Interview with Jerry Tan: Service robotic improvement for schooling

On the International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI) 2023, I had the chance to interview Jerry Tan from Lattel Robotics, an organization devoted to selling AI-focused robotics schooling and coaching. They work intently with the RoboCup@Home 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 software abilities in laptop imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

By way of their AI robotics and AI purposes workshops, Lattel Robotics affords an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI purposes improvement in service robotics. As a {hardware} companion for the RoboCup@Dwelling Schooling initiative, they help colleges and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by creating purposes that handle real-world issues. Their AI studying options embrace establishing AI laboratories, designing curriculums and creating 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 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 variety of sensors, together with RGB-D cameras and LIDAR sensors for depth notion. Apart from, 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 bit of query about this. Do you will have an API (Utility Programming Interface) that college students and researchers can work by?

Jerry: It’s not at all times essential, because the robotic is supplied with its personal laptop computer, appearing 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 in style instruments amongst AI researchers and builders.

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

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

AI studying system, Juno2.

Andrea: How do you’re employed with colleges?

Jerry: We’re an schooling resolution supplier, supporting colleges and establishments that wish 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 rookies. Then utilizing a train-the-trainers method, we provide 3-day AI robotics workshops utilizing Jupiter2 or 2-day AI purposes workshops utilizing Juno2. By way of these workshops, educators are given an summary of the AI purposes modules which might allow them to customize the fabric accordingly for schooling, coaching and even analysis functions.

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

Jerry: Completely. You’ll be able to join through a distant desktop software program out of your laptop and proceed programming. As talked about simply now, we even have a smaller system referred to as Juno2, designed for classroom use. You don’t want the complete robotic setup on this case; you need to use this system to do laptop imaginative and prescient and speech interactions purposes. It’s a plug-and-play resolution that works with any laptop computer or working system, routinely 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 have a robotic like this, can further parts, like audio system, be added to your robots?

Jerry: Sure, undoubtedly. That’s a very good query. Jupiter2 is an open platform that’s
customisable and reconfigurable. When you have an engineering background, you’ll be able to modify the {hardware} primarily based on the necessities. This flexibility permits each rookies and superior customers to give attention to 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. To this point there are greater than 30 over colleges, universities and establishments globally which have adopted our studying platforms for schooling, coaching, analysis and/or robotic competitions.

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

You could find extra data on the Lattel Robotics website.

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