Service Robotics Archives - Page 4 of 6

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

Robots in Hawai’i – Part 8

Hawaiian Host is the largest manufacturer of chocolate-covered macadamias in the world, with millions of boxes of the treats distributed around the globe. According to its website, the company “combines premium ingredients – handcrafted milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Hawaiian honey, Kona coffee, to name a few – with dry-roasted macadamias to create its signature delights” (Website Hawaiian Host). Hawaiian Host has now taken a big step forward in packaging. Watch a video of Chris Rabago getting his first look at Cama’s new equipment. The robot, which is protected by glass walls in the video, allows the chocolate-covered macadamias to be packaged at high speed in a small space. This is important because rental and construction costs in Honolulu are very high and factory expansions are difficult and expensive. It’s actually several robots working together – it’s very effective and looks fascinating. How many workers this new level of automation will replace is unknown.

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

Robots in Hawai’i – Part 6

The west coast of the Big Island is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and coral reefs, from Honomalino Beach in the south to Hapuna beach in the north. It is now threatened by climate change, drought, fire, invasive species, and human impact. The region of Hawai’i has been classified as a vulnerable ecosystem zone. A Boeing Company describes these dangers on its website and has developed technology to counteract the dangers. The Liquid Robotics Support Operations Test and Evaluation Facility in Kawaihae, Hawai’i is the main hub for Wave Glider development, ocean testing, and regional operations, as well as the birthplace of the Wave Glider. The Wave Glider sits on the surface and is connected to another device floating in the water eight meters below it. The two look like mother whale and baby whale, except baby whale is a little off. The Wave Glider is capable of collecting and communicating ocean data in real time through unpredictable conditions for up to a year. It connects and communicates undersea data to satellites and land, creating an ocean network. The Wave Glider is designed to support a wide variety of sensors and payloads. The modular and adaptable payload design is coupled with a powerful solar power system and on-board computing environment.

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

Robots in Hawai’i – Part 5

The K5, a security robot, comes from Knightscope in Silicon Valley. It can be seen there regularly. It provides, e.g., security at the Stanford Shopping Center. The conical robot is autonomous. It can see, hear, and even smell smoke and gas. The classic security robot also made it to Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai’i), for the first time in 2021, according to the Khon2 platform: “There is a new security guard getting a lot of attention at the Financial Plaza of the Pacific in downtown Honolulu, but it is not what you would think — it is actually a robot and the newest member of Bank of Hawaii’s security force. It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie – only it is actually real. Currently, the security robot is patrolling the busy area in and around the Bank of Hawaii’s Financial Plaza on Bishop and Merchant streets. For many people, the robot is a curiosity – attracting lots of odd looks – with some people capturing video and even posing for selfies. But many others, like Nasir Randall, are not quite sure what to make of it.” (Khon2, 28 October 2021) Security robots, along with cleaning robots and transport robots, are among the service robots that are largely error-free and already saving money. Over the next few years, they are likely to become widely used and accepted around the world.

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

Robots in Hawai’i – Part 4

Cleaning robots, along with security robots and transport robots, are among the service robots that work largely error-free and are already saving costs. The Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports Division continues to modernize Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and give HNL an open, clean feel. The modernization includes the addition of two robotic floor scrubbers to supplement custodial services. This was reported by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. “The robotic scrubbers will help us keep HNL sanitary and sparkling,” said Ross Higashi. He is the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s deputy director of airports. “Use of this technology will also allow us to maximize available staff in maintaining our busiest airport to standards.” (Website Hawaii Department of Transportation) Without a doubt, cleaning robots are also an option for the other islands of Hawai’i, such as the Big Island and Kaua’i. On the Big Island, there are two airports that come into question. In addition, cleaning robots could be used in the streets of Hilo. Also other service robots are entering the market that can clear beaches and lawns of litter.

May 13, 2023May 13, 2023

Robots in Hawai’i – Part 3

Surveying and collecting rare plant species that grow on steep cliffs has been a risky business for scientists and conservationists for centuries. The world’s first aerial sampling system, which uses a robotic arm suspended from a drone, is attempting to solve this problem in Hawai’i. An article published by Mongabay magazine back in November 2022 states: “In Hawai’i’s Kaua’i island, the world’s first aerial sampling system has successfully flown into high-altitude cliff faces to cut out samples from rare plants and bring them back to a nursery. Scientists call it ‘the Mamba,’ a cutting mechanism on a remote-controlled robotic arm suspended from a drone. The system was developed by Hawai’i-based not-for-profit conservation organization National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) and Quebec-based technology company Outreach Robotics and the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec.” (Mongabay, 9. November 2023) Ben Nyberg, the NTBG’s geographic information system and drone program coordinator, told Mongabay in an interview: “It is really unlocking a lot of areas that have previously been completely inaccessible.” (Mongabay, 9. November 2023) Of course, criminals could also adopt the technology. But it would be almost impossible to smuggle rare plants out of Hawai’i due to strict customs controls.

April 18, 2023April 18, 2023

ICSR 2023 in Qatar

Next to Robophilosophy, ICSR may be the most important conference on social robotics. The fourteenth edition took place in Florence at the end of 2022 and was dedicated to the health sector. “The 15th International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR 2023) will bring together researchers and practitioners working on the interaction between humans and intelligent robots and on the integration of social robots into our society. ICSR 2023 will take place in Doha as a face-to-face conference on December 4-7, 2023. This will be the first time that the conference will be hosted in Qatar and in the Middle East and North Africa region.” (Website ICSR) The theme of this year’s ICSR is “Human-Robot Collaboration: Sea, Air, Land, Space and Cyberspace”. According to the organizers, the theme emphasizes on all physical and cyber-physical domains where humans and robots collaborate. Whether Doha is suitable as a venue for the conference needs to be discussed. Qatar is ruled as an absolute monarchy. Sharia law is considered a main source of legislation. The human rights situation in the country has been critical for decades. More information and CfP via icrs.iovision.tn.

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023

Bar Robots for Well-being of Guests

From March 27-29, 2023, the AAAI 2023 Spring Symposia will feature the symposium “Socially Responsible AI for Well-being” by Takashi Kido (Teikyo University, Japan) and Keiki Takadama (The University of Electro-Communications, Japan). The venue is usually Stanford University. For staffing reasons, this year the conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. On March 28, Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel and Lea Peier will present their paper “How Can Bar Robots Enhance the Well-being of Guests?”. From the abstract: “This paper addresses the question of how bar robots can contribute to the well-being of guests. It first develops the basics of service robots and social robots. It gives a brief overview of which gastronomy robots are on the market. It then presents examples of bar robots and describes two models used in Switzerland. A research project at the School of Business FHNW collected empirical data on them, which is used for this article. The authors then discuss how the robots could be improved to increase the well-being of customers and guests and better address their individual wishes and requirements. Artificial intelligence can play an important role in this. Finally, ethical and social problems in the use of bar robots are discussed and possible solutions are suggested to counter these.” More Information via aaai.org/conference/spring-symposia/sss23/.