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Boston Dynamics buys Kinema Systems for its brains

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Boston Dynamics, maker of the world’s most terrifying robots (see video below for proof), has agreed to acquire Kinema Systems, a company that enables industrial robotic arms with deep learning technology to locate and move boxes on complex pallets.

Using a combination of vision sensors and deep learning software, Kinema Systems’ Pick technology works with leading commercial robotic arms to move boxes off pallets to conveyors or build stacks of boxes on pallets.

Pick enables logistics, retail, and manufacturing companies to achieve high rates of box moving with minimal setup or training for both multi-SKU and single-SKU pallets.  [Read more…] about Boston Dynamics buys Kinema Systems for its brains

Senecio Robotics ships AI robotic machine to help combat mosquito-borne diseases

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Senecio Robotics has received a positive patent examination for its mosquito robotic solution, making it the sole company with a positive examination for mosquito robotic sex sorting.

Senecio’s robotic sex sorting module is based on deep-learning technology, with mosquitoes being entered on the right side, with automated loading of male-only (none biting) mosquitoes on the left side into release boxes, after classification and sorting.

The female mosquito is the deadliest animal on the planet and transmits diseases such as Malaria, Dengue, Yellow fever, West Nile, Zika, etc. killing hundreds of thousands of people per year and hospitalising millions.

[Read more…] about Senecio Robotics ships AI robotic machine to help combat mosquito-borne diseases

Insight: How neural networks are powering autonomous delivery

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By Tanel Pärnamaa, deep learning engineer at Starship Technologies

Artificial neural networks are one of the main tools used in machine learning to convert unstructured, low-level data into higher level information. As the ‘neural’ part suggests, they are brain-inspired systems intended to replicate the way that humans learn.

At Starship, we are building a fleet of autonomous delivery robots using trainable units, including mostly neural networks, where code is written by the model itself. The robots are recording and processing large sets of data in order to recognise surroundings and how to react in real time as each situation requires.

To begin with, the robots start by gaining a sense of the world through radars, a multitude of cameras and ultrasonics. However, this poses challenges because most of this knowledge gained is low-level and non-semantic.  [Read more…] about Insight: How neural networks are powering autonomous delivery

Sony claims world’s fastest deep learning speeds through distributed learning

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Sony Corporation has claimed to have achieved the fastest deep learning speeds in the world by utilising its deep learning development framework “Core Library: Neural Network Libraries” in addition to the AI Bridging Cloud Infrastructure (ABCI).

ABCI is a computing infrastructure for AI processing constructed and operated by Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

Deep learning is a method of machine learning which uses neural networks modelled after the human brain. By harnessing deep learning, image and sound recognition capabilities have seen rapid growth in recent years, even outperforming humans in certain domains.

[Read more…] about Sony claims world’s fastest deep learning speeds through distributed learning

Nvidia says its deep learning research is putting robotic picking within reach

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Picking the right items from a disparate range of objects is a difficult challenge for a robot, but Nvidia says it is making progress. 

As another step toward enabling robots to work effectively in complex environments, robotics researchers from Nvidia says it has developed a novel deep learning-based system that allows a robot to perceive household objects in its environment for the purpose of grasping the objects and interacting with them.

With this technique, the robot is able to perform simple pick-and-place operations on known household objects, such as handing an object to a person or grasping an object out of a person’s hand. 
[Read more…] about Nvidia says its deep learning research is putting robotic picking within reach

How deep learning enables autonomous vehicles to understand their environment

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Humans are constantly taking in data from the world around them using five primary senses. You hear your phone ring, see a notification on your computer screen or touch something hot.

However, without perception, there’s no way to decipher those inputs and determine what’s relevant. That you should answer the call, know there’s an email to respond to or pull away your hand before it’s burned.

Now imagine driving on a highway, where a constant stream of information surrounds you. From lane markings and street signs to lane-splitting motorcyclists, merging trucks and traffic jams – the ability to make instant, informed decisions is not just a skill, it’s an imperative.  [Read more…] about How deep learning enables autonomous vehicles to understand their environment

Continental strengthens AI research partnership with University of California

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Automotive systems supplier Continental is expanding its international network for artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley.

The expansion will involve the “DeepDrive” partnership the company has with the University of California, Berkeley, dubbed “BDD”.

Continental says the partnership is designed to “speed up neural networks for the car of the future and safety of AI systems”.  [Read more…] about Continental strengthens AI research partnership with University of California

Artificial intelligence: The power and poise of deep learning

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There is so much talk about artificial intelligence that many people who aren’t even programmers understand some of the principles of the technology. 

At the very least, most people who have an interest in these subjects have very likely heard of two of the branches of AI, namely machine learning and deep learning.

But some people, like us, might not fully understand the difference between machine learning and deep learning.  [Read more…] about Artificial intelligence: The power and poise of deep learning

Deep learning: Creating the next generation of smart robots

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Deep Learning for Robotics Summit
28th to 29th June • San Francisco

Join RE•WORK later this month to discover the latest advancements in AI and robotics at the Deep Learning for Robotics Summit.

Global experts will explore where AI meets the real world through human-robot interaction, imitation learning, skill embedding, robot perception, progressive neural networks, robotic grasping and many other areas.

We are offering an exclusive discount for Robotics and Automation News readers: Use code RA20 for 20% off your ticket.  [Read more…] about Deep learning: Creating the next generation of smart robots

Midea launches deep learning artificial intelligence initiative

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Midea, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of household appliances, has launched an ambitious artificial intelligence project through which the company is looking to transform its business.

The company says the “Midea Brain” project will accelerate Midea’s speed of innovation and product and application development in the AI field.

In the last two years, artificial intelligence especially deep learning, has emerged as a major technology trend.  [Read more…] about Midea launches deep learning artificial intelligence initiative