What are the major trends in robotics?
Scheibelmasser: The IFR, the International Federation of Robotics, sees five megatrends for 2024: firstly, the interplay between artificial intelligence and robotics. Secondly, digital twins, i.e. the digital representation of production facilities or landscapes. Then there are cobots, collaborative robots that work together with humans or take over tasks. This can be in food production, but also in commercial kitchens. A new trend is mobile manipulators, the combination of a mobile robot platform with an articulated robot. This allows other valuable tasks to be carried out while goods are being transported, such as quality checks or sorting. And last but not least, humanoid robotics. In China, there is already an affordable 1.20 cm tall robot that can walk very stably on two legs, can lift 2 kg and can therefore be used for light tasks.
What do you get when you bring AI and robotics together?
Scheibelmasser: First of all, it's about safety: in a current project, we are working together with Graz University of Technology and the company Pro2Future on the two issues of safety for AI and AI for safety. In other words, what safety measures are necessary to ensure that the AI used is safe for humans and how can AI be used to increase safety. There are strict rules on this within the EU: AI may not be used to monitor safety-related aspects. This means that it can be used as an assistance system, but the final decision always lies with humans. This already happens in medicine: X-ray images are pre-analysed by an AI that has been trained on such a huge number of images that a doctor would never be able to look at them in a lifetime. AI can recognise abnormalities, but the final decision as to whether it is a carcinoma or not, for example, lies with the human being. And it's the same with autonomous driving and flying. However, we are also currently working on simplifying programming using AI.
How can one imagine that?
Scheibelmasser: The aim is to use the large generative language models - such as Chat GPT - for programming robots. This means that in future it will be possible to simply tell robots what to do instead of programming commands.
What problems can be solved through research at ROBOTICS?
Scheibelmasser: On the one hand, the core competence of the ROBOTICS Institute is technology transfer: we support companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with digitalisation. This starts with the selection of machines or the creation of a digital image of a production plant, through to the introduction of special sensor technology to monitor quality and ensure safety. We also provide support for human-machine collaboration. This starts with the selection of the right robot for a company: Which type is suitable, how do you programme it, what does collaboration look like? We also provide companies with a wide range of services: From machine safety to simulation. Artificial intelligence is of course a particularly topical issue. We advise companies and support them in solving problems using AI and introducing AI. Of course, we also work closely with the other institutes at JOANNEUM RESEARCH. We are currently visiting sawmills in collaboration with POLICIES and DIH SÜD to find out to what extent they can benefit from automation and AI.
Will robots completely replace human labour?
Scheibelmasser: I think they will mainly serve people as helpers. In many sectors, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find labour for certain tasks. By using robots, we can also offer a solution to the labour shortage and counteract demographics. We are here in Carinthia and there is a shortage of employees in many places, especially in tourism. Robots could, for example, support kitchen staff with tasks that are monotonous and time-consuming. We start where the kitchen machine leaves off, and the range is enormous: from notifying you that a piece of meat is cooked through to automated stirring or roasting onions and even 3D-printed dishes. Here, too, the robot is an assistant to the human. This is because the chef is still ultimately responsible for the food served, but does not have to be the one to prepare 100 portions - a robot can do that. The food could also be delivered by robots. Humans will still be responsible for tasting the food or testing drinks. The human system of taste and smell is so complex that it is unlikely to be replaced by robots for a long time yet.
How do you see the future? Will we encounter robots more often in the future?
Scheibelmasser: Just as artificial intelligence in the form of language models such as ChatGPT has exploded into mainstream society, this could also happen in robotics in the near future: Robots will no longer be hidden away in industrial halls, but will suddenly emerge and support us in all areas - whether in care, lifting heavy loads or in the kitchen. You can also see on social media that humanoid robots are on the rise - from everyday use to production. This brings us back to the 1.20 cm tall little helper from China.
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