Archive 19.03.2024

Researchers at the University of Chicago and the Illinois Institute of Technology recently developed Granulobot, a new modular robotic system that can change its physical shape to best navigate different environments.

The Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) is pleased to announce the creation of the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA), a new initiative to strengthen the governance of our open-source robotics software projects and ensure the health of the Robot Operating System (ROS) Suite community for many years to come. The OSRA will use a mixed membership and meritocratic model, following other successful foundations for open-source projects, including The Linux Foundation and the Eclipse Foundation.

The OSRA is extending an open invitation to all community stakeholders to participate in the technical oversight, direction, development, and support of the OSRF’s open source projects – ROS, Gazebo, Open-RMF, and their infrastructure. Involvement across the robotics ecosystem is crucial to this initiative.

The center of the OSRA will be the Technical Governance Committee (TGC), which will oversee the activities of various Project Management Committees, Technical Committees, Special
Interest Groups, and Working Groups. As a charitable program of the OSRF, overall responsibility for the OSRA remains with the OSRF Board.

The Alliance has received early support for our vision from prominent organizations such as NVIDIA, our inaugural Platinum member.

“NVIDIA develops with ROS 2 to bring accelerated computing and AI to developers, researchers, and commercial applications,” said Gordon Grigor, VP Robotics Software, NVIDIA. “As an inaugural platinum member of OSRA, we will collaborate to advance open-source robotics throughout the ecosystem by aiding development efforts, and providing governance and continuity.”

Intrinsic also continues its support of Open Robotics with its inaugural Platinum membership. “From the numerous contributions made by our team at Intrinsic across projects like ROS, Gazebo, and Open-RMF as part of the Open Robotics community, to our acquisition of the Open Source Robotics Corporation (OSRC), we’ve invested deeply in the open source community, and we look forward to continuing our support of the ecosystem as an inaugural member of the OSRA,” said Wendy Tan White, CEO of Intrinsic. Qualcomm Technologies rounds out the inaugural Platinum membership group and signals its commitment to open source robotics as well.

“Qualcomm Technologies is excited to join the Open Source Robotics Alliance (OSRA) to help drive the development of open-source robotics software and foster the growth of the vibrant ROS Suite developer community,” stated Dev Singh, Vice President of Business Development and Head of Robotics & Industrial Automation at Qualcomm Technologies. “Leveraging our longstanding history in on-device AI processing and heterogeneous computing, our comprehensive family of robotics platforms addresses all types of robots to deliver the benefits of AI at the edge.”

NVIDIA, Intrinsic, and Qualcomm Technologies join nine other inaugural members at press time, including Gold members Apex.ai and Zettascale, Silver members Clearpath Robotics, Ekumen, eProsima, and PickNik, and Associate member Silicon Valley Robotics. Initial Supporting Organizations include Canonical and Open Navigation. Incoming members include Bosch and ROS-Industrial, and several others to be announced soon.

Membership applications are now open for organizations and individuals interested in joining the OSRA and supporting the future of open source robotics. Instructions on how to apply and information on the member levels and benefits are available at www.osralliance.org.

About Open Robotics: Open Robotics is the umbrella term for the Open Source Robotics Foundation (OSRF) and its initiatives. Founded in 2012, the OSRF is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its flagship open-source robotics software, ROS, is the world’s most widely adopted robotics framework suite. For more information about its new OSRA initiative, please visit www.osralliance.org.

Claire chatted to Patricia Shaw from Aberystwyth University all about home assistance robots, and robot learning and development.

Patricia Shaw is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Robotics at Aberystwyth University. Her current research interests include technology for assistive living and she is currently leading on establishing a new Smart Home Lab at the university. This new lab will be used to research, develop and test a wide range of sensing technology for monitoring activities in the home as well as robots ranging from companions to assistants around the home. She strongly supports public engagement and has been coordinating regional robotics week events for the last 6 years.

Because they can go where humans can't, robots are especially uniquely suited for safely working with hazardous nuclear waste. But first, those robots need to become like the humans they are replacing, with arms and fingers that can closely mimic the movements of a person.

Performing a new task based solely on verbal or written instructions, and then describing it to others so that they can reproduce it, is a cornerstone of human communication that still resists artificial intelligence (AI). A team has succeeded in modelling an artificial neural network capable of this cognitive prowess. After learning and performing a series of basic tasks, this AI was able to provide a linguistic description of them to a 'sister' AI, which in turn performed them.

Engineers propose a new quantitative framework to account for and predict the impact of temperature on the curing speed of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers. The findings could maximize throughput and minimize waste in the manufacturing of components for soft robotics and wearables.

Soft robots use pliant materials such as elastomers to interact safely with the human body and other challenging, delicate objects and environments. A team of Rice University researchers has developed an analytical model that can predict the curing time of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers as a function of temperature. The model could help reduce energy waste and improve throughput for elastomer-based component manufacturing.

ChatGPT has fundamentally changed the way we can tackle a broad array of tasks, introducing unprecedented levels of automation and intelligence into our workflows. However, leveraging this technology effectively often hinges on the user’s ability to craft precise and insightful prompts – a skill not everyone possesses. Recognizing this barrier, OpenAI introduced custom GPTs last year, offering a solution that partially addresses this challenge. 

The specialized versions of GPT come pre-configured to perform specific functions, eliminating the need for intricate prompt engineering by the user. Beyond their tailored functionality, many custom GPTs are enhanced with the ability to access various knowledge bases and websites via API calls, significantly expanding their utility and application. 

As we delve into the popular use cases for the custom GPTs, we uncover the breadth and depth of their impact across different sectors, showcasing their potential to further revolutionize how we engage with artificial intelligence in our daily lives and professional activities.

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Top Use Cases Across Different Categories

Custom GPTs are specifically crafted to serve a wide range of purposes, from generating content to conducting intricate analyses. The diversity of their applications highlights the versatility and adaptability of GPT technology, providing not just innovative but also deeply practical solutions. Through examining these various categories, the profound influence of GPT technology on numerous industries becomes apparent, illustrating how it fuels improvements in efficiency, sparks creativity, and enhances personalization.

Writing

In the realm of writing, custom GPTs have become invaluable assets. By automating the creation of content, these AI tools enable writers to produce work that is not only high in quality but also diverse in scope. From generating SEO-optimized articles to crafting compelling ad copy, the application of custom GPTs in writing showcases the technology’s ability to adapt to specific linguistic styles and content requirements, ensuring that the output is both engaging and tailored to meet the audience’s needs.

• High-quality Articles: Custom GPTs designed for writing are at the forefront of content creation, focusing on producing tailored, engaging content. They prioritize quality, relevance, and adherence to specific word counts, making them indispensable for content marketers and publishers.
• Humanizing Content: A subset of writing GPTs excels in “humanizing” AI-generated content, ensuring the output sounds natural and not machine-generated.
• SEO Optimization: These GPTs specialize in creating content optimized for search engines, incorporating SEO strategies seamlessly into articles, blogs, and web content to improve visibility and ranking.
• Ad Copywriting: Tailored for marketing, these GPTs generate persuasive, brand-aligned ad copies that capture attention and drive conversions.

Visuals

The visual category of custom GPT applications brings a new dimension to creativity and design. By leveraging AI, these tools enable the creation of stunning visuals, from personalized logos to mood boards and stylized images. This not only simplifies the design process but also opens up new possibilities for visual expression, allowing for the creation of unique and captivating visual content that stands out in a crowded digital landscape.

• Image Generators: Specialized in generating and refining images, these GPTs produce visuals for a wide range of applications, from marketing to personal projects.
• Logo Creators: These GPTs streamline the logo design process, offering personalized, brand-centric logo designs that resonate with the target audience.
• Stylization Tools: Transforming photos into cartoon versions, drawings into oil paintings, or digital images into real-life photos, these GPTs power creativity and enhance the productivity of artists and designers.
• Mood Board Designers: Aiding in visual brainstorming, the GPTs can create mood boards that inspire creativity and guide projects’ visual direction.
• AI Persona Creators: These GPTs design detailed AI personas and generate the corresponding characters in different poses, expressions, and scenes.

Productivity

Custom GPTs tailored for productivity applications are changing the way we approach tasks and project management. From designing presentations to creating complex infographics, and interacting with PDF documents, these AI tools offer solutions that streamline processes, enhance creativity, and improve efficiency. 

• Presentation and Social Media Post Designers: Enhancing efficiency in creating visually appealing presentations and social media content, these GPTs offer design solutions that save time and improve aesthetic appeal.
• Diagram Generators: These GPTs specialize in creating diagrams, flowcharts, and visualizations, enhancing clarity in presentations and documentation.
• AI Video Makers: The GPTs from this category can assist with generating videos for social media, incorporating AI avatars, music, and stock footage, and streamlining content creation for digital marketing.
• PDF Communicators: The GPTs from this category allow users to chat with their PDFs, facilitating easy access and management of documents.
• Text-to-Speech Tools: Powered by ElevenLabs and similar tools, such GPTs can convert text to natural-sounding speech, broadening accessibility and enhancing user engagement.

Research & Analysis

Custom GPTs can offer unparalleled support in data interpretation, academic research, and market analysis. These AI assistants can sift through vast amounts of information, providing insights and conclusions that would take humans considerably longer to derive. Their ability to access and analyze data from diverse sources makes them invaluable for researchers, analysts, and anyone in need of deep, data-driven insights.

• AI Research Assistants: Accessing academic papers from various sources, these GPTs synthesize and provide science-based responses, aiding in research and academic writing.
• Computational Experts: Wolfram GPT and other similar tools offer computation, math, and real-time data analysis, supporting complex problem-solving and analysis.
• Trading Analysis Assistants: Specializing in financial markets, these GPTs predict stock market trends and prices, aiding investors in making informed decisions.

Programming

Custom GPTs have also made a significant impact in the world of programming, offering assistance that ranges from tutoring beginners to aiding advanced developers in their projects. These AI tools can help debug code, suggest improvements, and even assist in building websites, making the process more efficient and accessible for everyone involved. The ability of these GPTs to adapt to various coding languages and frameworks showcases the versatility and depth of their programming capabilities.

• Coding Assistants: Catering to both beginners and advanced coders, these GPTs facilitate coding, debugging, and learning, enhancing productivity and learning in software development.
• Website Builders: Focusing on web development, these GPTs streamline website creation, offering intuitive design and development tools that simplify the web-building process.

Education

In the field of education, custom GPTs are revolutionizing the way knowledge is imparted and received. From providing personalized tutoring sessions to transforming digital content into comprehensive study guides, these AI tools make learning more accessible and engaging for students of all ages. Their ability to tailor educational content to individual learning styles and needs marks a significant step forward in educational technology.

• AI Tutors: Including offerings from Khan Academy, these GPTs personalize learning, providing tutoring in various subjects to enhance education.
• Math Solvers: Specializing in math tutoring, these assistants offer step-by-step solutions and explanations, supporting students’ learning journeys.
• Transcripts & Notes-Taking Tools: Transforming digital content into study guides or summaries, these GPTs aid in education and personal knowledge management.

Lifestyle

The application of custom GPTs extends into the lifestyle sector, offering personalized advice and assistance in areas such as fitness, travel, food, and dating. These AI tools help individuals make informed decisions, enhance their daily routines, and explore new experiences with confidence. From creating workout plans to crafting compelling dating messages, custom GPTs in the lifestyle category enrich lives in diverse and meaningful ways.

• Workout Planners: Tailoring fitness plans to individual needs, these GPTs offer personalized workout routines, enhancing health and fitness.
• Travel Guides: Offering personalized travel recommendations and guidance, these GPTs enhance the travel planning process, making it more enjoyable and informed.
• Food Tips: From recipes to nutritional advice, these GPTs cater to culinary interests, supporting healthier eating habits and culinary exploration.
• Dating Message Experts: Aiding in online dating, these GPTs offer advice on crafting engaging and appropriate messages, improving users’ dating experiences.

Looking Ahead: The Future Impact of Custom GPTs

The advent of custom GPTs has opened up new opportunities in the application of artificial intelligence across a multitude of sectors. These specialized tools are not just enhancing how we work, create, and learn; they are redefining the possibilities of AI-driven assistance. With their tailored functionalities and the ability to tap into vast knowledge bases, custom GPTs stand at the forefront of a technological revolution, making sophisticated tasks more accessible and streamlined than ever before. As we continue to explore and expand their capabilities, the potential of custom GPTs to transform our daily lives and professional environments is boundless.

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The post The Impact of Custom GPTs: An Overview of Their Key Applications appeared first on TOPBOTS.

In recent years, roboticists and computer scientists have been trying to develop increasingly efficient methods to teach robots new skills. Many of the methods developed so far, however, require a large amount of training data, such as annotated human demonstrations of how to perform a task.

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Researchers at University of Michigan recently developed SKOOTR, a tri-pedal skating robot that can efficiently move around in its surroundings without repeatedly flipping over. This robot, introduced in a paper posted to the preprint server arXiv, was found to be more stable than other three-legged robots, which often exhibit poor stability due to the lack of a fourth leg to better balance their body.

Auke Ijspeert and his team in the BioRobotics Lab (BioRob) in EPFL's School of Engineering had operated their bio-informed robots in natural environments before, but this was more for demonstration purposes than for scientific rigor. Tests of robotic function were usually carried out in the lab, for example, using X-ray videos to compare robotic movements with the animals that inspired their design.

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Home robots could assist humans with the completion of various chores and manual tasks, ranging from washing dishes or doing the laundry to cooking, cleaning and tidying up. While many roboticists and computer scientists have tried to improve the skills of home robots in recent years, many of the robots developed so far are still unable to tackle more complex and creative tasks, such as cooking in collaboration with human users.

At the 2024 European Robotics Forum taking place in Rimini, Italy, researchers of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT- Italian Institute of Technology) have shown the most recent results from the project SOPHIA: A collaborative robot to guide workers and relieve the burden of overhead tasks such as drilling, wearable robots to support the lifting and carrying of heavy loads physically, and wearable feedback devices to alert users about awkward postures.