welding package is easy to change from part to part and is well suited for both low volume, high mix, and high volume, low mix operations. It can be used with power source equipment from any of the major suppliers, GoFa Cobot Plastic Additive Manufacturing with 3D Printing PowerPacA live 3D printing demo featuring an ABB absolute accuracy CRB 15000 GoFa robot equipped with an MDAC1 end-of-arm tool, the flagship smaller-format plastic filament extruder from Massive Dimension. Developed in collaboration with ABB, this demo is perfect for small-scale collaborative robot applications and offers enhanced interaction capabilities. The demo is powered by the 3D Printing PowerPac for ABB's RobotStudio simulation and offline programming software.Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) ABB has transformed Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) with the addition of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (Viusal SLAM) technology, in collaboration with Swiss-based AI specialist, Sevensense. Enabling a robot to see its environment and make intelligent navigation decisions based on its surroundings, without prior programming or infrastructure, ABB's next-generation AMR technology supports an unprecedented degree of flexibility, from production, logistics, intralogistics and fulfillment through to retail and healthcare environments.PixelPaint System for Two-tone, Decorative and Decal PaintingPixelPaint is a revolution in vehicle painting technology, with 100 percent transfer efficiency that eliminates the need for masking and de-masking, bringing an efficient solution to the increasing demand for personalized paint designs. The innovative guided paint system also eliminates paint wastage and cuts cycle times by approximately 50 percent, enhancing sustainability and driving down costs.Dual-Arm YuMi Collaborative Robot PCB Assembly CellThe Dual-Arm YuMi Collaborative Robotic PCB Assembly demo highlights an accurate, automated solution to populate printed circuit boards with THT components. Automating THT component assembly with collaborative robots provides a viable option for low to medium volume orders where the investment of insertion machines is not cost effective. It also offers significant advantages to the overly repetitive and the physically stressful manual THT component insertion.

ABB's STEM Education Package with Cobot Education Cell The ABB Robotics Education Package unlocks the potential of STEM training by providing hands-on robotics experience for students at a wide range of educational institutions. Featuring a collaborative robot cell, comprehensive teacher and student course materials, and a globally recognized STEM certification, the Package empowers both educators and students to get hands-on experience in real-life industrial robotics applications.To be formally introduced at Automatica June 27th in Munich, GermanyNew series of large robotsABB will be launching a new series of large robots with 22 different variants. The new series will provide enhanced productivity, quality and sustainability across all market segments, including foundry, construction, plastic, electronics, food & beverage, logistics and automotive. For example, the robots will meet the need for car manufacturers to produce batteries of varying sizes, from individual cells and modules to complete packages, as well as high-precision car body assembly, spot welding and the ability to enter tight areas inside a vehicle to install a seat or dashboard. Higher Payload GoFaResponding to the ongoing demand among SMEs for high payload collaborative robots which are easy to use and can be deployed quickly, ABB will be expanding its GoFa collaborative robot family with the addition of two higher payload GoFa variants. With this expansion ABB is responding to the emerging demand for high payload cobots that provide increased flexibility, productivity and safety for applications like machine tending and welding.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ABB (ABB: NYSE) ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company's solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB's ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation, as one of the world's leading robotics and machine automation suppliers, is the only company with a comprehensive and integrated portfolio covering robots, Autonomous Mobile Robots and machine automation solutions, designed and orchestrated by our value-creating software. We help companies of all sizes and sectors - from automotive to electronics and logistics - become more resilient, flexible and efficient. ABB Robotics & Discrete Automation supports customers in the transition towards the connected and collaborative factory of the future. The business area employs approximately 11,000 people at over 100 locations in approximately 53 countries. go.abb/robotics

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ABB to showcase next generation robotic technologies at Automate ... - Robotics Tomorrow

If the unprecedented finishes by Wheeling Park High School and Triadelphia Middle School teams at the VEX Robotics World Championships in just their second year competing at that level were not evidence enough of Ohio County Schools rapid ascent in interscholastic robotics, then perhaps this is: Robotics teams from across this corner of the United States soon will come to The Highlands Sports Complex to duke it out for robotics mastery.

The Gateway To The West tournament, scheduled for next year, plans to feature 160 robotics teams, with half of them coming from outside the Mountain States borders.

The winners will earn a spot in the 2024 VEX World Championships.

Its impressive that a county school district whose robotics teams have reached the national tournament only in the last two years have been awarded such an event. The Highlands will host one of just 26 signature robotics tournaments around the world.

For us to be awarded on our first attempt is an accomplishment, Ohio County Schools Innovation Coordinator JoJo Shay said. It was amazing for us to get one for Wheeling.

Accomplishments are coming in rapid succession for the local robotics teams. At this years world championships, Wheeling Park High Schools Iron Patriots Mark 1 team reached the elimination rounds in its division and Triadelphia Middle Schools Roboraiders reached the quarterfinals in their division. Thats the first time an Ohio County team has accomplished either feat.

Those performances show that Ohio County is taking interscholastic robotics seriously, making the area even more attractive as a signature event site. Because of that, more than 1,000 people from West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and other surrounding states will have the opportunity to see what The Highlands and the rest of the county has to offer in terms of hotels, restaurants and other attractions.

So many deserve praise for this accomplishment. First are the students, whose hard work and quick success have made Ohio County Schools robotics teams a formidable group. Then there are the coaches, whose dedication and guidance have steered their teams to strong results. And lets not forget the parents, whose support and willingness to allow their children to travel to Dallas is helping all this happen.

And good work by Ohio County Schools and Ohio County government for recognizing what robotics does mean and can mean to this area. The future of robotics in our region is bright, and this Gateway to the West tournament will showcase the best we have to offer.

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Robotics Event Is True Team Effort | News, Sports, Jobs - Wheeling Intelligencer

A robotized rice farming undergoes trial runs in Nobeoka, Miyazaki Prefecture. (Video by Yasuaki Oshika)

NOBEOKA, Miyazaki Prefecture--The backbreaking work of sowing and harvesting rice by hand could soon fall exclusively to drones and robots under an ambitiousagricultural programtaking shapehere.

As part of its efforts to alleviate a farmer shortage, the Nobeoka city government already signed an agreement with Kyoto-based robot manufacturer Tmsuk Co. to take on the task of tending to vacant rice paddies.

Once riceseeds have been planted by a drone, a succession of robotic technologies still to be developedwould deal with weeding and reaping.

This initiative is in line with our course of action to support (farming), said a farm ministry representative. We welcome the entry from different industries with wide perspectives.

A trial run on April 15 saw a drone take off with a quiet whir, its movements controlled withjoystick like one used for video games. The craft flew over a 1000-square-meter rice paddy, scattering seeds treated beforehand with powdered iron to ensure a smooth drop from the air.

The seeding process took just 10 minutes.

Itwas done in almost an instant, said a gobsmacked Nobeoka Mayor Yoji Yomiyama who was watching. This method is revolutionary. It will dramatically reduce the burden onfarmers.

InYomiyamas view, the municipal government was clutching at straws when it tied up with Yoichi Takamoto, the chairman of Tmsuk.

Takamoto was working on plans to robotize agricultural procedures based on communications technology at the time. He also happened to be a longtime friend ofYomiyamas deputy,Hiroshi Nakama. It turned out that Nakama once worked at theMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications where hewas responsible for telecommunications policies.

Takamoto harbored bitter memories of abandoning farmland he had inherited in Gunma Prefecture because he could find no one to work the land on his behalf.

Alarmed by the prospect of Japans agriculture vanishing,Takamoto decided to join hands with Nobeoka city as it, too, isstruggling with a rapidly growing number of fields left vacant by increasingly elderly farmers.

We do not have the farmers to take over paddies, said Yomiyama. The challenge now is how to lighten the heavy workload in farming.

Growing seedlings takes up a considerable part of the labor process in rice farming. With this in mind, Tmsuk adopted an aerial seed spraying method to sidestep the process of creating beds for seedlings.

Our style is just the same as that in the United States, where seeds are directly scattered from aircraft, said Takamoto.

Nobeoka city provided three paddies totaling 3000 square meters for the experiment. Setting up its base in the municipality, Tmsuk will develop and test various robots during the programthree-year trial period.

One such envisioned model is a duck-based robot that will go into operation by the end of May. The machine, which sort of resembles a bird, will stir water in the paddies to prevent weeds from popping up. Around 15 units are projected to be introduced.

Fertilizer will be sprayed with a drone, while a rice-harvesting robot will be tested for reaping as the successor to the robotic duck.

All farming processes from seeding to harvesting will be automated as much as possible.

The objective is to establish a business model where part-time farmers can care for their fields while working at offices or from home for their companies, given that Tmsuks robots can be operated remotely with PCs and smartphones.

We should not just stand by and watch the continuous decline of Japans agriculture, said Takamoto. Sweets and bread should be made from rice flour if the prolonged Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to difficulties in securing wheat.

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Robotics tested at rice paddies with eye on full automation | The ... -

Given Warren Buffett's love of good old-fashioned businesses that have proven themselves over decades, it wouldn't be surprising ifBerkshire Hathaway's (BRK.A -0.60%) (BRK.B -0.71%) chairman and CEO were wary of the euphoria over artificial intelligence (AI).

But while Buffett and his longtime vice chairman, Charlie Munger,both expressed caution about these trends at the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders meeting on Saturday, they also had some favorable things to say. Here's what Buffett and Munger said about AI and robotics, as well as the role that AI and robotics could play in Berkshire's portfolio going forward.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Munger has been a longtime proponent of U.S. cooperation and investment in China. Munger's investment in Chinese tech giant Alibabaand his support of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD illustrate the growth opportunities and value that Munger believes China offers investors. "Well, if you went into BYD's factories in China you would see robotics going in at an unbelievable rate," Munger said. "So, we're going to see a lot more robotics in the world. I am personally skeptical of some of the hype that has gone into artificial intelligence. I think old-fashioned intelligence works pretty well."

Put another way, Munger sees the impact that robotics is having on manufacturing but is wary of the risks investors are taking in AI stocks. This is a stark contrast to Munger's past comments on cryptocurrency, where he called it "rat poison" and saw it as both a bad investment and useless relative to the U.S. dollar.

While Buffett shares the same hesitance about getting lost in the AI hype, there was no denying his respect for AI and its possible effects on the economy.

"There won't be anything in AI that replaces the gene. ... I'll state that unqualifiedly. It can do amazing things," said Buffett during the meeting. "Bill Gates brought me out the latest ... maybe not the latest version, but one he thought maybe I could handle. ... And it did these remarkable things, but it couldn't tell jokes."

Buffett is a big believer in human ingenuity. He often quotes American heroes like Abraham Lincoln and marvels at their decision-making ability. Although AI has a great deal of utility, it can't replace human creativity.

While Munger was more interested in the business benefits of robotics and AI, Buffett seemed to indicate that it could be yet another technology that could do remarkable things but will permanently change the human condition.

When something can do all kinds of things, I get a little bit worried because I know we won't be able to uninvent it. And we did invent for very, very good reason the atom bomb in World War II. And it was enormously important that we did so. But is it good for the next 200 years of the world, that the ability to do so has been unleashed? We didn't have a choice. But when you start something... well, Einstein said after the atom bomb, he says, 'This has changed everything in the world except how men think.' And I would say the same thing may ... not the same thing. I don't mean that. But with AI, it can change everything in the world except how men think and behave. And that's a big step to take.

There is no denying that Pandora's box has been opened for AI. A UBS study noted that OpenAI's ChatGPT reached over 100 million monthly active users (MAU) in January 2023 after launching on Nov. 30, 2022, making it the fastest application to cross the 100 million MAU mark. It then passed 1 billion monthly page visits to its website in February.

AI is having a snowball effect on search engines and consumer products. Rapid AI adoption will lead to technological improvements, and meaningful benefits, but will also make the technology more powerful than ever before.

Throughout the history of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett has made a habit of never pretending to understand something. And for that reason, Berkshire is built around traditional businesses like railroads, utilities, and insurance companies. Until recently, the vast majority of Berkshire's public equity holdings were also these kinds of businesses. That is, until Buffett started giving more control to other members of his leadership team, who convinced him to invest in Apple (AAPL 0.81%).

As of March 31, Berkshire's Apple stake was worth a staggering $151 billion, making it roughly 46% of Berkshire's public equity portfolio. During the annual meeting, Buffett praised Apple for its relentless stock buybacks and called its products extraordinary. "Our criteria for Apple isn't any different than the other businesses we own -- it just happens to be a better business than any we own," Buffett said. Buffett said that although Berkshire has more money invested in BNSF Railway (which it owns fully) than Apple -- and that the railroad is a good business -- BNSF doesn't even come close to how good a business Apple is.

Buffett and his team are often known for being dyed-in-the-wool value investors who are hesitant to change. However, if there is a business that makes sense, Berkshire has shown it will deploy a sizable amount of capital toward a good idea.

When the iPhone changed the smartphone market in 2007, few investors, let alone Buffett himself, could have likely imagined that Apple would become Berkshire's largest public equity holding within a generation. Will the same be said for AI and robotics?

If there's one thing Buffett and his team love, it's a good business. If a company makes sense, is well-run, and has the fundamental traits Berkshire Hathaway looks for, then it could become a Buffett holding.

But don't expect Buffett to go chasing AI stocks to make a quick buck. Berkshire Hathaway could have bought Apple earlier on and made a far greater return. Instead, Berkshire waited for Apple to prove its dominance before it began loading up on the stock. The return has still been incredibly impressive.

For that reason, it would be surprising if Berkshire jumped into an AI or robotics stock in the next few years. But 5 to 10 years down the line, it would be equally unsurprising if one of the top five Berkshire Hathaway public equity holdings is an AI or robotics stock.

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Buffett and Munger Talk AI, Robotics, and More at Berkshire ... - The Motley Fool

RITs VEX Robotics team placed 10th overall among 96 collegiate teams in the recent VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas. Teams competing in the championship came from U.S. universities from Alaska, Oregon, and California as well as international teams from Columbia, Mexico, China, Puerto Rico, and Australia.

Provided by S. Ferguson

Two of the robots used by RIT VEX Robotics and two of the recent awards presented to the team for qualifying for the 2023 Worlds and for overall program excellence.

Closing a strong 2023 season, the team was also recognized for excellence in technical designs and the overall quality of its program.

VEX Robotics at RIT has grown significantly since it began in 2017.

Our early years, it was about building the team, understanding how we were going to run a club. We spent time recruiting people with the different disciplines needed, so we have some really talented individuals, said Stefany Ferguson, team president and a fifth-year electrical engineering major from Manchester, Conn.

Ferguson has been involved with VEX since high school, and she joined the RIT team in her first year. Placing in the top 10 this year of the championship was a milestone that Ferguson helped make happen.

VEX Robotics has several categories of competitions with K-12 competitors as well as college teams. Similar to FIRST Robotics, the program is intended to spur interest in STEM disciplines, emphasize teamwork, and encourage students to apply what they learn in classrooms to real-world projects, such as building robotic systems.

Middle and high school teams start with a kit of parts and mentors to help them build robots. At the collegiate level, teams spend the academic year designing robots, often building different parts and electronic systems in labs or machine shops. For some of the team members, the part designs are new skills being learned.

Its a great thing for a college student to know. We did a lot of 3D printing for just about every part of the robotthe gears, support towerswe also got into making silicon molds for all the wheels that we used, said Ferguson, who is completing the bachelors/masters dual-degree program in electrical engineering in RITs Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

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VEX Robotics team places in top 10 at international competition - Rochester Institute of Technology

A Beverly school robotics team is ending its high school chapter with a prestigious world robotics competition prize in hand.

Wolfpack Machina, the varsity robotics team at the Waring School, recently won the FIRST Tech Challenge World Championship Inspire Award, which is the competitions top honor and recognizes excellence in robot design and teamwork. The team at the coed private middle and high school also attained the highest offensive power ranking (OPR) in the world, and won its divisional championship and the divisional Inspire Award at the competition.

The team, made up of 11 seniors and one junior, includes Thomas Davis, Alma Power, Olga Gadmer Langman, Owen Cooper, Chris Douglas, Olive Sauder, Amelia Wyler, Charlie Pound, Kaden Cassidy, Collin Keegan, Peter Hannah, and Owen Reimold.

For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, or FIRST, is an international organization for students ages 4-18 who are involved in mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, while promoting self-confidence, communication, and leadership. The FIRST Championship, an annual competition, was held in Houston this year.

Each year, FTC teams build and program a robot no larger than 18 in any dimension. At the competition, the robots play against each other in matches that change every year. This years challenge was to pick up cones and score by placing them on various poles.

Wolfpack Machina was one of four Massachusetts FTC teams to compete at the world competition. The team wowed the judges with a 15-page summary of its work, a strong robot performance, and an interview about their robots design, testing, code, as well as its outreach efforts and work with STEM experts.

Its outreach initiatives are an effort to bring opportunities to underserved communities, Douglas said. The team worked with Everett Public School STEM director Rupi Kaur, as well as the superintendent, to launch five FLL teams in Everett. They paid the fees and robot costs for those teams, trained the coaches, and attended practices to work directly with team members.

The team also established 35 FIRST Lego League (FLL) teams in Rwanda after Wyler moved there during her fall 2022 semester. She worked with UNESCO, the Rwanda government, and other partners to get Rwandan FLL recognized by FIRST as its own FLL region. In March, Rwanda held its first FLL Championship, which Wyler organized. There were over 700 attendees, including several cabinet ministers from Rwanda and Botswana.

It would not have worked if Amelia had not moved to Rwanda to do this personally, said team coach Francis Schaeffer. This was every day, all day for a semester at least, plus lots of work when she came back to make sure that the national championship would come off.

Schaeffer, chair of the Science, Engineering, and Technology Department at Waring, founded the FTC team in 2020, three years after he helped found Warings FLL team, the Brickwolves, which qualified for the FIRST World Championship two years in a row and had the highest scoring robot game in the world in the 2019-2020 season. Almost all of the members of Wolfpack Machina were previously on the FLL team.

Winning the Inspire Award is a culmination of the outreach theyve worked on since they began working as a team, Gadmer Langman said.

Its incredibly rewarding because it wasnt even the work we put in this year. Its the work weve put in and the time we spent together for the past six years, Gadmer Langman added.

Soon, the team members will be graduating high school. Some plan to attend an engineering school or take a gap year to work on the project in Rwanda.

Its really something to watch a kid go from being 12 and figure something out that you really understand and you can teach them to them being an expert to the level where I do not understand what theyre doing anymore, Schaeffer said.

Hannah Nguyen can be reached at hannah.nguyen@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @hannahcnguyen.

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Beverly students win top prize in world robotics competition - The Boston Globe

Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading self-driving trucking company, has unveiled the worlds first autonomous electric class 8 truck. By upfitting a Peterbilt Model 579EV electric truck with their cutting-edge self-driving technology called the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak aims to integrate this groundbreaking vehicle into its fleet by 2024.

The Peterbilt Model 579EV truck, equipped with Kodiaks fifth-generation sensors, represents the second vehicle platform that the company has successfully adapted for autonomous capabilities. Kodiaks unique autonomous system is designed to be vehicle- and powertrain-agnostic, allowing for seamless incorporation into emerging truck platforms regardless of their fuel type. This flexibility places Kodiak at the forefront of autonomous technology, as they can readily adapt to the evolving landscape of electric vehicles.

With a peak power rating of 670 horsepower and a range of up to 150 miles, the Peterbilt Model 579EV is tailored for short-haul and drayage operations, making it an ideal test vehicle for Kodiaks autonomous technology. As EV technology progresses and range capabilities expand, Kodiak is well-positioned to integrate their cutting-edge autonomous systems into future EV platforms, pushing the boundaries of self-driving trucking.

Studies have consistently shown that autonomous technology can lead to a significant reduction in fuel consumption, achieving approximately a 10% increase in efficiency. This heightened efficiency not only aligns with Kodiaks commitment to sustainability but also helps extend the range of electric trucks. As the technology continues to evolve, the integration of Kodiaks autonomous system with EV platforms could pave the way for even greater advancements in the industry.

Moreover, in its pursuit of further enhancing the sustainability of its fleet, Kodiak Robotics plans to explore other environmentally friendly vehicle platforms, including fuel cells and other emerging technologies, as they are introduced to the market. By constantly seeking innovative solutions, Kodiak is taking substantial strides towards solidifying its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitment, creating a positive impact on the trucking industrys sustainable future.

We believe that the future of trucking is the combination of electric and autonomous vehicles,saidDon Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics. Given advancements in battery and fuel cell technologies, achieving zero-emissions trucking will soon be within reach. Kodiaks work on the Peterbilt Model 579EV will help us gain valuable experience in how to build autonomous electric vehicles, and help us realize that vision. Customers have been long asking for an autonomous electric vehicle and we are delivering on that need.

Also Read:First Fisker Ocean SUV delivered.

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Kodiak Robotics introduces first-ever autonomous electric class 8 truck - Electrikez

Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, Tuesday announced what it called a "strategic collaboration" with C.R. England. The two companies will implement a pilot program leveraging C.R. Englands temperature-controlled loads and Torcs fleet of Level 4 autonomous test trucks for long-haul applications.

The collaboration is an expansion for Torc into refrigerated freight.

The agreement marks C.R. England's second partnership with an autonomous technology company in two months. In April, the company entered into a pilot program with Kodiak Robotics, Inc. to autonomously ship products for Tyson Foods between Dallas and San Antonio.

Torc is thrilled to be partnering with C.R. England to better improve long-haul trucking safety for one of the premium service providers and largest refrigerated carriers in the nation, said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc Robotics CEO. The data derived from the pilot will contribute to our safety and validation efforts and use cases for autonomous trucking.

C.R. England and Torc said the pilot will provide select customers with temperature-controlled capacity. Information from the pilot will include unique insights, and will help guide the development and ongoing commercialization of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications. Initial planning will begin in mid-2023, with on-road tests soon after.

C.R. England is excited to announce our partnership with Torc for pilot activities on Level 4 autonomous test trucks,"said Chad England, C.R. England CEO."We believe this innovation will eventually provide the ability to expand our network safely, with high levels of service to our customers, all while enhancing the quality of existing driver jobs. Specifically, by adding autonomous lanes to our network, we can expand our customer offerings and create more structured jobs for drivers at both ends of autonomous runs. Torcs deep integration with Daimler Truck AG makes our two organizations a perfect fit for piloting this new technology.

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C.R. England & Torc Robotics partner on reefer delivery pilot - Truckers News

5 May 2023

Image source, Christine Ro

The iCub robot has an arresting gaze

It's my first time drumming along with a robot.

I'm sitting across a table from an adorable humanoid robot called the iCub. We each have our own stick and box, and are meant to strike the box with the stick in sync with a light pattern. But of course I'm also watching the robot - and I'm aware that it's watching me.

This drumming experiment has been designed to test how the presence of a robot doing the same task affects a human's behaviour.

It's one of many experiments of human-robot interaction being carried out by the research group CONTACT (Cognitive Architecture for Collaborative Technologies) at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa.

Though I'm aware of the lights and the other people in the room, my gaze keeps being drawn to the iCub's heavy white eyelids.

For one thing, there's a noticeable noise when the robot blinks every few seconds. And, because this childlike robot has expressive, oversized eyes, its gaze is compelling.

Image source, Christine Ro

Research shows humans respond better to robots that can blink

This matters because with blinking, as with other aspects of eye gaze, there's more than strictly meets the eye.

"While it is often assumed that blinking is just a reflexive physiological function associated with protective functions and ocular lubrication, it also serves an important role in reciprocal interaction," comments Helena Kiilavuori, a psychology researcher at the University of Tampere in Finland.

Human blinking conveys attention and emotion. As a means of non-verbal communication, it expresses a number of things we aren't consciously aware of, such as who should take a turn in a conversation.

Thus, it's just one of many social signals humans exchange constantly without being aware of them, yet while deriving a great deal of information and comfort from them.

So social roboticists have been studying both the physical and psychological properties of human blinking to understand why it might be useful to match it in robots.

"Due to the many important functions of blinking in human behaviour, it could be assumed that having robots blinking their eyes could significantly enhance their perceived human-likeness. This could, in turn, facilitate human-robot interaction," says Ms Kiilavuori.

Put another way, "When the robot's blinking well,people feel for your character," says David Hanson, who leads Hanson Robotics.

Image source, Hanson Robotics

Making the eye and skin look natural when blinking is very challenging

Indeed, CONTACT research with 13-year-olds and adults in Italy shows that both groups simply like blinking robots more. An unblinking robot can give a person the unpleasant impression of being stared at, points out Alessandra Sciutti, who leads the CONTACT unit.

Humans also perceive robots that blink more naturally as more intelligent. And intelligence matters in situations where humans depend on robots to provide information, such as in train stations.

Despite the benefits of natural-looking blinking, integrating it into robots (apart from avatars and robots with screen displays for faces) is technically challenging.

"Blinks are one of the subtlest of human movements, so designing mechanisms that can mimic these movements require advanced technology, such as high-precision motors," Ms Kiilavuori explains. The roboticists at Engineered Arts, for example, use expensive, aerospace-grade motors as well as designing their own control electronics.

Image source, Engineered Arts

The robot made by Engineered Arts uses expensive motors to power the blink

Specifically, says Mr Hanson of Hanson Robotics, "The speed of the motors moving skin material when blinking is really challenging and making the shape of the eye look natural while blinking is happening is also challenging. As well as reducing friction between artificial eyelids and the eye surface itself."

Another issue here is a trade-off between the speed and sound of motorised blinking. Francesco Rea, a senior technician at the CONTACT unit, says that in the iCub robot a quieter motor could dampen the sound of a blink. But the slower movement then makes the robot look sleepy or catlike.

Very slow blinks also risk a loss of visual information, as the iCub's camera is located behind the eyes. "In vision, missing two frames is not that big an issue," says Mr Rea. "Missing ten frames starts to be an issue."

Ms Kiilavuori adds, "Another challenge is the correct timing and duration of blinks." The different functions that blinking performs - such as how a person changes blinking speed while telling a lie - involve different eyelid dynamics as well as different emotional states.

"Any deviation from the natural and appropriate blinking times and duration, in a given context, can make the robot appear odd and disturbing," she says.

The CONTACT team use a software program that partially randomises the intervals between single and double blinking. After all, blinking fixedly wouldn't look very natural either.

Over at Disney Research, roboticists have joined forces with character animators to develop a research prototype for realistic robotic gaze. The aim is to design an expressive system of eye gaze that is easy for animators to control in order to convey subtle emotion.

With elements like motion curves of eyelids, "we can kind of isolate these individual behaviours, which makes it much easier to really concentrate on getting small aspects and small details correct," says James Kennedy, a research scientist at Disney Research.

They've patented their system of robotic sensing and control of eye gaze. This includes software for processing images taken by a camera in the robot's chest, and generating control signals for movements like opening and closing the eyelids.

Mr Kennedy says that the research remains more experimental, and isn't yet being applied in Disney's theme parks. "The goal here was to really select a single social cue that we were interested in and push it as far as we could in making lifelike believable motion and behaviourthat we felt would provide a platform for engagement with people."

Another general challenge would be getting humanoid robots to begin syncing their blinking patterns to those of humans, as humans do in conversation.

These types of challenges remain compelling to some roboticists. And, contrary to exaggerated pop culture depictions of androids that are indistinguishable from humans, blinking is one tiny example of the many complexities that still keep robotic interactions from seeming completely natural.

When trying to replicate a mechanism as tiny and sometimes underappreciated as blinking, "actually you reveal how complex this mechanism is, and then how much subtle movement there is," notes Mr Kennedy. "And that's where we have this really great opportunity for exploration and invention."

Link:

Why teaching robots to blink is hard but important - BBC