Australia’s first ever retail store staffed by robots

zoron Artificial Intelligence, Robots in Retail, Robots of the Future October 25, 2024November 26, 2024retail, robots

The idea of stores staffed by robots in various businesses has been gaining popularity in recent years. Robots can perform tasks quickly and efficiently, without requiring breaks or time off, and they can help reduce costs for business owners.

However, it’s worth noting that robots cannot replace human interaction entirely, and businesses still need to provide good customer service and experience to keep customers coming back.

An ice-cream parlour at Melbourne’s federation square is staffed by three robots.

The robots are named Pepper, Eka and Tony. Tony has two arms and a screen that appears as a “face”.

A team of ABB engineers worked to bring into reality a new retail experience for customers.

The process is simple. It all starts with a touch screen. The customer selects the number of scoops, chooses the flavours and toppings and the robots do the rest.

Pepper is a talking humanoid robot concierge. It can tell you all about the ice-cream, help you make your selection, track eye contact, simulate emotion and hold simple conversations. It can also dance and pose for selfies with customers.

Tony is a robot responsible for delicate tasks such as topping your ice-cream in hot chocolate sauce or sprinkles. Tony wears a tiny custom bowtie designed by Jacqui Sale – a look inspired by staff uniforms in 1950s ice-cream parlours – and has an LED screen for a face.

Eka is a robotic arm designed for efficient scooping. While this may sound like a simple task, Eka has seven different axes equipped with sensors and programmed with different scooping motions depending on the level of ice-cream in the container.

It’s just another example of robots serving up convenience. Automation in the retail sector is nothing new. E-commerce giant Amazon has been using robots to help with workflow for quite some time. A “smart home” in Zurich was built mostly using 3D printers and robots.

The use of robots in the service industry is an interesting development and is something that we may see more of in the future.

So, should we be worried about robots eventually stealing our jobs?

A 2019 survey by recruitment agency Hays, found that 18% of Aussie workers have already had their job impacted significantly by robots, with their duties changing or their role becoming redundant. Another 32% said their role had been impacted partially, with some tasks automated.

Adam Gregory from Linked-In says that automation and the ability to work with robots actually presents a huge opportunitiy for employers and employees… “Robots can take on the most mundane tasks, freeing up the workforce to do more creative and more complex work. In fact, in industries like manufacturing, robots can take on the more high-risk tasks, thus providing a safer work environment.”

But in the future, it will be the robot’s biggest weakness that will be our biggest selling point… “soft skills” like communication, influence and problem solving. Adam says that “In fact, 91%of HR professionals indicate that these “soft skills” will be the most in demand skills in the future”.

The company, Niska, is looking to extend robotic servers into other areas of retail.

Robots transforming retail

The Benefits of Robotic Lawn Mowers

zoron Artificial Intelligence, New Robots, Robotic Lawn Mowers May 1, 2024May 2, 2024lawn mowers, robotics

How do Robotic Lawn Mowers work?

Robotic lawn mowers offer a slew of benefits in modern landscaping.

Firstly, they save time and effort by autonomously maintaining lawns, freeing homeowners from the chore of manual mowing. This automation ensures consistent and precise cutting, promoting healthier grass growth. Moreover, robot mowers are eco-friendly, running on electricity rather than fuel, reducing emissions and noise pollution. The advanced sensors and navigation systems of remote control lawn mowers allow them to navigate complex terrain and obstacles safely.

Robotic lawn mowers work completely unattended. There is no need for manual effort… no pushing, guiding, refilling or stowing the machine… the mower remains in its charging station until it is activated. Forget the stress and frustration of pulling on a starter cord to a motor that won’t start.

Additionally, some automowers can be controlled remotely via smartphone apps, providing convenience and flexibility. All you have to do is use your smart phone to tell your automatic lawn mower when and where to mow.

Installation

Initially you will need to have some guiding cables fitted under your lawn and you may need some assistance with the installation. The main cable is the boundary wire. The boundary wire defines the working area. It helps the mower to reach all areas and to manage passages. Inside the boundary wire there is also one or more guide wires. The guide wire helps the mower to find the shortest way back to the charging station and prevents track marks from appearing on your lawn.

Battery charging

The robotic mower runs on battery power. When your mower is running out of battery energy, it will automatically return to the battery charging station to recharge. Since the robotic mower is battery powered, there are no direct omissions or any fuel to worry about.

The main features of robotic lawn mowers

Robotic mowers are self-propelled and can safely be left to work at any hour of the day. They work in rain and sunshine, all according to your settings.
The technology is continually being updated and automatic mowers can now handle slopes up to 70%.
A GPS system records the area mowed and adjusts the mowing pattern accordingly.
Full coverage is ensured by the guide wires.
Built-in sensors detect objects and lower the speed to avoid collisions.
Razor sharp blades are designed for continuous and efficient mowing. Blades fold away when they touch other objects that are not grass.
You don’t have to do any raking or collecting. The clippings are so small that they are never spread where you don’t want them.
No need to dispose of lawn clippings. The clippings feed the lawn and make it healthier and greener.
An auto-mower adjusts to grass growth and weather conditions.
There is a robotic automatic mower for every lawn.

Overall, robotic lawnmowers streamline lawn care, offering a hassle-free solution for maintaining pristine outdoor spaces.

Running costs

Because of the energy-efficient system, the operating cost is very low.

History of Robotic Lawn Mowing

The robotic lawn mower revolution was started 25 years ago by Husqvarna. The Husqvarna Auto-mower today has the lowest noise levels of all robotic lawn mowers on the market.

From walk-behind mowers to ride-on machines to robotic mowers, Husqvarna now offers different lawn mowing and cutting solutions with accessories to cover your mowing needs all year round.

Read about Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

AI and Robotics Today

zoron Artificial Intelligence, Robotics May 25, 2023January 20, 2024

Robotics and AI — “What do you mean, you have no heart?”

AI and robotics have made significant progress in recent years and are impacting numerous industries and aspects of our daily lives.

Automation and Efficiency:

AI and robotics have enabled automation in various fields, such as manufacturing, logistics, and customer service. Robots can perform repetitive tasks with precision and speed, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. This automation allows humans to focus on more complex and creative tasks.

Personal Assistants:

AI-powered virtual assistants, like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, have become commonplace, providing us with instant access to information, reminders, and even controlling smart devices in our homes. They can perform tasks like setting alarms, making appointments, playing music, and providing answers to questions.

Healthcare:

AI is revolutionizing healthcare by assisting in diagnostics, personalized medicine, and drug discovery. AI algorithms can analyze medical images, detect diseases like cancer, and assist in treatment planning. Robotic surgery systems enable surgeons to perform complex procedures with enhanced precision and reduced invasiveness.

Transportation:

Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles are becoming a reality, thanks to advancements in AI and robotics. These vehicles have the potential to reduce accidents, optimize traffic flow, and make transportation more efficient and accessible.

Customer Service:

Chatbots and virtual assistants are increasingly being used by companies to handle customer inquiries and provide support. AI-powered chatbots can understand natural language and provide quick and accurate responses, improving customer service experiences.

Smart Homes:

AI and robotics have facilitated the development of smart home systems that can control lighting, temperature, security, and entertainment devices. These systems learn from user preferences and can adapt to create personalized and energy-efficient environments.

Language Translation:

AI-powered language translation tools have made it easier to communicate across different languages. Real-time translation apps and devices allow for seamless conversations between people who speak different languages.

These are just a few examples of how AI and robotics are making our lives easier. They have the potential to bring significant advancements and improvements in various fields, enhancing efficiency, productivity, and convenience for individuals and society as a whole.

Robots serving in Retail

zoron Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Robots in Retail March 24, 2023March 24, 2023

Robots serving in retail shops are becoming increasingly common as retailers look for ways to streamline their operations and provide better customer service. With recent advances in AI, these robots are able to perform a variety of tasks, from restocking shelves to providing customer assistance.

One of the primary benefits of using robots in retail is their ability to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up human employees to focus on more complex or customer-facing activities. For example, robots can be used to restock shelves, clean floors, or take inventory, allowing employees to spend more time interacting with customers and providing personalized service.

Better Customer Experience

In addition to improving operational efficiency, robots can also provide a better customer experience. Some retailers are using robots to provide assistance to customers, answering questions and directing them to products. These robots can also be programmed to recognize when a customer needs help and proactively approach them, improving the overall level of service.

Recent advances in AI have made these robots even more capable. For example, natural language processing (NLP) allows robots to understand and respond to customer inquiries, while computer vision enables them to recognize and navigate through complex environments. Machine learning algorithms allow robots to learn from their experiences and improve their performance over time.

One example of a retail robot is the Tally robot, developed by Simbe Robotics. Tally is a mobile robot that scans store shelves to track inventory levels and ensure that products are correctly placed. Using computer vision and machine learning, Tally is able to identify products on shelves, track inventory levels, and even identify misplaced items. This allows retailers to quickly identify and restock empty shelves, improving the customer experience and reducing the amount of time employees need to spend on inventory management.

Another example is the Pepper robot, developed by SoftBank Robotics. Pepper is a humanoid robot that can provide customer assistance in retail environments. Using NLP and facial recognition, Pepper is able to recognize and respond to customers, providing information on products and directing them to the appropriate areas of the store. Pepper can also be used to collect customer feedback and provide personalized recommendations based on their shopping history.

Benefits of robots serving in retail

While robots in retail are still in their early stages, they have the potential to transform the industry by improving efficiency, reducing costs, and providing better service to customers. With recent advances in AI, these robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and capable, and it is likely that we will see more and more of them in retail environments in the years to come.

Will Robots Replace Human Jobs?

Apollo 11 Lunar Mission

zoron Robots of the Future, Space Exploration, Space Robots March 15, 2023March 28, 2023apollo 11, liunar mission 1969, moon landing, moonwalk

My Recollections of The Apollo 11 Moon Landing and Moon Walk

Perhaps the most watched television event of the twentieth century happened on Monday 21^st July 1969 at 12:56 pm (Australian Eastern Time).

It was one of the few times in life when you clearly remember where you were at the time.

I was in our lounge room with Chris, who was my girlfriend at the time, along with other family members, and I well remember that day.

Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy on July 16, 1969, carrying Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin into an Earth-orbit of 116 miles.

As the Lunar Module approached the surface of the moon, an estimated 650 million people watched Armstrong’s televised image and heard his voice describe the event.

The Lunar Landing

We, along with the other 650 million people on earth, were holding our collective breath as Astronaut Neil Armstrong uttered those memorable words “The Eagle has landed!”. I clearly recall the excitement and tension in our lounge room as we watched, our eyes glued to the small black-and-white television picture.

But the excitement and relief were echoed around the world as well. The Mission Controller in Houston radioed back to Armstrong that there were “a bunch of guys there, about to turn blue”. (Ten years later, on a guided tour of Houston in 1979, I had the pleasure of seeing that same control room).

Then just a few minutes later, we heard Armstrong’s words, transmitted from 384,000 kilometers away; “That’s one small step for a man… one giant leap for mankind”.

Capturing the television signal

During those few minutes, the operators in the control centre in Houston Texas were attempting to capture and send out to the world, the clearest possible picture of Neil Armstrong’s descent down the ladder of the lunar module. Neil Armstrong was waiting on the ladder for the go-ahead to step down into the fine dust on the lunar surface. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin was waiting inside the lunar lander while Mike Collins was nervously listening and watching in the orbiting Command Module.

At the time, I was studying Communication Engineering at Melbourne’s RMIT and was particularly interested in the role Australia was playing in the relaying of the telemetry and television signals to Houston control.

Houston was having trouble capturing clear video of the event until eventually we heard the words “Switching video to Honeysuckle”. The space monitoring station at Honeysuckle Creek in Australia had managed to receive a much better picture and this was then relayed to the watching world for the remainder of the broadcast.

NASA Moon Landing Audio Recordings

In this video we have a fascinating recording of the voice communications between the moon and the earth, as the astronauts set about bringing the vehicle safely down to the surface of the moon. The video contains voice recordings of the Astronauts on board the Lunar Module (The Eagle) as it makes its powered descent to the surface of the moon. It also shows simultaneous video recording of the surface of the moon, taken from inside the lunar module.

The creators of this video stated that…

“Our goal is to capture a moment in history so that generations may now relive the events with this interactive educational resource. The world remembers the moon landing as a major historical event but often fails to recognize the scale of the mission. This interactive resource aims to educate visitors while engaging them with the excitement of manned-spaceflight to build a passion for scientific exploration”.

Australia’s Role in the Apollo 11 Mission

If you have watched the movie “The Dish” you will know of the role played in the Apollo 11 mission by the Australian tracking station at Parkes in New South Wales. Not many people however are aware of the vital role played by the other Australian tracking station at Honeysuckle Creek.

The Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station also kept recordings of the event …

This 8 minute video from Honeysuckle Creek tracking station records the event from the perspective of the Australians involved in the Space Program at the time.

Forty years after the event, a television documentary was produced, called “One Small Step” – 2009. You can watch this movie for a distinctly Australian perspective of this momentous event. See how the communication link almost didn’t happen. See the reactions of those involved when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon and of ordinary Australians actually watching, in real time “one of mankind’s biggest achievements”.

Apollo 11 50 year anniversary 2018 — Man on the Moon

The 50^th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing

The anniversary of this incredible event was celebrated in 2019.

Return to Cape Kennedy

On July 16th 2019 at 0915 US Eastern Daylight Time, the Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins returned to the historic launch pad (Pad39A) where Apollo 11 began its mission 50 years ago.

He spoke with with Kennedy Centre Director Bob Cabana. The session was followed by a visit to the Launch Control Centre and Firing Room to meet up with Apollo era launch controllers.

The event was aired live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the historic Apollo 11 Moon mission and now looks to the future of exploration on the Moon and Mars with a live, two-hour television broadcast.

Ron Sheldon – 2019

Robots Replacing Humans

zoron Artificial Intelligence, New Robots, Robots in Retail, Robots of the Future January 9, 2023July 8, 2023robot technology, robots, robots in the workplace

Can robots replace humans?

Business owners are in a race to replace their workers as quickly as possible in order to avoid being overtaken by their competitors. However, the flip side of this is that workers are not impressed and not really excited about the prospect of their jobs being taken over by robots. One expert predicts that 40% of all current jobs will be replaced within 15 years by robots controlled by artificial intelligence.

Will robots replace humans in their jobs?

It seems now that in some countries, robots are becoming unpopular, to the extent that some humans are resorting to violence against the robots themselves, rather than against their creators or the employers who introduced them to the work place. Recently a robotic security guard was wrapped in a tarpaulin and covered with barbecue sauce . In Russia a teaching robot was bashed with a baseball bat. It seems to be a world-wide phenomenon on our robot planet.

So why this strange new phenomenon? It could be that we are coming to regard robots as creatures very similar to ourselves… after all, our human hearts can be seen simply as sophisticated pumps. And our DNA can be described in a form similar to computer code. Even our nervous system is like to the electrical wiring inside machines. The similarities are many.

Machines replacing humans

Does this mean that, in the future, a battle between humans and robots is inevitable? Perhaps not. One robot manufacturer has discovered that if robots are given a name, fellow workers are much less likely to attack them. You can imagine a work place where a robot named “George” is introduced to the workers. Mary, John and Alan will be happier to work with “him” and not resent the fact that one of their team has been replaced by a machine. I imagine that lunch breaks and morning tea breaks would be interesting for employee conversation and bonding!!

Are robots going to replace people’s jobs in future?

So which professions can be challenged by the potential introduction of robots in the work place? Practically every profession practised by humans is now under threat by robots. And this includes the most unlikely. Robot chefs in restaurants are now a reality.

It seems that even journalism is under threat. The Guardian has recently engaged a robot writer that has just written its first article!! (I don’t know the name of this new robotic writer).

Even the medical and legal professions are under threat by artificial intelligence.

Jobs that robots will replace

Robots replacing humans in the workplace

Here is a list of the 10 Jobs most likely to be taken over by robots..

INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS AND CLAIMS REPRESENTATIVES
BANK TELLERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
FINANCIAL ANALYSTS
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
INVENTORY MANAGERS AND STOCKISTS
FARMERS
TAXI DRIVERS
MANUFACTURING WORKERS
JOURNALISTS
MOVIE STARS

Could a robot do your job?

Self-Driving Cars

zoron Artificial Intelligence, New Robots, Robot Vehicles January 9, 2023July 8, 2023robot technology, robotic vehicles, robots in the workplace

How soon will we see self-driving cars on the roads?

You may think that robotic self-driving cars are thing of science fiction. Not since 3D printing has a technology been so hyped up to imminently change our everyday lives. But there is a lot of misunderstanding about artificial intelligence as it is employed in autonomous vehicles. In this article we look at how self-driving cars work and how they’re going to change the future of transportation.

Riley Wynn from Digital Trends says that despite all the developments in the technology, people are still scared of them. Fear stems from a lack of understanding, so here is how self-driving cars work and how they will change the future of transportation.

One common misunderstanding is about what is a self-driving car.

Many of us at presently already own what can be classed as a low-level autonomous vehicle. We take for granted such features as cruise control and ABS braking but these systems are autonomous in their own right.

In fact, autonomous vehicles have been classified into five categories, on a scale of increasing complexity.

Category Levels of Autonomous Vehicles…

Level 0 All major systems are controlled by humans. (The car you learnt to drive in)

Level 1 Certain systems such as cruise control and ABS are controlled by the car. (Most modern vehicles on the road)

Level 2 At least two simultaneous automated functions like acceleration and steering but still has human override capability.

Level 3 The car commands all safety-critical functions under certain conditions but the driver is expected to take over when alerted.

Level 4 The car is fully autonomous in some scenarios but not all.

Level 5 The car is capable of self-driving in every situation.

Currently there are no technology companies that can offer a Level 5 fully autonomous car that will cope with any conditions on any road with no human overseer.

What robotic technologies are used to drive autonomous cars?

The main technologies employed in self driving cars are…

Radar sensors

Cameras

Internal GPS

Laser range finders

Sophisticated software

Lidar sensors
Lidar is a method that measures distance to a target by illuminating the target with pulsed laser light and measuring the reflected pulses with a sensor. Differences in laser return times and wavelengths can then be used to make digital 3-D representations of the target. [Wikipedia]

How do self-driving vehicles work?

The lidar and the radar sensors feed information about the surrounds of the car to the central ai computer, which also gets information from the vehicle’s GPS (Global Positioning System) to precisely locate the vehicle in relation to other vehicles and objects.

The on-board cameras then step in to create a visual picture of what is around, to match the data points provided by the other technology. This provides the AI central computer with information about anything that may be in the road, such as pedestrians or cyclists.

Self-driving vehicles are designed to make intelligent decisions on the best way to navigate around obstacles. The ai computer aggregates all the received data from the sensors and then sends the information to the actuators in the car that control the braking, the throttle and the steering. This is where the vehicle becomes robotically controlled. All these processes are repeated many times per second, in real time, to maintain control of the vehicle. The robotic system replicates all the processes that a driver performs when behind the wheel and the eventual goal is that they will do it better than we humans can.

Who is building self-driving vehicles?

Delivery giants like Amazon, Fedex and UPS are looking at how they could take the driver out of truck driver. Self-driving deliveries of packages could be the forerunner to self-driving vehicles for human passengers.

Level 5 autonomous vehicles on the roads are still a long way off but robotic vehicles for deliveries and shuttles could be just around the corner (literally).

Fear of autonomous vehicles

Nevertheless, many people are still worried about the safety issues with self-driving cars.

Let us know in the comments below if you would ride in or own a self-driving car.

Read more about AI

What are the Best Robot Toys for Christmas?

zoron New Robots, Robot Toys, Toy Robot Kits December 15, 2022January 11, 2023best robot toys, New Robot Toys, robot games, robot toys

What to look for when choosing a toy robot for Christmas

First, consider the child’s age. They will need to play safely with their toy robot

Also consider their skill level and how the toy robot may assist in contributing to their education. Other aspects to think about are ease of use and charging, the material used and the general overall design and construction.

Novie is an interactive robot toy for kids aged four and over. He can follow commands and learn some cool tricks. These tricks include spinout, wheelie and berserk. You can even control Novie with specific hand gestures!

Novie would make an ideal Christmas present.

Another favourite toy robot this year is Cozmo by Anki, probably the most intelligent and endearing robot of all those reviewed.

Anki Cozmo 2019 best toy robot — Anki Cozmo 2019

Cozmo is a life-like robot who will become your loyal playmate. You can play games with Cosmo and even see things the way that he does. He is very beginner-friendly and is an educational robot that you will be able to program creatively. Cozmo comes with a free phone app for either iOS or Android. Anki will provide ongoing support for Cozmo.

But if you are looking for a cheaper robot toy, our choice is definitely Movi by Fischer-Price

Fisher-Price’s Teach ‘n Tag Movi is designed for pre-schoolers aged 3 years and older. This cute little robot friend will keep kids entertained for hours.

Movi is also an educational robot that comes pre-programmed with six games that pre-schoolers will love. The games are activated by pushing a button on Movi’s belly. Kids can run around and dance while Movi responds by rolling, talking and making animal noises. He also has some other tricks for them to discover. Unlike many other robots, Movi has more than 60 facial expressions and needs an area about 5 feet x 5 feet to perform his tricks.

Other contenders for the best toy robots were…

The Tetska Puppy, probably one of the most attractive toy robots,
The UBTech Jimu, a champion of construction games.

Find Movi here

The 11 Best Robot Toys of 2023

Robot Vacuums

Robots at the CES

zoron Artificial Intelligence, Household Robots, New Robots, Robot Toys, Robots of the Future, Toy Robot Kits October 24, 2022October 25, 2022best robot toys, New Robot Toys 2019, robot technology, robots in the workplace

Robots starred at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Updated October 2022

Walker the Robotic Assistant — “Walker” – robotic assistant using AI

The CES is a gadget-lovers’ paradise and offers consumers a glimpse of the future. CES is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). The show attracts the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers.

Robots were winning over visitors to the show.

CES 2019 was held from January 8 to 11 and with more than 4,400 exhibitors and over 1,000 start-ups, there was something new lurking around every corner… including Personal Robot Assistants. Yes, the time has come to have your own personal robot assistant!

What can Robots do?

Many new robots now have advanced capabilities. There was even a robot at the show that can fold your laundry for you!

A Robot named “Walker” can become part of your family with its own personality, thanks to the sophistication of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Walker will even bribe you with snacks!

R2-D2 Lego Robot Toy

zoron Robot Movies, Robot Toys, Space Exploration, Toy Robot Kits May 1, 2022May 4, 2022R2-D2, Star Wars

Lego Star Wars robot R2-D2 comes to life in 2021

May 4th be with you!

One of the best Star Wars Lego sets is now available to celebrate Star Wars Day… May the 4^th 2021

The Lego company are launching a new robot set of Lego Star Wars robots and this release coincides with the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm, the creator of the Skywalker saga.

Top of the range is the 2,314 piece R2-D2 robot model, actually a re-release of the R2-D2 model that was discontinued in 2014.

This model is a veritable dancing robot that has moving parts. Apart from his extendable mid-leg and rotating head, R2-D2 has several pop-up gadgets like a periscope, taser, and a grabbing claw. He even has a miniature green lightsaber inside his rotatable head.

Along with the 12 ½ inch high Lego model, you will get a mini-figure scale counterpart on a special display stand with information about R2-D2. There is also a special brick that commemorates the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm.

Buy R2-D2 Model toy robot

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Lego Star Wars Toys

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