Autopilot for diabetes therapy

Healthcare for diabetics worldwide costs more than 400 billion Dollars, 43 percent of which is spent in hospitals. That problem is being addressed by Danish start-up Admetsys with its “Smart Pancreas”. The system, connected via a venous catheter, monitors and controls the blood-sugar values of diabetics in real-time and with no blood loss, so their glucose levels are the same of those of a healthy patient. Early clinical studies have proved successful: the improved blood-sugar monitoring reduced hospital mortality rates by 34 percent.
www.admetsys.com

Protection against burglars

This lamp from Switzerland is smarter than it looks. Disguised as an LED light, the Comfylight is an app-controlled home alarm system. The system operates preventively. That is to say, the smart lights remember the residents’ movements around the home. And when they go out, the lights turn on and off reflecting that normal routine. Comfylight also detects break-ins, flashing as a deterrent, and sending an alert to the home owner’s smartphone. And of course, Comfylight also provides a pleasant lighting ambience.
www.comfylight.com

Smart home with Bluetooth

Polish entrepreneur Radek Tadajewski used to be a venture-capitalist, and now he has launched his own highly promising start-up project. OORT is a smart home system based on Bluetooth technology. That means the system can be controlled from any Internet-capable phone or tablet, whatever the manufacturer or operating system. It is even able to communicate with devices the residents already own – including wearables. The patent-registered technology thus enables an open eco-system to be constructed, comprising smart devices, sensors, mobile communications software and a Cloud platform.
www.oort.in

Third hand for factory workers

What emerges when ex-BMW employees get together with people who used to work for design and innovation consultancy Ideo? A smart glove for industrial workers. The ProGlove aims to make work procedures in manufacturing or logistics faster and safer. Sensors built-in to the glove capture all the movements involved in specific work procedures, record every item the worker picks up, and provide feedback: is the work sequence correct? Has the right tool been selected? Thanks to RFID technology, the glove is able to register items like a scanner – but simply by gripping them, with no other equipment needed.
www.proglove.de

Revolution in the vegetable fields

Silicon Valley is not only a hotbed for Internet companies, but also for vegetable-growing robots. The LettuceBot, built by start-up Blue River founded by two Stanford graduates, specialises in growing California’s favourite salad vegetable. Equipped with a video camera and detection software, the system is able to distinguish between weeds and lettuces in the field just as well as a human eye, enabling it to target pesticides in exactly the right dosages. The robot can also thin out the plants in the same way. If they are too close together, it sprays fertiliser directly onto one plant, which dies, and the fertiliser helps the next one grow.
www.bluerivert.com

A family-friendly robot

MIT professor Cynthia Breazeal has developed a new family member with astonishing abilities: Jibo. The stationary robot specialises in communication. It can talk, react to speech, give reminders of appointments, autonomously take photos, and even reads out stories using interactive apps. It is all made possible by speech and learning algorithms, wifi, HD cameras, a room microphone, and a voice of the robot’s very own. Because it is able to learn, Jibo also recognises people on camera, and is able to relay messages in a targeted manner as well as turning on the lights when someone comes home.
www.jibo.com

(picture credits: Shutterstock)

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Rapid developments in electronics and software are creating more and more Smart Systems to aid our decision-making and provide active assistance in our everyday lives. This is often referred to under the umbrella term “Artificial Intelligence” (or AI). It enables a machine or computer to handle tasks that normally require human intelligence. AI has to date interpreted capabilities of which only humans are capable as information processing activities. It seeks not only to replicate human capabilities, but also to provide humans with additional capabilities that biological evolution has not imbued them with. Scientists differentiate between three types of AI. In the first category are expert systems. They are skilled in extracting knowledge from data. Such systems can detect errors in the on-board electronics of cars, for example, without the programmer having explicitly included the error in the diagnostic program. A second type of AI is so-called swarm intelligence. In this, a population of autonomous software programs works together to solve a problem. The third type are self-learning systems. They continually improve themselves without any human intervention.

AI is capable of overtaking humans in just a few years

It is this last category, especially, that is causing concern among scientists and business leaders. In a recent BBC interview, for example, world-renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking said: “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.” Major high-tech investor and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk strikes a similar warning note: “The risk of something seriously dangerous happening is in the five-year time frame. 10 years at the most.” And Bill Gates too – whose Microsoft Corporation has played a significant role in developing intelligent systems – commented during a recent online Q&A session: “I am in the camp that is concerned about super intelligence. First, the machines will do a lot of jobs for us and not be super intelligent. That should be positive if we manage it well. A few decades after that, though, the intelligence is strong enough to be a concern. I agree with Elon Musk and some others on this and don’t understand why some people are not concerned.” Many experts agree that it will take only a few more years before the so-called “technological singularity” is reached, when the artificial intelligence of machines will have surpassed the capabilities of humans.

Frightening and useful at the same time

It is indeed true that the digitisation of the world, with ever smarter machines, can dramatically enhance our health and well-being, safety and security, and our efficiency; but on the other hand, it is likely to entail some unwanted and unintended consequences. The fact is that a totally connected world might be heaven or hell, frightening or useful, depending on one’s perspective. “It’s both,” asserts Basel-based global futurist Gerd Leonhard. That is why he is calling for the development of a set of ethical principles for a fully digitised world: “Without a stronger focus on digital ethics, technological progress will become a threat to humanity.”

AI must deliver benefits

He is certainly not alone in making such a call: in an open letter signed by numerous scientists, developers and business leaders from around the world, the Future of Life Institute calls for research into artificial intelligence to be progressed with caution. The scientists also point out, however, that the potential benefits are enormous. Their letter states: “… we cannot predict what we might achieve when this [human] intelligence is magnified by the tools AI may provide, but the eradication of disease and poverty are not unfathomable. Because of the great potential of AI, it is important to research how to reap its benefits while avoiding potential pitfalls.” In view of such concerns, they recommend expanded research aimed at ensuring that increasingly capable AI systems are robust and beneficial: “Our AI systems must do what we want them to do.”

(picture credits: Fotolia: ralwel)

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Many factors combine to turn a technical system into a Smart System. For Erich Brockard, Director of Application Central Europe at EBV, the distribution of intelligence in a Smart System is decisive. Each component in the system is then able to make decisions to a certain extent. For Björn Peters, another core issue is converting these decisions into an action: “My definition of a Smart System is based on intelligent, self-controlled processes,” says the director of the M2M/IOT segment at exceet Secure Solutions AG. “This also involves the automated and secure communication between different systems, including from different operators.”

Intelligence versus smartness

The definition of the term intelligence is not entirely agreed upon. Guido Stephan, Director of the Networks and Communication technology field at Siemens, differentiates in his definition of Smart Systems between intelligence and smartness: “Humans are an example of intelligent beings. Smart Systems, by contrast, are able to recognise contexts, operate within these and react flexibly to different requirements.” For him, this sensitivity to context involves the systems reacting in a way that goes beyond normal expectations. Alongside the self-controlled, autonomous behaviour and the sensitivity to context, Prof. Elisabeth André adds the ability to plan and to react to unknown situations as a feature of Smart Systems. This also means that the function adapts to the requirements, or changes over the life cycle of the product.
By combining these features, Smart Systems bring a wide range of benefits in all kinds of sectors. In industry, the main advantage is in the optimisation of production and logistics processes. Machines can be serviced when the Smart System indicates a need for this, for example, rather than in set intervals. “The smartness here comes from combining the incoming sensor data from the machine with the knowledge of the respective processes and industry together with the knowledge of how a system works internally” explains Stephan. “This allows us to predict when a system failure will occur.” The interaction between people and machines will also change, according to Erich Brockard: “Smart Systems with additional redundancy can be so secure that a robot can interact directly with a person, for example, without the need for protective grilles separating them.”

A world of new solutions

The focus here is not only on improving existing products, but also on creating entirely new solutions. This starts with the smart grid, which makes it possible to feed renewable energies into the existing grid structures. Erich Brockard gives another example, explaining how a car maker in the USA enables the rain sensors in its vehicles windscreen wipers to tweet. They indicate when they switch on. “By recording data on where several rain sensors react at the same time, it can create a very effective local weather map,” says Brockard. “Who would have thought a few years ago that we would have tweeting rain sensors?”

Innovative business models

“We are also seeing businesses wanting to use Smart Systems to create entirely new business models,” adds Björn Peters. Among other things, his division develops M2M gateways for connected products in the production industry. “Companies who have previously been purely in the business of selling products now want to use mechatronic systems to make money through services.” In the consumer sector too, the round table participants see real uses for Smart Systems. “In the consumer sector, there is this element of having a gadget to play with,” explains Prof. André. “But they also make life easier. If you want to save energy in your home, for example, that is easier to achieve with Smart Systems. These technologies are also very important in the healthcare sector, as they allow people to live in their own home for longer, with greater control and independence.” As examples, Prof. André points to systems that detect when someone has a fall in their home, or solutions that remind elderly people to take their medication.

Technical developments as an enabler

“There is a demand for smart products,” emphasises Björn Peters. “And technological advance is providing the solutions.” He sees the sensors, miniaturising electronic components and increasing computing power as important enablers for Smart Systems. “The processors, and therefore the chips, are not just getting smaller, but cheaper too,” says Brockard. “In addition, you can integrate ever more functionality on a single chip, such as communication modules. This means that a chip can exchange much more information itself.” He is sure that this trend will continue.

Tailored communication

Future Smart Systems are fully capable of using existing infrastructure. But Guido Stephan also expects completely new functions in the wireless and mobile communications sectors: “Here, it’s not just a matter of bandwidth and the highest possible transmission rates. Another important aspect will be how to handle a high number of applications that only rarely send small data volumes, but which create high traffic simply through their combined mass.” Björn Peters can imagine here that communication between Smart Systems may not even need the most modern standards like LTE or 5G. “It depends what you want to transfer. While end consumers only want to use standards like 4G, 5G or LTE, machine communication can, in certain circumstances, also use an older standard like 2G or 3G. This may result in less strain on these networks than the more modern, high-performance networks.” In the future, the systems will be able to find the right network or, even better, the right communications channel. “There is also a lot of research currently in the area of software defined networks and network function virtualisation,” says Stephan. “The focus here is on decoupling the function of the network from its implementation. Not only does that allow for new technologies, but it also enables us to better use existing networks today.”

From big data to function profiles

The Siemens expert emphasises that Smart Systems are not simply a matter of hardware: “Smart Systems only arise through the interaction between hardware and software.” He points to big data, also known as smart data, as an important software trend. “This involves the data flows being viewed in a certain context and linked, either algorithmically or explicitly, with knowledge on how a system works. This then gives you the relevant insights.” But Stephan expects that in future, it will not only be pure data that will be important: “If you are able to view things in their context and gain insights as a result, then that can also be mapped in a functional profile. The question then ceases to be what data is and what it means. Instead, a component will use this function profile to tell us what it can do.”

The right amount of security

Any discussion about data and communication quickly turns to the issue of data security and data protection. This was no exception at our TQ round table. “Communication is the only possible way to produce Smart Systems”, says Erich Brockard. “But it is important that the data goes to the right address and is only read by the person it is intended for. That will be one of the biggest challenges.” Björn Peters also sees the issue of security as an important element; a cornerstone of Smart Systems. But that does not mean using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, as he says. His company has developed a methodology for determining the security requirement and carrying out a risk analysis. “We have customers who see this kind of security assessment as a required standard, just like an EMC test for example, even in the pre-development stage.”

No Smart Systems without secure identity

Secure identities are an important element of any security solution, as they ensure that a system really is what it claims to be. One thing that can help here is a suitable system design, as Guido Stephan explains. This allows all machines in the same factory hall to communicate freely with each other, for example. For communicating outside the hall, however, the system design ensures that only certain information may cross this threshold, and only for certain users. “This creates what are known as trusted ecosystems,” explains Björn Peters. “These are communication areas where new participants can be accepted, provided that they have been given a unique identity.” This requires not only an elaborate solution design, but also a type of whitelist that contains guaranteed secured devices of subsystems. “Current systems cannot solve this smartly,” says Guido Stephan. “The participants that are allowed access are simply defined at the start.” He stresses however that this need not be a disadvantage, as this implies a high level of security. “Looking into the future, though, we have to ask ourselves how the level of security can be maintained whilst also achieving a certain smartness. This will be impossible without identities and certain system paradigms.” This is why product design must take into account right from the start that the product will be connected with other systems or with the internet. “We simply have to prepare for the fact that more and more devices will communicate with each other and that data can be hacked if it is not sufficiently protected,” says Brockard. But this is no cause for hysteria, as is often the case in Germany, says Prof. Elisabeth André: “People in Germany often block new developments, only to then eventually accept technology from the USA, instead of thinking about how to design a product that corresponds with our values and our security needs.”

Soft factors are decisive for acceptance

But it’s not just security that has to be considered from the start. The user should also be involved in the development of Smart Systems. “This is especially important in the smart home sector,” says Prof. André. This is because the people who use the systems are usually laymen with no particular affinity to technology. “The users must be able to understand the behaviour of a system – it must be plausible to them.” This also includes a system explaining itself or giving feedback in certain situations, says the expert for human-machine interaction. Guido Stephan gives an example of this. He has installed a heating system at home that learns over time on which days he will probably go to the bathroom and heats the water accordingly. This makes sense, as long as he sticks to his normal daily routine. If he deviates from this, however, he has to wait for hot water. “I wish that the system would ask me in the evening whether it should heat as normal the next day,” says Stephan. “That’s because I think smartness also means that the system informs me what it will do in a certain context.” This leads to a positive user experience: “These ‘soft factors’ are so important,” says Prof. André. “Ideally, a smart product will contribute to greater well-being.” In some applications, this can go so far in some circumstances that the machines imitate human characteristics. Social robotics is an example of this, where the robots will accompany an elderly person in their day-to-day lives. “This actually imitates emotional behaviour,” reports Prof. Elisabeth André. “Whether that is really required in production machinery, however, is a different issue. Some experts believe that people often make better decisions based on their gut feeling. Simulating emotional behaviour through machines could have a similarly positive effect. What is important is that we know when imitating emotions in technical systems is beneficial and when it is not.”
Even if this kind of “emotional intelligence” is not required in the majority of Smart Systems, the issue of human-machine interaction will be at the core of future developments, according to Guido Stephan: “The question of how to use human senses for technical interaction with systems will play a key role in the future. And this future is not far off.”

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What, in your view, turns a product into a Smart System?
Thomas Staudinger: A Smart System is autonomous; it is able to acquire and process data, and make decisions and initiate actions based on that data, within certain bounds.

What electronic components does it need?
T.S.: All in all, something comparable to products for the Internet of Things: a Smart System needs sensors to detect the ambient conditions. It needs a processor, or controller, capable of processing the sensor data and using algorithms to derive decision-making or actions from the data acquired. And actuators are needed to execute the actions. Key components are modules for communication both within the Smart System and with the outside world – the latter typically wireless. And lastly, it needs power modules.

Which of those components does EBV offer?
T.S.: We offer the full range of components required: sensors; wired and wireless connectivity solutions; controllers and processors; and to some extent actuators too, though we restrict ourselves to the semiconductor side, including motor drivers and the like. We also offer power supply components, such as power ICs, MOSFET and DC/DC solutions.

What technology trends in Smart Systems are you currently seeing among your suppliers, the electronics manufacturers?
T.S.: Standard components as are already in use in electronic devices today can basically also be used in Smart Systems. But a wider range of sensors is being developed, primarily for ambient sensing and for safety applications. One major area is the field of optical sensors, such as for detecting patterns or facial recognition. Micro-mechanical solutions will be of particular interest for actuators in future.

In what areas do you see need for further development in electronic components for Smart Systems?
T.S.: The technology to implement Smart Systems already exists today. However, they need to be made even cheaper so as to make them more cost-effective for end users if they are to become established as mass-market products.

Smart Systems also increase vulnerability to cyber-crime. What can electronics do to make Smart Systems more secure?
T.S.: Authentication is key to preventing data theft and manipulation. There are already tried and proven hardware solutions available in the form of crypto-components. They ensure that communication partners are in fact entitled to access the system, and they also verify their identity, making sure they are who they say they are.
Protection of intellectual property is another aspect that should not be ignored. Protective mechanisms should be integrated right from the start to prevent theft of the know-how invested in Smart Systems. Such solutions also help prevent components being copied or faked.

Do we need standards to regulate the interaction of components in a Smart System?
T.S.: I don’t believe it is helpful to wait around for standards. Some standards will become established, as is already the case in the wireless field, where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Low Energy have gained wide acceptance, while ZigBee, for example, has not really achieved the same level. If a Smart System’s communications interface is based on one of those widely accepted standards, it is easy to implement proprietary solutions internally. A single unified standard that everyone across the board adheres to is a long way off.

How significant is the development of Smart Systems for the R&D processes of your customers?
T.S.: Smart Systems really do pose a new challenge to development processes. They entail many different dimensions that have to be incorporated into the development: mechanical and electrical components, software, and ultimately the system level. This will lead to companies working together across a broader scope, with specific aspects being increasingly outsourced. It is also important that security aspects should be considered right from the start. I can imagine that in future a security architect might well be integrated into the development team. It is not only cyber-security that will play an increasingly important role, but also functional safety – especially with regard to autonomous systems.

What does EBV offer beyond components in order to support its customers in developing Smart Systems?
T.S.: We offer our customers support based on three key pillars: firstly, we have experts who specialise in different market segments, such as Automotive, Consumer or Industry. They observe trends, monitor how the market is responding to them, and identify what solutions manufacturers are offering for the applications concerned.
Secondly, we have specialists capable of identifying what technology is best suited to solving a specific problem. One of our teams is concerned solely with aspects of safety and security for example. As a distributor, our expertise can of course only extend to a certain level. To handle more complex problems, we are able to call upon an extensive partner network. Our partners are companies or institutions which are able to delve a few levels deeper into a potential solution when necessary in response to a customer enquiry.
Our third pillar is our team of specialists in the field: engineers working at customers’ locations. They act in a way like guides, directing enquiries and assigning resultant tasks to the appropriate in-house experts within our organisation.

How does EBV differ in this respect from other distributors?
T.S.: The depth and breadth of our vertical market segment approach is unique in the industry. We not only offer the right electronics components, but our experts translate technology into genuine benefits for the customer. We are also able to act as an extended arm of our customers’ development teams. Our Field Application Engineers, of whom we employ 120 in Europe, are mostly experts who previously worked as developers. So they are able not only to advise, but also provide “hands-on” help to the development process.
We also help our customers to network among themselves. We regularly encounter companies who are looking for a development partner, for example, or who need a special embedded-computing solution. We are then glad to act as an intermediary across our large customer network. We also do that in relation to contract manufacturing. Our customers include many small and medium-sized manufacturing companies capable of making products in small to medium lot sizes but with high levels of complexity. And not forgetting: our EBVChips also provide chips which we develop in-house when there is no suitable chip solution on the market.

But EBV no doubt charges for those services?
T.S.: No. We largely provide advice and development support free of charge to our customers. For smaller businesses, especially, this offers the advantage that they have no cash-out when they enter into a development partnership with us – no sale is yet made. And incidentally: we also help our customers finance their undertakings.

In your view, which markets or sectors currently offer particularly high potential for Smart Systems?
T.S.: Looking at the Smart Factory and Industry 4.0 developments over the long term, they doubtless offer major potential for Smart Systems. But we will also be seeing more and more autonomous systems in the service sector.

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Add a little more butter to the soup, a little salt and then stir, stir, stir. Yes, cooking can be exhausting, takes time and requires knowledge. But not everyone has these things. And British businessman Mark Oleynik is one of the people who doesn’t, as he admits in our chat. But he also wants to eat well without having to go to a restaurant. So Oleynik, who studied computer science and later health management in St. Petersburg, founded the company Moley Robotics. His goal: to develop the world’s first robot chef. The two-armed robot celebrated its premiere at the Hannover Messe 2015, the most significant industrial trade fair on an international scale, where it created quite a stir. Equipped with 129 sensors, 24 joints and 20 motors, the “Robotic Kitchen” precisely imitates the movements taught to it beforehand by British star chef Tim Anderson when preparing shrimp soup. When the robot chef is launched on the market, more than 2,000 recipes will be available to choose from via an app. Mark Oleynik’s stated goal is to bring the next industrial revolution to the homes of average consumers with the Robotic Kitchen. “It’s not just a device that saves work,” Oleynik stresses. “It is a platform for our creativity. It can even teach us how to become better cooks.”

How did you come up with the idea of the robot chef? Do you hate cooking so much, or do you love it?
Mark Oleynik: I’d love to cook, but I don’t know how to cook. At the same time I like to eat healthy and diverse food. So that was a main trigger for me to create a universal device which can cook any type of dish you want for you – and in the highest quality. What can a professional French chef cook? Amazing French cuisine. What can a Japanese chef cook? Delicious Japanese food. What can a Robotic Kitchen make? Any of those and many more: executed from the iTunes-style recipe library and with the best quality and taste.

You studied computer and network technology and subsequently healthcare management. What does that have to do with robotics – particularly for the ­kitchen?
M.O.: Computer science is a general knowledge which opens a gate to the “basis” of the technological world. Concerning healthcare management, I was one of the organisers and creators of a technologically advanced medical institution in Russia. The field of Medical Technology is highly sophisticated, unlike the standard hospital. Hence, my role was to work in various areas of the Medical Engineering field, including information technology, automation, etc. This experience of managing processes enabled me to create the Robotic Kitchen project. From the robotic development to the software and safety features, the Robotic Kitchen is like a small factory, the final product of which depends on the integration of numerous technical parts.

When will we be seeing your robot chef in normal household kitchens?
M.O.: We foresee the first sales of the ‘MK1’ Robotic Kitchen in 2018 priced at $75,000. The future price of the Robotic Kitchen will be reduced to $35,000 in the year 2021. We aim to sell the technology to the normal household and individuals, for those who are busy at work, but want to eat fresh and healthy food. We are targeting 17 countries, starting with the UK, the European and US markets before moving to Asia later on.

Can I as a user teach the robot things myself, such as my favourite recipes?
M.O.: Not in the first version. But the MK2 – on sale in 2019 – will feature special digital capturing systems built into the kitchen cabinet, enabling users to record themselves cooking a favourite recipe and uploading the recipe to the digital library. You can then enjoy your favourite meal at any time, cooked by the robot with the same preparation process and final result.

Would it not be really smart if the robot did the shopping too – or are you already working on that as well?
M.O.: My next big project is to create an android robot which looks like a human. This robot will be very functional and be able to perform various household tasks, from cleaning to shopping. Featuring the same concept of transferring the Human IP, this robot will also be able do creative things such as painting like Picasso or playing piano like Beethoven. Most importantly, the robot will perform tasks which humans can’t do to the highest level, hence opening a broader sector of “to-do” opportunities at home.

Who do you see as a user of this android robot?
M.O.: As I said before, my final idea is to create an android robot which can perform multiple tasks in the home. This “universal robot” is essential in each home, as it can provide the unique services and products that a user can’t implement on their own. Secondly, the robot can release a person from performing routine tasks, thus giving additional time for more creative pursuits. Why not create a humanoid robot now? Because creating such a robot would be very expensive and technologically difficult. Nevertheless, the Robotic Kitchen is the first step towards the creation of this robot. Not only is it designed with all safety features and with various technologies integrated into the system, but our idea is to make it affordable for every family and adaptable to each household before we move on to the next step.

What makes your robot so smart, and what do you think a “Smart System” actually is?
M.O.: The robot has access to the knowledge, skills and experience of an unlimited number of people and can transfer this knowledge to your kitchen. This we refer to as transferring “Human IP”. The robot features an intellectual product, initially created by the human and for every human individually, to cater to your own tastes and requirements. The transfer of intellectual property, designed to meet the particular needs of each individual, makes the Moley robot far more intelligent than most robots with quite limited algorithmic capabilities. Another feature of a system is that it will be automatically updated in all the kitchens.

What role do electronics play in such systems?
M.O.: Both electronics and software are important, enabling it to fulfil the exact cooking process with an identical finished dish result every time. The electronics track the exact movements and the software sets the cooking parameters.

What technological developments are the key enablers for Smart Systems?
M.O.: The architecture of the Robotic Kitchen, with all its components and the main functionality algorithm are the most important developments. That’s it, kitchen components exist or can exist independently as normal devices, whereas the Robotic Kitchen features a unique concept of universal cooking technology, enabling you to cook anything you want at the highest quality.

Can Smart Systems really be developed by a single company? You worked with Shadow Robots to create your robot chef …
M.O.: I always say that success in any project depends on the competence of its partners. The same thing is applicable to the Robotic Kitchen. We are working with the most proficient partners, who have great experience and lots of expertise in their fields.

Smart Systems are said to offer exciting opportunities for small businesses in particular. Can you give start-ups any tips on how to turn an idea into an actual product?
M.O.: There is not a universal algorithm for how to bring an idea “to life”. In my opinion, governments should create infrastructures for innovative start-ups. Unfortunately, it takes lots of steps and a huge effort to bring an idea to life. And usually, when you come to investors with a pitch, no one will talk to you until you’ve put your idea into the physical form of a prototype. So the government should provide support and guidance to start-ups, completing all the steps from patenting to financing and finding technological support. Featuring future progress and making a real lifestyle change for millions of people, start-up projects have to gain government support at an early stage.

Many people are scared at the idea of robots in the home; it invokes too many thoughts of the “Terminator”. How can that fear be eliminated?
M.O.: People are scared of robots because of the way they look and their quite fearsome movements. We revised these “robotic clichés” in our technology. The Robotic Kitchen cooks with the speed and style of a human and looks like a human (the robotic hand is actually derived from a human hand); further work is planned concerning the colour of the arms and hands and design of the entire kitchen unit, making it look balanced and trustworthy. Finally, the most important thing for the robot is to be familiar and friendly to humans, especially in such an intimate and individual zone as a kitchen.

What do you imagine a really “smart” world will be like – and when will it happen?
M.O.: I think we are already on the way. In an ideal world, people would be released from performing routine algorithmic tasks which machines can perform better and with a higher level of efficiency, hence enabling humans to dedicate more time to family, work and hobbies. This change is already visible in our daily lives, for example the creation of automatic online ticket and hotel search engines. Again, by freeing a human from such algorithmic tasks, we leave room for more creativity, better education and a better quality of life.

(picture credits: Moley Robotics Archieve)

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