All posts by Zachary Silver and Jonathan Peng

ADATA Technology has collaborated with researchers at Hsinchu National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) to introduce the C-Rob Autonomous Mobile Robots. These robots use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce the workload of healthcare workers as Taiwan continues to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recently, an outbreak of Covid-19 struck Taiwan, and hospitals are prone to becoming hotspots for transmission. When Covid-infected patients enter hospitals, whether for testing or much-needed medical care, hospital staff will often prioritize these patients and devote less time to those visiting the hospital for non-Covid related reasons. On top of this, a clean environment must be maintained, with frequent disinfection to reduce the risk of transmission.

After realizing this problem, researchers at ADATA Technology and NTUH created the C-Rob robots hoping that they will assist hospital staff and help fight the pandemic. As of now, the C-Rob robots serve different purposes: two for disinfection and one for transporting and carrying goods. However, all three are equipped with smart navigation, obstacle avoidance, and the ability to move to the exact desired location accurately.

The first robot utilizes large UV lights to disinfect large rooms quickly, while the second robot is equipped with two nozzles that can spray disinfectant as needed.

The load-carrying robot consists of small shelving and a tablet stand, allowing hospital staff to have quick access to medical supplies or services.

The first priority of ADATA Technology and NTUH was to officially introduce the C-Rob robots into clinics to reduce the heavy workload of current healthcare workers working in Taiwan to combat Covid-19. The second phase of development will prioritize the optimization of AI algorithms, and the ability to observe behavior patterns of nursing staff (using smart detection) to make smarter decisions using AI.

The C-Rob robots can operate in hospitals and clinics and assist staff by carrying loads, helping to reduce the burden of nursing staff so more energy can be devoted to what should be prioritized: patients’ medical and physiological needs. The C-Rob robots’ disinfectant spraying and ultraviolet sterilization robots effectively clean healthcare facilities; without the need to devote staff to disinfection, hospitals can reduce staff members to further minimize transmission risk.

ADATA and Hsinchu NTUH operate near the heart of Taiwan’s science and technology industry. Yu Zhong-Ren, Dean of Hsinchu NTUH, says that there are plans in place to “apply the technology of smart autonomous mobile robots to medical services through the connection of the medical industry and the technological industry.” ADATA and Hsinchu NTUH hope to use cross-field cooperation to drive the transformation and development of Taiwan’s medical industry. In the future, ADATA and Hsinchu NTUH plan on using the C-Rob robots to create hospital beds that can autonomously navigate and avoid obstacles, further decreasing the burden on hospital staff.

The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan has introduced the AI-Based High Density Shuttle Rack System (SRS). This smart storage system, which operates without manpower in thousands of square meters of space, uses Artificial Intelligence to make warehousing decisions.

ITRI’s system is an all-in-one pick, pack and fulfillment system for high volume e-commerce. Current capacities allow up to 1.25 miles of track for robotic shuttles, with vertical lifts for movement up and down as many as 14 floors of storage capacity. Inventory replenishment and picking is enabled by real-time positioning and tracking with low-latency 5G infrastructure.

A proprietary integrated management software system forms the backbone of operations, with big data crunching enabling a constant flow of warehousing decisions driven by changing demand forecasts, including peak volumes produced by holiday seasons or special campaigns.

When new goods enter the warehouse, the system automatically makes volumetric measurements, measuring the weight and size of each item and storing that information in the cloud. It then factors in the popularity of each item, including short term promotions, campaigns, holidays, weather, and other factors, before sending each item to an optimal storage location for maximum efficiency on an ongoing basis. The system also takes into account common combinations (e.g. toothbrush & toothpaste) to further optimize efficiency. It is able to further improve its performance as it learns from order histories as well.

Once orders are ready to be shipped, the SRS determines the best path for items to be retrieved from the shelves, and items are timed to arrive simultaneously to the packing area in order to minimize packing time. SRS also assists packing workers by guiding them to each item using light beams and numbers.

The Director of the Service System Technology Center of ITRI -Chen Hui Juan- explains that the SRS leads to improvements in three areas: decision-making accuracy, utilization of space, and speed of shipping.

With AI algorithms and data analysis, as well as information on seasons, weather, holidays, and other factors, the SRS can accurately predict orders that will be arriving in the warehouse, and determine optimal plans for these orders to be stored and shipped.

The combination of optimized placement and shipping for products as well as vertically capable systems allows goods to be delivered 60% faster than traditional warehousing solutions.

While not in widespread use, ITRI’s technology has already been piloted in a Yahoo facility in Taiwan, with HCT Logistics running warehouse operation control and iAmech manufacturing the automation equipment.

Plans are in place for several Taiwanese companies to install SRS in various warehouses in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Chen and the rest of the team at ITRI are working to boost performance of the SRS. Dynamic shuttle tracking and positioning technology have been integrated to improve the precision of automation control. Chen reveals that in the future, ITRI plans to integrate robotic arms into the loading process for boxes ready to be shipped out, continue to improve efficiency, and position Taiwan’s smart logistics solutions to compete on a global stage.