In today's industrial landscape, programming a robot has become a significant challenge. The lack of skilled labor, combined with the increasing complexity of systems, makes implementing automated solutions more difficult. Furthermore, the wide variety of programming languages specific to each manufacturer creates technological silos, further complicating the integration of robots.These obstacles hinder the widespread adoption of robotics, as customizing and maintaining each system requires specialized skills and considerable time. This is where<a href="https://flr.io/products/fuzzy-rtos">&nbsp;FuzzyRTOS</a> comes in, a universal programming platform designed specifically for industrial robots. This unique solution simplifies and unifies robot programming while ensuring compatibility with manufacturers' safety layers, which is crucial for meeting strict industrial safety standards.With FuzzyRTOS, companies can now overcome these challenges and deploy robots with increased flexibility and security, without compromising on quality or safety. The latest version, FuzzyRTOS V5, introduces new functionalities designed to address the flexibility, high-performance, and modularity challenges that industrial companies face today.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1729525725098-Fuzzyrobot.jpg" style="width: 832px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">FuzzyRTOS V5: Credit: FuzzyLogic<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">FuzzyRTOS: A Concentrate of Technology and Optimization</h2>What is FuzzyRTOS? Designed to offer centralized and autonomous control, FuzzyRTOS drives industrial robots of the past, present, and future. The technical advantages of this approach are numerous:<ul><li dir="ltr">Optimized Trajectory Management: By directly managing robot actions, FuzzyRTOS enables smoother movements and real-time task planning. This reduces downtime and enhances the precision of repetitive tasks.</li><li dir="ltr">Increased Flexibility: &nbsp;FuzzyRTOS is compatible with various programming languages (Python, JavaScript, C++, etc.), allowing easy configuration of new automation workflows. This adaptability to specific production line needs makes it a unique solution.</li><li dir="ltr">Autonomy and Independence: Robotic task management is no longer dependent on FuzzyStudio, Fuzzy Logic Robotics' legacy software, enabling companies to operate in a standalone mode, free from software constraints.</li></ul><h3 dir="ltr">What's New in Version 5: Toward an Independent FuzzyRTOS</h3>With Version 5, Fuzzy Logic Robotics pushes the boundaries of industrial automation by introducing two major features: standalone mode and an integrated sequencer.<ul><li dir="ltr">Standalone Mode: Toward Complete Autonomy &nbsp;</li></ul>Now, FuzzyRTOS can operate without FuzzyStudio. This paradigm shift makes the system fully independent in production, with the ability to manage its own projects autonomously. Project information is stored in .fsproj files, centralizing all versions and configurations of a robotic project. &nbsp;&nbsp;Each FuzzyRTOS installation can now host a list of projects. Users can activate a specific project that will reload automatically upon reboot, ensuring operational continuity. &nbsp;<ul><li dir="ltr">&nbsp;Maintenance Mode: By connecting FuzzyStudio to FuzzyRTOS, a technician can retrieve and modify existing projects on the system, offering unprecedented flexibility during maintenance operations. &nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">Monitoring Mode: Once a project is installed, FuzzyStudio can remain connected to serve as a graphical interface. In the future, this functionality will be complemented by a web dashboard, making interaction with the system even more intuitive and accessible.</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">NoCode Sequencer: A New Way to Design Tasks</h2>&nbsp; V5 also marks the arrival of an integrated sequencer, designed to simplify the creation and management of automation workflows. Through a NoCode interface, end-users can now program and modify action sequences without reliance on a PLC programmer. This sequencer transfers part of the control currently managed by the PLC directly into the FuzzyRTOS system, allowing for increased customization and maximum responsiveness. &nbsp;&nbsp;Adding the sequencer is a real asset for industries seeking to optimize their processes and make production more agile. An .fsproj file can now contain multiple recipes or sequences, enabling quick program changes based on production needs.<h3 dir="ltr">Compatibility with Repplix and Other Programming Languages</h3>Fuzzy Logic Robotics has always prioritized making its solutions flexible and interoperable. FuzzyRTOS V5 continues along this path by being compatible with Repplix as well as several programming languages. This openness allows companies to maintain their existing infrastructures while integrating FuzzyRTOS, without needing to alter their production environments. &nbsp;Thanks to this compatibility, FuzzyRTOS seamlessly integrates into various environments, facilitating adoption in established production lines. This versatility is essential in a sector where automation needs are as diverse as they are demanding.<h2 dir="ltr"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cccIm7Rh8uU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;</iframe>Conclusion: A Pillar of Industry 4.0</h2>By placing autonomy, flexibility/modularity, and performance at the core of its solution, Fuzzy Logic Robotics redefines industrial automation standards with FuzzyRTOS V5. By enabling autonomous project and recipe management, this system provides companies with a sustainable, scalable solution that adapts to modern production chain needs. &nbsp;FuzzyRTOS is not merely a control tool for robotic cells; it is the key to smarter, more responsive, and, above all, more accessible automation. By investing in this solution, industries gain a major asset to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, fully embracing the Industry 4.0 dynamic.Read more at <a href="http://flr.io" id="isPasted">flr.io</a>.

The widespread adoption of robotics is hindered by the complexity of system integration, lack of skilled labor, and diverse programming languages, but FuzzyRTOS addresses these challenges by providing a universal platform that simplifies robot programming.

Giving Industrial Robotics Enhanced Autonomy and Flexibility

The third annual showcase of Canada’s Smart Mobility sector – formerly known as TCXpo – is a wrap.Bringing together more than 80 companies from across Canada and abroad, more than 1500 attendees registered to see the latest and greatest innovations – some of them being shown publicly for the first time. Ground robots, drones, even agricultural equipment and demonstrations of new technologies – it was all on display at Ottawa’s Area X.O, a private facility where technology companies (including InDro Robotics) build and test innovative products on a daily basis.This was the largest event so far – and that’s reflected in the title. It’s now called “GCXpo” – with the first two letters standing for Government of Canada (the previous “TC” stood for Transport Canada). It’s a reflection of the importance Canada puts on supporting this growing sector as companies develop new products and push toward commercialisation. And there are a *lot* of agencies and departments behind this event.GCXpo is hosted by <a href="https://areaxo.com/" target="_blank">Area X.O</a> and operated by <a href="https://areaxo.com/" target="_blank">Invest Ottawa</a> in partnership with the Government of Canada and event sponsors, including:<ul><li><a href="https://tc.canada.ca/en" target="_blank">Transport Canada</a> (TC)</li><li><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence.html" target="_blank">Department of National Defence</a> (DND)</li><li><a href="https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ised/en" target="_blank">Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada</a> (ISED)</li><li><a href="https://agriculture.canada.ca/en" target="_blank">Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada</a> (AAFC)</li></ul>“GCXpo Is truly about celebrating Canadian innovation, companies driving the smart revolution that are changing our country for the better,” said Invest Ottawa President and CEO Sonya Shorey during opening remarks. She also pointed out why Area X.O in the nation’s capital is such a fitting location: Ottawa per capita, has “the top tech talent concentration in all of North America.”And GCXpo 2024 did not disappoint.Below: A crowd watches as Matt Johnston, Assistant Test Integration Engineer with Lockheed Martin Skunkworks Calgary, demonstrates a drone that can fly (and land) in GPS-denied environments, followed by the drone in flight. All photos by Scott Simmie<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI3NDYwNTU5MTUxLURTQ0YxMjI3LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Matt Johnston"><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzI3NDYwNTkwNzY0LURTQ0YxMjE5LXNjYWxlZC5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Drone in the Sky"><h3 id="isPasted">A Lot to See</h3>With some 80 companies, government agencies, academic institutions and others at the show, there was a lot of ground to cover. And while the exhibits were underway, the CAVCanada Stage provided top-flight panels and keynotes on a wide range of topics.InDro Robotics Founder and CEO Philip Reece took part in a panel entitled: “Creating the Cities of Tomorrow,” which looked at how municipalities and regulators can best work together to safely encourage the transition toward newer technologies.‘I would say failing fast is a super important thing,” he said. “We started flying drones 10-12 years ago, when it was really new. And the answer to everything at the start was: ‘No, you can’t do that.’ So instead of accepting that, we basically brought them (Transport Canada) with us, and we’d say ‘What would it take to do this? How can we do this next step?'”There were some failures, but with the regulator on site there was a joint understanding of why things had failed – and the willingness to work together to identify those points of failure and take another run at things. This helped both the company – and the regulator itself. And it ultimately led toward a new way of thinking – with both parties viewing themselves as partners with a common goal.“It’s much better to invite them in – let’s (jointly) spur innovation forward,” said Reece.Interestingly, as the move toward Smart Cities continues, there’s obviously a lot of adoption of AI technologies and research in that realm. Because those AI processors can use a lot of energy – and because AI-enabled devices are starting to become ubiquitous in our lives – Ottawa Hydro has noticed a surge in energy demands and has had to adjust its own resources to ensure it’s keeping up with the transition. This surge has also, presumably, been influenced by the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (which, in addition to charging, rely heavily on AI).“Bringing on AI has a very different energy footprint, and it’s not just one section of the city we’re seeing that in – we’re seeing it throughout,” said Julie Lupinacci, Chief Customer Officer with Ottawa Hydro.“We’re moving from a utility that was planning and building one substation every five years – to one every year. So these are very interesting and exciting times, but it’s very crucial to get this right for the future.”Below: InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1727461772560-DSCF1205-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philip Reece"> <h3 id="isPasted">Frost, Fog, and Electric Vehicles</h3>If you’re a Canadian who drives in the winter, you’ll know all about the challenges of frost and fog on your windshield. But you likely haven’t given much thought to the energy requirements it takes to de-ice or de-fog that windshield, particularly in electric vehicles (EVs).But one Ontario company based in Oakville, <a href="https://www.betterfrost.com/" target="_blank">Betterfrost Technologies</a>, has given this problem a lot of thought over many years. And it has developed a solution for the problem that uses 10x to 20x less energy than traditional methods.And how does it do that? Well, there’s an invisible layer in the windshields of most cars today that is used for passive cooling, by deflecting infrared rays. That same layer can be energised using rapid pulses of power to concentrate on melting the frost or ice right where at counts: At the point where it adheres to the windshield. The company has produced an algorithm that’s embedded on a small chip that can be added to pretty much any modern vehicle with a couple of wires. When that algorithm gets the energy pulsing at the right frequency and intensity, that boundary layer is quickly and efficiently melted, allowing for the easy physical removal of frost or ice.“This was researched at New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College’s <a href="https://icelab.engineering.dartmouth.edu/" target="_blank">Ice Research Laboratory</a>,” explains company co-founder and CTO Sameh Saad. “They looked at how ice attaches to surfaces and the best way to break that bond, between ice and any surface. Most of the stickiness of ice happens at the interface. So if you can melt the ice at the interface it will fall off with external force.”And so the company developed an algorithm that ensures the heat only goes to that boundary layer – and isn’t wasted beyond.“The pulsing gives us better control, so the heat doesn’t move as far. So even though the pulsing is high power, the way this works leads to low energy consumption,” says CEO Derrick Redding.And it’s not just about EVs.“The other application besides automotive is aerospace, where airplane wings or critical surfaces need to be clear of ice and frost before takeoff and during flight,” says Saad. “So this could be done using the same technology, using a polymer coating. And if we do automotive vehicles, we can do defence vehicles, bridge windows on ships – it doesn’t matter how thick the glass is. What’s important is that we can defrost it and defog it very quickly.”The company has been around since 2015, and Better Frost Technologies is hoping its product may soon come standard on vehicles straight off the production line.“We’re working closely with two car OEMs and one truck OEM, and that’s going very well,” says CEO Redding.Below: CTO Sameh Saad, a mechanical engineer, with the company’s proprietary algorithm-embedded chip.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1727461818547-DSCF1257-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Algorithm-Embedded Chip"> <h3 id="isPasted">A Little Bit of Everything</h3>Though the overarching theme of the show is Smart Mobility, one of the joys of this event is the variety of companies showing off innovations you might not immediately associate with the sector but which are nonetheless both interesting and related. One such surprise was <a href="https://ktvworkingdrone.com/ca/yow/" target="_blank">KTV Working Drone Ottawa</a>, a company that uses a drone for high-rise window and facade cleaning. The company’s president. Gesummino Sala, explained he’d come across the idea of using drones for cleaning, and was thinking of starting his own drone company.He then discovered Norwegian company <a href="https://ktvworkingdrone.com/" target="_blank">KTV Working Drone</a> already had such a product and was franchising it. In fact, it had operations in Halifax and Vancouver. Sala managed to secure the franchise for Ottawa (along with rights for about half of the rest of the province). He launched earlier this month.“It’s been about a year in the making, but lots of preparation was needed for this,” he says.The platform is a DJI M350 RTK, where that realtime kinematic sensor allows for very precise positioning. A hose attached to a spraying unit on that drone sucks up water heated to 80° C and applies it directly to the windows of facade. Because of that hot, pure water – Sala says the building dries quickly and cleanly. He says the drone can loft that hose up to the Transport Canada ceiling of 400′ AGL, meaning it could clean a 40-storey building.“The finish is spotless,” says Sala. “It’s safer, the building doesn’t get damaged from swing stages (which are used in traditional window washing operations), it’s more efficient, and it’s faster. Everybody’s interested; people who have heard about it want to see it.”Below: KTV Working Drone Ottawa’s President, Gesummino Sala<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1727461858698-DSCF1118-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="KTV Working Drone's President"> <h3 id="isPasted">RideShark</h3>When it comes to commuting, Smart Mobility doesn’t just mean autonomous vehicles (though there were plenty of those at GCXpo). It can also mean a smarter way of commuting that will eventually include self-driving cars. And that’s why an Ottawa-based company called RideShark was at the show. We asked President and Co-Founder Sharon Lewinson to give us the elevator pitch.“RideShark is a multi-modal platform that helps people choose sustainable transportation options to reduce congestion, emissions, and improve quality of life,” she says.And how does it do that? Well, with a very sophisticated mobile app.“In one click, a person can enter their destination and it automatically gives them all their multi-modal transportation options: Carpool partners, transit options, bike buddies, shuttles…And then it has carpooling. People can book, pay and communicate all in-app.”RideShark sells its SaaS platform to clients, and it’s then “white labelled” – meaning the app might bear the name and branding of a university, large corporation, or one of the many other institutions and sectors where it’s in use. The company secured Nortel as its first customer back in 2006. It’s grown a lot since then, and has multiple high-profile clients across North America.Now, says, Lewinson, it’s time for the next step.“We’ve been around a lot and now we’re looking to globally scale. We’re a partner with Invest Ottawa – they provide a lot of support. GCXpo is where the future is of what we call ‘unified mobility.’ With all the autonomous vehicles, ultimately they have to get people into those vehicles – and our technology will help with that.”Below: A video explaining how RideShark works, followed by a photo of company president Sharon Lewinson.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XNuvmo9ayfQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1727461933674-DSCF1230-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="RideShark Company President"><h3 id="isPasted">The Next Generation</h3>Innovation is on a stellar trajectory. With the accelerated use of AI and related technologies, the breakthroughs just keep on coming. So it’s worth noting that many educational institutes were at GCXpo, along with government agencies and accelerators that help fund startups to encourage continued innovation.We stopped briefly at the Algonquin College booth, partly to let them know we’d recently profiled two InDro employees – both of whom came to Canada from India – to study engineering there. (Their story documents a pretty remarkable voyage and can be <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/from-india-to-area-x-o-the-long-journey-of-two-indro-technologists/" target="_blank">found here</a>.)“Why GCXpo?” we asked Algonquin representatives.“We’re here to kind of market the value of not only the <a href="https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop-career-centre/" target="_blank">Co-op &amp; Career Centre</a>, but everything our <a href="https://www.algonquincollege.com/applied-research/experiential-learning-innovation/" target="_blank">Experiential and Innovation</a> centre can offer – ranging from applied research, co-op positions, through to entrepreneurship co-ops,” explained Ashoka Patel, the College’s Industry Engagement Specialist Team Lead.“When we’re at these events, we want to meet with anyone interested in attending the college, so (we talk about) work-integrated learning opportunities, which could be a placement, a short-term internship. And then we speak to our current students to encourage them to look for jobs and ask how we can help them, help out with research projects. And then we want to meet with employers and see what we kind of different programs we can provide to students and graduates.”And, says Patel, that commitment doesn’t end with commencement.“Once a student leaves Algonquin College, we still offer them post-graduation support to find their career of choice.”And those are the people, from Algonquin College and elsewhere, who will forge the next wave of innovations.Below: Ashoka Patel, along with Industry Engagement Specialist Alexandra Trudel.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1727461962835-DSCF1266-scaled.jpg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Ashoka Patel and Alexandra Trudel"> <h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>This event is now in its third year – and GCXpo has truly become the&nbsp;showcase of Canadian and international companies in the Smart Mobility and related sectors. It’s an opportunity for everyone from big industry players through to small entrepreneurs and interested students and members of the public to learn about the products, services and agencies that are committed to helping shape the future in a positive way.“As always, <a href="https://areaxo.com/" target="_blank">Area X.O</a> and <a href="https://www.investottawa.ca/" target="_blank">Invest Ottawa</a> have done a tremendous job of hosting and planning this event,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece. “The shift from TCXpo to GCXpo really highlights the commitment of the Government of Canada to this future, and also illustrates how truly engaged regulators and funding agencies are to this growing sector. Of course, it’s always nice to show what InDro has been up to – but the real value here is the diversity of thought and innovation on display, all in one place and in one day. We look forward to 2025.”See you next year!

Recap of the Third Annual Showcase of Smart Mobility

GCXPO 2024: A Stunning Showcase of Smart Mobility

The InDro Robotics engineering team, as always, has been hard at work. And we’re particularly pleased with our latest R&amp;D breakthrough: The InDro Command Module, or ICM.It’s a small but exceedingly powerful box that will immediately enable robotic platforms to reach the next level. It’s robot-agnostic, meaning you can integrate the Module with any ROS-based robot (which is pretty much all of them).And what can it do?A better question might be: What can’t it do? And the answer there is “not much.”Below: An InDro Robotics ICM mounted on a Unitree B2 quadruped. The ICM enables remote teleoperations, autonomous missions – and much more…<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE5MzIxMDU5MzE0LUlDTS1CMi1SZW5kZXJzLVYxLjIucG5nLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> <h3 id="isPasted">Background</h3>There’s some important history here – which also tells you something about the InDro Robotics ethos.In November of 2021, we released a very popular product. <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/the-indro-robotics-ros-in-a-box-for-ground-robots/" target="_blank">InDro Commander</a> was developed in response to the needs of clients who wanted to be able to quickly turn a platform into a smart, easily customisable robot capable of teleoperation over 4G or 5G. From developers and academics through to large technology companies, our clients had been requesting such a solution. In fact, even in the development of our own products we identified the need for an all-in-one solution to speed robot integration and enable teleoperation.“Our engineering team came up with the concept of the InDro Commander after integrating and customizing our own robots,” said Philip Reece, CEO of InDro Robotics, when the product was launched. “We realized there were hurdles common to all of them – so we designed and produced a solution. Commander vastly simplifies turning a platform into a fully functioning, teleoperated robot.”Commander, <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/commander/" target="_blank">as this webpage explains</a>, “is designed to allow developers to quickly customize their own robotic solution. The following are common additions that can be easily added to any Commander-controlled robotic system: LiDAR (2D/3D), PTZ camera, thermal cameras, wireless charging, IMU, RTK.”Commander, quite simply, takes the pain out of integration.And how does it do that? Well, it ships with a powerful EDGE computer pre-loaded with ROS1 and ROS2 folders. It also contains multiple USB ports, allowing for the instant addition (and recognition of) pretty much any sensor you can throw at it. It allowed clients who were previously spending a ton of time on integration to simply attach Commander to the robot’s power supply, start plugging in sensors, and then remotely operate via a secure dashboard.&nbsp;When it was first released, Engineering Lead Arron Griffiths dubbed it “ROS-in-a-Box.” We later changed that to Commander, but here’s the splashy video released at the time in advance of the big IROS show, where Commander made its debut…<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zWliBAIJvjc??si=-A9tkiZXym_kDBKa&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true">&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="fr-mk" style="display: none;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</iframe><h3 id="isPasted">Smarter, Faster, Smaller</h3>At InDro, we have a motto of “Invent, Enhance, Deploy.” But deployment doesn’t mean we rest on our laurels. InDro’s engineers continuously look at ways to enhance existing products. And that’s exactly what we’ve done with Commander. We asked ourselves: How could we make this even better?“The InDro Command Module grew out of the idea of making a general purpose backpack/module that any OEM could put on their motorized product – everything from a ground robot to even a golf cart, drone, car, truck or RC platform,” says Engineering Lead Arron Griffiths. “That single module makes any platform ROS-enabled, AI-ready and 5G connected.”A lot of work went into this. One of the biggest tasks was designing and developing four new boards that pack a lot of AI compute power (and other features) into a tiny space. There are separate boards for EDGE computing, teleoperation data transfer, and sensor integration. There’s also a separate WiFi system.“And of course, it can run on either a public or private 5G network,” says InDro Vice President Peter King.&nbsp;And did we say size matters? The small size of the InDro module means it can be placed on virtually any robot – from the smallest quadruped to the largest AMR. It can even be fitted to a drone.“It’s tiny so it fits on everything. So basically we can turn any platform into a very powerful robot without all the time and hassle,” adds King.Below: Much of the magic of the InDro Control Module lies in the design, development and testing of four new circuit boards:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE5MzIxNTI3NzI2LUlDTS1CMi1SZW5kZXJzLVYxLjQucG5nLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Expanded View ICM"><h3 id="isPasted">Autonomy and InDro Controller&nbsp;</h3>The InDro Command Module is a powerful solution on its own. But pairing it with our new InDro Controller provides incredible synergy.We just wrote a fairly comprehensive post about InDro Controller, so if you’d like more details you can <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/new-indro-controller-a-simple-solution-to-complex-robotics-missions/" target="_blank">check this out</a>. But in a nutshell, InDro Controller is a powerful desktop UI for operating any robot. With a highly secure data connection, InDro Controller automatically senses all key parameters of any robotic device. It will automatically detect any sensors, providing a data feed from all of them with minimal latency.“It can handle all sorts of data,” says Front-End Developer RJ Bundy. “It doesn’t matter if the robot has standard or custom sensors, InDro Controller can automatically detect and visualize them. For example, if you added a radar unit to an existing robot, the system will pick up on that immediately.”InDro Controller provides the operator with a highly customisable dashboard for carrying out complex missions. It will also keep track of any missions manually carried out, and make them repeatable as autonomous missions.And that autonomy? InDro has created two different autonomy software stacks. One is for outdoor missions that rely on GPS; the second is for indoor missions like SLAM in GPS-denied environments. That software comes with InDro Controller – and is also loaded onto the module. So the two key elements of this system – InDro Controller and the InDro Command Module – have been made to operate seamlessly together.“Anyone should be able to configure and control the new ICM for their product, and indeed, their solution,” says Griffiths.Below: A look at the powerful InDro Controller UI dashboard. The Controller software has been created to be an ideal match for the InDro Command Module and is easy to operate.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE5MzIxNjI0ODEzLURhc2hib2FyZC5wbmctY29weS5qcGcud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="InDro Controller Dashboard"> <h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take&nbsp;</h3>We’re extraordinarily proud of the work our engineering team has put into the InDro Command Module – as well as InDro Controller. We believe these two, in combination, set a new bar for both robot integration and complex remote teleoperations.“The design and creation of the boards used in the InDro Command Module was a significant technical challenge – and a significant achievement. The same can be said of our two new autonomy stacks,” says InDro Robotics CEO Philip Reece.“Whether it’s a ground robot, a drone, or some other device that requires high processing power and minimal latency with all the features enabled by ROS, the ICM allows developers to quickly transform virtually any platform into a powerful autonomous robot with minimal effort.”Interested in learning more? Of course you are. Contact our Head of R&amp;D Sales, Luke Corbeth, right <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.

The New InDro Command Module: Amazing Power in a Tiny Package

Simplify Integration with this Robot Agnostic Brain Box

This article was written by Adam Taylor for Mouser Electronics<h2 id="isPasted">Introduction</h2>In this project, we will configure the AMD Kria™ KR260 Robotics Starter Kit to control a Trossen Robotics ReactorX 150 robot arm. This complex robot arm uses <a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/robotis/robotis-dynamixel-x-modules/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">ROBOTIS DYNAMIXEL</a> servos, which contain not only motors but also microcontrollers and networking capability. While this enables the complex motor drives needed for robotics applications, it also means that each servo has several different drive and control mechanisms. Typically, when working with servos and robotics applications of this complexity, significant processing is required to plan and address the robotic movement.To interact with and control such robots, engineers often use the <a href="https://www.ros.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">Robot Operating System (ROS)</a>, which runs on Linux. The most used version of ROS is ROS 2, which updated the ROS frameworks and tools to work with a wider variety of environments, provide support for real-time environments, and use significantly updated APIs. ROS 2 provides developers with functionalities such as hardware drivers, robot models, datatypes, and support for perception and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). ROS 2 also provides a series of tools that aid in the development or operation of systems such as RViz, which provides a 3D visualization, and Gazebo, a simulator.ROS 2 is built around a graph architecture; within this architecture, processing takes place in nodes that can receive and post data about the node, such as sensor, control, planning, actuator positioning, or current state. Nodes are connected on the ROS graph by topics, which are communication pipelines to which nodes can publish data and receive information. Along with nodes and topics, a node may also advertise services. The services have a single result, such as capturing a frame of video, sampling a sensor, or opening an actuator.<h2>Bill of Materials</h2><ul><li><a href="https://www.mouser.com/new/xilinx/xilinx-kria-kr260-kit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">AMD Kria™ KR260 Robotics Starter Kit</a></li><li>Monitor with DisplayPort™ compatibility</li><li>USB keyboard and mouse</li><li><a href="https://www.trossenrobotics.com/reactorx-150-robot-arm.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">ROBOTIS ReactorX In150</a> robotic arm</li></ul><h2>Resources</h2><ul><li><a href="https://ubuntu.com/certified/202202-29985" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">Ubuntu Linux distribution image for the AMD Kria™ KR260 Robotics Starter Kit</a> (Ubuntu)</li><li><a href="https://www.xilinx.com/products/som/kria/kr260-robotics-starter-kit/kr260-getting-started/setting-up-the-sd-card-image.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">Getting Started with the AMD Kria KR260 Robotics Starter Kit</a> (AMD)</li><li><a href="https://sourceforge.net/projects/vcxsrv/files/vcxsrv/1.20.14.0/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">VcXsrv Windows X Server Files</a></li></ul><h2>Software Setup</h2>In this project, we will install the Trossen Robotics packages and ROS 2 on the AMD Kria™ KR260 Robotics Starter Kit, which will enable you to control the robot arm.<h3>Installing Ubuntu</h3>Start by downloading and installing the Ubuntu Linux distribution image for the AMD Kria™ KR260 kit, available in the Resources section. Once the image is available, flash the image to an SD card following the instructions provided by AMD in Getting Started with Kria KR260 Robotics Starter Kit in the Resources section.Once you have successfully booted the AMD Kria KR260 kit, you will need to update the Ubuntu installation to ensure we can install ROS 2 correctly.<ol><li>Install resolvconf.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo apt update</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo apt install resolvconf</code><ol start="2"><li>With resolvconf installed, ensure it is running.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo systemctl status resolvconf.service</code><ol start="3"><li>Once you have confirmed the service is running, add your preferred DNS server. In this example, we use Googles DNS.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee -a /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/head</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;echo "nameserver 8.8.4.4" | sudo tee -a /etc/resolvconf/resolv.conf.d/head</code><ol start="4"><li>Because we made changes, we need to restart the services.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo systemctl restart resolvconf.service</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved.service</code><ol start="5"><li>Prevent Ubuntu on the KR260 from going to sleep.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.session idle-delay 0</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;sudo systemctl mask suspend.target</code><h3>Installing ROS 2</h3>To install ROS 2 and the packages to control the Trossen Robotics X Series arm, we will modify the instructions slightly to those used for the Raspberry Pi, which, like the AMD Kria™ KR260 kit, uses the Arm64 (aarch64) instruction set architecture.The latest version of ROS 2 supported by Trossen’s libraries is ROS 2 Humble. Use the following commands to install ROS 2 and the Trossen libraries:<code>cd ~</code><code>sudo apt install curl</code><code>curl 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Interbotix/interbotix_ros_manipulators/main/interbotix_ros_xsarms/install/rpi4/xsarm_rpi4_install.sh' &gt; xsarm_rpi4_install.sh</code><code>sed -i 's/sudo apt-get update &amp;&amp; sudo apt -y upgrade/sudo apt-get update/g' xsarm_rpi4_install.sh</code><code>chmod +x xsarm_rpi4_install.sh</code><code>./xsarm_rpi4_install.sh -d humble -j rx150</code><h2>Demo Application</h2>With ROS 2 installed on the AMD Kria™ KR260 kit, we will run one of the provided demo applications. Open two terminal windows on the KR260.<ol><li>In the first terminal window, enter the following command:</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;ros2 launch interbotix_xsarm_control xsarm_control.launch.py robot_model:=rx150</code><ol start="2"><li>In the second terminal, enter the following command:</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;python3 /home/ubuntu/interbotix_ws/src/interbotix_ros_manipulators/interbotix_ros_xsarms/interbotix_xsarm_control/demos/python_ros2_api/bartender.py</code>This will run an application that demonstrates the control of the robot arm.<h3>Demo Breakdown</h3>By examining the code in this application, we can see how we can control the arm using the Python programming language. First, we need to import the InterbotixManipulatorXS arm package from the InterbotiX libraries we installed. To do this, enter the following command: <code>from interbotix_xs_modules.arm import InterbotixManipulatorXS</code>With these packages installed, we can start creating applications that manipulate the arm using a Python application.Looking at the example code, we can see the first thing we do is initialize it with the parameters of the robot, the model, type, and its end effector.With the robot (shown as <code>bot</code> in the code) defined, the application first checks the robot has the correct number of joints for the demo. Once it has been confirmed as being suitable for the demo, the robot is controlled by using several Python commands that set the pose, or single positions, as required. The gripper can also be opened and closed using Python calls.<code>bot = InterbotixManipulatorXS("rx150", "arm", "gripper")</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; if (bot.arm.group_info.num_joints &lt; 5):</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; print('This demo requires the robot to have at least 5 joints!')</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; sys.exit()</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.arm.set_ee_pose_components(x=0.3, z=0.2)</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.arm.set_single_joint_position("waist", np.pi/2.0)</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.gripper.open()</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.arm.set_ee_cartesian_trajectory(x=0.1, z=-0.16)</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.gripper.close()</code>Finally, the demo ends by safely positioning the robot to its home position.<code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.arm.go_to_home_pose()</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; bot.arm.go_to_sleep_pose()</code>Knowing this, we can start creating own custom applications, as shown in <a href="https://youtu.be/g4xX4aowwI8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" data-internal="false">this video</a>. But first, we need to be able to remotely develop applications on the AMD Kria™ KR260 board.<h2>Remote Development</h2>To develop our remote application, we will use Visual Studio Code on the development machine. The Python application we create using Visual Studio Code on our development machine will be in the file system of the AMD Kria™ KR260 kit. This also has the benefit of requiring no connected display, keyboard, or mouse, as we can access everything from the development environment.We also want to be able to remotely view the visualization of the robot arm as we develop our application (in simulation mode or actual execution).To enable remote development and visualization, we must establish SSH connection and enable X11 forwarding.<ol><li>Use Windows Powershell to install OpenSSH using the following commands.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object Name -like 'OpenSSH*'</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;# Install the OpenSSH Client</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Client~~~~0.0.1.0</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;# Install the OpenSSH Server</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;Add-WindowsCapability -Online -Name OpenSSH.Server~~~~0.0.1.0</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;# Start the sshd service</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;Start-Service sshd</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;# OPTIONAL but recommended:/code&gt;</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;Set-Service -Name sshd -StartupType 'Automatic'</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;# Confirm the Firewall rule is configured. It should be created automatically by setup. Run the following to verify</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;if (!(Get-NetFirewallRule -Name "OpenSSH-Server-In-TCP" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object Name, Enabled)) {</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Write-Output "Firewall Rule 'OpenSSH-Server-In-TCP' does not exist, creating it..."</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; New-NetFirewallRule -Name 'OpenSSH-Server-In-TCP' -DisplayName 'OpenSSH Server (sshd)' -Enabled True -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -Action Allow -LocalPort 22</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;} else {</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Write-Output "Firewall rule 'OpenSSH-Server-In-TCP' has been created and exists."</code><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;}</code><ol start="2"><li>With OpenSSH installed, create a key using the following command.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;ssh-keygen</code>By default, the system will save the keys to <code>C:\Users\&lt;user&gt;/.ssh/id_rsa.</code><ol start="3"><li>Exchange keys using the following command.</li></ol><code>&nbsp; &nbsp;type $env:USERPROFILE\.ssh\id_rsa.pub | ssh ubuntu@&lt;board_ip&gt; "cat &gt;&gt; .ssh/authorized_keys"</code>To establish a SSH connection from Visual Studio Code, we must first install the remote SSH option from the extensions (Figure 1).<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE3MTQ3NTU5NTE3LUFNRHBfZmlnMS53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 1: SSH remote connection application. (Source: Mouser Electronics)Once this is installed, we can connect to the AMD Kria KR260 board (Figure 2), which will allow us to develop our applications remotely in the KR260 file system.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE3MTQ3NTc0MDA4LUFNRHBfZmlnMi53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 2: Establishing an SSH remote connection. (Source: Mouser Electronics)To be able to use X11 forwarding, we must first install cXsrv Windows X Server (available in the Resources section) on our development machine. Run X Server and configure it. For screenshots fo this setup see <a href="https://resources.mouser.com/robotics/mastering-multi-axis-robotics-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>. &nbsp;Connect to the display by running the following command in a command window on the development machine:<code>set DISPLAY=127.0.0.1:0.0</code>We can then initiate an SSH connection with the AMD Kria KR260 board and start developing our robot application.<code>ssh -Y &lt;user&gt;@&lt;board_ip&gt;</code>As this runs, the robot arm will move and you will see a visualization of this movement on X Server (Figure 7).<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzE3MTQ3Njc4MjM0LUFNRHBfZmlnNy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 7: X Server robotic arm visualization (Source: Mouser Electronics)<h2 id="isPasted">Wrap Up</h2>Robotics can be complicated. In this project, we have seen that the AMD Kria™ KR260 kit can enable rapid development of robotic solutions using ROS 2. The KR260 provides the ability to accelerate features within the programmable logic element or to integrate further system control elements such as time-sensitive networking within the programmable logic.<hr>AMD, and the AMD Arrow logo, Kria, and combinations thereof are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product names used herein are for identification purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

In this project, we will configure the AMD Kria™ KR260 Robotics Starter Kit to control a Trossen Robotics ReactorX 150 robot arm. This complex robot arm uses ROBOTIS DYNAMIXEL servos, which contain not only motors but also microcontrollers and networking capability.

Mastering Multi-Axis Robotics: A Step-by-Step Guide

Noise suppression includes both emission and immunity suppression, and various measures are in place in robots to prevent malfunction due to immunity.

Robot Emission Suppression Measures

InDro Robotics is pleased to unveil details of its highly capable new R&amp;D drone.Running the Robot Operating System (ROS) and with powerful onboard compute capabilities, the drone is perfect for advanced Research and Development.“It’s a drone geared toward R&amp;D first and foremost,” explains Luke Corbeth, Head of R&amp;D Sales. “It truly is a flying robot – and you can program and use it in a very similar fashion to all our other robots.”There’s a real demand in the research world for open-source drones that can be programmed and run highly complex algorithms. These kinds of drones can be used to study swarm behaviour, object detection and identification, mapping in GPS-denied locations and much more.For some researchers, the budget go-to has been the <a href="https://www.bitcraze.io/products/crazyflie-2-1/" target="_blank">Crazyflie</a>, a micro-drone that uses a Raspberry Pi for compute. Its advantage is that it’s quite affordable. But its low cost, 27 gram weight and relatively low computing power means it has limitations – including the ability add sensors of any weight.“This drone can do so much more,” says Corbeth. “With the <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/autonomous-machines/embedded-systems/jetson-xavier-series/" target="_blank">NVIDIA Xavier NX</a> onboard for compute, it can effectively map entire environments. And when it comes to landing and object recognition, it’s truly phenomenal. It can even land on a moving vehicle.”Below: A look at InDro’s new drone, which comes complete with LiDAR, a depth-perception camera, 5G connectivity – and much more.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1715267903013-20240403_192314.jpg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">The Back Story</h3>If you’ve been following the latest news from InDro, you’ll be aware we have an incubation agreement with <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/cypher-robotics-announces-captis-a-new-solution-for-industrial-scanning/" target="_blank">Cypher Robotics</a>. That company builds solutions for cycle counting and precision scanning in the industrial/supply chain space. InDro assisted with the development of its signature product, Captis.Captis integrates an autonomous ground robot with a tethered drone. As the Captis robot autonomously navigates even narrow stock aisles, the drone ascends from a tether attached to that ground robot. The drone then scans the barcodes (it’s code-agnostic) of the products on the shelves. All of that data is transferred seamlessly, in real-time, to the client’s Warehouse Management System (WMS), WCS (Warehouse Control System) and WES (Warehouse Execution System) software.The capabilities of Captis led to a partnership with global AI fulfilment experts <a href="https://www.greyorange.com/" target="_blank">GreyOrange</a> and leading global telco innovator <a href="https://www.ericsson.com/en" target="_blank">Ericsson</a>. The product debuted at the recent MODEX2024 conference (one of the biggies in the automated supply chain world), where it <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/cypher-robotics-captis-system-generates-buzz-at-modex2024/" target="_blank">gained a *lot* of attention</a>.While working on the project, it was always clear the drone – thanks to multiple modifications – would be highly suitable as a research and development tool. It’s capable of machine vision/object recognition, machine learning, and can find its way around in completely unfamiliar, GPS-denied environments.“In fact, I have one client that’s using it for research in mines,” says Corbeth.&nbsp;<h3>The Jetson Difference</h3>NVIDIA has made quite a name for itself – and quite a profit for its shareholders – with its powerful AI-capable processors. The Jetson Xavier NX features a 6-core NVIDIA Carmel Arm®v8.2 64-bit processor running at speeds of up to 1.9 GHz. Its graphics processor unit features a 384-core NVIDIA Volta™ architecture with 48 Tensor Cores. Put it all together, and the computing power is astonishing: The Xavier NX is rated with a maximum achievable output of 21 TOPS – trillionoperations per second. (We were going to try to count, but thought it more efficient to rely on <a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/autonomous-machines/embedded-systems/jetson-xavier-series/" target="_blank">NVIDIA’s specs</a> for this.)The LiDAR unit currently shipping with the drone also has some flex. It’s the Ouster 32-channel OS1 (Rev6.2). With a maximum range of 200 metres (90 metres on a dark, 10 per cent target), its powerful L3 chip is capable of processing scans of up to 5.2 million points per second with 128 channels of vertical resolution (again, we didn’t count). Hostile environment? No problem. The LiDAR can operate from -40°C to 60°C and has an IP68 Ingress Protection rating.“The OS1 is designed for all-weather environments and use in industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, mapping, smart infrastructure, and robotics,” <a href="https://ouster.com/products/hardware/os1-lidar-sensor" target="_blank">states its manufacturer</a>.&nbsp;“The OS1 offers clean, dense data across its entire field of view for accurate perception and crisp detail in industrial, automotive, robotics, and mapping applications.”The unit uses open source ROS and C++ drivers, and comes with Ouster’s Software Development Kit. Its ability to accurately sense its environment (down to distances of 0.5 metres away), combined with the NVIDIA processor and the depth camera also allows this machine to do something pretty extraordinary: It can recognise and land on a moving platform.“That’s a very challenging problem to solve and requires not only specific sensing but also really powerful onboard compute. This drone can do it,” explains Corbeth.Already, word about the product has been spreading. A number of units have already been sold to academic institutions for research purposes – and the team has been hard at work building and testing for the next set of orders (as seen below).<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1715268006509-shared-image.jpeg.webp" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">The Forge Connection</h3>Like all new products, the new drone required custom parts. We looked no further than <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/indro-forge-prepped-for-next-phase-expansion/" target="_blank">InDro Forge</a>, our rapid prototyping and limited production run facility in Ottawa.Using state of the art additive and subtractive tools, the Forge team created custom mounts using carbon fibre and other strong but lightweight materials, while also ensuring the frame was robust enough to take on even the most challenging environments where these drones will be deployed.“InDro Forge has been critical to the finished product,” says Corbeth. “We wanted a look, feel and quality that matches this drone’s capabilities – and InDro Forge delivered.”<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1715268106286-R%26D+Drone+Custom+Parts.jpeg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3 id="isPasted">InDro's Take</h3>We’re obviously excited about the capabilities of this new drone, and we’re not alone. Interest in this product from researchers has already been significant. In fact, we’re not aware of any other drone on the market offering this combination of specific capabilities.It was that void – in concert with our partnership with Cypher Robotics – that led to its creation.“InDro has always placed a great emphasis on the development of innovative new products,” says CEO Philip Reece. “We build new products at the request of clients and also develop our own when we see a market opportunity. In this case, the requirements for Cypher Robotics dovetailed nicely with demand for such a drone from researchers.”Production of the new drone is moving at a swift pace. If you’re interested in a briefing or demo, you can contact us <a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank">here.</a>

An R&D Powerhouse

Unveiling the ROS-Based Drone

Robot Operating System (ROS) drivers were developed on Analog Devices products so that they can be readily used within a ROS ecosystem. This article will give an overview on how to use and integrate these drivers in their applications, products, and systems.

Enabling Robot Operating Systems - Introducing the ADI Trinamic Motor Controller ROS1 Driver

MATT Framework is the core software application that was designed to allow users to calibrate, prototype, develop testing scenarios, and manually operate the <a href="https://www.adaptarobotics.com/matt/" target="_blank">MATT robot</a>, making it as easy to interact with as possible. It functions like an application server with a dedicated user interface for seamless robot control and operation.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU2OTc4Nzg1LU1BVFQtcHJvZHVjdC1saW5lLXVwLTEwMjR4NjI3LmpwZWciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">MATT Robot product line-upMATT Framework, as a software product, has expanded over time to offer multiple APIs that accommodate various programming languages, reducing user-side integration efforts.In an earlier version of the Framework, which was already experiencing effortless adoption among MATT Robot users, the Python API was introduced. Looking towards further improving the functionality of the software, the next objective was adding a Python Read-Eval-Print Loop (REPL). Up until recently, carrying out such a task proved to be technologically challenging, but the difficulty diluted with the advancement of available and used methods and knowledge.<h2>Python runs in the browser</h2>To see the set intention being implemented into MATT Framework, multiple methods have been explored in order to find the most appropriate and more efficient one for the current situation. In the end, adding Python to the software was carried out through Pyodide.Pyodide is a Python distribution designed specifically for the browser environment, offering seamless integration of JavaScript and Python through a robust foreign function interface (FFI). It leverages the power of WebAssembly, enabling the execution of Python code with full support for the standard library and the ability to load additional packages from PyPI, the Python Package Index.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU3MDA1NTk2LVB5c2NyaXB0LWlzLWEtcG9wdWxhci1wcm9qZWN0LXVzaW5nLXB5b2RpdGRlLTEwMjR4NjU4LmpwZWciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">PyScript is a popular project using Pyodide — pyscript.netWhen it comes to browser-based Python implementations, Pyodide stands out as a comprehensive and feature-rich solution. With the arrival of WebAssembly, Pyodide takes advantage of this technology to deliver a highly capable Python environment while ensuring compatibility across different browsers. Unlike other alternatives such as Transcrypt, which require a pre-compilation step to transpile the Python code into JavaScript, Pyodide offers a more direct and streamlined approach.Moreover, Pyodide excels in its ability to directly load pure Python packages from PyPI. This expands its functionality and allows developers to leverage a wide range of existing Python libraries, enhancing the capabilities and versatility of their browser-based applications. In comparison, alternatives like Brython may not provide the same level of support or seamless integration with PyPI.<h2>Enhancing MATT Console</h2>To make the utilization of MATT robots during testing as smooth as possible, the integrated MATT Framework software was designed to contain a console section that allows the robot operator to easily interact with their test cases. Aiming to make automation as accessible as possible, the necessary code for performing test operations is generated by the console. Considering that MATT is a testing robot built to interact with devices having touchscreens and buttons, the most common operations consist of taps, swipes, identifying icons, and saving pictures.MATT’s console was initially built to support JSON API. As the number of teams utilizing the device testing robot grew, the necessity of updating the console by integrating Python API was met, as it was getting increasingly difficult for Python users to operate MATT.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU3MDMyMTEwLUxhcHRvcC1jb250cm9sLXRlc3Rpbmctcm9ib3Qtc2NhbGVkICgxKS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Laptop control of testing robot — Adapta Robotics on UnsplashThe initial intention of the update (named ServicePack 2 software update) was only to incorporate Python code generation support in order to facilitate robot operation. Soon, the objective evolved into making the best of both worlds by implementing bidirectional code translation that supports both the Python and JSON APIs. This meant that anyone who is using the JSON API can now take advantage of this feature to convert the test cases to Python code and vice-versa.Translating API&nbsp;callsTo achieve the above mentioned, during the technical development of the update it has been made use of the already implementation of the Python API as a wrap around the existent JSON command protocol and the API’s significant surface overlap.For example, a Python step that tells the system to tap a specific location on a device looks like this:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU3MTA4MjE2LTE3MDg1NTcxMDgyMTYucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dib">While its corresponding JSON command is:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU3MDk3ODAzLTE3MDg1NTcwOTc4MDMucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" class="fr-fic fr-dib">By patching some of the methods in the Python API, specifically those for sending commands over a socket connection, the generation the JSON commands were made possible simply by calling the Python method inside the browser using Pyodide. The one-way conversion was not just possible, but easier to implement than initially expected.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNzA4NTU3MTg2MzI1LWRvY3VtZW50YXRpb24tcG9ydGFsLTEwMjR4NTc0LmpwZWciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Documentation portal for the MATT, the device testing robot – docs.mattrobot.ai<h2 id="isPasted">JSON to Python&nbsp;</h2>Next, the focus was on completing the development of the reverse transform, enabling the conversion of JSON commands into Python calls. To accomplish this, a converter class, specifically designed to accept JSON commands as input and generate corresponding string representations of the Python calls, was created.<h2>Limitations</h2>In mathematics, a transform is deemed reversible when the sequence A =&gt; B =&gt; A1 results in identical values for both A and A1. In the present case, however, the code translation process is only partially reversible, because when handling iterative loops, they become flattened into individual operations.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1708557239611-limitations-when-translating-API.gif" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Limitations when translating API calls<h2 id="isPasted">Refactoring to React</h2>An important step that was achieved during the implementation of the developed MATT Framework software update was rewriting the console feature using React. This came as a natural choice since the component was separable from the main project while also being very heavy in the business logic department.By utilizing <a href="https://prismjs.com/" target="_blank">PrismJS</a>&nbsp;and its capabilities, enhancing the component with syntax highlighting was not only easy but also necessary (contributing to the overall scope of delivering the robots’ operator an accessible, easy-to-use interaction). The end of the process presented itself with numerous files inside the console editor project. For this reason, it has been compiled into a separate module using WebPack with the result of the compilation being imported into the main project.<h2>Conclusion</h2>Comprising all added updates and new functionalities, the picture featured below shows the improved user interface emphasizing the append mode, syntax highlighting, and instant API to API translation.Ultimately, the ability to execute Python code in the browser through Pyodide has proved to be a game-changer for the utilized web-based user interface. This development decision not only reduced the workload significantly, but it allowed many more features to be shipped through the release updates that ultimately closely follow the MATT Robot product line roadmap.The above-described walkthrough serves as a great example of how library choices can impact the product’s roadmap and why thorough technology research is crucial.<img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1708557270884-Improved-console-1024x572.jpeg" style="width: 100%px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The improved console of the MATT Framework software

MATT Framework is the core software application that was designed to allow users to calibrate, prototype, develop testing scenarios, and manually operate the MATT robot, making it as easy to interact with as possible.

How adding Python control to MATT Framework improved the functionality of Our Robots

The realm of robotics is on the brink of a transformative era, with researchers delving into captivating trends that promise to reshape the landscape of technology. Join us as we explore the forefront of emerging robotics research, where innovation and curiosity converge to unlock new possibilities. The robotics community is abuzz with excitement, and here are some thought-provoking areas of study that have been gaining traction among our community.<hr><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1704820522413-DSC01510.JPG" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Mobile Manipulation: Adapting to Dynamic EnvironmentsIn a world where adaptability is key, researchers are focusing on enhancing the adaptability and versatility of robotic systems through mobile manipulation. Dive into the intricacies of how robots can seamlessly move and manipulate objects in dynamic environments, paving the way for applications in logistics, healthcare, and disaster response. The ability to navigate the unpredictable is pushing the boundaries of what robotic systems can achieve.<hr><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1704820557685-Screenshot+2024-01-09+at+10.46.50+AM.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Exploration Strategies and Trade-offs: Navigating the UnknownUnlock the secrets behind intrinsic motivation, curiosity-driven learning, and the delicate balance of exploration and exploitation. Researchers are addressing the challenges of autonomous navigation and learning in ever-changing environments. This exploration into strategies and trade-offs is crucial for developing robots that can boldly navigate the unknown, making breakthroughs in real-world applications.<hr><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1704820590758-DSC01592.JPG" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Hierarchical RL and Skill Discovery: Elevating Robotic LearningDelve into the development of hierarchical representations and abstractions in the context of mobile robotic systems. Discover how this approach is revolutionizing robotic learning, making robots more adaptable and proficient in solving complex tasks efficiently. The hierarchical reinforcement learning (RL) and skill discovery are opening new frontiers in the capabilities of robotic systems.<hr><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1704820610855-Screenshot+2024-01-09+at+11.30.35+AM.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Social and Economic Implications of AI Technologies: Ethical ConsiderationsAs robotics technology advances, ethical considerations take center stage. Explore the social and economic implications of AI technologies, addressing safety, fairness, interpretability, privacy, trustworthiness, human-AI interaction, and philosophical considerations. Understanding these ethical considerations is pivotal to ensuring the responsible and beneficial deployment of AI technologies in society.<hr><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wevolver-project-images/froala%2F1704820625973-Screenshot+2024-01-09+at+11.30.40+AM.png" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Multi-Agent Systems for Collaborative Mobile Robotics: Shaping the Future TogetherThe future of robotics lies in collaboration. Uncover how cooperative behaviors, communication strategies, and self-organization are shaping the landscape of multi-agent systems for collaborative mobile robotics. Witness the potential applications in swarm robotics, where groups of robots work together efficiently to achieve common objectives in dynamic and challenging environments.<hr>As we conclude this exploration into the fascinating world of emerging robotics research trends, we invite you to stay ahead of the curve. The robotics community is teeming with curiosity and exploration, and there's never been a more exciting time to be part of the journey. Embrace these thought-provoking areas of study and join us in shaping the future of technology through the lens of robotics.

Navigating Emerging Trends in Robotics Research

Unveiling the Future of Robotics Research

The Robot Operating System (ROS) has been a game-changer in the world of robotics, enabling developers to create and manage complex robot systems with ease. However, as technology evolves, so does the need for more advanced tools and capabilities. This has led to the development of ROS 2, the successor to ROS 1, and it's gaining traction rapidly among developers. Let's explore the key differences between ROS 1 and ROS 2 and why many developers are making the switch:<h3>ROS 1: The Foundation</h3>ROS 1, often referred to simply as ROS, was introduced in 2007 and quickly became the go-to framework for robot development. It provided a flexible and modular architecture for building robotic applications, and its extensive library of packages and tools made it an attractive choice for developers. ROS 1 was built on a message-passing middleware called ROS Master, which uses the DDS (Data Distribution Service) communication standard for inter-process communication.<h3>ROS 2: The Evolution</h3>ROS 2 was introduced as the successor to ROS 1 and addresses several limitations that developers encountered with the original system. Some of the key differences and improvements <a href="http://design.ros2.org/articles/changes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">outlined by the ROS organization</a> in ROS 2 include:<ol><li>Real-time Support: ROS 2 offers enhanced real-time capabilities, making it suitable for safety-critical and time-sensitive applications, which were challenging to achieve with ROS 1.</li><li>Middleware Agnostic: Unlike ROS 1, which relies on the ROS Master, ROS 2 is middleware agnostic. This means it can support multiple middleware systems, such as DDS, Fast RTPS, and more. This flexibility allows for better compatibility with various hardware and network configurations.</li><li>Improved Security: ROS 2 incorporates improved security features, ensuring that robotic systems can operate securely in environments where data integrity and confidentiality are paramount.</li><li>Enhanced Cross-Platform Compatibility: ROS 2 has been designed with cross-platform compatibility in mind, making it easier to run on various operating systems, including Windows.</li><li>Simplified Dependency Management: ROS 2 streamlines package management, reducing dependencies and making it easier to manage the libraries and modules required for a project.</li></ol>Here's a chart outlining some of the key technical differences between ROS and ROS2:<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjk4OTQ1ODI4MDE5LVJPUyB2cyBST1MyIENoYXJ0LnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h3>Why More Developers Are Making the Switch:</h3>Improved Real-time Capabilities: ROS 2's support for real-time systems is a significant attraction for developers working on applications where timing and synchronization are crucial, such as autonomous vehicles and industrial automation.Middleware Flexibility:&nbsp;ROS 2's middleware agnosticism allows developers to choose the best communication middleware for their specific use case, ensuring better integration with different hardware and network configurations.Enhanced Security: With an increased focus on security, ROS 2 provides a safer platform for robots operating in critical environments, including healthcare, defense, and manufacturing.Cross-Platform Compatibility: ROS 2's compatibility with various operating systems, including Windows, opens up new possibilities for developers and allows for a broader range of deployment options.Long-Term Support: ROS 2 is well-supported and continually updated, providing developers with a future-proof platform for their projects. ROS 1 is no longer under active development, which means that it may not receive the same level of support and enhancements.Overall, ROS 2 is designed to address some of the limitations and challenges of ROS 1, such as scalability, performance, security, and cross-platform compatibility. While both ROS 1 and ROS 2 have the same core functionality, many differences exist between the two, and the decision to use one over the other depends on specific use cases and requirements. To see a more in-depth analysis please <a href="https://roboticsbackend.com/ros1-vs-ros2-practical-overview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">visit “roboticsbackend”</a>.Here's what InDro's Engineering Manager, Arron Griffith, had to say: "Now is the time to make the switch to ROS 2 (or start using it). ROS 2 has matured over the 5 years to equal or better than ROS 1 after its first 5 years. Plus ROS 1 will be going <a href="http://wiki.ros.org/Distributions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">End of Life over the next 2 years</a>, so there is no point in starting with ROS 1 anymore, the future is ROS 2".As the robotics industry continues to advance, ROS 2 is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of robot development. If you're a developer, it's time to consider making the switch to ROS 2 to harness its full potential. &nbsp;Questions about ROS or ROS2? &nbsp;<a href="https://indrorobotics.ca/connectwithanexpert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Connect with an expert HERE.</a>

Why Developers Are Making the Switch

ROS 1 vs. ROS 2

Exploring Cutting-Edge Research with the LIMO Robot

Boston University Uses LIMO Robot For Research

Traditional non-destructive testing methods for industrial assets require sending inspectors to elevated and confined areas using scaffolding or rope access. This method is expensive, time-consuming, and dangerous.Avestec has developed a solution using intelligent robots that fly, attach, and measure. Completing all inspection requirements quickly, safely, and at a low cost.With the technology of intelligent flying robots, what once took an entire inspection team for ten days can be completed by two operators in a single day.Unlimited flight and a patented attachment mechanism enable our robots to perform Ultrasonic Thickness measurements and visual inspections easily.A cloud-based reporting software like Avesoft handles all the post-processing and data analysis using artificial intelligence and automatically generates reports. So well-informed decisions can be made faster.

Intelligent flying robots are making their way into the Non-Destructive Testing industry.
These robots are gaining attention in providing the industry with a safer and superior alternative to traditional methods.

Flying into Non-Destructive Testing

Another fascinating month for robotics. Researchers are the highlight of the month. Through their work, we are pushing the boundaries of self-awareness, complex structure and even the limits of life and death.&nbsp;Spoooky indeed.&nbsp;Take a seat and join us in this quick review of robotics news.And don&#39;t forget that you can also share your story. We would love to feature it in our next blog. Just email us at <a href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a><ul><li>This blog has also been <a href="http://ubuntu.com/blog/the-state-of-robotics-august-2022?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=blog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">posted in Ubuntu blogs</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">Security for robotics</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Vulnerability in cute, smart Enabot Ebo Air robot found and fixed</h3>The <a href="https://na.enabot.com/ebo/AIR" target="_blank">Enabot Ebo Air</a> is a friendly smart home robot, designed to keep the family company. It allows you to interact with your family at home while you&rsquo;re away. It can take photos and videos as well as recognise faces, and you can steer it around the house via Wi-Fi. Recently, the security assessment firm Modux was asked to evaluate the security of the robot, and <a href="https://www.modux.co.uk/post/serious-security-issues-uncovered-with-the-enabot-smart-robot" target="_blank">found two important vulnerabilities</a>. Modux disclosed the issues to the manufacturer, who has since addressed the risks and released a fix.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1ODQzODQ3LXRlc3QgMS53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The first issue found was the use of a shared password for the system administrator (root) account. The Enabot Ebo Air robot came pre-configured with a default system administrator password, which was weak and shared across all devices. An attacker could have used this to connect via SSH (secure shell), and gain full administrative permissions. The recommendation was to disable SSH functionality, which the manufacturer did.&nbsp;The second bug was a missing secure-delete functionality, which could potentially disclose information from the previous owner if the robot was resold. The robot did not effectively perform a secure deletion of data when a factory reset was initiated, leaving behind artefacts from previous uses of the device, including cleartext Wi-Fi passwords and session tokens from the previous owner. For this, the recommendation was to use a secure deletion functionality instead, overwriting all sensitive data multiple times.An attacker could have used these vulnerabilities to move the robot, access the camera, record video, speak through the microphone, among other tasks, effectively using it as a surveillance device. This event highlights the importance of security awareness and thorough testing, as robots continue to serve and accompany us more and more in our daily lives. <h2 dir="ltr">Amazon acquisition of iRobot - implications beyond data</h2>Every time Amazon launches or acquires a new company (especially one developing a device) the whole internet starts talking about the data and privacy implications. Yes, certainly data is important for Amazon. But that is not the whole story. Today I want to talk about the impact this acquisition has on investors and how this could boost the market.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1ODg4NDM2LXRlc3QyLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Funding a robotics venture is not easy. Between March 2020 and March 2021, robotics companies raised only 8% in capital compared to AI companies. AI-focused startups raised a total of $73.4 billion while robotics startups raised $6.3 billion. This is a paltry sum in comparison, especially when we saw an increasing need for robotics in several industries (due to COVID). &nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1OTA4ODQxLXRlc3QzLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">There are many reasons behind this. One of those, and the most important one, is the increased risk perception from investors. Robotics development is expensive and takes time.&nbsp;But moves like Amazon&rsquo;s show something to investors: a profitable exit. Amazon will acquire iRobot for $61 per share in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $1.7 billion. A success story is always needed to push investment, and this certainly makes one.&nbsp;This is not an isolated event. It comes after 2 years of really interesting acquisitions. Take <a href="https://www.zebra.com/gb/en/about-zebra/newsroom/press-releases/2021/zebra-technologies-to-acquire-fetch-robotics.html" target="_blank">Zebra&#39;s acquisition of Fetch</a>, or <a href="https://www.deere.com/en/news/all-news/2021aug5-bear-flag-robotics/" target="_blank">John Deere&#39;s acquisitions of ROS-based startups</a>. Investors are aware, now more than ever, that while the risk is high, the profit/ROI could be as well. Moves like <a href="https://ubuntu.com/blog/the-state-of-robotics-september-2021" target="_blank">Amazon launching Astro</a> create more incentives.&nbsp;Amazon&rsquo;s acquisition has various implications. Only time will tell whether this boosts the market, and how much.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Robotics awareness&nbsp;</h2>Robots are now able to learn a model of their entire body from scratch, without any human assistance. <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/scirobotics.abn1944" target="_blank">Researchers from Columbia University</a> developed a visual self-model using deep neural networks that allowed a robot to learn the relationship between its motor actions and the volume it occupied in its environment.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1OTM2ODEyLXRlc3QgNC53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The team found a way to visualise how the robot saw itself, finding a surprisingly accurate self-image. (<a href="https://www.hackster.io/news/columbia-university-researchers-gave-this-robot-arm-a-true-sense-of-self-cadeac6481a9" target="_blank">source</a>) The researchers placed a robotic arm inside a circle of five streaming video cameras. The video footage was fed to the network as the robot wiggled and contorted. This allowed it to learn exactly how its body moved in response to various motor commands.&nbsp;After about three hours, the robot learned the relationship between its motor actions and the volume it occupied in its environment. Much like an infant exploring itself for the first time in a hall of mirrors.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1OTU2Njk5LXRlc3Q1LndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Robot inside a circle of five streaming video cameras This awareness allows the robot to plan motion, reach goals, and avoid obstacles in a variety of situations&mdash;another small but incredible step towards robots&rsquo; self-awareness. <h2 dir="ltr">Robotics and Smart textiles</h2><a href="https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/new-shape-shifting-material-can-move-robot" target="_blank">Researchers at the University of New South Wales</a> are also working on a special project. They developed a new class of smart textiles that can shape-shift and turn two-dimensional material into 3D structures. The material is constructed from tiny soft artificial muscles. These muscles are long silicone tubes that can change shape thanks to hydraulics.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU1OTc3MTkxLXRlc3Q2LndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The UNSW team&#39;s smart textile enables fabric reconfiguration which produces shape-morphing structures such as this butterfly and flower that can move using hydraulics. (<a href="https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/new-shape-shifting-material-can-move-robot" target="_blank">source</a>) The artificial muscles can be programmed to contract or expand into a variety of shapes depending on their initial structure. The smart textile can either be attached to existing passive material or yarn to create an active fabric.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU2MDAwMzM2LXRlc3QgNy53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Structure of smart textile (<a href="https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/new-shape-shifting-material-can-move-robot" target="_blank">source</a>)&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Spider gripper&nbsp;</h2>What&rsquo;s next is not fabric, but something from a sci-fi movie. <a href="https://news.rice.edu/news/2022/rice-engineers-get-grip-necrobotic-spiders" target="_blank">Rice University researchers</a> found a way to use dead spiders as robotic grippers. What started with a dead spider in a lab became a gripper; Necrobotics.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU2MDI3MDc0LXRlc3QgOC53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Functioning of the spider gripper (<a href="https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2022/07/necrobotic-spiders/" target="_blank">source</a>) If you haven&#39;t noticed yet, spiders&rsquo; legs curl up when they die. This is because spiders extend their legs with hydraulic pressure and when spiders die they lose this ability. Researchers tapped into the hydraulic infrastructure of dead spiders using a needle, and by pumping air, they extended the spider&rsquo;s legs. Releasing the pressure retracted the legs, allowing them to grab objects. <h2 dir="ltr">Congratulations to ROS Industrial&nbsp;for its 10-year anniversary</h2>Happy birthday <a href="https://rosindustrial.org/" target="_blank">ROS Industrial</a>! If you don&#39;t know it yet, ROS Industrial is an open source project that seeks to extend ROS and now ROS 2 to industrial hardware and applications.&nbsp;ROS Industrial identifies and prioritises capabilities for industrial robotics and automation to address current and future application problems. They also provide a wide range of user services, including technical support and training, to facilitate the continued adoption of ROS by the industry.<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-6yAk05et1Q?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-12="true" id="26562603" title="ROS-Industrial 10 Year Anniversary Mash Up"></iframe> They help us all carry the flag of open source in the industrial and automation domain. For that, we are truly thankful and we&rsquo;re proud to be part of this community. &nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">Robot Makers - Chapter 3 - Register now!&nbsp;</h2>Did you miss the interview with Akara Robotics CEO Conor McGinn? Don&rsquo;t worry,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O3X7MM1mx8" target="_blank">&nbsp;the video is now available on youtube</a>.&nbsp;And don&#39;t miss our <a href="https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/6793/555737?utm_source=Canonical&utm_medium=brighttalk&utm_campaign=555737?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=engage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">upcoming interview with Russell Nickerson</a>, Engagement Liaison at MassRobotics. MassRobotics is a non-profit coworking space for robotics startups in Boston&#39;s Seaport, where Russell supports more than 60 residence startups.&nbsp;Based on his experience scaling robotics companies, Russell will share the dos and don&#39;ts of go-to-market strategy.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYxMTYwMTQ5MDQyLVtXZWJpbmFyXSBNYXNzUm9ib3RpY3MgUm9ib3QgTWFrZXJzIDIgKDIpLnBuZyIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><ul><li dir="ltr">Register now for <a href="https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/6793/555737?utm_source=Canonical&utm_medium=brighttalk&utm_campaign=555737?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=engage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chapter 3 of the Robot Maker series</a></li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">Open source robotics &ndash; white papers</h2>We recently published a whitepaper about the importance of<a href="https://ubuntu.com/engage/robot-operating-system-choice?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=engage" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&nbsp;choosing the right OS for your robot</a>. Picking the right OS could make a big difference in factors like security, maintenance and infrastructure for deployment.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU2MDcxNzI2LXRlc3QgOS53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><ul><li>Review the implications and explore <a href="https://ubuntu.com/engage/robot-operating-system-choice?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=engage" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">why so many developers chose Ubuntu</a>.&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">Open source robotics &ndash; video news</h2>Another month, another video. More news, more applications, more robots! &nbsp;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O29XoRFNc0k?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> If you want us to feature your robotics application, just send us an email at <a data-fr-linked="true" href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a>.<ul><li dir="ltr">And don&#39;t forget to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/UbuntuOS/?sub_confirmation=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">follow us for more robotics news, demos and tutorials!</a>&nbsp;</li></ul><h2 dir="ltr">Open-source robotics &ndash; ROS 2 shared memory tutorial</h2>After receiving questions regarding an error message issued by ROS 2 applications in snaps, we decided to put together a blog post on this matter <a href="https://ubuntu.com/blog/how-to-use-ros-2-shared-memory-in-snaps?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=blog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&ldquo;How to use ROS 2 shared memory in snaps&rdquo;</a><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjYwNTU2MDkzNDI3LXRlc3QgMTAud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><a href="https://ubuntu.com/blog/how-to-use-ros-2-shared-memory-in-snaps?utm_source=wevolver&utm_medium=blog" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In this post</a>, we review the shared memory mechanism in ROS 2, explain why the shared memory feature causes error messages in snaps and propose different solutions to tackle it.As usual, we&rsquo;d love to get your feedback. Feel free to reach out on the <a href="https://forum.snapcraft.io/" target="_blank">snapcraft forum</a>.<h2 dir="ltr">Stay tuned for more robotics news</h2>As always, we would love to hear from you. Send a summary of your robotics innovation and project to <a href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a>, and we will share it in our next robotics newsletter or monthly video. Thanks for reading!

Monthly robotics news blog. Discover the latest innovations, products, research, tutorials, and security news for robotics.

The State of Robotics, August 2022

In this episode, we talk about how engineers are tackling the problem of sorting through piles using robotics and a platform that leverages fake data to train robots more efficiently.<iframe height="200px" width="100%" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://player.simplecast.com/ee270fa2-ec1d-485d-86fe-fffdf942a9f3?dark=false" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-form-tracking-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true" data-lf-vimeo-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe><hr>This podcast is sponsored by&nbsp;<a href="https://www2.mouser.com/" id="isPasted" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mouser Electronics</a>. &nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU4MjI3OTM1NzAxLU1vdXNlci1zcG9uc29yLTEtYS5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 766px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><hr><h3 id="isPasted">EPISODE NOTES</h3>(0:57) - Robots Finding Buried Objects🤖🔑(16:50) - Fake Data To Train Robots🤖🧠<hr>About the podcast:Every day, some of the most innovative universities, companies, and individual technology developers share their knowledge on Wevolver. To ensure we can also provide this knowledge for the growing group of podcast listeners, we started a collaboration with two young engineers, Daniel Scott Mitchell &amp; Farbod Moghaddam who discuss the most interesting content in this podcast series.&nbsp;To learn more about this show, please visit the <a href="https://www.wevolver.com/profile/the.next.byte" target="_blank">shows page</a>. By following the page, you will get automatic updates by email when a new show is published.Be sure to give us a follow and review on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/the-next-byte/id1548255861?l=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple</a> podcasts, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/6lPPsRtegnivsRUEsQ09R7?si=IPMiah7xT_apJtPjqvXMlA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and most of your favorite podcast platforms!Take a few seconds to leave us a review. It really helps! <a href="https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2RIsbZ2&nbsp;</a>if you do it and send us proof, we’ll give you a shoutout on the show.

Peter Mitrano demonstrates a rope manipulation experiment. Software that he and Berenson developed can expand training data sets for challenges like rope manipulation, doubling the success rate of the robot. Credit: Daryl Marshke, Michigan Creative, University of Michigan. 

In this episode, we talk about how engineers are tackling the problem of sorting through piles using robotics and a platform that leverages fake data to train robots more efficiently.

Podcast: Teaching Robots To Find Buried Objects

<h2 dir="ltr" id="isPasted">The State of Robotics &ndash; May &amp; June 2022</h2>In May, robotics felt the waves of the Hawksbill and Jellyfish. Last month brought us the first LTS for ROS 2, Humble Hawksbill. As part of the ROS community, we welcome this new release and congratulate everyone who made it possible.In this round-up, we will talk about ROS, drones, football and robots that eat scrambled eggs.&nbsp;Yep, enjoy ;) &nbsp;&nbsp;And don&#39;t forget that you can also share your story. We would love to feature it in our next blog. Just email us at <a href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a>&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Security for robotics</h2><h3 dir="ltr">Critical vulnerabilities found in hospital robots</h3>Five critical bugs were <a href="https://technewsmax.com/2022/04/12/critical_vuln_hospital_robots/" target="_blank">recently found</a> in TUG autonomous mobile robots. These internet-connected robots are being used at hundreds of hospitals around the world to deliver medicine and maintenance supplies.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI4OTAxODY0LXR1Z2d5LWlubGluZS53ZWJwIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The zero-day vulnerabilities (CVSS scores ranging from 7.6 to 9.8), collectively called <a href="https://www.cynerio.com/jekyllbot-5-command-center" target="_blank">JekyllBot:5</a>, required a low skill set and could be exploited without any special privileges or user interaction. When exploited, they enabled remote attacker control of the robots and access to real-time camera feeds and device data. The vulnerabilities originated in TUG Homebase Server&#39;s JavaScript and API implementation, and a WebSocket that relied on absolute trust between the server and the robots to relay commands to them. Some HTML vulnerabilities on the web portal page also allowed an attacker to insert malicious Javascript code on any computer that requested data about the robots. Cynerio, the threat research firm that discovered the bugs, immediately notified hospitals using the robot.&nbsp;&nbsp;Attacks on hospital robots could have critical consequences that impact patient care, such as disrupting or blocking drug delivery or even causing damage by crashing them into people or objects. Thankfully, none of these vulnerabilities were exploited in the wild. All five bugs have now been fixed for all TUG base server versions before version 24.<h2 dir="ltr">ROS 2 Humble, Ubuntu 22.04 and Ubuntu Core 22</h2>With the release of Ubuntu 22.04, we have a new release of ROS 2 Humble Hawksbill. This long-term support (LTS) release is the first LTS for a ROS 2 distribution. These 5 years of support show the maturity that ROS 2 has achieved. As such, it brings <a href="https://discourse.ros.org/t/ros-2-humble-hawksbill-released/25729" target="_blank">several features</a>:<ul><li dir="ltr">Type adaptation: In rclcpp, you can work with custom data structures and have them implicitly converted to be sent over the ROS network, or passed directly if you&rsquo;re using interprocess communication. This is convenient for working with complex data structures like images.</li><li dir="ltr">launch_pytest: A pytest plugin for writing tests in Python.</li><li dir="ltr">Frontend support for composable nodes: Composable nodes can now be specified in launch files.</li><li dir="ltr">Content filtered topics: Subscribers can filter which types of messages they want to see.</li></ul><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI4OTk1NTkyLXJvcy1odW1ibGUtaGF3a3NiaWxsLWZlYXR1cmVkLndlYnAiLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">And what better match for Humble Hawksbill than Jammy Jellyfish. Ubuntu 22.04 is now generally available, featuring significant leaps forward in cloud confidential computing, real-time kernel for industrial applications, and enterprise Active Directory, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, FIPS and FedRAMP compliance. This release raises the bar for open source from cloud to edge, IoT and workstations.&nbsp;For robotics development these are the most attractive features in this new distribution:<ul><li dir="ltr">Real-time kernel for Ubuntu, with the PREEMPT_RT patchset integration. This enables extreme latency-dependent use cases, providing deterministic response times to service events. Available for x86_64 and AArch64.</li><li dir="ltr">FIPS-certified Ubuntu images that make it easy for companies to fulfil different industrial compliance requirements (e.g. PCI-DSS, HIPAA and FedRAMP).</li><li dir="ltr">OVAL integration for vulnerability and patch definitions to enable auditing for Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs)s.</li><li dir="ltr">Active Directory is now fully supported in the Ubuntu installer with Advanced Group Policy Object and allows more refined user permissions and script execution control from within Active Directory.&nbsp;</li></ul><img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5MDQwMzc5LXVidW50dSBqZWxseWZpc2gud2VicCIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6OTUwLCJmaXQiOiJjb3ZlciJ9fX0=" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Together with 22.04, we also released Ubuntu Core 22. Canonical announced that <a href="http://ubuntu.com/core" target="_blank">Ubuntu Core 22</a>, the fully containerised Ubuntu 22.04 LTS variant optimised for IoT and edge devices, is now generally available for download from <a href="https://ubuntu.com/download/iot" target="_blank">ubuntu.com/download/iot</a>. Combined with Canonical&rsquo;s technology offer, this release brings Ubuntu&rsquo;s comprehensive and industry-leading operating system (OS) and services to a complete range of embedded and IoT devices.For those deploying robotics devices to market, Ubuntu Core 22 brings these new features:&nbsp;<ul><li dir="ltr">It provides a path to upgrade UC20 systems to UC22 and backward compatibility of the new features to UC20.</li><li dir="ltr">Validation set that specified what applications are either required to be installed together or are permitted to be installed together on a device or system.&nbsp;</li><li dir="ltr">Quota group sets to limit services inside applications like maximum memory and CPU usage.</li></ul>To learn more about the new features on Core 22 <a href="https://ubuntu.com/blog/what-youre-missing-out-if-you-dont-try-ubuntu-core-22" target="_blank">check the next blog</a>.&nbsp;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6NDWqH1SrGs?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> <h2 dir="ltr">Skybrush going Open Source&nbsp;</h2>We stand behind open source projects since they make way for innovation. Just take a look at <a href="https://skybrush.io/" target="_blank">Skybrush</a>, a drone-show management platform. In early May, Skybrush announced the release of their ultimate multi-UAV mission and drone show management platform as an open-source project.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5MDY2Mjg4LXNreWJydXNoX2xpdmVfb25fZGVza3RvcC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Skybrush has also advanced on the drone swarm research front, with 30, 50, and up to 100 autonomous drones flying together in different cooperative scenarios. Besides putting on an impressive show, the drone orchestration platform can be used in other industries. It has practical applications for agriculture, surveillance and delivery - among other use cases.<h2 dir="ltr">Making drone nests with Wings</h2>Looking for another drone use case? Check <a href="https://wing.com/" target="_blank">Wing</a> and their drone delivery system. Wing &nbsp;is growing in Australia. The company allows small businesses to access a delivery infrastructure. Companies can ship their products through a system of different bases in the city, called wing nests. Once on the wing nest, drones can travel up to 6 miles in 6 minutes. This covers a wide range of houses. The delivery zones can expand as more wing nests get added to the network.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5NTQxMjQ3LUZJX2hlYWRlcl8yMDQ4eDExNTEgY29weS1taW4uanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Drones and strong winds &nbsp;</h2>To autonomously perform delivery tasks, drones need to be able to adapt to wind conditions in real-time. This is a field that is not well understood yet. <a href="https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/rapid-adaptation-of-deep-learning-teaches-drones-to-survive-any-weather" target="_blank">A team of engineers from Caltec</a>h is expanding our knowledge in this area. They developed Neural-Fly, a deep-learning method that can help drones cope with new and unknown wind conditions in real-time by incorporating pre-trained representations through deep learning. Take note, drone fans.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5MTUzNTA5LUNhbHRlY2hfTmV1cmFsX0ZseV8wNi4yZTE2ZDBiYS5maWxsLTE2MDB4ODEwLWMxMDAuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Neural-Fly uses an algorithm to learn the shared representation, using only 12 minutes of flight data. With the learned representation, Neural-Fly achieves precise flight control with substantially smaller tracking errors. It&rsquo;s been used to improve drone performance at wind speeds ranging up to 43.6 kilometres/hour.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5MTcyODkyLUNhbHRlY2hfTmV1cmFsX0ZseV8wOC5tYXgtMTQwMHg4MDAuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Eating robot</h2>This news entered a new category. A food-tasting robot? Yes, a food-tasting robot. Researchers from the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-61313767" target="_blank">University of Cambridge&nbsp;</a>trained Beko to assess the saltiness of a dish at different stages of the chewing process, imitating a process that is similar in humans. Beko, who has already been trained to make omelettes, tasted nine variations of scrambled eggs and tomatoes at three different stages of the chewing process. The researchers attached a conductance probe to the robot&rsquo;s arm, which acts as a salinity sensor.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5MjAzNzIwLXJvYm90IGVhdGluZyBvbWVsZXR0ZXMuanBnIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Their results showed a significant improvement in robots&rsquo; ability to assess saltiness over other electronic tasting methods. In case you were wondering, the food was blended to imitate the change in texture caused by chewing.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5NTYyNTcwLVJvYm90LWNoZWYtdHJhaW5lZC10by10YXN0ZS1mb29kLWluLWRpZmZlcmVudC1jaGV3aW5nLXBoYXNlcy5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6eyJyZXNpemUiOnsid2lkdGgiOjk1MCwiZml0IjoiY292ZXIifX19" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Open source robotics &ndash; white papers</h2>We recently published a <a href="https://ubuntu.com/engage/robot-operating-system-choice" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">whitepaper about the importance of choosing the right OS</a> for your robot. Picking the right OS could make a big difference in factors like security, maintenance and infrastructure for deployment. Review the implications and explore why so many developers chose Ubuntu.<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5NTc3MDcwLXdoaXRlcGFwZXIucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Open source robotics &ndash; video news</h2>Another month, another video. More news, more applications, more robots! &nbsp;<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hvmwE6ft45A?&wmode=opaque&rel=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://www.wevolver.com" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" data-lf-yt-playback-inspected-kn9eq4roawkarlvp="true"></iframe> If you want us to feature your robotics application, just send us an email at <a href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a>.<h2 dir="ltr">Open-source robotics &ndash; ROS 2 in Ubuntu with LXD tutorial</h2>Do you want to test ROS 2 Humble? If you want to test compatibility and keep your current Ubuntu (20.04, 18.04,&hellip;) environment stable until you know you are ready to upgrade, you can do that with LXD containers. <a href="https://ubuntu.com/blog/install-ros-2-humble-in-ubuntu-20-04-or-18-04-using-lxd-containers" target="_blank">Read our tutorial</a> to find out how.&nbsp;<h2 dir="ltr">Robot Makers - Chapter 2</h2>Did you miss the interview with Akara Robotics CEO Conor McGinn? Don&rsquo;t worry, the video is now available on-demand. If you want to learn about the funding landscape for robotics startups, the best sources of funding and good guidelines, this webinar is for you.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.wevolver.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJ3ZXZvbHZlci1wcm9qZWN0LWltYWdlcyIsImtleSI6ImZyb2FsYS8xNjU2OTI5NjIxMzUzLVtXZWJpbmFyXSBBa2FyYSBSb2JvdCBNYWtlcnMgMiAoOCkucG5nIiwiZWRpdHMiOnsicmVzaXplIjp7IndpZHRoIjo5NTAsImZpdCI6ImNvdmVyIn19fQ==" style="width: 300px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><h2 dir="ltr">Stay tuned for more robotics news</h2>As always, we would love to hear from you. Send a summary of your robotics innovation and project to <a href="mailto:robotics.community@canonical.com" target="_blank">robotics.community@canonical.com</a>, and we will share it in our next robotics newsletter or monthly video. Thanks for reading!

robot operating system (ROS)

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