Kategoria: Blog

Automation of repetitive tasks is a currently straightforward strategy of companies’ infrastructure development. Typical approach to separate human workers from the machine and let the robots execute tedious activities is seen in various industries. Most of the manufacturers are keen on automating production, so long as it can be done cost-effectively [1].

Robots reduce costs…

One of the example of such  examples of robots application is shoes production process in KEEN Inc. – US based company that makes outdoor and lifestyle footwear. It was founded in 2003, and its shoes are sold in the United States and worldwide. According to Rory Fuerst Jr., director of innovation at KEEN, the most important benefit or automation is the fact that robots are processing the shoes’ interlocking cords with the sole with a speed twice as fast as when done manually reducing favorably production costs. So far, ABB Robotics supplied solutions for many production lines and tasks and declares to sold more than 250,000 robots worldwide.

Potential cost reduction is indisputable benefit of the automation. Robot manufacturers’ sales track record seems to prove their attractiveness and market acceptance.  With cost reduction improvement, it is possible to keep the production facilities at countries close to the clients’ and remove some of the capacities that are usually placed far away in developing countries. Automation enables European and American producers to be still price competitive and avoid potential accusations of use of children workers or inhuman working conditions at plants located in developing countries.

Automation is a challenge…

However, automation comes with the limits regarding the process versatility and flexibility. Recently Adidas has announced to end the robotic shoe production in Germany [2].  It had originally the intention to use the automated plants to produce footwear more quickly in locations closer to the key markets. Robots in Germany were supposed to be alternative to manufacturing hubs in Asia, where the labor and overhead are cheaper.  Now, the company plans to move the so-called Speedfactory to the Asia, where the ‘know-how and suppliers are located”. However, this was not the only and main reason for such strategic decision. The robotic factories were shown to produce a limited number of models [3]. Any change of the shoe design requires time consuming and costly machine adaptation. The robotic factory seems to be a powerful tool, but difficult to quickly reconfigure or repurpose, since it takes specialty knowledge to set up racks of robotic arms, computer vision systems, and so on. Robotics manufacturers are making advances in this field, but for now it is still a bigger challenge comparing to training a human worker to use standard tools on a different pattern [4].

Manufacturing landscape will change…

In effect, investors should carefully analyze potential of using robotic automation in manufacturing. Current experts, as Kai-Fu Lee, expects that artificial intelligence will automate and potentially eliminate 40 percent of jobs within 15 years [5].  Some people claims, that it would requires decades until robots would be so versatile to be easy implemented in various applications. Assuming the increasing popularity of robot automation and basing on the current level of technology maturity, we can suspect that some of the human workers would be replace in near future, or as Toyota Production System is expecting – to be separate from the machine, and it would not happen fully. For sure, there will be a need for people maintaining the automated system working properly – especially those with high robotic technology skills since the systems become more sophisticated. Moreover, new job roles would become more popular in the market such as automation specialists or automation process engineers, who will be responsibile for robotic process flow. In general, the transition to the more automated technology requires the change in workers skills more oriented on Artificial Intelligence and robotics.

View of the future manufacturing…

The MAPI Foundation (center for research on the economic impact of manufacturing) has published report on AI in production, which claims that introduction of AI into the manufacturing value chain will create new hybrid roles, where humans enable machines, and AI augments human capabilities [6]. In their second study, MAPI has shown that jobs in the manufacturing, retail, telemarketing, and data entry space are most likely to shrink due to AI expansion, yet most respondents of their research said they are not afraid that AI/bots will replace their own jobs within the next 10 years [7]. Anyway, current research and technology transfer efforts prove that job market will witness the urgent and increasing need for properly trained persons and the relevant actions should be taken by the industry to address this demand in upcoming years. 

[1] https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/93672-shoe-manufacturer-automates-production-in-unique-way

[2] https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/13/20962688/adidas-robotic-speedfactories-ansbach-germany-atlanta-usa-athletic-shoes 

[3] https://qz.com/1746152/adidas-is-shutting-down-its-speedfactories-in-germany-and-the-us/ 

[4] https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/11/adidas-backpedals-on-robotic-factories/ 

[5] https://www.inc.com/carmine-gallo/an-ai-expert-told-60-minutes-that-ai-could-replace-40-percent-of-jobs-heres-part-he-left-out.html 

[6] https://mapifoundation.org/manufacturing-evolution 

[7] https://www.roboticsbusinessreview.com/ai/new-research-shows-how-ai-will-impact-the-workforce/ 

Moore’s law – repeatedly sentenced to be invalid

Recently the significang technological breakthrough had happened. And its benefits would be achieveable in next few years. Due to the quantum copmuting the numerical solutions will change dramatically and it will impact our life significantly. #quantum #computing

So far the Moore’s law desrcibing well the developments regarding the speed of computational machines was valid, but at the limit of its validity. Recent achievements in 5 nm technologies of Samsung Electronics and TSMC made it still working[1]. However, there were comments regarding its usability as we have met the chipset developments boundaries [2]. For a not a first time, many people has said that the limit of Moore’s law was reached and now we cannot witness the benefits of growing computational power as fast as we used to. One of the potential remedies to keep Moore’s law active was idea of the quantum computing. However, its state of development was low and many people treat it seriously, rather as the song of the future, which would come to the reality in unspecified future. Up to now.

A short history of quantum computing

Idea of Quantum computing arose in 80ies. Since that time many developers tried to make it real. D-Wave Systems provided first 128 qubits system names as the first computer with quantum register in 2007. In 2010 Lockheed Martin bought quantum machine from D-Wave Systems. Some of the scientists claimed that D-Wave Systems solution is not a quantum computer [3], while the others were claiming that it is still quantum computer [4]. All discussions was a result of still not confirmed state of development and capabilities of new technology. Considering its unsatisfying efficiency scientists perceived it as a technology under development requiring many years of additional studies.

Recent breakthrough

However, recently the Financial Times [5] has announced that Google research team led by John Martinis have demonstrated quantum supremacy over conventional computing for the first time. Supremacy results from excellent results showing capability of performing a task that’s beyond the reach of even the most powerful conventional supercomputer. The excellent results was proved during the comparative tests done with Nasa supercomputer – Summit. In the past Google struck an agreement to use NASA equipment for benchmarking and recent tests confirmed predominance of its quantum computing. According to the Financial Times report, the in its publication Google said that its quantum processor was able to perform a calculation in three minutes and 20 seconds that would take today’s most advanced supercomputer as Summit, around 10,000 years. Researchers claim also that, to their knowledge, the experiment “marks the first computation that can only be performed on a quantum processor.” Unfortunately, Google has taken down this publication and do not reply for journalists questions. This gives a bit mystery of the Google developments. If it is true, it would be in my opinion a sign that many things would change in next few years. Having an access to enormous computational capabilities would be a driver to reach new levels of efficiency or solutions functionality. This would aslo keep Moore’s law still alive.

[1] TSMC and OIP Ecosystem Partners Deliver Industry’s First Complete Design Infrastructure for 5nm Process Technology (press release), TSMC, 3 April 2019
[2] https://medium.com/predict/moores-law-is-alive-and-well-adc010ea7a63
[3]Smolin., J. et al. APS March Meeting 2014 Volume 59, Number 1
[4] Perkins., R. et al., Nature Physics, March 2014
[5] https://www.ft.com/content/b9bb4e54-dbc1-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17

Doctors are sometimes called as “mechanics of human bodies”. This term describes well current approach the science has regarding human body. In the past it was covered with a mystery of not well understood performance filled according to the humorism theory with 4 fluids: such as blood, yellow bile, phlegm and “black bile”, now our bodies are treated by physicians as object without secrets or as a complex, but fixable machinery. Latest technological advances are clear proof of that, especially regarding recent projects on human nervous system. Current medical achievements in that field provide surprisingly good results of merging electronic solutions with human tissue, suggesting that new reality in form of Cyberpunk 2077 world could be more real than someone expects. #prothesis #cybepunk #brain #thoughts

Spinal cord therapy

Let’s start from one of the main challenges in neural disorders – disconnection of spinal cord. It is a cause of paralysis – damaged spinal cord is not capable of transmitting nervous signal between the brain and rest of the body. There are attempts to regenerate the its connectivity with stem cells (1), and some of such therapies are already approved for test and further development by some countries like Japan (2). However, challenge is to have reliable and working solutions. Research with stem cells is far from that stage now. Thus, there is still a need for solution that could help patient get their physical performance back.

Prosthesis – bypassing spinal cord

Example of the interesting breakthroughs in the area of prostethic medicine took place in 2014, when scientists from Ohio helped paralyzed man (with damaged cord spinal) to move his hand with a thought. Surgeons had implanted a small array of electrodes in patient’s motor cortex to transmit his thoughts directly to his hand muscles and bypass his spinal injury.  After many exhaustive trainings in the lab patient was able to pick up a bottle and pour water to a glass or play the guitar only by thoughts. All of these were possible with the specific computer system and technology to omit the spinal cord while transmitting signal from brain to the limb (3).

Connecting to the limb’s nervous system

Different approach took scientists from Chalmers University in Sweden. They have developed an arm prosthesis that makes its users fit the definition of a cyborg, because it is connected directly to the bone, nerves and muscles of the patient. Solution uses sensors placed on the skin, while the central control system connects to nerve endings and muscles. Such prosthesis enables user more natural control of the arm, while it allows to feel what the hand is doing. Information about the movement and feelings goes both ways: through the wires to and from the arm, and the patient gets interactive feelings from various pressure points (4).

In last year, we have witnessed another interesting breakthrough that could help development of reliable and natural in performance prosthesis. Researchers from Cornell University have created a new type of artificial nerve that can sense touch, process information, and communicate with other nerves much like real ones. This device is made of three flexible organic components. First, a series of dozens of sensors to pick up pressure senses. Pressing on one of these sensors causes an increase in voltage between two electrodes. This change is then picked up by a second device called a ring oscillator, which converts voltage changes into a string of electrical pulses. These pulses, and those from other pressure sensor/ring oscillator combos, are fed into a third device called a synaptic transistor, which sends out a series of electrical pulses in patterns that match those produced by biological neurons. So far, the researchers detached a leg from a cockroach and inserted an electrode from the artificial neuron to a neuron in the cockroach leg, and signals coming from the artificial neuron caused muscles in the leg to contract. This is just beginning, but once developed technology could help construction of more complex and robust sensing devices capable of tracking changes in texture, position, and different types of pressure. New design of connections with human nervous system could even provide significant improvements in how people with artificial limbs (cyborgs) or robots can interact with its surroundings comparing to the natural systems.

Thus, this technology could go beyond current body limitations and help construction of more complex and robust sensing devices capable of tracking changes in texture, position, and different types of pressure. In effect, it could provide even significant improvements in how people with artificial limbs (cyborgs) or robots can interact with its surroundings (5).

Another noteworthy study was done by Graczyk et al., who have developed and tested with patients prosthesis enabling its sensation. However, comparing to the other scientists, this group has deeply validated expectations and feelings of the patients. Their sensory restoration system was based on tactile and proprioceptive sensations on the hand via neural stimulation through chronically implanted electrodes. In effect, patients loved much these devices, and some onf them were reluctant to take it off. “That’s because I like the sensation of having my hand there, and feeling like my hand was there, so I didn’t want to take it off” – one of them said. Scientists did a deep survey on the quality of life with new prosthesis among the study participants. In effect, the sensory feedback fundamentally altered the way participants used their prosthesis, transforming it from a sporadically used tool into a readily and frequently used hand. This is one of the most important features the new prosthesis solution would require to be successful on the market. Not only correctly transmit signal from brain to the device, but, if necessary, transmit it back and create information loop-back enabling illusion of having real limb attached to the body together with positive client’s experience (6).

Reading brain signals

Elon Musk’s team works on the brain – machine interface for at least 2 years. Authors have built arrays of small and flexible electrode “threads”. Together with neurosurgical robot capable of inserting threads into the brain with micron precision and target specific brain regions. The electrode array is packaged into a small implantable device that contains custom chips for low-power on-board amplification and digitization. This system is promised to hold the necessary communication between the brain and the prosthesis or equipment. It is one of the most straightforward and potentially successful solutions in this area. Sewn in electrodes would set stable connection of the brain with external systems. Moroever, electrodes placement within structures of a brain could enable for stimulation of these areas and potentialy support therapy of damaged areas (7).

Other scientists has chosen a more ambitious path toward contact less reading human thoughts. Shinji Nishimoto and his team provided so far very promising tool for reading others’ minds (8). Solution utilizes the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals in brain that are measured via fMRI. As a basis for brain performance analysis, BOLD signals were perceived as not well accurate to formulate someone’s thought. However, current results are surprising and promise a significant breakthrough. Nishimoto team has asked group of volunteers to watch few movies, and measured brain blood activity during that time. Signals were mapped on human brain and analyzed with regard to the watched content. Trained software solution has enabled in backward reconstruction of some of the data basing on the measured signals. As you can see in the image below, there is an original image and reconstructed from signal measurements. Accuracy is not 100% perfect, but good enough to see the content and recognize it.

Almost at the same time Facebook has started research on reading our minds. Company wants to create a wearable headset that let users control music or interact in virtual reality using their thoughts. The work utilizes previously described monitoring the blood flow with an MRI machine. Despite of the fact, that such blood-flow patterns represent only a small part of what’s going on in the brain, they were also capable to read valuable information. The goal of Facebook research team is to enable users writing text only with a thought with a speed upto 100 words a minute. Moreover, such solution could enable expression and activation various commands, and this feature would bring the thought control systems and the next level of operating with machines – completely new world of technical possibilities. Facebook has plans to demonstrate a prototype of its portable system by the end of the year.

Pragmatic and demistyfied approach to treat human body as complex mechanism and apply technical rules and practices to combine its operations with external devices will bring soon very interesting and life changing solutions. Some of the researchers had assumed very “conservative” approach in binding human brain with a device by implementing chips directly to the brain. However, only in the case of prostehsis connection to the limb’s nerves this solution can be efficient and widely accepted by the users. Inconvenience of deep surgical operations for some of the developed devices could hamper their commercialization. End users would expect smooth and hassle free connection of artificial limb with body. In fact, Cyberpunk reality with cyborgs could be a reality shortly.

To avoid problem of deep integrations, some researchers took a step further and concentrated their efforts on reading human thoughts and converting them to the information. Current results are very promising and suggest a disruptive solutions. This would change our life in controlling and steering the neighborhood and the way we interact with environment. Considering both approaches for human integration with external devices it is probably a good time to ask for implications of prognosed developments. What would be the price people have to pay for their devotion to new technology? Will we sacrifice our current lifestyle or privacy?

(1) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5979319
(2) (https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-00178-x
(3) https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/health/paralysis-limb-reanimation-brain-chip.html
(4) http://sciencenordic.com/brain-controlled-prosthetic-arm-connected-nerves
(5) https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/05/new-artificial-nerves-could-transform-prosthetics
(6) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-26952-x
(7) https://www.neuralink.com
(8) Shinji Nishimoto et al. Current Biology in 2011 (“Reconstructing Visual Experiences from Brain Activity Evoked by Natural Movies”), link: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(11)00937-7

Canon decided to use unusual for corporates new solution development process and went to Indiegogo to catch money and attention for a new project. Their new approach could be an interesting form of Open Innovation startegy. Instead of analyzing product internally and trying to include voice of customers, Canon is opening its development process for end users input from the beginning. #Canon #crowdfunding

Ivy Rec – what is it?

Ivy Rec has a useful form of snap ring and is waterproof, shockproof and wearable camera. Its”go anywhere” feature will help targeting active users, who want to simplify the way cameras are used now.  

Why #crowdfunding?

Indiegogo, Kickstarter and other platforms group two sides of startup business willing to develop and use in practice new interesting solutions. Once a source of easy money for development, today those platforms become a community of active users and developers. Active users are usually early adopters for any new technical solutions and are of a big value for any startup. Cannon decided to utilize this benefit and do the authentic Open Innovation by openning its internal development process for wide audience. Crowdfunding will help company in adjusting the developed product according to the needs of final users and gain attention of early adopters. This move will speed up the go to market path and cut costs for product testing and developing. Canon is saying: we should develop our products in close cooperation with our customers, especially with those, who are willing to test our new ideas.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/canon-ivy-rec-clippable-outdoor-camera-sold-out#/ 

Szanowni!

Jakiś czas temu udało się nam wypracować Business Technology Roadmap (“mapę drogową rozwoju”) dla polskiego sektora tworzywowego na potrzeby PARP. W konkluzjach do niej sugerowaliśmy powstanie dedykowanego temu sektorowi programowi wsparcia działań badawczo rozwojowych NCBR. Roboczo nazwaliśmy go Innoplast. #NCBR #Innoplast #tworzywa

Miło mi poinformować, że ostatecznie powstał odpowiedni program w ramach „Poddziałanie 1.1.1 Badania przemysłowe i prace rozwojowe realizowane przez przedsiębiorstwa” – Konkurs przeznaczony dla przedsiębiorców (MŚP, duże) oraz konsorcjów (także z udziałem jednostek naukowych) Ścieżka tematyczna: TWORZYWA SZTUCZNE. Gratulacje i podziękowania dla osób wspierających powstałą w ramach warsztatów inicjatywę Aleksandra Walczyk, Wojciech Sadowiec z PARP, ekipę Deloitte – Mariola Wytrykus, Jerzy Grzesiak, Renata Siwiec i wszystkim uczestnikom. Konkurs zostanie ogłoszony 15 lipca. Budżet przedsięwzięcia to 180 mln złotych. Zachęcam do aktywnego wzięcia udziału w tym programie. Ci którzy mają wątpliwości lub nie wiedzą jak skorzystać prośba o kontakt.

#NCBR #tworzywa #Innoplast

https://www.ncbr.gov.pl/fileadmin/POIR/2019_06_17_Harmonogram_POIR_2019_wersja_3.pdf

Cleantech has a bright future in upcoming years despite of the some reports and comments like Startups Genome report. Changes in environment across the globe, stringent legislative regulations, high costs of wastes management and R&D funding support new green solutions. #Cleantech #Genome #startups #wastes

Startup Genome report underestimates cleantech startups potential

Presented this year Startups Genome report analyze the startups ecosystem globally (1). From professional networking perspective it provides useful insight into regional innovation hubs, their specificity and trends. However, what could surprise is a judgment on cleantech potential comparing to the rest of innovative and hot subjects.  According to this analysis “cleantech” solutions are being described as “mature” sub-sector with one of the smallest growth dynamics for startups in this area. Therefore, someone could have a real doubts about this considering dramatically changing landscape for wastes management and chemical, energy and power, automotive and construction industry either in Europe or globally.

Legislation is a driving force for wastes management solutions

In addition, in last few years we have witnessed few significant legislative and social impacts that would shape the cleantech landscape. One of the most significant came with EllenMacarthur Foundation report (2) on plastics lifecycle. The other documents were the European Plastics directives on European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy (3) and on Single-Use Plastics (4) enforcing challenging requirements for plastics producers and users as well regarding future wastes management. In fact, seriosity of EU law enforcement is tangible and known to business (see EU helps fight global monopolies).

China bans import of simple wastes

In addition, sudden ban from China on cheap waste import (5) increased even more difficulties with plastics recycling and utilization. Waste managing companies were not any longer capable of sending the dirty problem away overseas, what cause choking of the European and American landfills (6). As a result, becoming more and more  popular videos showing huge oceans areas polluted with plastics and clogging Asian harbors with the floating material. These vidoes have stimulated significantly people’s awareness of plastic problem (7). Popularized in social media movies gave an incentive to set on track interesting startups. In addition, the rapidly growing emission certificates  prices (from 5 EUR in 2018 to 26 EUR now) have worsen even more cost structures of chemical, steel, construction or power producers(8).

Cleantech becomes more economically attractive

We must differentiate the drivers that stimulate development of various innovations. Most of them results from the “unmet opportunities” and usually, entrepreneurs find ways to address them in an advantageous way. As a result, business perceives innovations as occasion to utilize current market potential, but burden with entrepeneurship risks (for startups usually high). However, in the cleantech area the business risk of adoption of mature (TR level >=7) is relatively low.  The need for new solution is often being pumped by the increasing demand from big industries. Due to the stringent law regulations regarding wastes and emissions management are the driving force of their development. Therefore, the industrial players seek a method to decrease their costs and keep the margins on desired levels.

R&D public funding would stimulate cleantech startups

Above all, research on cleantech is not only in interest of pollution makers, but governments as well. Justified by the needs of national economies I would expect that R&D public funding sources would be even more concentrated on supporting of such developments in upcoming years. Frankly speaking, many of them are still not technologically and economically attractive. In conclusion, that is why we should not consider cleantech as mature research area, but still requiring significant developments.

(1) https://startupgenome.com/reports/global-startup-ecosystem-report-2019

(2) The New Plastics Economy — Rethinking the future of plastics,  (2016, http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications)

(3) https://www.linkedin.com/redir/general-malware-page?url=http%3A%2F%2Fec%2eeuropa%2eeu%2Fenvironment%2Fcircular-economy%2Fpdf%2Fplastics-strategy-brochure%2epdf

(4) http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-3927_en.htm

(5) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-environment-plastics/chinas-plastic-trash-ban-is-spur-to-recycle-u-n-environment-idUSKBN1FI2E2

(6) https://e360.yale.edu/features/piling-up-how-chinas-ban-on-importing-waste-has-stalled-global-recycling

(7) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis/

(8) https://markets.businessinsider.com/commodities/co2-emissionsrechte

If You study the Facebook Q12019 results on their IR site, You will find intersting findings. Under (*) marked description of the Q1table the company has assigned for accrued expenses 3 bn$ for future fine from FTC (Federal Trade Commission). #fb #ftc #privacy

The total loss FB related to this prosecution is estimated between 3-5 bn$.  In fact, the FTC is investigating Facebook over several issues. In general, one of the most severe refer to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and claims it broke a 2011 privacy consent ruling. The two sides have been in talks for months but it’s not clear when we can expect any form of agreement to be reached.

In conclusion, 3-5bn$ of fines for company who generated more than 50bn$ a year is a expense that could be assigned to typical risk of this business.

Q12019 results report

Volvo will use in-car cameras to combat drunk and distracted driving. If you’re drunk or distracted, the car could intervene by actively slowing down and safely parking the car. #safety #driving #volvo

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/20/18274235/volvo-driver-monitoring-camera-drunk-distracted-driving