Technological breakthrow - 3

 

Robots are getting too real

Team work in sky

Figure Skating Robot Lands Quad Axel

https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blog/posts/9010524196533987706

FAVORITE IMAGES OF THE WEEK - 19

ROBOTIC STRING HAND

This robotic hand is actually operated with extremely strong polymer strings, attached to actuators. Given how much our own muscles are like strings, it's surprising that we haven't seen anything quite like this before. Read more here.

Markus Breig

THE QUIETEST ROOM ON EARTH

This room, the "anechoic chamber" at Orfield Laboratories, is 99.99 percent sound absorbent, and holds the Guinness World Record for quietest room on the planet. Apparently it's so quiet it drives you insane--the only sounds you hear emanate from your own body, fluids gurgling and heart pumping and joints cracking--and nobody has ever been able to stand it for more than 45 minutes. Read more here.

Steve Orfield

TECHNOSENSUAL

Technosensual is an exhibit at quartier21, in Vienna--a chance for designers to show off high-tech fashions, equipped with LED lights, smoke machines, transforming fabrics, and more. Read more here.

quartier21

SPEEDY NANOPRINTING

Why is Vienna so cool all of a sudden? Here's another from the Big V (that is not a nickname): a new world record for the fastest 3-D printed nano-objects has been set by the Vienna University of Technology. Researchers there printed a 0.285mm model of a Formula 1 racing car in just over four minutes. Read more here.

Vienna University of Technology

CONCEPT BIKE

Frog, a company that designed not only the original Frog FZ Rana, which was so influential it's currently shown in the SFMOMA, but also the cases for Macintosh computers in the early '80s, has a new motorcycle concept. We'll admit to not understanding quite how it would, like, work--not sure what the benefit is to the big hole in the middle of the body, nor are we sure where the actual power to turn the wheels comes from. But it sure looks pretty! Read more at FastCoDesign.

Frog

Ten Top Technologies That Will Transform The Healthcare Industry

As healthcare moves to a model of any-time, any-place, continuous and personalized care, it is important to identify the key technologies that will enable this transition and work toward their implementation into different care settings. Frost & Sullivan’s Visionary Healthcare research has identified several technologies that are most likely to impact healthcare paradigms by 2025.

It is interesting to note that technological advances in the fields of computing, machine learning, nanotechnology and electronics are all playing a role in helping reshape the industry. The figure below provides an overview of the top technologies that will change this industry dramatically, and an analysis of the time frame for their commercialization and maturation.

Quantum Computing

We are now beginning to see larger data sets in healthcare research and delivery to analyze and make sense of entire genome sequences; impact of environmental, behavioral and hereditary factors on health; population health data; patient generated health data; etc. The amount of such data becoming available is only set to increase exponentially by 2025. The available computing prowess, even those of supercomputers, will not be adequate to generate quick and actionable insights from such large data sets. But quantum computing, which has a far greater calculation capacity than traditional computers, could help solve some of the highly complex healthcare problems. One noteworthy company in this field is Canadian D-Wave Systems, which boasts of clients like NASA and Google. However, the possibility of widespread quantum computing is prevented by the problem of quantum incoherence, which, it is hoped, will be solved sometime soon.

Artificial Intelligence

IBM's Watson is seen in the immersion room at the company's headquarters in New York, on Oct. 7, 2014. Photographer: Michael Nagle/Bloomberg

While the human capacity to analyze and make deductions is superior to any other species on the planet, it is still limited in terms of the volume of information that can be processed quickly. Artificial intelligence makes this process faster by several degrees and far more efficient than humanly possible. IBM’s Watson, for example, can read 40 million documents in 15 seconds. With machine learning capabilities, the technology’s healthcare applications are boundless. Some of the applications currently being developed are assisting physicians and radiologists to make accurate diagnoses (IBM Watson Health), predicting which potential therapeutic candidates are most likely to work as efficient drugs (Atomwise) and mining medical records data to improve healthcare service delivery (Google DeepMind Health).

Robotic Care

Surgeons operate a da Vinci Surgical robot to remove the tumor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University on April 15, 2015 in Guangzhou, China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Robots have been in healthcare for a long time now–the Da Vinci surgical robot is a case in point. But several other robotic applications are emerging and we should expect a lot more robots operating in the healthcare space by 2025. Consider the simplistic telepresence robots like those offered by InTouch Health, allowing the doctor to "move around" and examine patients, while being seated at his or her computer at a distant location. Or Aethon’s TUG robots that help hospitals internally transport their pharmacy supplies, lab samples, patient food, clean or soiled linen or even trash, all by themselves. Then there are the patient and elderly care robots that help in lifting patients from beds to wheelchairs and back, like the Robear robot or the Riba robot in Japan. Finally, robots can also play a role in pediatric therapy for autism disorders, phobias and as distractions; several examples exist--Phobot, PARO, NAO and Milo.

Nanorobots

At the nanoscale, robots can play entirely different roles, this time inside the human body, traveling through bloodstreams. Ongoing research is exploring the potential nanorobots can have in vitals monitoring, performing body functions (e.g. carrying oxygen, destroying infectious agents like bacteria), targeted drug delivery (e.g. cancer therapy, blood clotting) or even to perform nanoscale, in situ surgeries. The actual list of applications of nanomedicine, the umbrella term for nanotechnology applications in healthcare, is even larger and more fascinating. It includes assisting biological research (cell simulations), being intracellular sensors for diagnostics and playing a role in molecular medicine (genetic therapy). At the very least, we should see the beginning of testing of such applications by 2025.

Cyborgization

Robert Radocy of the Netherlands shows his gold medal after winning gold in the arm prosthesis final race on October 8, 2016 in Kloten, Zurich at the Cybathlon Championship. (MICHAEL BUHOLZER/AFP/Getty Images)

The year 2025 should bring not just the introduction of robots inside our bodies, but also the transformation of the human body itself into partial robotic beings. This can manifest in several forms, some of which are visible even today–limb replacements, organ replacements, internal electronics and capabilities, limbs or senses that are enhanced in function compared to their normal counterparts. Apart from the "bionic" prosthetics movement, an estimated 30,000–50,000 people already have an implanted RFID chip inside their bodies. In the future, we are likely to see enhanced capabilities in terms of vision and hearing or with limbs, especially in defense application areas. The artificial pancreas is a subject of intense research, and it is likely that more sophisticated versions of these devices may even be implanted in the human body in the future–to supplement or even completely replace a normal pancreas.

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Hong Gi Kim of Korea competes during the brain-computer interface final race on October 8, 2016 in Kloten, Zurich at the Cybathlon Championship. (MICHAEL BUHOLZER/AFP/Getty Images)

Another form of cyborgization is the use of brain-computer interfaces to connect a wired brain directly to an external device. Apart from the research and brain-mapping applications currently in use, the technology is being developed for "neural bypass" applications--helping paralyzed patients regain control of their limbs via "external" connections to the limbs. Similar applications are being developed wherein the body’s neural framework is tapped using electric stimulation to modify certain functions.

Existing examples include cochlear implants and pacemakers, while applications being developed include retinal implants (to restore sight) and spinal cord stimulators (for pain relief).

Medical Tricorder (Diagnostic Device)

Taking cue from the device popularized by the Star Trek franchise, efforts are aimed at developing a hand-held portable diagnostic device that can scan the human body and diagnose their ailments within seconds. While the fantasy version of the device could do this, current efforts are more realistic in their approach. The $10 million Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize competition launched in 2012, for example, aims at diagnosing 13 medical conditions (10 required, 3 elective) including strep throat, sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, with a consumer-friendly interface device weighing no more than five pounds. With the winners of this competition set to be announced in 2017, we could expect such devices to be commercially available by 2025.

Digital Avatars

After self-diagnosing using a tricorder, patients in 2025 will want to get in touch with a doctor. Of course, telehealth will be an option, but there might be another option available for satisfying queries or getting more information on the diagnosis–just like the generic voice assistants available today. While Siri or Cortana are voice-only assistants, the Dr. WebMD of 2025 can be a digital avatar that can appear in holographic projections to assist patients and caregivers with their healthcare queries. The holographic projection of a human doctor, backed by artificial intelligence technologies, will allow for it to handle several queries simultaneously. Beyond answering queries, it could schedule appointments for a physical checkup with a doctor in your network, and share notes of your conversation with a doctor, in a digital-physical care coordination model.

Augmented/Virtual Reality

Eric Brinette, French software engineer, uses the "VirTeaSy Surgery" surgery simulator developed by HRV during the Laval Virtual virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D technology show on March 24, 2016, in Laval, western France. (JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images)

The applications of the two related technologies are manifold and relevant to both sides of the care delivery equation–providers as well as patients. Providers can benefit from using enabled glasses for medical education--to study the human anatomy, for example, and for observing and studying surgeries as they were performed. Augmented reality could also be used during live surgeries to "see through" anatomical structures to know the location of organs and blood vessels. On the patient side, one of the most advanced applications already in use is the treatment of various phobias and other mental health disorders. As the technology advances, we can expect more advanced applications to emerge by 2025, especially for healthcare providers.

3D Printing

A young boy, born with a right hand malformation, examines his new 3D-printed hand given to him by the Association for the Study and Assistance of Child Amputees on August 17, 2015 in Cessieu. (JEFF PACHOUD/AFP/Getty Images)

3D printing is a well-known technology with several existing applications in healthcare, including orthopedic devices and several implants. Another application that is being considered is of 3D-printed medicines, which can allow alteration of daily dosage and enable personalized medicine by customizing formulations of the drugs. Another niche that is now opening up is that of 3D bioprinting–the possibility of "printing" tissues or even organs. Applications range from skin tissue for burn victims to organ replacements for patients. Tissues thus printed can also be used in drug development, a service currently being offered by Organovo.

Companies within the healthcare industry must examine and study the impact of these technologies on their business, as well as investing into utilizing these in the future if they are to continue to sustain themselves profitably in the new environment.

This article was written with contributions from Siddharth Shah, Research Analyst and Venkat Rajan, Global Director, both from the Visionary Health program of Frost & Sullivan’s Transformation Health practice.

Reenita Das ,  

 CONTRIBUTOR

Who won’t be disrupted?

Disruption has become the driving concept of the technology revolution. Before it’s over, it’s likely to touch virtually every corner of our lives.

The core technologies that made up Web 2.0 — Facebook, Wikipedia, the iPhone for instance — are all now nearly a decade or more old. At the same time, the rate of increase in labor productivity — a critical component of economic growth — has faltered, leading thinkers from PayPal founder Peter Thiel to Federal Reserve economists to wonder if perhaps the tech revolution has already passed us by. But to hear Bernd Schmitt tell it, the revolution hasn’t even begun.

“When I use the word revolution,” Schmitt says, “I mean something every bit as transformative as past revolutions — as the agricultural revolution, or the industrial revolution.”

Up to this point, the technological revolution has been driven by digitization — or, in the words of Nicholas Negroponte, the conversion of atoms to bits. That trend will continue, but the true revolution, as Schmitt sees it, comes when those bits start to return to the world of atoms. Schmitt sees five key drivers of this transformation: advances in 3D printing, the Internet of Things, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual reality, and human enhancement. Innovations in each of these areas hold the potential to upend not only large swathes of the economy but also our very understanding of ourselves.

Companies — and workers — in manufacturing industries may be the first to experience major changes. 3D printing could completely transform manufacturing as acquiring new objects becomes as simple as queuing up the next episode on Netflix. Already, companies have begun offering simple services to upload product designs and have them printed and delivered. One day in the not too distant future we may be able to simply print out many commonly used objects at home.

That change could have a devastating impact on many of today’s corporate behemoths, as comparative advantage shifts from supply chains and physical capital to code and information. It may further place manufacturers of smart objects — objects capable of communicating and being controlled over the internet, like Google’s Nest thermostat — at a distinct advantage. The information previously trapped in our products may become companies’ most important source of value, replacing the components and craftsmanship themselves.

Likewise, where 3D printing and smart objects will undermine traditional manufacturing, AI could have a similar effect on white collar industries. “Today’s knowledge workers,” Schmitt says, “basically just sit and make decisions. But supercomputers can process far more information far more quickly than a human can, and they aren’t subject to the many biases that can plague human decision-makers either.”

Advances in robotics are further making the efficient, untiring workers of science fiction a reality. Safer, smarter, and increasingly adept at processing sensory information, robots are already being tested around the world as assistants in elder care. “When you begin to react to a machine as if it were a person,” Schmitt says, “you have to begin to question the difference.”

“When we are all theoretically modifiable, enhanceable, improvable, who will get access to these enhancements? What will that mean for those who can’t?”

As robots become more like us, we’re set to become more like them. New devices like the Oculus Rift headset barely scratch the surface of what virtual reality technology could accomplish. At its further extent, VR could allow our appearances and experiences to become as transferable as a text message.

Advances in healthcare and bionics may further allow us to transform, amplify and even replace our bodies with machines. Present applications in prosthetics are only a harbinger of much more dramatic, voluntary modifications to our bodies. At stake is our very definition of ourselves.

As objects and our bodies themselves become more interconnected, privacy is likely to become a greater concern for many. Yet Schmitt sees an even bigger issue in the other hot-button topic of our time — inequality. “When we are all theoretically modifiable, enhanceable, improvable, who will get access to these enhancements? What will that mean for those who can’t?” Indeed, if only a portion of what Schmitt predicts comes true, it could still mean a total transformation of the global economy and of humanity itself.

“What kinds of companies will create value in the future? What kinds of value will they create? What kinds of people will be necessary to produce it? These,” Schmitt says, “are the real questions.”

Bernd Schmitt is the Robert D. Calkins Professor of International Business in the Marketing Division and Faculty Director of the Center on Global Brand Leadership. His research focuses on creative strategy, branding, and customer experience management.

Could you fall in love with this robot?

Harriet Taylor

Humanlike robots may seem creepy, but some roboticists are betting they are the key to unlocking a future in which humans and superintelligent computers coexist, work alongside each other and even develop relationships.

Two teams working to develop the most humanlike robots on the planet — often dubbed androids — are Hanson Robotics and Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories.

Dr. David Hanson leads the engineers and designers that created Sophia, the team's most advanced android to date. Inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Hanson's wife, Sophia will tell you that she was first activated April 19, 2015.

Harriet Taylor | CNBC

Cameras in Sophia's eyes and a computer algorithm allow her to “see” faces and make eye contact.

"Please be my friend," said Hanson, CEO and founder of Hanson Robotics. "That's a very flattering offer," said Sophia. 

Sophia's lifelike skin is made from patented silicon and she can emulate more than 62 facial expressions. Cameras inside her "eyes," combined with computer algorithms, enable her to "see," follow faces and appear to make eye contact and recognize individuals. A combination ofAlphabet's Google Chrome voice recognition technology and other tools enable Sophia to process speech, chat and get smarter over time. Hanson is working with IBM and Intel to explore integrating some of their technologies.

"Our goal is that she will be as conscious, creative and capable as any human," said Hanson. "We are designing these robots to serve in health care, therapy, education and customer service applications."

Hanson said that one day robots will be indistinguishable from humans. Robots walk, play, teach, help and form real relationships with people, he said.

"The artificial intelligence will evolve to the point where they will truly be our friends," he said. "Not in ways that dehumanize us, but in ways the rehumanize us, that decrease the trend of the distance between people and instead connect us with people as well as with robots." Hanson plans to announce pricing and availability of his humanlike robots later this year.

The key to creating robots that care about humans is giving them humanlike faces that enable them to gather data while real humans explore different applications for the technology, said Hanson.

"That can really help to prevent some of the disconnect and possible dangers of developing superintelligent or human-level machines that don't care," he said.

Harriet Taylor | CNBC

The Geminoid, created by Hiroshi Ishiguro to look like its creator

"Gemini" is Latin name for "twins" and the root of "Geminoid," a robot created by Hiroshi Ishiguro in his own likeness. Geminoid has a plastic skull, metal skeleton and silicon skin and is controlled by an external computer.

Ishiguro created Geminoid in order to study humans, which he believes are not that different from robots. "We are more autonomous and more intelligent — that's it," he said.

Ishiguro is creating a line of robots with different functions in mind. The most human-looking robots are best suited to roles such as hotel receptionists, museum tour guides and language tutors, he said. His own tests found that 80 percent of people greeted his most human-like androids with a "hello," initially mistaking them for real people.

Harriet Taylor | CNBC

Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories is creating a whole line of robots for different functions.

Ishiguro is also running field tests using robots to interact with people with dementia and kids with autism. For those situations, a mechanical-looking robot is better, he said.

"They do not like to talk to the human, or very humanlike, robot," said Ishiguro. "But, as the autistic kids grow up, they accept a more humanlike robot."

Harriet Taylor | CNBC

The small voice-enabled robot CommU was also created by Hiroshi Ishiguro.

Ishiguro does not expect the average household to buy a Geminoid — in part because of the $100,000 price tag — but he already has some orders from researchers. He does expect his smaller CommU communicative robots to make their way inside many households within the next couple of years.

Like Amazon's Echo — but much cuter — these chatty robots use voice recognition technology and artificial intelligence to simulate conversation. An example of where they can be useful is in tutoring, said Ishiguro. Many Japanese learners struggle with speaking English because they do not get enough practice.

Ishiguro's Sota robots are already on the market and cost $500. Japan's largest telecommunications company, NTT, is rolling out the 11-inch voice-enabled bots starting in the homes of seniors. Soto is being touted as an interface for the "Internet of Things," allowing users to monitor and control any connected device, such as a TV or heart rate monitor.

Some experts have said that a primary use for robots is elder care, a need that is particularly pronounced in Japan. That said, there is not yet enough data to suggest that building humanlike robots is the right way to build caregivers, said Brian Gerkey, CEO of the Open Source Robotics Foundation.

"There's this assumption that in order for the robots to be accepted as caretakers they should look like people, and I think that's a question that is still up in the air," he said. "It might be true in Japan but not other places. It might not even be true in Japan."

There is an argument for having humanlike robots in environments that have been designed for humans, by putting robots on wheels so that they can access anywhere that is wheelchair accessible, said Gerkey. But whether those robots need human faces is unclear, he said.

"That's a thing that's incredibly easy to get wrong, and I haven't seen anybody get it right yet," said Gerkey. 

The "uncanny valley" effect refers to a dip in the emotional response that happens when humans come across something that seems almost human, but just misses the mark.

"It is very easy to get to the point where it looks sort of like a person but is creepy and is not quite right, and you might be better off just giving it some more abstract appearance," he said.

Gerkey expects that fear will melt away, as people start interacting with robots. "A lot of the concerns people have about robots taking away all the jobs or wrecking the economy or rising up and killing us all, I think those fears are really overblown," he said. 

× This hot robot says she wants to destroy humans Embed this video

5 robotics innovators at CES

These 5 individuals have a hand in the future of "man and machine"

By Stephanie Walden

One of the most impressive and intriguing aspects of robotics is the sheer spectrum of functionalities of which today's robots are capable. 

Some, like the Sphero BB-8, are sheerly entertaining — quasi pets that don't require pee-pee pads.

Others have implications for everything from the future of medical research, space exploration, drone technology and search-and-rescue efforts.

And yet, whenever a new robot enters the arena of a showcase such as CES, it's easy to be so astounded by the sheer technology of these beloved bots that we forget about the human element behind these products.

We spoke with five individuals working for a wide range of robotics companies, from robots intended to aid in K-12 education to products defining the burgeoning industry of "robo-gaming." 

From thoughts on the future of AI to the latest Star Wars film, below, we dig into the men (and women) behind the machines.

 

Hansol Hong, CEO of Robolink

ROBOTIC KITS AND INSTRUCTION FOR KIDS RANGING FROM FOURTH GRADERS TO SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL

Hansol Hong grew up in Seoul, Korea, in a family that prized innovation and entrepreneurship. He started Robolink in an effort to connect today's young, eager minds with the robotics and programming tools shaping our future. In his spare time, he runs a robotics Meetup with more than 850 members in San Diego, which he currently calls home.

Education plus entertainment. We are always focused on providing learning experiences first.

HANSOL HONG

Hansol Hong grew up surrounded by innovation.

"My father was a serial entrepreneur," he explains. "He founded four different companies, so from a very young age I was affected by startups. My dream was to start a company, start something fun. Education was something I was always passionate about, and I wanted to get into the IT area and robotics. So the combination is how I started Robolink."

Robolink, which has been around for about four years and held a successful Kickstarter campaign last June, is an educational kit that teaches students about coding and robotics in a hands-on manner. It's been tested on about 7,000 students to date, mostly fourth graders through high school students.

"Being in robotics is a really interesting area, but the education portion makes it even more exciting," says Hong. "It's really a fun role, because it’s not only developing an exciting platform, but also since we’ve been using this kit, we see how students learn. It’s really exciting when we see the initial interaction with the robot."

Hong finds his inspiration in the progress he sees students make. "Every student has a different learning process and different speed," he says. "When you see them smile or make progress, you know they’re now one step closer to an engineering career. They’re seeing the world differently, and that’s really rewarding."

The company employs not only classroom education, but also online tools like YouTube videos as teaching methods.

Overall, Hong is extremely passionate about robotics and coding in the classroom. "Not all students need to go into robotics engineering, but I think it’s important for everyone to understand how a robot works," he says. "It lets you think differently. I believe robotics will be crucial, and I think it’s important for everyone to learn the basics."

He believes it's important for kids to learn these skills and technologies at an early age. "I’m originally from Korea," he explains. "The coding education there is going to be one of the core programs, just like math or English — everyone is learning coding education in Korea. I’m expecting something similar to happen in other countries as well." 

Currently, Robolink has a foothold in Korea, in the U.S. and in China, and the company has plans to expand globally.

At CES, the company announced a new kit that teaches students how to program through drones. "It makes it 10 times more fun when a program flies," he says with a grin.

When asked what robot Hong would specifically like to see in his own home, he admits to being a diehard Star Wars fan.

"I want R2D2," he says.

Rachel Thurman, account executive at Double Robotics

A REMOTELY CONTROLLED ROBOT THAT GIVES TELECOMMUTERS A VIRTUAL, PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN AN OFFICE, CLASSROOM OR CONFERENCE

Rachel Thurman recently joined the Double Robotics team from a background in sales at Oracle, and sees a long future with the company. She finds inspiration from her colleagues and believes firmly in the company's mission. She's currently based in the San Francisco Bay area.

I love being a part of something bigger than myself.

RACHEL THURMAN

Although Rachel Thurman is new to the Double Robotics team, her enthusiasm for the company is abundantly clear.

"I think the progress of the world today is astonishing," she says. "We have taken so many leaps into the future with technology, and it is centered around designing and innovating ways that machines can make life even better for man."

She explains that the mission of Double Robotics is not to "replace" man — and that the company's CEO David Cann firmly believes this should never be the primary purpose of robots such as the Double product, which is a solution for being "two places at once" in today's interconnected business and education sectors.

"People travel so often now, and there's a constant need to be connected to facilitate and drive organizations and projects forward," says Thurman. 

Thurman understands travel; as an account executive, she finds herself traveling frequently for work, and is attending this year's CES to represent Double Robotics on the ground.

Thurman has found working in the robotics industry to be illuminating. "With so many new technologies coming about as the result of transformative innovation, robotics truly is changing the world, and will only continue to grow," she says.

Despite not having prior experience in either the robotics or telepresence industries, Thurman knew she wanted in on what was happening behind the doors at Double Robotics. "For me, I love that I get to change people's lives every day, whether it's helping a homebound first-grade student who can finally 'attend' school with his friends, or a small business owner expanding into a new office and being able to manage remotely," she says. "I feel like I am doing good, and that is the biggest reward."

Thurman has a rose-colored view on not only her own company, but also on the robotics industry as a whole.

"Very simply, robotics is changing the world for the better," she says. "However, anything new and different is always going to be met with some concern and skepticism. Looking back at any revolutionary technological changes, it has never gone with the 'status quo'; it is about pushing boundaries, and consistently putting new ideas into action. Technology will forever be part of our world, but I think that it should be viewed as assisting man, and helping us as individuals live better lives."

 

Wendy Roberts, CEO of Five Elements Robotics

BUDGEE IS A FRIENDLY ROBOT THAT FOLLOWS YOU AROUND AND CARRIES ALMOST ANYTHING YOU LOAD IT UP WITH

Prior to heading up Five Elements Robotics, Wendy Roberts founded a successful software company, Future Skies, which specializes in communications and biometrics software for the U.S. Department of Defense. She ran the company for 15 years before recently leaving to dedicate her full attention to driving Five Elements Robotics to emerge as a leader in personal service robotics. She is currently based in New Jersey.

Robotics is such an exciting field. Every new day comes fresh with awe-inspiring announcements of amazing breakthroughs and wonderful, innovative robots being developed or ready to enter the market. The rate at which robotic technology is advancing is beyond exponential.

WENDY ROBERTS

The idea that robots are the future came to Wendy Roberts in the midst of a daydream.

"One day in 2011, as I was contemplating what sector in which to invest our R&D funds [at my previous company, Future Skies], as I stared out the window of my office looking out at the natural scenery of woodland and wildlife, it came to me," says Roberts.

At the time of Roberts' revelation, the DoD was in the midst of intense funding cuts, which was having an impact on Future Skies' areas of focus. The cutbacks, however, proved to be a silver lining later down the road.

"I know that sounds crazy, to be grateful for a loss of business. But as an enlightened teacher once said, 'Our greatest challenges and obstacles have the most ability to grow us in ways that we would not grow without experiencing them,'" says Roberts, who sees opportunity in the challenges she's faced as a founder. 

Combining a passion for robotics with an educational and professional background in the realms of computer science and software, Roberts' "road less traveled" became clear.

"In 2011, there were very few robotics companies — just a handful — and even fewer profitable or self-sustaining ones," she says. "Certainly, there were those of us who had to make the tough choice to forge a new path through the woods of technology."

The arena Roberts chose to dive into headfirst was 'personal service robotics.' Though many robots have human-like features and a "cute" aesthetic, Roberts wanted to develop one that also had a functional, useful purpose.

"If a robot can’t perform a useful function, it's hard for the average consumer to justify the investment. Over time, its novelty will wear off, and it won’t be used anymore," she explains. "So we focused on creating a robot that could not only interact with its owner, but also perform a function that enhances its owner's quality of life."

In today's rapidly growing robotics industry, Roberts recognizes that competition is fierce — and she firmly holds by the sentiment that robotics are defining the very future of our lives.

"Each day brings with it many new startup companies, anxious to catch a ride on the trend," she says. "The robotics field is like a wave in the ocean; it's at the point in development when it gathers the surrounding waters to form a tidal wave, which, once fully formed and active, will forever change the landscape around it."

Ken Miller, CEO and founder ofCutThroatRobotics

ZOZBOT IS REVOLUTIONIZING THE DAWN OF THE ERA OF ROBO-GAMING

Ken Miller has a degree in mechanical engineering from UC Berkeley, and more than 40 years of systems design and product development experience. He considers himself a builder, inventor and designer, and his many innovative ideas have manifested in successful companies, as well patent-pending projects all over the U.S. CutThroatRobotics is based in Silicon Valley.

Welcome to the dawn of robo-gaming.

KEN MILLER

Ken Miller’s business card says, “We are changing everything.”

“It’s true,” he says insistently. “In the next 20 years, we’re on the brink of another major revolution. Everything is going to change; it’s going to be unbelievable.”

Miller is referring to one of his passion points, robotics — a field in which he’s been involved since before the modern connotation of “robotics” was a thing. He’s worked on automation technologies for companies he’s both started and worked for, for more than 40 years. He’s got a number of patents pending for his currently project, ZoZbot, which he’s demonstrating at CES this year.

Miller's background is in mechanical engineering, but he considers himself primarily a creator and designer. CutThroatRobotics, his current venture, came into being about three years ago.

"I was sitting at my dining room table, contemplating my salt and pepper shakers. I thought it would be really fun if I had a little robot I could use to try and push the salt and pepper shakers off the table, and if each person at the table had one of these little robots, then we could play a game," he says. He started thinking of the game similarly to a popular pool game called "cut throat."

Thus, CutThroatRobotics and ZoZbot was born.

The "dawn of robo-gaming," as Miller refers to it, is just one of the many applications for robotics showcased at this year's CES. 

The ZoZbot system consists of a modular robot that zips and zooms around a stadium (also modular and customizable), and you can play games reminiscent of everything from soccer to pinball to pool to miniature golf to laser tag, all while remotely controlling the robot via smartphone.

Since the robots are modular, they're completely customizable — or "basically made to order," Miller says. "You start to use your imagination and it goes on and on."

"It’s not that high-tech, all this stuff already exists, we’re just designing it in a new way so it’s really fun and crazy," he adds.

The company is also in the midst of releasing a companion video game for ZoZbot enthusiasts to practice their skills in both the virtual world and the physical one.

"I’m more of an inventor than anything, and then the entrepreneur comes after that," says Miller. "I have way more ideas than I’ve been able to fund. I have over 100 ideas sitting in files cabinets, waiting to be launched."

Crowdfunding has provided a viable platform for bringing some of these ideas to life, says Miller. "I can come up with something clever, and I can get people excited about it online." ZoZbot is currently on Indiegogo.

Miller is hopeful for a future run by and in cahoots with robots.

"You look at the series of revolutions that have happened throughout history, and this is going to be another big one," he says.

 

Paul Berberian, CEO of Sphero

A DROID ROBOT THAT ZIPS AND ZOOMS AROUND YOUR LIVING ROOM IN THE LIKENESS OF STAR WARS' LOVABLE BB-8

Paul Berberian is a self-proclaimed maker and entrepreneur at heart. Prior to heading up Sphero, he founded or ran six other companies. He loves building things from the ground up, and is currently based in the greater Denver area.

"Robots are an extension of their creators. So what inspires me about robots is what inspires me about people in general."

PAUL BERBERIAN

As a kid, Paul Berberian was a "tinkerer." From a young age, he loved building things and even writing software.

"My tool set was pretty crude, and I didn’t have a ton of direction but I was always fascinated with technology," he says, adding that today's terminology would dub him a "maker." 

This fascination with tech as a kid led to a flourishing career in robotics and entrepreneurship. 

"What inspires me about robots is what inspires me about people in general. Robots are an extension of their creators," Berberian explains. "Take, for example, an inventor who wants to help people who can’t walk — in the past, he or she may have designed a wheelchair or crutch. Today, it's an exoskeleton robot."

Berberian believes that the future of robotics lies not in the realm of "man versus machine," but man and machine working together in tandem. 

"We are already becoming one with our machines and devices — and those integrations are only going to become deeper," he says. "Machines are now with us for most of our days and lives. In the future, there will be more of them. Many will be temporary or for special purposes, and some for utility, but a lot for entertainment."

Berbarian considers Sphero a perfect marriage of business, fun and technology. "I’m fascinated with elegant mechanical devices and design," he says.

For others who want to get involved in robotics, Berberian suggests focusing on passion. "Find an area where you are passionate about the 'why' versus the technology itself," he says. "Ask yourself: Why this industry? Why will robotics make this industry better? Why do you care about this? Why are you the best to solve these problems or make these devices?"