mechatronics, scientist, stylios

Next generation scientist

mechatronics, scientist, stylios

We can anticipate a better future if we entrust the potential, imagination and enthusiasm of youth. The American magazine “TIME” chose a teenage scientist and inventor as the “Kid of the Year”, who hopes to inspire others to come up with ideas for solving global problems.

15-year-old Gitanjali Rao, from Denver, Colorado, was selected by a team of 5,000 candidates in the United States. She has invented technologies including a device that can detect lead in the drinking water for which she was awarded, as well as an application that uses artificial intelligence to detect cyberbullying content.

In an interview with actress Angelina Jolie for TIME magazine, the 15-year-old said: I don’t look like your typical scientist. Everything I see on TV is that it’s an older, usually white man as a scientist”. She continued by stating “My goal has really shifted not only from creating my own devices to solve the world’s problems, but inspiring others to do the same as well. Because from personal experience, it’s not easy when you don’t see anyone else like you. So, I really want to put out that message: If I can do it, you can do it, and anyone can do it”.

The young scientist also referred to the problems, old and new, faced by her generation.  “We’re sitting here in the middle of a new global pandemic, and we’re also like still facing human-rights issues. There are problems that we did not create but that we now have to solve, like climate change and cyberbullying”.

There you go, kids! It’s your turn now. In youth we trust…

Sources:

https://www.ert.gr/eidiseis/diethni/to-periodiko-time-epilegei-to-paidi-tis-chronias/

https://time.com/5916772/kid-of-the-year-2020/

mechatronics, delivery

Contactless delivery of groceries at home

mechatronics, delivery

Lockdown and the subsequent movement restrictions have led many people to use online shopping more than ever before. Consumers have traditionally chosen e-commerce for buying electronics or clothes but now they seem to rely more and more on online shopping for being supplied with groceries.

Robots, autonomous vehicles to be precise, are here to assist in this everyday task. They are in charge of delivering the goods to households rendering fully contactless shopping a reality.

The beginning of such a venture was made in Milton Keynes, UK where eight Co-op stores have already used the autonomous vehicles in partnership with Starship Technologies. This initiative is now expanded and will now serve about 5,000 households in Northampton, UK with contactless deliveries. The people in charge of the supermarket have noticed a noteworthy increase on online ordering by people who have never used the web for buying groceries. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic demand for the service had tripled in Milton Keynes in recent months.

The robots will travel 5 km to customers’ homes to deliver the shopping.

The specifics of the robots can be concluded as follows:

  • They have the ability to travel along sidewalks and cross streets
  • They are equipped with 10 cameras, ultrasound sensors, radar, and GPS
  • They are able to see 360 degrees and have a “situational awareness bubble” around them to detect and avoid any obstacles.
  • They use sophisticated computer vision and software to identify objects such as cars, pedestrians, traffic lights and sidewalks.

For sure, 2020 was a year of drastic changes in ecommerce.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-55076342

mechatronics, Telekinesis

Telekinesis, our childhood’s dream, becomes a reality

Telekinesis, dream, mechatronics

It’s not an exaggeration to claim that everyone during his/her childhood has fantasized about having the ability to move objects with his/her mind. For the sake of truth, many movies and tv-series integrated the property of telekinesis in their scenarios and they ultimately met with great success. For instance, the blockbuster movie “Matrix”, the sweetie Matilda and more recently “Eleven” from the popular tv-series “Stranger Things”. Maybe such an exceptionality not only appeals to us due to its unnaturality, but also it may reflect our innermost desire to have superpowers.

In any case, such an ability came true! Japanese researchers developed a mind-controlled robot named Gundam. The team has also built a wearable headband device that syncs the brain activity with the software and eventually controls the robot’s movement. This device bears sensors that can detect three different levels of brain activity which actually triggers a specific movement of the robot. This research is still

Are we on the verge of acquiring supernatural powers and control objects around us? Future will answer…

mechatronics, Telekinesis

Watch video

mechatronics, stylios, iot

Participation and speech at the 23rd Development Forum

Professor Chrysostomos Stylios participates in the proceedings and events of the 23rd Development Forum which this year, due to travel restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic, takes place virtually. The Development Forum is the most important Development Multiconference in the Western Axis of our country.

Specifically, Prof. Stylios was a speaker at the thematic unit of the conference entitled “LOOPER IKE – Digital Transformation – Applications, IOT and Automation”. His speech addressed the interesting issue of digital transformation, both globally and nationally. It was ascertained that the concept of digital transformation and digital integration goes through the embracing and assimilation of Industry 4.0. Continuing, Prof. Stylios presented the contribution in this direction of the European project NEW METRO in which he participates with his research team. This project is related to the development of modern vocational training programs in the field of Mechatronics.

He concluded that Mechatronics functions as one of the key players, exponents and actors in the direction of digital transformation and the 4th Industrial Revolution, therefore the contribution of the project for new, innovative educational models that meet the modern demands of the labor market is unequivocal.

Website: https://www.forumanaptixis.gr/

Video: Whole speech – Prof.  Chrysostomos Stylios

mechatronics, drones

Drones in the environment’s service

mechatronics, drones

Sensors for forest monitoring is not an innovation. They are already used to track changes in temperature, humidity and light, as well as the movements of animals and insects through their habitat. They also help to detect and monitor forest fires and can provide valuable data on how climate change and other human activities are impacting the natural world. However, placing these sensors can prove difficult in large, tall forests, and climbing trees to place them poses its own risks.

Imperial College researchers have developed drones that can attach sensors to trees to monitor environmental and ecological changes in forests. In fact, they shoot sensor-containing darts onto trees several meters away in cluttered environments like forests. The drones can also place sensors through contact or by perching on tree branches.

The researchers hope the drones will be used in the future to create networks of sensors to boost data on forest ecosystems, and to track hard-to-navigate ecosystems like the Amazon rainforest. The drones are equipped with cameras to help identify suitable targets, and a smart material that changes shape when heated to launch the darts, which then stick to the trees.

The drones are not currently autonomous but controlled by people. Using control units, the researchers watch through the camera lens to select target trees and shoot the darts. The next step is to make the drones autonomous, so that researchers can test how they get by in denser forest environments without human guidance.

Source: https://bit.ly/2JplI0B

mechatronics, newmetro

Technical Progress Meeting

The New Metro technical progress meeting was held on the 26th of November, 2020 via the GoToMeeting web platform.

The issues that were being discussed during the meeting are summarized as follows:

  • The participants agreed on the subject of validation of Intellectual Output 3 and Intellectual Output 4 for the subsequent publication on the Erasmus portal.
  • Based on the results of the IO3, the partners came to decision on the duration of the NEW METRO training path.
  • Later on, a brief updating of the status of the collection of materials and progress on the development phase of educational materials was made by 5 partner-countries.
  • Finally, the crucial issue of a possible time extension request to EACEA was put on the table due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation that is raising obstacles to the on-time completion of the project.
  • For one more time, the partners concluded the meeting with “Stay safe!” wishes…
mechatronics, newmetro
mechatronics, agriculture

Agriculture enters a new smart era

This year’s harvesting in vast Russia was for the first time assisted by autonomous combines equipped with the Cognitive Agro Pilot system. Over 160,000 hectares of field and harvested more than 720,000 tonnes of crops. 590,000 metric tonnes of grain crops such as wheat, soybeans, barley, oats, sorghum, buckwheat, among others, were harvested over 130,000 hectares, and some 130,000 metric tonnes of row crops and roll crops (corn, sunflower, etc.) were harvested over 30,000 hectares in Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kursk, Belgorod, Tambov, Penza, Rostov, Tomsk, Kurgan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, and Stavropol regions.

mechatronics, agriculture

Cognitive Agro Pilot is an artificial intelligence-based driving system for farming equipment such as grain combine harvesters, tractors, and sprayers. The system “sees” and “understands” what’s lying ahead by analyzing images from a single video camera. It uses a deep learning convolutional neural network specialized for agronomic purposes to understand the types and positions of objects facing the machinery. Cognitive Agro Pilot then instructs the machinery to follow specific movement trajectories and sends commands to perform maneuvers. It’s like devising a route map in real-time.

The whole system includes an autonomous unit to manage farm equipment, a video camera, a display, a set of connecting cables, and other elements of the control system. The user interface is available via an Android mobile app for smartphones or ruggedized tablets. Cognitive Agro Pilot system contributed to saving money this harvesting season because of less consumption of fuel and other related materials, shorter harvesting time or machine hours, reduced equipment depreciation and minimized human errors.

mechatronics, drones

Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board, Sberbank said, “A few years back, Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture was a technology much talked about, but there were no practical examples of its widespread adoption in Russia. Now, once the first harvesting campaign with smart combines is over, we can say with confidence that the future is becoming a reality before our eyes, and what’s especially pleasing is that this is happening with the direct participation of Sber. Russia is one of the leading countries in terms of agricultural production and is a key exporter of wheat, therefore, given the scale of production, the Cognitive Agro Pilot system has the potential to save the domestic agro-industrial complex millions of dollars”.

According to the estimates of project members, in the next three years, every tenth harvester in Russia may become autonomous.

In September 2020, the Cognitive Agro Pilot solution won the Overall Harvesting Innovation of the Year award at AgTec Breakthrough Awards 2020, while a year before it won the AVT ACES AWARD, which was organised by the Autonomous Vehicle Technology magazine.

 

Sources:

https://www.foodandfarmingtechnology.com/news/autonomous-vehicles/russian-ai-enabled-harvesters-reap-720000-tons-of-crops.html

https://www.therobotreport.com/cognitive-agro-pilot-reaps-720000-tons-crops-across-russia/

https://agriculturepost.com/ai-enabled-harvesters-reap-720000-tonnes-of-crops/

vet, kets, output, mechatronics

Synopsis: Training needs analysis and future scenarios updated and contextualized at regional level

Foreword

THE NEWMETRO PROJECT IS AIMED AT DEFINING AND SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLED RESOURCES AND THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY 4.0 EFFORT ACROSS EUROPE, WITH A FOCUS ON TRAINING NEEDS AND EMERGING SKILLS.

The NewMetro Project will design, develop, concept-validate and experiment an innovative European shared competence framework, the related assessement and certification methods and a European Learning delivery model, based on WBL, Virtual mobility and a European set of VOOC.

Mechatronics as an emerging discipline to manage digital innovation in production systems

The NewMetro analysis clearly demonstrates that, over the last few years, interest in mechatronics has been reinvigorated due to the advances in sensing, communication, and computing.

Collected data show that, nowadays, the scope of mechatronics is very vast and related to multiple fields and domains (such as the Medical field, Robotics, Automotive engineering, Mechanical, Manufacturing Industry and so on).

In addition, NewMetro’s research discovered that in the mechatronics industry, most trends focus on “less”: less power consumption, less weight, less volume and lower costs. Product competition is therefore strongly developing particularly in these areas. At the same time, the robust growth within this industry is leading to rapid growth in the number of suppliers and systems, thus creating a clear risk of substitution.

Speaking of the most important fields of technology for the Project Partner Countries, Advanced design systems and manufacturing integration is believed to be extremely relevant by Greece and Germany. On the other side, Assembly lines management in the mechanical systems industrial sector is considered crucial by Catalonia, Italy, Latvia. Among the most important areas Austria reports the Integration of manufacturing process with real time available data followed by Industrial design with advanced materials. For Poland, from the business point of view, the most important elements in the context of its Industrial Revolution are the availability of not only highly sophisticated machines, but also highly qualified employees.

The most important skills for students and entrepreneurs

Summarising entrepreneurs and students’ point of view, the priority competencies that a technician in mechatronic should have to comply with the production system of the future are:

  • System design and integration/interfacing between electronic and mechanical components, which includes the capacity to assemble and test mechatronic units, set up machine controls, customise software, adjust engineering design
  • Virtual Prototyping tools and techniques (Dynamic simulations, Human in the loop simulation, HMI, AR/VR, Digital Twin development)
  • Robotics programming (set up automotive robot for instance)

In general, students consider extremely relevant Aptly choosing advanced materials (especially in Catalonia, Latvia and Greece) and Robotics Programming; on the other hand, for entrepreneurs System design and Integration/Interfacing and Design virtual testing and validation has crucial importance.

Identify a European Joint Curriculum, starting from the different priorities of the partner countries

New Metro’s researches also tried to compare and classify the different priorities of the Partner Countries regarding some statements about mechatronics discipline.

Except for the evaluation of the statements “A mechatronics study program is an opportunity to attract new students “ and “A smart learning environment is essential for mechatronics courses “, the rest demonstrated statistically significant differences according to the respondent’s country of residence.

For example, regarding the statement Mechatronics can be considered an independent discipline Latvia was particular in favour, Italy and Greece partially agreed, whereas Catalonia expressed a contrary opinion.

The statement “To create a mechatronics study program, teachers must be retrained” have found a favourable opinion in Greece, Italy and Catalonia, whereas the statement “Learning 4.0 is very useful in mechatronics courses” is well received by all countries, albeit with less determination in Greece.

The five most important skills detected

Top 5 of the most important competencies according to all the respondents are the following:

  • System design and integration/interfacing between electronic and mechanical components (assemble and test mechatronic units, set up machine controls, customise software, adjust engineering design) (Mean 0.67);
  • Robotics programming (set up automotive robot) (Mean 0.43);
  • Design virtual testing and validation using modelling and simulation tools (simulate mechatronic design concepts, use CAM software) (Mean 0.41);
  • PLC programming (program a CNC controller) (Mean 0.40);
  • Aptly choosing advanced materials that can suit product or process needs (new) (Mean 0.39).

In the identification of the most important competencies, statistically significant differences (p = 0.049) were found according to the respondent group in the evaluation of the competency PLC programming (program a CNC controller): employers consider it more important (Mean Rank 116.14) than students/young employees do (Mean Rank 100.62).

The results show that according to the employers, only Ability to work with specialised design and mechatronic machine control software is over the mean (Mean 3.03).

 If you wish to get the complete scenario, take a look at the full report here.

mechatronics, vet, drones

A hawk-like drone that flies long distances with less power

Drones have come to our lives in many aspects. However, their energy consumption and autonomy are still an issue to be dealt with in order to be applicable in more fields of interest. 

As in the past that many discoveries and inventions mimic nature, so a team of researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne, led by Enrico Ajanic, have built a 284-gram drone with a maximum wingspan of 1.05 metres inspired by the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).

Ajanic contended that both multicopter drones and winged drones have an innate flaw. The first ones can hover and move well, but can’t fly long distances, whereas the latter can fly long distances, but aren’t very agile. He claimed that the robo-hawk brings the benefits of different unmanned aerial vehicles into a single unit. 

“These results shed light on the avian use of wings and tails and offer an alternative design principle for drones with adaptive flight capabilities,” wrote the authors in a paper for the journal Science Robotics.

The idea behind constructing this robo-hawk is imitating the flight behaviour of birds by equipping the robot with motors that allow its wings to fold in or out, and its tail to contract or to fan out. The robo-hawk spreads its wings and tail to gain height and then, upon reaching top speed, the wings and the tail are tucked in, thereby enhancing aerodynamics, imitating a real hawk flight. 

“The morphing wing and tail structures of this design are insightful and novel,” said Jonathan Aitken at the University of Sheffield, UK, who was impressed by the robot’s ability to adjust its manoeuvrability mid-flight. “It offers the potential for unconventional flight manoeuvres, such as slow but controlled flight at high angles of attack”.

Ajanic aims to integrate artificial intelligence to increase the robot’s level of autonomy and rendering it capable to fly without human control or supervision.

Sources:

https://www.technology.org/2020/11/02/this-robot-hawk-can-fly-long-distances-and-uses-less-power/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258426-hawk-inspired-robot-with-movable-wings-is-an-agile-long-distance-flyer/

https://robotics.sciencemag.org/content/5/47/eabc2897

mechatronics, vet, drones
robotics, mechatronics

Positive reinforcement for “teaching” robots

The first thing coming to our mind when talking about positive reinforcement is maybe dogs. Pavlov with his experiment with his homonymous dogs was o pioneer of behavioural psychology. Something more than a century later from Pavlov’s experiments Johns, Hopkins University computer scientists showed a robot how to teach itself several new tricks, including stacking blocks by using the method of positive reinforcement, an approach familiar to anyone who has used treats to change a dog’s behaviour. With this method, the robot, named Spot, was able to learn in days what typically takes a month.

The study is published in IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters and can be found here.

The challenge in this approach is that computer (~ robot) -unlike humans and animals that are born with highly intuitive brains- is actually a tabula rasa and must learn everything from scratch. Nevertheless, true learning is often accomplished with trial and error, and figuring out how robots can learn efficiently from their mistakes is yet a field to be explored.

With reference to the parallel example of dogs, here the award is gaining numeric points for reinforcement, instead of a cookie at the dog’s parallel.

In order to teach Spot, the robot to stack blocks, it is essential to learn how to focus on constructive actions. As the robot explored the blocks, it quickly learned that correct behaviours for stacking earned high points, but incorrect ones earned nothing. The whole venture was beyond all expectations successful. This prototype provides us a notion of the abilities robots have to learn from mistakes in all types of situations that are critical for designing a robot that could adapt to new environments.

source: https://bit.ly/3kj3HxX, https://bit.ly/2U9Euve