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 faculties and establishments in introducing AI and repair robotic growth to college students. Their aim is to equip learners with sensible AI utility expertise in pc imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

Via their AI robotics and AI purposes workshops, Lattel Robotics presents an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI purposes growth in service robotics. As a {hardware} associate for the RoboCup@Residence Training initiative, they help faculties and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by creating purposes that deal with 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 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. In addition to, we’ve 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 query about this. Do you’ve got an API (Software Programming Interface) that college students and researchers can work via?

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 less complicated, as we’ve built-in the {hardware} platform with open-source software program like OpenCV and YOLO, utilizing the Robotic Working System (ROS1 and ROS2). These are widespread instruments amongst AI researchers and builders.

Andrea: It sounds intriguing, however the setup course of appears sophisticated. 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’s good to do is to attach it to a laptop computer by way of a USB port and you’ll 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 faculties?

Jerry: We’re an training resolution supplier, supporting faculties 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 growth. So we offer Python introduction workshop for full rookies. Then utilizing a train-the-trainers strategy, we provide 3-day AI robotics workshops utilizing Jupiter2 or 2-day AI purposes workshops utilizing Juno2. Via 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 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 referred to as Juno2, designed for classroom use. You don’t want the total robotic setup on this case; you should use this gadget to do pc imaginative and prescient and speech interactions purposes. 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 courses, as college students can proceed studying from residence or wherever they’re.

Andrea: When you have a robotic like this, can extra 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 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, we’ve exported to Europe, Africa, South and North America earlier than. Thus far there are greater than 30 over faculties, 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 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 carefully with faculties and tutorial establishments in organising laboratories and creating courseware.