Harsh Robotics | Anna Valente | TEDxLugano

[Music]

[Music] so in manufacturing and specifically in

so in manufacturing and specifically in

so in manufacturing and specifically in maintenance inferring operation we deal

maintenance inferring operation we deal

maintenance inferring operation we deal every day with Heights astre mele

every day with Heights astre mele

every day with Heights astre mele distressing tasks narrow pipes and very

distressing tasks narrow pipes and very

distressing tasks narrow pipes and very dangerous situation vertical surfaces in

dangerous situation vertical surfaces in

dangerous situation vertical surfaces in the open ocean dancers – shark

the open ocean dancers – shark

the open ocean dancers – shark what’s an environment more sharks and of

what’s an environment more sharks and of

what’s an environment more sharks and of course harsh environment we do have some

course harsh environment we do have some

course harsh environment we do have some distance hi it’s drizzling hot weather

distance hi it’s drizzling hot weather

distance hi it’s drizzling hot weather and strongly corrosive salty weather and

and strongly corrosive salty weather and

and strongly corrosive salty weather and of course hold structure that can

of course hold structure that can

of course hold structure that can collapse in a blink of an eye now my

collapse in a blink of an eye now my

collapse in a blink of an eye now my question for you is what do you like not

question for you is what do you like not

question for you is what do you like not to see in the situation I can tell you

to see in the situation I can tell you

to see in the situation I can tell you that I would like not to see people in

that I would like not to see people in

that I would like not to see people in this situation absolutely every year

this situation absolutely every year

this situation absolutely every year there are tens of thousands of injuries

there are tens of thousands of injuries

there are tens of thousands of injuries in the world and the more we built the

in the world and the more we built the

in the world and the more we built the higher is the risk for people there’s

higher is the risk for people there’s

higher is the risk for people there’s nothing to do with the turbine industry

nothing to do with the turbine industry

nothing to do with the turbine industry and we melt industries there’s those are

and we melt industries there’s those are

and we melt industries there’s those are actually the industries where there’s

actually the industries where there’s

actually the industries where there’s highest level of technology embedded is

highest level of technology embedded is

highest level of technology embedded is actually about people so if we place

actually about people so if we place

actually about people so if we place human beings in executing dangerous

human beings in executing dangerous

human beings in executing dangerous tasks in our environment we cannot avoid

tasks in our environment we cannot avoid

tasks in our environment we cannot avoid the risk of failure so what we do about

the risk of failure so what we do about

the risk of failure so what we do about that if you ask me well I would say I

that if you ask me well I would say I

that if you ask me well I would say I suppose a robot over there so this idea

suppose a robot over there so this idea

suppose a robot over there so this idea kind of stood up in my mind in the last

kind of stood up in my mind in the last

kind of stood up in my mind in the last years I try to snoop around and try to

years I try to snoop around and try to

years I try to snoop around and try to understand

understand

understand where the actual levels or robotic

where the actual levels or robotic

where the actual levels or robotic exploitation around in the maintenance

exploitation around in the maintenance

exploitation around in the maintenance repairing operations and they saw that

repairing operations and they saw that

repairing operations and they saw that was leave a little poor application

was leave a little poor application

was leave a little poor application exploitation on robots

exploitation on robots

exploitation on robots mostly for inspection a little bit of

mostly for inspection a little bit of

mostly for inspection a little bit of cleaning so either mobile platforms or

cleaning so either mobile platforms or

cleaning so either mobile platforms or drones but there was actually very

drones but there was actually very

drones but there was actually very little or close to nothing executing

little or close to nothing executing

little or close to nothing executing actual manufacturing tasks that was

actual manufacturing tasks that was

actual manufacturing tasks that was range so what I’ve done is to try to

range so what I’ve done is to try to

range so what I’ve done is to try to organize a meeting I wrap up a bunch of

organize a meeting I wrap up a bunch of

organize a meeting I wrap up a bunch of people expert strongly expert in the

people expert strongly expert in the

people expert strongly expert in the maintenance and I try to discuss with

maintenance and I try to discuss with

maintenance and I try to discuss with them to investigate what was the

them to investigate what was the

them to investigate what was the motivation for that and their answer was

motivation for that and their answer was

motivation for that and their answer was guys no way no way you can build a robot

guys no way no way you can build a robot

guys no way no way you can build a robot that can integrate the peeling of the

that can integrate the peeling of the

that can integrate the peeling of the painting the treatment of corrosion the

painting the treatment of corrosion the

painting the treatment of corrosion the coating the cleaning and other

coating the cleaning and other

coating the cleaning and other technologies is too complex and they

technologies is too complex and they

technologies is too complex and they elaborated the thing and said well

elaborated the thing and said well

elaborated the thing and said well complex challenge accepted so I went

complex challenge accepted so I went

complex challenge accepted so I went back to my place and I started working

back to my place and I started working

back to my place and I started working with my beautiful team of engineers an

with my beautiful team of engineers an

with my beautiful team of engineers an expert in robotics we start trying to

expert in robotics we start trying to

expert in robotics we start trying to envisage and embrace the next generation

envisage and embrace the next generation

envisage and embrace the next generation of robots for our environments and of

of robots for our environments and of

of robots for our environments and of course there were complex that was right

course there were complex that was right

course there were complex that was right so we start addressing a number of

so we start addressing a number of

so we start addressing a number of challenges on the way first dexterity I

challenges on the way first dexterity I

challenges on the way first dexterity I will the robot move in order to mirror

will the robot move in order to mirror

will the robot move in order to mirror the human being

the human being

the human being reckon figure ability how the robot

reckon figure ability how the robot

reckon figure ability how the robot needs to evolve to match changes of

needs to evolve to match changes of

needs to evolve to match changes of operating conditions robustness we need

operating conditions robustness we need

operating conditions robustness we need to have the robot endure the critical

to have the robot endure the critical

to have the robot endure the critical situation the arch environment and of

situation the arch environment and of

situation the arch environment and of course self resilience ease so we’re

course self resilience ease so we’re

course self resilience ease so we’re actually building a robot to help people

actually building a robot to help people

actually building a robot to help people and then ask people to go down to fix

and then ask people to go down to fix

and then ask people to go down to fix the robot would make sense you know so

the robot would make sense you know so

the robot would make sense you know so the thing that we were trying to do is

the thing that we were trying to do is

the thing that we were trying to do is to make the robot aware of the

to make the robot aware of the

to make the robot aware of the surrounding but at the same time embed a

surrounding but at the same time embed a

surrounding but at the same time embed a level of self-awareness in a way the

level of self-awareness in a way the

level of self-awareness in a way the robot could process and experience

robot could process and experience

robot could process and experience itself and monitor and trace any grading

itself and monitor and trace any grading

itself and monitor and trace any grading behavior in a way it could you know

behavior in a way it could you know

behavior in a way it could you know react properly to that again I try to

react properly to that again I try to

react properly to that again I try to pack a number of things little slides

pack a number of things little slides

pack a number of things little slides few more cups conceptual demos nothing

few more cups conceptual demos nothing

few more cups conceptual demos nothing more I wanted to double-check these

more I wanted to double-check these

more I wanted to double-check these things and I cycled back to the very

things and I cycled back to the very

things and I cycled back to the very people I met in the first place

people I met in the first place

people I met in the first place so we sit around this table I did have

so we sit around this table I did have

so we sit around this table I did have my my presentation and everything was

my my presentation and everything was

my my presentation and everything was smooth actually I thought that was okay

smooth actually I thought that was okay

smooth actually I thought that was okay and then I got that look you know that

and then I got that look you know that

and then I got that look you know that look that people give to you that it

look that people give to you that it

look that people give to you that it says well that’s cool but election oh so

says well that’s cool but election oh so

says well that’s cool but election oh so again I went back to the office I start

again I went back to the office I start

again I went back to the office I start processing this thing I really need to

processing this thing I really need to

processing this thing I really need to understand the motivation behind such

understand the motivation behind such

understand the motivation behind such reaction and one day I call my friend

reaction and one day I call my friend

reaction and one day I call my friend David extremely interesting past in the

David extremely interesting past in the

David extremely interesting past in the MRO sector and the guy told me Emma why

MRO sector and the guy told me Emma why

MRO sector and the guy told me Emma why don’t you just come over the North and

don’t you just come over the North and

don’t you just come over the North and see we can take an alley copter and fly

see we can take an alley copter and fly

see we can take an alley copter and fly over a platform so you can kind of

over a platform so you can kind of

over a platform so you can kind of experience the thing you can feel and

experience the thing you can feel and

experience the thing you can feel and embrace the process you can talk to

embrace the process you can talk to

embrace the process you can talk to people you can double-check the

people you can double-check the

people you can double-check the repairing tasks they are carrying out

repairing tasks they are carrying out

repairing tasks they are carrying out you can have meetings with the

you can have meetings with the

you can have meetings with the maintenance and operation guys and I

maintenance and operation guys and I

maintenance and operation guys and I thought in my mind that’s a

thought in my mind that’s a

thought in my mind that’s a I’m gonna do that that’s right I really

I’m gonna do that that’s right I really

I’m gonna do that that’s right I really need to have that and I didn’t do that

need to have that and I didn’t do that

need to have that and I didn’t do that but yet I went to play video games

big success sir that was actually my

big success sir that was actually my first time I didn’t make it the point

first time I didn’t make it the point

first time I didn’t make it the point was that if you know that game it’s

was that if you know that game it’s

was that if you know that game it’s really really simple

really really simple

really really simple it’s called Planck experience there’s

it’s called Planck experience there’s

it’s called Planck experience there’s this blank just sending up from the

this blank just sending up from the

this blank just sending up from the floor 15 centimeters but when you wear

floor 15 centimeters but when you wear

floor 15 centimeters but when you wear the V ours it looks like hundred meters

the V ours it looks like hundred meters

the V ours it looks like hundred meters suspended plank on the top of skyscraper

suspended plank on the top of skyscraper

suspended plank on the top of skyscraper it’s terrifying you can feel the hair

it’s terrifying you can feel the hair

it’s terrifying you can feel the hair blown from the fan there are fake

blown from the fan there are fake

blown from the fan there are fake mechanical vibrations so you really feel

mechanical vibrations so you really feel

mechanical vibrations so you really feel that it looks real you’re not missing a

that it looks real you’re not missing a

that it looks real you’re not missing a spot from the reality and then over that

spot from the reality and then over that

spot from the reality and then over that I got my epiphany I understood the point

I got my epiphany I understood the point

I got my epiphany I understood the point so my robot were not good enough for

so my robot were not good enough for

so my robot were not good enough for that application there were just

that application there were just

that application there were just beautiful piece of mechatronics nothing

beautiful piece of mechatronics nothing

beautiful piece of mechatronics nothing more and I could literally over the

more and I could literally over the

more and I could literally over the plant plank visualize myself in the

plant plank visualize myself in the

plant plank visualize myself in the place in the maintenance place so I

place in the maintenance place so I

place in the maintenance place so I could visualize the operator running the

could visualize the operator running the

could visualize the operator running the welding task but at the same time

welding task but at the same time

welding task but at the same time feeling the rust breathing the you know

feeling the rust breathing the you know

feeling the rust breathing the you know the hair just feeling the smell of the

the hair just feeling the smell of the

the hair just feeling the smell of the water and looking at the wind and the

water and looking at the wind and the

water and looking at the wind and the flocks of birds just in case so all the

flocks of birds just in case so all the

flocks of birds just in case so all the senses are focused on that very task

senses are focused on that very task

senses are focused on that very task everything is Arman eyes for that very

everything is Arman eyes for that very

everything is Arman eyes for that very task and that makes sense because it’s

task and that makes sense because it’s

task and that makes sense because it’s human preservation from danger and that

human preservation from danger and that

human preservation from danger and that was it I wanted my robot to have that

was it I wanted my robot to have that

was it I wanted my robot to have that feature those specs

feature those specs

feature those specs I really have I wanted to have the

I really have I wanted to have the

I really have I wanted to have the robots to kind of resemble the human

robots to kind of resemble the human

robots to kind of resemble the human behavior but then I process the thing

behavior but then I process the thing

behavior but then I process the thing again I say no wait no way I’m not

again I say no wait no way I’m not

again I say no wait no way I’m not do that I’m not gonna have a robot

do that I’m not gonna have a robot

do that I’m not gonna have a robot mirroring a human being

mirroring a human being

mirroring a human being I wanna have a robot cooperating with

I wanna have a robot cooperating with

I wanna have a robot cooperating with the human being having this perfect

the human being having this perfect

the human being having this perfect relationship balanced relationship but

relationship balanced relationship but

relationship balanced relationship but of course when you think about new

of course when you think about new

of course when you think about new solution on robots for our environment

solution on robots for our environment

solution on robots for our environment and you see these robots installed in

and you see these robots installed in

and you see these robots installed in actual plants you don’t have a

actual plants you don’t have a

actual plants you don’t have a roboticist over there they are not

roboticist over there they are not

roboticist over there they are not skilled in coding and other stuff they

skilled in coding and other stuff they

skilled in coding and other stuff they are perfect professionist in the

are perfect professionist in the

are perfect professionist in the repairing sector so I needed to have

repairing sector so I needed to have

repairing sector so I needed to have this robots cooperating with human in a

this robots cooperating with human in a

this robots cooperating with human in a smooth way in frictionless way I needed

smooth way in frictionless way I needed

smooth way in frictionless way I needed to have the robot to be intuitive now

to have the robot to be intuitive now

to have the robot to be intuitive now the process of intuition works two-way

the process of intuition works two-way

the process of intuition works two-way only one hand you master the robot and

only one hand you master the robot and

only one hand you master the robot and the robot receives your will on the

the robot receives your will on the

the robot receives your will on the other hand the robot executes but if you

other hand the robot executes but if you

other hand the robot executes but if you wanna have really that connection you

wanna have really that connection you

wanna have really that connection you need to feel the robot any single bit so

need to feel the robot any single bit so

need to feel the robot any single bit so we started by steps as always first step

we started by steps as always first step

we started by steps as always first step try to have smooth digital interface or

try to have smooth digital interface or

try to have smooth digital interface or literally more human-like interface this

literally more human-like interface this

literally more human-like interface this is an application in my lab so

is an application in my lab so

is an application in my lab so commercial very good robot commercial

commercial very good robot commercial

commercial very good robot commercial extremely good technology we just

extremely good technology we just

extremely good technology we just working on the interface the way we

working on the interface the way we

working on the interface the way we relate to the robot second step

relate to the robot second step

relate to the robot second step mastering the robot while it was

mastering the robot while it was

mastering the robot while it was executing an actual task this robot is

executing an actual task this robot is

executing an actual task this robot is executing a technology that is called

executing a technology that is called

executing a technology that is called cold spray means without a laser this

cold spray means without a laser this

cold spray means without a laser this technology that starts when I hope in my

technology that starts when I hope in my

technology that starts when I hope in my hand literally it’s busca Li a blessing

hand literally it’s busca Li a blessing

hand literally it’s busca Li a blessing metal particles out to a nozzle in

metal particles out to a nozzle in

metal particles out to a nozzle in supersonic speed with high pressure and

supersonic speed with high pressure and

supersonic speed with high pressure and extremely high temperature

extremely high temperature

extremely high temperature very harsh right now this technology is

very harsh right now this technology is

very harsh right now this technology is run by human beings with bare hands it’s

run by human beings with bare hands it’s

run by human beings with bare hands it’s very complex

very complex

very complex so we mastered to have such kind of

so we mastered to have such kind of

so we mastered to have such kind of interaction with the robot but when you

interaction with the robot but when you

interaction with the robot but when you work in a lab it looks like it works but

work in a lab it looks like it works but

work in a lab it looks like it works but really doesn’t you’re not sure at all

really doesn’t you’re not sure at all

really doesn’t you’re not sure at all so next step was let’s move on site

so next step was let’s move on site

so next step was let’s move on site let’s pick an industrial case well we

let’s pick an industrial case well we

let’s pick an industrial case well we can really verify whether the robot is a

can really verify whether the robot is a

can really verify whether the robot is a good solution or not so we pick this

good solution or not so we pick this

good solution or not so we pick this surface vertical wall to get cleaned and

surface vertical wall to get cleaned and

surface vertical wall to get cleaned and treat from corrosion and we start

treat from corrosion and we start

treat from corrosion and we start working on our next concept or robot

working on our next concept or robot

working on our next concept or robot this robot is a mobile platform is a

this robot is a mobile platform is a

this robot is a mobile platform is a platform that can actually climb

platform that can actually climb

platform that can actually climb vertical walls and it integrates

vertical walls and it integrates

vertical walls and it integrates different technologies so this specific

different technologies so this specific

different technologies so this specific application can actually peel the

application can actually peel the

application can actually peel the painting and cold spray so coat the

painting and cold spray so coat the

painting and cold spray so coat the surface the way Yao works is that this

surface the way Yao works is that this

surface the way Yao works is that this robot moves around this wall identifies

robot moves around this wall identifies

robot moves around this wall identifies the spots and somehow try to find the

the spots and somehow try to find the

the spots and somehow try to find the best recipe now you might think well

best recipe now you might think well

best recipe now you might think well where’s the human being in all this

where’s the human being in all this

where’s the human being in all this equation the robot is playing his highs

equation the robot is playing his highs

equation the robot is playing his highs and his ends so the human operator is

and his ends so the human operator is

and his ends so the human operator is actually supervising and also

actually supervising and also

actually supervising and also intervening somehow to optimize the

intervening somehow to optimize the

intervening somehow to optimize the process the difference from the current

process the difference from the current

process the difference from the current situation is that the human being is

situation is that the human being is

situation is that the human being is operating safely in a context where is

operating safely in a context where is

operating safely in a context where is all his senses are fully on the topic

all his senses are fully on the topic

all his senses are fully on the topic fully under repairing tasks everything

fully under repairing tasks everything

fully under repairing tasks everything is focus on the application on

is focus on the application on

is focus on the application on optimizing the process embracing the

optimizing the process embracing the

optimizing the process embracing the best

best

best process parameters and recipe so is

process parameters and recipe so is

process parameters and recipe so is actually exploiting his senses for a

actually exploiting his senses for a

actually exploiting his senses for a different purpose

different purpose

different purpose so all those you know actions that he

so all those you know actions that he

so all those you know actions that he used to do to preserve from danger are

used to do to preserve from danger are

used to do to preserve from danger are actually shifted towards a different

actually shifted towards a different

actually shifted towards a different application and then can be working and

application and then can be working and

application and then can be working and running in a control room on-site on the

running in a control room on-site on the

running in a control room on-site on the platform or even hundreds of kilometers

platform or even hundreds of kilometers

platform or even hundreds of kilometers away from that side cooperating with

away from that side cooperating with

away from that side cooperating with teams of engineers that is part of my

teams of engineers that is part of my

teams of engineers that is part of my team so we’re running and you know a

team so we’re running and you know a

team so we’re running and you know a meeting for trying to cooperate with the

meeting for trying to cooperate with the

meeting for trying to cooperate with the guys on site to identify the best

guys on site to identify the best

guys on site to identify the best process recipe so that looked actually

process recipe so that looked actually

process recipe so that looked actually work was working so again I packed my

work was working so again I packed my

work was working so again I packed my thing the dam was the mock-ups the CAD

thing the dam was the mock-ups the CAD

thing the dam was the mock-ups the CAD files and I went back to the very guys I

files and I went back to the very guys I

files and I went back to the very guys I met the first time and I was one side

met the first time and I was one side

met the first time and I was one side this time I was you know little bit more

this time I was you know little bit more

this time I was you know little bit more scared was unsure but they loved it they

scared was unsure but they loved it they

scared was unsure but they loved it they were enthusiastic crazy about that and

were enthusiastic crazy about that and

were enthusiastic crazy about that and we were discussing about the plans for

we were discussing about the plans for

we were discussing about the plans for the future it’s a point they asked me

the future it’s a point they asked me

the future it’s a point they asked me well Hannah are we’re gonna organize our

well Hannah are we’re gonna organize our

well Hannah are we’re gonna organize our things in the next two five ten years

things in the next two five ten years

things in the next two five ten years are they’re gonna work

are they’re gonna work

are they’re gonna work the robots with our equipment the

the robots with our equipment the

the robots with our equipment the maintenance to keep just traveling world

maintenance to keep just traveling world

maintenance to keep just traveling world wild and in that very moment I

wild and in that very moment I

wild and in that very moment I understood that we were actually working

understood that we were actually working

understood that we were actually working on a very interesting concept and I

on a very interesting concept and I

on a very interesting concept and I would say on a major shift the value

would say on a major shift the value

would say on a major shift the value chain along with the traditional

chain along with the traditional

chain along with the traditional professions and profiles and skills we

professions and profiles and skills we

professions and profiles and skills we were actually try to triggering and

were actually try to triggering and

were actually try to triggering and unfolding new professions so the

unfolding new professions so the

unfolding new professions so the traditional maintenance operator the

traditional maintenance operator the

traditional maintenance operator the traditional plant manager and quality

traditional plant manager and quality

traditional plant manager and quality we’re actually start working hands to

we’re actually start working hands to

we’re actually start working hands to hands with the process engineer the guy

hands with the process engineer the guy

hands with the process engineer the guy looking at the defect and the problem

looking at the defect and the problem

looking at the defect and the problem and knowing the mechatronics modules

and knowing the mechatronics modules

and knowing the mechatronics modules available on board and the technology it

available on board and the technology it

available on board and the technology it could actually build the perfect match

could actually build the perfect match

could actually build the perfect match the robot a keeper so the guy selecting

the robot a keeper so the guy selecting

the robot a keeper so the guy selecting the modules from a rack and installing

the modules from a rack and installing

the modules from a rack and installing those modules on the top of the robot as

those modules on the top of the robot as

those modules on the top of the robot as well as the robot maneuver who is

well as the robot maneuver who is

well as the robot maneuver who is responsible for physically and digitally

responsible for physically and digitally

responsible for physically and digitally interacting with the robot major shift

interacting with the robot major shift

interacting with the robot major shift and that made me think that we were not

and that made me think that we were not

and that made me think that we were not just building new robots we were

just building new robots we were

just building new robots we were building new professions and when it

building new professions and when it

building new professions and when it comes to new professions we really need

comes to new professions we really need

comes to new professions we really need new skills for the future the future

new skills for the future the future

new skills for the future the future that we are building all together its

that we are building all together its

that we are building all together its instrumental to be thought at this time

instrumental to be thought at this time

instrumental to be thought at this time I would say let’s leave the robot and

I would say let’s leave the robot and

I would say let’s leave the robot and place the robot to run very difficult

place the robot to run very difficult

place the robot to run very difficult tasks critical tasks in our environment

tasks critical tasks in our environment

tasks critical tasks in our environment let’s have that about ourselves we need

let’s have that about ourselves we need

let’s have that about ourselves we need to transcend the danger and amplify our

to transcend the danger and amplify our

to transcend the danger and amplify our ultimate senses thank you very much

ultimate senses thank you very much

ultimate senses thank you very much [Applause]