Merging existing technologies with robotics

Additional benefits can be created relatively easily if existing and suitable technology is used. A well-known example in robotics is protection by means of radar sensors. A technology that cyclists like me have been using for years. I was all the more surprised by the late fusion. Particularly in the field of artificial intelligence, there are now software solutions that also seem interesting for robotics.

Face recognition for robots

Japanese company Toppan now enables robots to recognize people. Toppan has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that enables multiple moving robots to identify people whose images have been uploaded in advance. A digital twin is thus created. This person recognition function has been verified in a pilot test. The images were those sent by robots at different locations within an event space, analyzed and compiled using an AI engine in the cloud. It was possible to identify specific individuals from camera images sent by different types of robots and perform cloud-based confirmation. The test also showed that the locations of people could be pinpointed based on the positions of the TransBots™ robots.

Target group Alzheimer patients and gastronomy?

The crucial question is, of course, practical use. Toppan sees older people here, since the company comes from the country with arguably the oldest population. It writes in this regard, "When people who have been pre-registered in the system enter a physical space, multiple moving robots can recognize them. This is expected to have several applications, including remote management of hospitals and complexes and management of large-scale events with restricted access, such as exhibitions and concerts. In addition to telepresence robots, ¹ TransBots™ can also be used for a variety of service robots such as robot carriers and mobile picking robots."

So if we assume that in a few years there will be many service robots on the road, one could, for example, register Alzheimer's patients and then allow them to "run more freely" than before. After all, they could be found again.

I can imagine another area of application being the restaurant trade: Today, service robots only bring the goods to the human waiter, who then hands them over. But this could change, and at standing receptions, etc., delivery could then be person-specific.

About the company and its search for robot manufacturers

Toppan aims to contribute to a fulfilling and sustainable society by deploying TransBots™ and other solutions that advance the application of digital twins in various fields such as security, customer analysis, guidance, transportation, and cleaning. In the future, Toppan intends to alleviate labor shortages and change work styles by increasing collaboration with robot manufacturers, improving the multifunction console for service robots and TransBots™, and enabling multiple use cases. Go to product page (link).

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The author of this blog is significantly involved in the AI/robotics project Opdra. He advises SMEs around robotics - up to 50% funding for consulting is possible. Permanently looking for interesting solutions, he has seen hundreds of applications. For this reason, his customers also include large companies that have know-how but do not know the entire market. You can find more about him here.