strengthening industry‒academia cooperation: challenges and opportunitiesfor European service robotics
Bruno SicilianoUniversità di Napoli Federico II
Taller de robótica de servicioBilbao • 1 December 2011
• city• 1,200,000 inhabitants• pole of Mediterranean culture• historical and holiday sites• 5 universities + several science institutions
• UniNa• founded in 1224 by Emperor Federico II
(3rd oldest after Bologna and Padova)• 100,000 students• School of Engineering founded in 1811
by King Murat (oldest in Italy)15,000 students(4,500 graduate)
Napoli
• 6 Research teams (Napoli, Cassino, Salerno, Basilicata, Napoli 2, Roma 3)
• 4 Professors + 5 Associate Professors + 3 Assistant Professors• 6 PostDoc + 14 PhD + 20 MS + 3 TechEng• 28 years of research activity• 1.5 MEuro financial support a year• Collaboration with 30 foreign institutions• 150 seminars and invited talks• 12 books + 15 volumes + 170 journal papers + 500 conference papers
the PRISMA group
• Aerial Robotics• Dual-Arm/Hand Manipulation• Control of Discrete Event Systems• Dynamic Parameter Identification• Fault Diagnosis and Fault Tolerant Control• Force Control• Human−Robot Interaction• Lightweight Flexible Arms and Space Robotics• Mobile Multirobot Systems• Mobile Robots• Novel Actuation and Sensing Systems for Robotic Applications• Redundant Manipulators• Service Robotics• Supervisory Control of Petri Nets• Underwater Robotics• Visual Servoing
research portfolio
Marsoceanshospitalsfactoriesschoolshomes...
today
tomorrow
intelligentpersonal
pervasivedisappearing
ubiquitous
robots!!!
industry servicefield
automobilechemicalelectronic
food
aeronauticsaerospace
subsearescue
domesticedutainmentrehabilitation
medicine
from factories to our homes
level of autonomy
human–robot interaction
service robots• robots find application in “4D tasks”
• dull• dangerous• dirty• dumb
• scenarios• health care• entertainment• security• personal assistance• construction• cleaning
biological inspiration«la scienza m’interessa proprio nel mio sforzo per uscire da una conoscenza antropomorfa; ma nello stesso tempo sono convinto che la nostra immaginazione non può essere che antropomorfa» Italo Calvino
BIOLOGY
biomechanicsneurosciences
psychology
ROBOTICS
mechanicscontrolsensors
human beings knowledge
hypotheses and models validation
humanoids
zoomorphic
prostheses
cyborgs
micro/nano
personal robots• service robots that are consumer products
• education/hobbyist robots• entertainment robots• smart toys• robotic pets• automated home• partner robots
new emerging areas• by dawn of new millennium, robotics has undergone a
major transformation in scope and dimensions• maturity of field and advances in its related technologies
• expansion into challenges of human world (human-centered and life-like robotics)• new generation of robots expected
to safely and dependably co-habitatwith humans in homes, workplaces,and communities, providing supportin services, entertainment, education,healthcare, manufacturing,and assistance
looking beyondresearch challenges
soft roboticsbiomechanicshapticsrobot co-xneurosciencesmachine learningvirtual prototypinganimationsurgerysensor networks...
outreach toward new communitiesgrowing connection with robotics research core
roboethicshuman-centered ethics guiding design, construction and use of
robots
market trends
industrial robots• In 2010 (source: World Robotics 2011)
• ~1.3 M industrial robots operating in the world• total market value of robot units: US$ 5700 M (+50%)• estimated market for robot systems: US$ 17500 M
• strong comeback: impulse from China, Korea & other South-east Asian countries (+132%), mainly automotive and electronics industry
service industrial robots• professional service robots (+4%)
• mostly defense/field robots• 13750 new units installed in 2010
• personal service robots (+35%)• 1.45 M household robots• 0.75 M entertainment/leisure robots
research agenda• U.S.
• first industrial robots designed and built• matured elsewhere, despite entrepreneurial culture• most robotics research is funded through military, space and
security programs• current boost from National Robotics Initiative
• Japan• strategy for creating new industries includes robotics as one of the
seven areas of emphasis• close collaboration between government, academia and industry• robot manufacturers:
• can rely on public opinion that robots are widely accepted by society – seen as useful helpers (co-workers to their human counterparts), not as job-killers
• they have a strong home market covering large spectrum of robots• are typically part of huge vertically integrated industrial conglomerates that
can build up massive R&D and commercial power
research agenda [cont’d]• Korea
• of the 10 next generation growth engines, robotics is one of them• close collaboration between government, academia and industry
• Europe• robotics industry is strong, but still quite fragmented and dispersed• industry observers agree on the following global trends
• due to saturation in the classical (automotive) markets, all major manufacturers will need to identify new areas to maintain growth
• the rapid development in technology areas that are the basis for robotics –mechatronics, computers, sensors, programming, human interfaces – bears huge potential for totally new application scenarios
• these developments may also result in a dramatic redistribution of the market share of robot manufacturers in future application scenarios
EU Strategic Research Agenda
industrial
convergingtechnologies
need cross-fertilisation
robotics market
www.robotics-platform.eu
the eight SRA commandments• take advantage of robotics technology in all aspects of life• master the challenge of system integration• create a European robotics supply chain• focus on the right research and technologies• create new markets through SME support and technology
transfer• support cross-fertilisation to maximise the impact of R&D• enhance robotics training and education• avoid ethical, legal, and societal issues becoming barriers
the European challenge• benefits of tighter academia (A)–industry (I) cooperation
• exploiting the full potential of excellent European robotics research• achieving faster technology transfers• increasing European competitiveness (vs. Japan)• expanding industrial activities• reaching a world-wide leadership position
gaps between A & I• implementing this know-how transfer in concrete measures
and actions is a great challenge• it is important to recognise that there has always been
excellent R&D performed at both A and I, and that cooperation has taken place between privileged A and I
• however, there is an obvious and significant discrepancy between the state of the art in robotics research vs. actual utilized technology ― if direct contact between researchers (who usually write papers) and industrial engineers (who normally do not read papers) is to be promoted, then results have to be put in a truly industrial perspective
• so, the main question is: how can effective and efficient A/I cooperation be achieved?
one case study …• today: still strong dependency on the automotive industry
• difficulties to compete on price level• technology leadership is required• new application areas promise higher margins
key requirement: faster technology transfers
KUKA AG 1,203 € (million) *
Robotics 486.2 € (million) * Systems 716.8 € (million) *
Automotive 50 % General Industry 50 % Automotive 90 % General Industry 10 %
* from annual report 2010
a few success stories• 7-axis light-weight robot
• designed and built @ DLR, a KUKA product now• weighs 14 Kg and lifts up to 13 Kg• easy to be moved around• innovative joints and actuator solutions• gravity compensation• force control with joint and wrist F/T sensors• safe human-robot interaction• service and space robotics applications• other features, like interfaces with popular
packages (Microsoft Robotics Studio)• used in Justin humanoid manipulator @ DLR
(2 LWR + torso + sensorized head)• mounted on both mobile base (Automatica 2008)
and as biped (Automatica 2010)
a few success stories [cont’d]• force control system
• developed @ ABB Corporate Research in cooperation with several Universities
• motion instructions using F/T sensor• innovative and agile product, helps faster and
more efficient programming• promises to be standard very soon
• automatic identification of robot payloads• algorithms developed @ UniNa and
implemented in COMAU C4G controller• better dynamic performance in fast motion• collision detection algorithms based on
measurements of internal variables• real-time motion trajectory planning satisfying
user and dynamic constraints
a few success stories [cont’d]• parallel kinematic machine
• modular and scalable desktop robot designed @ LundTech, an ABB product now
• professional ball joints and drive technology• down-sized for classroom use and low cost• open source real-time Java control software• interfaces to Microsoft Robotics Studio
• force/torque sensors• DLR compliant F/T sensor, used for medical
and industrial applications (SCHUNK product)• SMErobot F/T sensor, designed to meet
industrial and price requirements• strong link between JR3 and UCoimbra
resulting in several developments in terms of software, interfaces and robot controller
lessons learned• cooperation resulted in the recognition of new problem
areas on the part of A, which in turn encouraged creative thinking in the direction of new potential “neighbouring” applications on the part of I (market-orientation vs. long-term orientation)
• this continued result-oriented dialogue also led to build up of trust between A and I, which opened up lines of communication at more confidential levels (protection of IPR vs. public sharing)
• this step-by-step interaction and exchange of ideas is the most promising path to meet the ever-changing demands of I on one hand and fulfill the problem-solving drive of research of A on the other hand (practical product development vs. ‘visionary’ methodology/theory)
academia and industry hand in hand
experiments structured dialogue
tightening the chord between A & I
experiments funding
academia industry
EuropeanCommission
ECHORD core partners
proposals
selected equipment from industrial sponsors
selected experimentsfunding
www.echord.info
3 Equipment quotes (~4 weeks)41 companies, 317 items
3 Calls for proposals (6–8 weeks)243 submissions
Evaluation (6–7 weeks) 51 selectedand formal approval (several months)
Executing and monitoring (12–18months)
Result collation (8+ weeks)
operating scheme
independent experts
industry
academia
communicate requirements
communicate abilitiestransfer skills
market knowledge
entrepreneurship skills
common terminology
innovation in robotics through knowledge transfer
market relevant research and development in robotics
new business creation
bridging the gaps
www.eurobotics-project.eu
face of European robotics• image of European research does not represent the
quality and quantity of work done• European robotics is underrepresented in the media ―
seen most often• humanoid robots from Asia• service robots from America• robots in films (from America)• e.g., Wikipedia: <5% of depicted robots are European
from something cool …… to even a negative image of technology
dissemination• establish a brand
• bring together stakeholders & communicate a common vision/standpoint
• accessibility through central contact point
• make material accessible for media to publish• actively promote European robotics by increasing visibility
• in the media• at events• in schools
enhancing the dialogue• currently, robots are information islands, without any
standardization of data communication, programming languages, or even terminology
• initiatives are growing to share advanced training• industrial internships for PhDs and professors• scientific internship for industry people
• science journalists do not know about European robotics• maintain a press centre and web portal for European robotics
• Grand Challenges and robot competitions have proven to work
• the universities' evaluation procedures lead to too many, too fragmented, too expensive, and too inaccessible publications• citations are easier to count than industrial usefulness
an undergoing initiative• 28 November ‒ 4 December 2011• 19 countries, 130 organisations, 350 events
• school visits with lectures on robotics• guided tours for pupils• open labs• exhibitions• challenges• robots in action on public squares
• robots save jobs in Europe• robotics keeps production in Europe competitive• robots will become assistants in industrial settings and in
service areas
www.robotics-week.eu
robots arewith us,within us
and among us
gracias ... esker … grazie [ : ]
