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 intently 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.

By their AI robotics and AI purposes workshops, Lattel Robotics provides an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI purposes growth in service robotics. As a {hardware} accomplice for the RoboCup@Residence Training initiative, they help faculties and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by growing purposes that tackle 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 purposes through 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 spread of sensors, together with RGB-D cameras and LIDAR sensors for depth notion. In addition to, we’ve got microphones and audio system for speech interplay, together with robotic arms for object manipulation and cellular platforms for navigation.

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

Jerry: It’s not all the time crucial, because the robotic is provided with its personal laptop computer, appearing as a central processing unit. Getting began is simpler, as we’ve got 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 system, Juno2, all you want to do is to attach it to a laptop computer through a USB port and you’ll immediately boot up the Linux (Ubuntu) atmosphere with ROS, with none software program set up.

AI studying system, Juno2.

Andrea: How do you’re employed with faculties?

Jerry: We’re an training answer 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 inexperienced persons. 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 these workshops, educators are given an summary 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’ll be able to join through a distant desktop software program out of your pc 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 total robotic setup on this case; you should utilize this system to do pc imaginative and prescient and speech interactions purposes. It’s a plug-and-play answer that works with any laptop computer or working system, robotically loading Ubuntu, ROS and our Jupiter software program growth frameworks. It’s good for conducting on-line lessons, as college students can proceed studying from house or wherever they’re.

Andrea: When you have a robotic like this, can further elements, like audio system, be added to your robots?

Jerry: Sure, positively. That’s an excellent 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} based mostly on the necessities. This flexibility permits each inexperienced persons 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 got exported to Europe, Africa, South and North America earlier than. Up to now 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: Improbable, thanks to your time and insights. I want you continued success sooner or later!

You could find extra info 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 corporations in Malaysia and Singapore. Striving to empower anybody in getting began to study AI purposes virtually, Jerry works intently with faculties and tutorial establishments in establishing laboratories and growing courseware.