Robohub.org
 

The art of making robots – #ICRA2022 Day 2 interviews and video digest


by
25 May 2022



share this:

Every year, ICRA gathers an astonishing number of robot makers. With a quick look at the exhibitors, one can already perceive the immense creativity and inventiveness that creators put in their robots. To my eyes, creating a robot is an art: how does a robot should look like? What would it be good for? Should we go for legs or wheels? There are too many questions!

Every robot maker probably has a different answer to all these questions, and that is great. We are in the infancy of the consumer robotics industry and that lets us be open to all possibilities. It is an exciting moment to see how the large and diverse ecosystem of robots develops. Many companies are already driving this evolution of robotics systems, often committed to make better, safer, and more efficient robots.

This is the case of Clearpath Robotics, producers of state-of-the-art multi-purpose mobile robot platforms, and PAL Robotics, producers of robots that aim to enhance people’s quality of life. I met Bryan Webb, President of Clearpath, and Carlos Vivas, Business Manager of PAL Robotics, and I asked them about their thoughts on the art of making robots. Below some excerpts from their answers.

Bryan Webb

Q1. What comes to your mind if I say that making robots is an art?

People need to be able to connect with the robots. There need to be ergonomic and aesthetic features that make it easy for people to use and connect with a robot. Some people call that art, because you cannot reduce it very well to a science.

Q2. How is the process that gets you from ‘I want to make a robot’ to ‘I have a robot’ and, later, to ‘I am selling a robot’?

We talk a lot with costumers about their needs. That is what drives our innovation. There are two streams that we look at there: how can we improve our existing products and make them better?; and, are there any gaps in the market where people are trying to do research and where there is no solution yet?

Q3. What does it mean for you and for your company to be in ICRA 2022?

It is so important. It is just very good to be able to connect again. One just gets a lot of information by sharing and talking with costumers and other exhibitors.


Carlos Vivas

Q1. What comes to your mind if I say that making robots is an art?

Making robots can be an art. There are a lot of processes that require inspiration, creativity, and thrive, but they also need functionality. It is a nice mix. Probably, it is an art to make it work all together.

Q2. How is the process that gets you from ‘I want to make a robot’ to ‘I have a robot’ and, later, to ‘I am selling a robot’?

For us, everything starts because we want to solve a problem, or we want to help a community. After that, we do it so that it is useful for the people.

Q3. What does it mean for you and for your company to be in ICRA 2022?

This year is very special because, after the pandemic, is great to see a lot of good friends again. We love being part of the robotics research community. I am happy to be here.


Finally, do not miss the most funky robots in #ICRA2022.



tags: ,


David Garzón Ramos is a researcher at IRIDIA, the Artificial Intelligence research laboratory of the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
David Garzón Ramos is a researcher at IRIDIA, the Artificial Intelligence research laboratory of the Université Libre de Bruxelles.





Related posts :



Robot Talk Episode 119 – Robotics for small manufacturers, with Will Kinghorn

  02 May 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Will Kinghorn from Made Smarter about how to increase adoption of new tech by small manufacturers.

Multi-agent path finding in continuous environments

  01 May 2025
How can a group of agents minimise their journey length whilst avoiding collisions?

Interview with Yuki Mitsufuji: Improving AI image generation

  29 Apr 2025
Find out about two pieces of research tackling different aspects of image generation.

Robot Talk Episode 118 – Soft robotics and electronic skin, with Miranda Lowther

  25 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Miranda Lowther from the University of Bristol about soft, sensitive electronic skin for prosthetic limbs.

Interview with Amina Mević: Machine learning applied to semiconductor manufacturing

  17 Apr 2025
Find out how Amina is using machine learning to develop an explainable multi-output virtual metrology system.

Robot Talk Episode 117 – Robots in orbit, with Jeremy Hadall

  11 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Jeremy Hadall from the Satellite Applications Catapult about robotic systems for in-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing.

Robot Talk Episode 116 – Evolved behaviour for robot teams, with Tanja Kaiser

  04 Apr 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Tanja Katharina Kaiser from the University of Technology Nuremberg about how applying evolutionary principles can help robot teams make better decisions.

AI can be a powerful tool for scientists. But it can also fuel research misconduct

  31 Mar 2025
While AI is allowing scientists to make technological breakthroughs, there’s also a darker side to the use of AI in science: scientific misconduct is on the rise.





Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


©2024 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence


 












©2021 - ROBOTS Association