Gitex 2022 is packed with innovation and new technology, including a host of robots to be used on an industrial scale. While some took on a more humanoid form, others were built with service in mind and to take the manual labor out of menial tasks.
Here are the top five robots during the exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Swiss-Mile surveillance robot
Swiss-Mile, a spin-off of ETH Zurich’s Robotic Systems Lab, is commercializing robots with both legs and wheels to perform various tasks, including mapping, inspection, disaster relief, and logistics in urban environments. The robot is based on ETH’s ANYmal quadruped and can travel at speeds up to 13.87 MPH with a payload capacity of up to 50 kg.
The hybrid robot uses a combination of GPS, LiDAR, and cameras to navigate city streets and avoid obstacles autonomously. According to Swiss-Mile, the robots have a two-hour runtime per battery charge.
Swiss-Mile is extending the capabilities of mobile robots by deploying a hybrid mobility platform that can overcome challenging obstacles like stairs and enable seamless navigation in indoor and outdoor environments. Being able to use both wheels and legs helps robots efficiently adapt to different situations, trading the ability to traverse rough terrain for speed, and likely outperforming wheeled mobile delivery robots or quadrupeds.
This is not the first time we have seen a robot with both legs and wheels, but it could be one of the first hybrid systems to be commercialized. Boston Dynamics’ Handle robot initially had both, but that system evolved into Stretch, which uses only wheels.
Mwafeq Robot, by Dewa
Similar to the Swiss Mile robot, Dewa uses its four-legged Spot Robots to detect faults and test connection points of high-voltage cables. The robots will carry scanners and sensors while patrolling electricity lines with data then uploaded to SAP’s cloud for analysis. “The main advantage is that there remains no need for full-area visual inspection by a human expert, who can do the in-depth qualification from the comfort of the office,” said Manfred Pauli, the director at SAP’s global co-innovation lab. No further details were provided as to time or capital savings.
Robotic technology is being deployed more in this area to catch potential problems that could result in power cuts, which also means a financial loss. A 30-minute power cut in the US can result in an average loss of US$15,709 for medium and large industrial clients, according to the consultancy company, Allianz. Utility use of these applications is growing as emerging countries’ electricity networks expand to serve growing populations. Dewa’s customer base has risen by nearly 12 percent to 730,000 accounts in the past three years.
Combined with developed nations digitalizing operations known as smart grids, overall sales for both drones and robots used in utility grid infrastructure are projected to reach $9.6 billion in 2025, according to research company Renewable Market Watch.
It can also be used safely to detect leakage in water pipes, conduct security and monitoring patrols and ensure construction works are aligned in hard-to-reach areas.
Specifications included multiple-angle cameras.
Ameca humanoid
Ameca is a cloud-connected platform that multiplies the power of Artificial Intelligence with an artificial body where AI and machine learning systems can be tested and developed alongside Engineered Arts’ powerful Tritium robot operating system. This allows companies working on robotic research to test their products. Companies creating AI or machine learning technology can use Ameca to test and present their technology in front of a live audience.
The Ameca hardware is a development based on Engineered Arts’ own research into humanoid robotics and built on their advanced Mesmer technology. The robot’s congeniality makes it a perfect platform for fostering human-to-human connections in any Metaverse or digital environment. Some of us like Musk may be concerned about what our future will look like when the intellect is combined with a flawless human appearance.
The emergence of AI as shown in the movies usually brings chaos with it. However, Ameca’s creators claim that the technological breakthrough would be used for a different purpose, asserting that Ameca will be the future face of robots. AI will not only enable machines to learn and execute human activities in a more efficient way, but also to go beyond them.
Ottobot by Ottonomy
Ottobot is the world’s first fully autonomous delivery robot at an airport, delivering retail and food items at CVG Airport, Cincinnati. Ottobot has also partnered with Los Angeles-based Crave, for last-mile food delivery for its restaurant customers. In December 2021, Presto, a leading provider of restaurant automation technologies announced that their partner restaurant guests will be able to order using Presto’s technology and have the food delivered via Ottonomy’s robots. Currently, our technology is being evaluated for multiple use cases by one of the world’s largest retailers
Ottonomy’s proprietary contextual mobility navigation software enables Ottobot to navigate through crowded and unpredictable environments. Ottonomy provides a highly scalable and flexible solution, utilizing a comprehensive suite of tools for managing a fleet of robots deployed across different geographies.
Ottonomy is also a new addition to Newlab at Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, where they will be running additional pilots.
BHS technology robot microscope
A Swiss company called BHS Technologies has unveiled a specially designed robot to assist surgeons, claiming it to be a world first. “A high-precision robot, a high-resolution 3D camera and an innovative head-mounted display – the world’s first RoboticScope have arrived on the market,” says the company, adding that it “sets new standards in microsurgery”.
Essentially, the system uses a head-mounted display to translate small head movements of the surgeon directly into movements of the robotic arm, enabling the surgeon to view exactly what they want. As BHS says: “The surgeon can intuitively control the microscope with head movements. A change of perspective can be intuitively done by moving the head.”
Using this method, the surgeon can select the viewing angle of the 8x zoom lenses and even control a sophisticated menu from a microdisplay, allowing the activation and control of further functions. The high-precision Stäubli TX2-60L delivers “jerk-free motion sequences of the AMP”. Also, its enclosed build means that the six-axis machine already complies with cleanroom class ISO 5, allowing BHS to save on the potential extra costs of upgrading to a cleanroom version.
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