Interview with Jerry Tan: Service robotic growth 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 carefully with the RoboCup@Residence Training initiative, supporting colleges and establishments in introducing AI and repair robotic growth to college students. Their purpose is to equip learners with sensible AI utility abilities in pc imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

By their AI robotics and AI functions workshops, Lattel Robotics presents an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI functions growth in service robotics. As a {hardware} accomplice for the RoboCup@Residence Training initiative, they help colleges and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by growing functions that deal with real-world issues. Their AI studying options embody establishing AI laboratories, designing curriculums and growing courseware.

Andrea: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me. It’s a pleasure to satisfy you. Might 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 functions by way of service robotic growth, 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 variety of sensors, together with RGB-D cameras and LIDAR sensors for depth notion. Apart from, we now have microphones and audio system for speech interplay, together with robotic arms for object manipulation and cellular platforms for navigation.

Andrea: So, I’ve slightly query about this. Do you may have an API (Utility Programming Interface) that college students and researchers can work by?

Jerry: It’s not all the time vital, because the robotic is supplied with its personal laptop computer, performing as a central processing unit. Getting began is simpler, as we now 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 in style 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 it is advisable do is to attach it to a laptop computer by way of a USB port and you may right away boot up the Linux (Ubuntu) surroundings 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 resolution supplier, supporting colleges and establishments that need to introduce sensible AI functions studying in a classroom. Programming expertise in Python or C++ is a prerequisite in doing AI functions growth. So we offer Python introduction workshop for full newcomers. Then utilizing a train-the-trainers strategy, we provide 3-day AI robotics workshops utilizing Jupiter2 or 2-day AI functions workshops utilizing Juno2. By these workshops, educators are given an summary of the AI functions 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 by way of a distant desktop software program out of your pc 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 complete robotic setup on this case; you should use this gadget to do pc imaginative and prescient and speech interactions functions. It’s a plug-and-play resolution that works with any laptop computer or working system, robotically loading Ubuntu, ROS and our Jupiter software program growth frameworks. It’s excellent for conducting on-line lessons, as college students can proceed studying from house or wherever they’re.

Andrea: You probably have a robotic like this, can further parts, like audio system, be added to your robots?

Jerry: Sure, positively. That’s a very good query. Jupiter2 is an open platform that’s
customisable and reconfigurable. You probably have an engineering background, you may modify the {hardware} primarily based on the necessities. This flexibility permits each newcomers 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, we now have exported to Europe, Africa, South and North America earlier than. To date 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: Implausible, thanks in your time and insights. I want you continued success sooner or later!

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

Jerry Tan is the Managing Director of Lattel Robotics. A German-trained engineer turned entrepreneur, Jerry is at the moment operating the AI robotics training and coaching firms in Malaysia and Singapore. Striving to empower anybody in getting began to study AI functions virtually, Jerry works carefully with colleges and tutorial establishments in establishing laboratories and growing courseware.