National Taiwan University (NTU) yesterday unveiled Taiwan’s first artificial intelligence (AI) robot dogs, which can work in industrial settings to alleviate labor shortages and assist during rescue operations.
The team who worked on the “NTU DogBot” project, led by mechanical engineering professor Kuo Chung-hsien (郭重顯), demonstrated the two models, dubbed Oliver and Dustin, at the National Science and Technology Council’s headquarters in Taipei, as the council helped fund the project.
Kuo and council officials said the project is just the start of Taiwan’s AI robot dog industry, which would be competitive in the global market, as the robots’ projected production cost of US$50,000 is about 50 percent less than what companies from other countries have quoted.
Photo: CNA
Oliver, the “pet robot dog” version, weighs 16kg and is 54cm long, while Dustin, the “field operations robot dog,” weighs 40kg and is about twice the size, Kuo said.
As both are equipped with sensors, can navigate autonomously and are capable of AI learning, the team expects them to be able to climb stairs and move over complex terrain by the end of this year, he said.
The team developed the robots by integrating new technologies while working with domestic companies to gain an understanding of their potential applications in different industrial sectors, Kuo said.
They could help to alleviate Taiwan’s labor shortage, especially in the petrochemical, construction, railway, food delivery and service sectors, he said.
The four-legged robots can navigate complex terrain, and could also be used for rescue operations, Kuo said, adding that robot dogs have been used to film the inside of burning buildings before firefighters go in.
Dustin is suitable for industrial applications and food deliveries, as the robot has sensors that can pick up sound, temperature, gas and other readings, while Oliver has slightly different functions, as it can respond to voice controls and facial expressions, and is more suitable for the home environment, he said.
The NTU team began Taiwan’s AI robot dog project two years ago, in cooperation with the council, after finding that similar robots produced overseas were quite expensive and had problems integrating with Taiwan’s digital network and AI systems, Kuo said.
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