Abstract

The global mega-trends are driving industrial robotics for productivity, quality, flexibility, and simplicity. With recent major progress, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a promising solution for industrial robotics. However, there are gaps between academic results and industrial applications. In this talk, the challenges to AI for industrial robotics are addressed and the ingredients of a way forward are presented with two real-world AI-based industrial applications, Unlocking the ‘Last mile’ in automated container port, and automating the ‘Last line’ in Automotive Industry.

Brief Biography

Biao Zhang is a Senior Principal Scientist at ABB US Research Center in Raleigh North Carolina, where he leads the intelligent sensor-based robot motion technology research. Biao received his B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from Tsinghua University and his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. His primary research interests are in the field of robot AI vision, vision-guided robotics, 3D vision, robotic force control assembly, automation of material handling, teleoperation, and human-robot collaboration. He published over 50 peer-reviewed papers in conferences and journals. Biao received the Inventor of the Year Award in ABB US Corporate Research in 2014, 2015, and 2016. And he also served as workshop chair, technical session chair, and committee member for IEEE conferences. He had been the Chapter Chair of IEEE Robotics & Automation Society in Connecticut for 10 years, and Co-Chairs of the IEEE RAS Chapters and International Activities Committee.