Interview with Jerry Tan: Service robotic growth for schooling

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 schooling and coaching. They work carefully with the RoboCup@House Schooling 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 abilities in laptop imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

By means of their AI robotics and AI functions workshops, Lattel Robotics presents an introduction to robotic working system (ROS)-based AI functions growth in service robotics. As a {hardware} accomplice for the RoboCup@House Schooling initiative, they help faculties and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by growing functions 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. 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 functions 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 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 cellular platforms for navigation.

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

Jerry: It’s not at all times vital, because the robotic is supplied with its personal laptop computer, appearing as a central processing unit. Getting began is simpler, 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 well-liked instruments amongst AI researchers and builders.

Andrea: It sounds intriguing, however the setup course of appears sophisticated. Integration typically 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 through a USB port and you may right away boot up the Linux (Ubuntu) atmosphere with ROS, with none software program set up.

AI studying gadget, Juno2.

Andrea: How do you’re employed with faculties?

Jerry: We’re an schooling resolution supplier, supporting faculties and establishments that wish to introduce sensible AI functions studying in a classroom. Programming expertise in Python or C++ is a prerequisite in doing AI functions growth. So we offer Python introduction workshop for full learners. Then utilizing a train-the-trainers strategy, we provide 3-day AI robotics workshops utilizing Jupiter2 or 2-day AI functions workshops utilizing Juno2. By means of these workshops, educators are given an outline of the AI functions 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 may join through a distant desktop software program out of your laptop 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 need to use this gadget to do laptop imaginative and prescient and speech interactions functions. 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 growth frameworks. It’s good for conducting on-line courses, as college students can proceed studying from house or wherever they’re.

Andrea: If in case you have a robotic like this, can extra elements, 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. If in case you have an engineering background, you possibly can modify the {hardware} based mostly on the necessities. This flexibility permits each learners and superior customers to concentrate on 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. To this point there are greater than 30 over faculties, universities and establishments globally which have adopted our studying platforms for schooling, coaching, analysis and/or robotic competitions.

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

You will discover 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 presently working the AI robotics schooling and coaching corporations in Malaysia and Singapore. Striving to empower anybody in getting began to study AI functions virtually, Jerry works carefully with faculties and tutorial establishments in establishing laboratories and growing courseware.