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@Residence Training initiative, supporting colleges and establishments in introducing AI and repair robotic growth to college students. Their aim is to equip learners with sensible AI software expertise in pc imaginative and prescient, autonomous navigation, object manipulation and speech interactions.

Via their AI robotics and AI purposes workshops, Lattel Robotics gives 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 colleges and establishments in competing in AI robotic challenges by creating purposes that deal with real-world issues. Their AI studying options embody establishing AI laboratories, designing curriculums and creating 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 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 have now microphones and audio system for speech interplay, together with robotic arms for object manipulation and cellular platforms for navigation.

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

Jerry: It’s not at all times mandatory, because the robotic is supplied with its personal laptop computer, performing as a central processing unit. Getting began is simpler, as we have now 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 is advisable to do is to attach it to a laptop computer by way of a USB port and you may 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 colleges?

Jerry: We’re an schooling answer supplier, supporting colleges and establishments that wish 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. Via these workshops, educators are given an outline of the AI purposes 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 possibly can 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 known 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 answer that works with any laptop computer or working system, mechanically 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 dwelling or wherever they’re.

Andrea: In case you have a robotic like this, can extra parts, like audio system, be added to your robots?

Jerry: Sure, positively. That’s a superb query. Jupiter2 is an open platform that’s
customisable and reconfigurable. In case you have an engineering background, you may modify the {hardware} based mostly on the necessities. This flexibility permits each inexperienced persons 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 have now exported to Europe, Africa, South and North America earlier than. Up to now there are greater than 30 over colleges, universities and establishments globally which have adopted our studying platforms for schooling, coaching, analysis and/or robotic competitions.

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

You’ll find 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 presently working the AI robotics schooling and coaching firms in Malaysia and Singapore. Striving to empower anybody in getting began to study AI purposes virtually, Jerry works carefully with colleges and educational establishments in establishing laboratories and creating courseware.