Interview with Jerry Tan: Service robotic improvement for training

On the Worldwide Joint Convention on Synthetic Intelligence (IJCAI) 2023, I had the chance to interview Jerry Tan from Lattel Robotics, an organization devoted to selling AI-focused robotics training and coaching. They work intently with the RoboCup@Residence Schooling initiative, supporting colleges and establishments in introducing AI and repair robotic improvement to college students. Their aim is to equip learners with sensible AI utility abilities in laptop imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

By means of their AI robotics and AI purposes workshops, Lattel Robotics presents an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI purposes improvement in service robotics. As a {hardware} accomplice for the RoboCup@Residence Schooling initiative, they help colleges and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by creating purposes that tackle real-world issues. Their AI studying options embody organising AI laboratories, designing curriculums and creating courseware.

Andrea: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. It’s a pleasure to fulfill you. May you please inform me extra about who can profit from the Jupiter2 platform, and what precisely it’s designed to do?

Jerry: Nearly anybody can use it with a programming background to get began to develop their very own AI purposes through service robotic improvement, utilizing open supply software program.

Andrea: What sort of sensors do your robots use? Simply microphones and cameras, or is there extra?

Jerry: Sure, so we use a spread of sensors, together with RGB-D cameras and LIDAR sensors for depth notion. In addition to, now we have microphones and audio system for speech interplay, together with robotic arms for object manipulation and cell platforms for navigation.

Andrea: So, I’ve a little bit query about this. Do you will have an API (Utility Programming Interface) that college students and researchers can work by way of?

Jerry: It’s not all the time obligatory, because the robotic is supplied with its personal laptop computer, performing as a central processing unit. Getting began is simpler, as now we have built-in the {hardware} platform with open-source software program like OpenCV and YOLO, utilizing the Robotic Working System (ROS1 and ROS2). These are well-liked instruments amongst AI researchers and builders.

Andrea: It sounds intriguing, however the setup course of appears difficult. Integration usually takes time.

Jerry: The robotic platform is already built-in and able to be deployed. For our AI studying gadget, Juno2, all that you must do is to attach it to a laptop computer through a USB port and you’ll immediately boot up the Linux (Ubuntu) atmosphere with ROS, with none software program set up.

AI studying gadget, Juno2.

Andrea: How do you’re employed with colleges?

Jerry: We’re an training answer supplier, supporting colleges and establishments that need to introduce sensible AI purposes studying in a classroom. Programming expertise in Python or C++ is a prerequisite in doing AI purposes improvement. So we offer Python introduction workshop for full freshmen. Then utilizing a train-the-trainers strategy, we provide 3-day AI robotics workshops utilizing Jupiter2 or 2-day AI purposes workshops utilizing Juno2. By means of these workshops, educators are given an outline of the AI purposes modules which might allow them to customize the fabric accordingly for training, coaching and even analysis functions.

Andrea: What if somebody doesn’t have direct entry to the robotic? Can they work remotely?

Jerry: Completely. You may join through a distant desktop software program out of your laptop and proceed programming. As talked about simply now, we even have a smaller gadget known as Juno2, designed for classroom use. You don’t want the total robotic setup on this case; you should utilize this gadget to do laptop imaginative and prescient and speech interactions purposes. It’s a plug-and-play answer that works with any laptop computer or working system, robotically loading Ubuntu, ROS and our Jupiter software program improvement frameworks. It’s good for conducting on-line courses, as college students can proceed studying from residence or wherever they’re.

Andrea: When you’ve got a robotic like this, can further parts, like audio system, be added to your robots?

Jerry: Sure, undoubtedly. That’s a superb query. Jupiter2 is an open platform that’s
customisable and reconfigurable. When you’ve got an engineering background, you possibly can modify the {hardware} primarily based on the necessities. This flexibility permits each freshmen and superior customers to deal with their particular areas of curiosity, whether or not it’s software program programming or {hardware} customisation.

Andrea: Have you ever exported these devices earlier than?

Jerry: Sure, now we have exported to Europe, Africa, South and North America earlier than. Thus far there are greater than 30 over colleges, universities and establishments globally which have adopted our studying platforms for training, coaching, analysis and/or robotic competitions.

Andrea: Unbelievable, thanks to your time and insights. I want you continued success sooner or later!

Yow will discover extra info on the Lattel Robotics web site.

Jerry Tan is the Managing Director of Lattel Robotics. A German-trained engineer turned entrepreneur, Jerry is at present working the AI robotics training and coaching corporations in Malaysia and Singapore. Striving to empower anybody in getting began to study AI purposes virtually, Jerry works intently with colleges and educational establishments in organising laboratories and creating courseware.