21 October 2009
Interactive Robots and Media Laboratory (IRML), part of the College of IT, UAE University in Al Ain, is considering commercial production of its first interactive robot, Ibn Sina, designed and developed by the centre.
Nikolaos Mavridis, Director, IRML, said the Ibn Sina robot, made in the memory of the 11th Century Arab philosopher - Ibn Sina aka Avicenna - is the first interactive and socialising robot made by the IRML robotic project team.
Ibn Sina - a world famous Arabic phisopher, mathematician and scientist - is a role model for Arab students. Nikolaos said the robot will be commercially developed and mass produced at a later time.
Ibn Sina, on display at the Gitex 2009 expo, is a prototype of the interactive and socialising robots that can be employed as robotic receptionists in companies and commercial establishment.
"Ibn Sina can speak and interact with other humans and show facial expressions. It speaks in Arabic and we have spend about Dh50,000 so far to develop it. If mass produced, the unit cost can be as low as Dh5,000," said Nikoloas. Some companies have already introduced robotic receptionists in Japan.
Nikoloas said the project is being carried out with the support of Microsoft and other big companies.
The commercial viability of mass producing such interactive robots is good. "Ibn Sina robot is 80 per cent automatic and can speak in Arabic. We are doing a lot of research to develop a UAE- based robotic industry, which has wide application in the Arab World."
He said about 30 students, including 10 international students from Pakistan, Australia, the US and Iran, have participated in the research and development efforts to develop the robot.
Ibn Sina can also recognise human speech. The robot has already got a Facebook profile through which it interacts with human beings.
Nikolaos said Ibn Sina robot and other interactive robots being developed by the centre will be of wide appeal around the world, especially int he Arab World.
Nikolaos, the founder of the lab, said the robot has abilities similar to those required for passing a test for three-year-old children.
Reports suggest the robot market is projected to grow to $15 billion (Dh55bn) by 2015 and robots are likely to be used as security guards, cleaners, receptionists, soldiers and for other menial jobs. He said the centre received Microsoft award funding for its Facebots project that it proposed. IRML was one of the eight labs worldwide to receive this project and is the only Lab outside the US.
The robot has three software modules that aid to its human interaction.
One module distinguishes faces of humans and the pictures they post on Facebook.
A language module allows the machine to have real-time discussions and helps it continue a catalogue of its friends and their data on Facebook. This allows it to maintain its own Facebook profile. It also has a supplementary range finder, touch screen and stereo camera.
All interactions get logged on its Facebook profile.
The robot project is part of a research to learn the interaction among human beings, robots and virtual digital agents.
The research project received worldwide attention, Nikolaos said, adding that commercialising these gains would require big investment and support from the UAE Government.
Interactive Robots and Media Laboratory (IRML), part of the College of IT, UAE University in Al Ain, is considering commercial production of its first interactive robot, Ibn Sina, designed and developed by the centre.
Nikolaos Mavridis, Director, IRML, said the Ibn Sina robot, made in the memory of the 11th Century Arab philosopher - Ibn Sina aka Avicenna - is the first interactive and socialising robot made by the IRML robotic project team.
Ibn Sina - a world famous Arabic phisopher, mathematician and scientist - is a role model for Arab students. Nikolaos said the robot will be commercially developed and mass produced at a later time.
Ibn Sina, on display at the Gitex 2009 expo, is a prototype of the interactive and socialising robots that can be employed as robotic receptionists in companies and commercial establishment.
"Ibn Sina can speak and interact with other humans and show facial expressions. It speaks in Arabic and we have spend about Dh50,000 so far to develop it. If mass produced, the unit cost can be as low as Dh5,000," said Nikoloas. Some companies have already introduced robotic receptionists in Japan.
Nikoloas said the project is being carried out with the support of Microsoft and other big companies.
The commercial viability of mass producing such interactive robots is good. "Ibn Sina robot is 80 per cent automatic and can speak in Arabic. We are doing a lot of research to develop a UAE- based robotic industry, which has wide application in the Arab World."
He said about 30 students, including 10 international students from Pakistan, Australia, the US and Iran, have participated in the research and development efforts to develop the robot.
Ibn Sina can also recognise human speech. The robot has already got a Facebook profile through which it interacts with human beings.
Nikolaos said Ibn Sina robot and other interactive robots being developed by the centre will be of wide appeal around the world, especially int he Arab World.
Nikolaos, the founder of the lab, said the robot has abilities similar to those required for passing a test for three-year-old children.
Reports suggest the robot market is projected to grow to $15 billion (Dh55bn) by 2015 and robots are likely to be used as security guards, cleaners, receptionists, soldiers and for other menial jobs. He said the centre received Microsoft award funding for its Facebots project that it proposed. IRML was one of the eight labs worldwide to receive this project and is the only Lab outside the US.
The robot has three software modules that aid to its human interaction.
One module distinguishes faces of humans and the pictures they post on Facebook.
A language module allows the machine to have real-time discussions and helps it continue a catalogue of its friends and their data on Facebook. This allows it to maintain its own Facebook profile. It also has a supplementary range finder, touch screen and stereo camera.
All interactions get logged on its Facebook profile.
The robot project is part of a research to learn the interaction among human beings, robots and virtual digital agents.
The research project received worldwide attention, Nikolaos said, adding that commercialising these gains would require big investment and support from the UAE Government.
By VM Satish
© Emirates Business 24/7 2009
