Our recent research has been published in a journal!

by with No Comment PhdLife

I’m delighted to share our study, “Contamination Detection Using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network with Safe Machine Environment Interaction,” has been accepted for publication in MDPI Electronics Journal. This journey has been an effort of dedication, and I can’t wait to share our groundbreaking findings with you.

Understanding the Problem
Contamination detection is an important issue in many industries, including food processing, healthcare, and others. A primary focus is ensuring product quality and safety, and this is where our research comes in. Manual examination gets laborious and may result in contamination occurring along the production line. To solve this issue, a contamination detection system based on an enhanced deep convolutional neural network (CNN) in a human-robot collaboration framework is proposed.

Deep Learning: The Key to Precision
In our research, we enhanced Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) to detect contaminants in food packages. CNNs are well-known for their ability to extract intricate patterns from complex data, making them perfect for tasks like object detection and analysis.

Safe Machine Environment Interaction
To improve our system’s performance, we coded the proximity sensor for “Safe Machine Environment Interaction.” A mechatronic platform with a camera for contamination detection and a time-of-flight sensor for safe machine-environment interaction was used for the experiment. The experiment findings show that the reported system can identify contamination with 99.74% mean average precision (mAP). Figure 1 depicts the experimental results, and the publication can be found here [1].

Figure 1. Experimental trials of real-time detection using the reported CNN [1].
Future Directions
Future work may concentrate on adding more contamination classes in order to create a more thorough and improved contamination detection system. The algorithm might also be applied in a real robot with a conveyor belt to create an industrial quality inspection setup. However, the journey does not finish here. We’re devoted to improving our methodology and investigating new applications. We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of the deep learning revolution.

Acknowledgments
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my Supervisor, colleagues, and the entire research team who played a pivotal role in this project. Their expertise, dedication, and collaboration made this achievement possible.

Paper Reference
[1] Hassan, Syed Ali, Muhammad Adnan Khalil, Fabrizia Auletta, Mariangela Filosa, Domenico Camboni, Arianna Menciassi, and Calogero Maria Oddo. “Contamination Detection Using a Deep Convolutional Neural Network with Safe Machine—Environment Interaction.” Electronics 12, no. 20 (2023): 4260.

Ensuring Safe Human-Robot Collaboration: The Role of Vision and Proximity Sensors

by with No Comment PhdLifeTechnologyTechnology

Robots working alongside humans is becoming more and more probable as robotics technology develops. But when people and robots collaborate, safety is still a major issue. Vision and proximity devices can be used in this situation to guarantee secure human-robot interaction. Robots can detect people, objects, and obstacles in their environment due to vision sensors. They track and identify motion and shapes using cameras and other tools. Robots are able to identify and steer clear of humans and other objects with the help of this ability.

  • As the use of robots spreads across a variety of sectors, safety concerns regarding human-robot collaboration have taken on greater significance.
  • Robots can sense their surroundings and identify objects, people, and obstacles with the help of vision sensors.
  • Proximity sensors can help avoid collisions by detecting the existence of an object or person and their proximity to the robot.
  • By utilizing both kinds of sensors, robots can more accurately perceive their surroundings and decide how to interact with people.
  • Human-robot collaboration is becoming more prevalent in the industrial and healthcare sectors, but safety is still of utmost importance in these environments.
  • While sensors can significantly increase safety, human supervision and training are still necessary to guarantee secure and productive human-robot interaction.

On the contrary, proximity sensors can both sense the presence of an object or person and their proximity to the robot. They employ a variety of technologies, including ultrasonic, capacitive, and infrared sensors, to identify changes in the environment and warn the robot to stop or slow down when a person is close. Robots can more accurately sense their surroundings and decide how to interact with people by combining these two kinds of devices. A robot in a manufacturing environment, for instance, could use vision sensors to recognize nearby people and proximity sensors to determine their closeness. The robot may slow down or halt if the person approaches too closely in order to prevent a collision.

Healthcare is a further application where vision and proximity sensors can be used for secure human-robot collaboration. When working with vulnerable patients, safety is of the highest importance. Robots can help medical workers with tasks like lifting and transporting patients. While proximity sensors can warn the robot to halt if the patient approaches too closely, vision sensors can track the patient’s position and movements. Additionally, sensors can be used by robots to track their own motion and recognize when something is wrong. For instance, a robot with a broken arm may be able to sense when it is moving too quickly or in the incorrect direction and stop before it does any damage. While sensors can significantly increase safety in human-robot collaboration, it is essential to remember that they are not infallible. For the collaboration between humans and robots to be secure and productive, human supervision and instruction are still necessary.

Finally, the integration of vision and proximity sensors can significantly improve the security of human-robot interaction in a variety of contexts, from manufacturing to healthcare. The distance between a person and a robot can also be determined using a depth camera, but it is more difficult to attach multiple cameras to the robot’s skin than it is to attach numerous proximity sensors to various regions of the skin in order to calculate the precise distance from various angles and prevent collisions. The project we’re working on also makes use of a camera and a proximity sensor for secure human-robot collaboration.

 

Robotics workshop in Odense Denmark

by with No Comment ESR Travelog

We travelled to Odense, Denmark in October 2022 to attend a workshop on robotics. We were able to tour two businesses, Blue Ocean Robots and Universal Robots, as well as the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), during this workshop. I’ll talk about my experiences touring two robotics companies and one university in this blog.

As a result of the several enterprises that are developing robots in Odense, the city is also known as the “city of robots.” First, we went to Blue Ocean Robotics, which has three primary robots. There, they let us interact with them and showed us some of their most important features. The CTO of Blue Ocean Robots also provided a general overview of the business, including its history, culture, technical staff, etc. Additionally, we went to their production facility and a lot of questions were answered there. Our researcher was quite curious throughout our visit, and I learned that there are still many robot advancements that can be made, and that they are actively working to do so.

Figure 1: Blue Ocean robotics. Photo source: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5809782/Blue%20Ocean%20Robotics%20own%20folder/New%20Headquarters/Blue%20Ocean%20Robotics%20Domicil%202020_3.jpg

Secondly, we went to Universal Robots, where the innovation manager gave us a tour of the facility and then gave us the opportunity to program their robot. After the presentation, they also gave us access to the production site. One collaborative robot from Universal Robots is capable of carrying out a variety of activities, including screw driving and picking up and placing goods. After using their robot, I discovered that there is still room for development, and they are already enhancing and incorporating new functions into their robots.

Figure 2: Universal Robots. Photo source: https://www.universal-robots.com/media/19454/ur_domicil01_387x290.jpg

Furthermore, the next day, we went to the Southern Danish University (SDU). Professor Calogero Maria Oddo, my supervisor, and other professors from various universities presented their research. Also, I with other researchers presented my poster and described my PhD project. During my stay in Odense, I discovered a lot of new things, and this workshop enabled me to better grasp the kinds of advancements and contributions I can make to the field of robotics during my PhD. It was a fantastic session that all of the organizers did a great job of planning. I’ve included some helpful advice here for anyone planning to visit industry in the future.

  • Before visiting, try to learn about the company’s primary products.
  • Before visiting, try to learn more about the history of the firm.
  • When you visit, try to learn about the company’s vulnerabilities.
  • Speak to as many of the staff members of that firm as you can.
  • Try to determine what a firm may gain from your talents.

In conclusion, I’d like to emphasize the importance of visiting businesses and other academic institutions throughout a PhD to learn about their contributions. Additionally, working in industry for a short period of time might be helpful for a PhD thesis.  You will be able to observe the implementation in actual robots during your tour to industry, and you can learn about ongoing research at other universities by visiting them. You can expand your network by going to workshops, conferences, and industry events. I really believe that when you are surrounded by intelligent individuals, you can learn a lot and, in the future, we will be able to take positive action for the advancement of our society.

 

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My recent experience of presenting the research paper in a conference.

by with No Comment PhdLife

The majority of researchers hunt for a reputable conference to present their work at. As a master’s student, I presented several papers at various conferences, so I was accustomed to doing so and knew how to present my research, but as a doctoral student, this was my first conference in Italy. IEEE MeMeA 2022 is the name of the conference, which was held in Catania from June 21 to June 25, at the UNA hotel. The research papers of numerous researchers from various nations were presented. The opportunity to network with researchers from other scientific fields was a wonderful experience.

The title of my research paper on robotics is Tactile sensors for material recognition for social and collaborative robots. It was a review paper; it may be preferable to begin a research project with a review paper because it aids in a thorough understanding of the subject and stimulates reading more recent material pertinent to our investigation. After reading other people’s research on the same subject, writing a review paper might also give us fresh ideas. Anyone can read the paper I wrote by simply typing its title into IEEE Xplore, where it will be published.

The points I’m sharing for a good conference presentation are listed below:

  • Practice several times in front of a mirror.
  • Discuss your paper with your supervisor.
  • Be confident when presenting the paper.
  • Always put your presentation earlier in the conference room computer and check all slides one time to make sure all slides are working.
  • Don’t use new fonts in the presentation that are not supported in old versions of PowerPoint.
  • Use pptx or pdf format, take both formats with you.

A few researchers presented their posters on the first day of the three-day conference. Most conferences feature a poster session. During this time, researchers must display their posters on walls or on whiteboards. After that, many attendees approach the posters and ask questions about them. Poster sessions typically last for two hours or longer, during which time researchers must stand in front of their posters and answer the questions of visitors. My presentation was scheduled on the second day: I first went to see some research posters before going to the presentation room and delivering my talk. The presentation was fantastic. During my presentation, one professor asked me a few questions and said he would like to collaborate with my research.

In conclusion, I would like to address anyone who believes that if you present your study at a conference, it will be made public and someone else might steal your research concept. This is true in some cases; however, the longer portion of your work should be submitted to a reputable journal. I would suggest creating a plan whenever you begin a research project so that you can present a portion of it at a conference and later submit the entire thing to a reputable journal.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

What is life without an intention?

by with No Comment PhdLife

I believe in the power of setting an intention and seeing where it takes you. Being more abstract than a goal, an intention can guide you and allow the flexibility of taking different paths. In the last semester of my master’s degree in Tourism Management, I set my intention of contributing to the human side of digital transformation. Humans and technology co-create the present and the future. I firmly believe that digital transformation is not just about technology, it is about how it strategically works together with (and for) humans. 

Why?

Why would I set that intention when studying tourism? In the first semester of the Erasmus Mundus European Master in Tourism Management, I led a project on Big Data as an open innovation source to accelerate innovation in the tourism ecosystem. This research project opened my eyes to the amazing world of emerging technologies, open innovation, and sustainable development. Then, I wrote my master’s thesis about Intelligent automation and robotics in the service sector and the job transformation it brings. My goal was to understand how can tech start-ups develop Intelligent automation solutions that contribute to sustainable development’s socio-economic sphere. I got so many interesting insights from this research! By interviewing start-ups members and policymakers, I could have the perspectives of two actors that seem crucial for the ethical development of technology.  I wanted to continue this research journey, and when I found the EINST4INE project I thought it was the perfect opportunity.  

How?

How can I be part of the human side of digital transformation? By investigating robots from a social approach and bringing new perspectives of human-robot interaction. I believe in research that can make a difference in how technology is used and how it affects humans. This is why I want to fill some knowledge gaps and contribute to the strategic introduction and implementation of social robots. In the end, social robots should enhance humans’ interactions, not diminish them.

What is knowledge for if not for sharing it and putting it into practice? I think it is very important to disseminate all the findings, theories, and whatever we think might help someone. We have to share it, mostly with young generations because that is where the hope is placed right now (at least mine). So, at some point, I might also be teaching about the human side of digital transformation hoping to have an impact on future decision-makers.

What?

What kind of robots am I going to investigate? Social robots, for example, Mobile telepresence robots (MTRs) allow people to communicate remotely and have a physical presence. These robots are changing organizational dynamics, work practices and processes, occupations, and challenging the psycho-social factors in organizations. In the following years, I will be studying robots from a social approach and aiming to ultimately help people to use social robots in a way that benefits humans. 

Where?

My host is Aarhus University, in the Department of Business Development and Technology located in Herning, Denmark, a very cozy little town. I am part of the Advanced Interdisciplinary Research on Organisational Development (AIROD) and supervised by Sladjana Nørskov. I am very grateful to be part of the Aarhus University team and to have Sladjana guiding me through this path. Also, I am collaborating with our industry partner Blue Ocean Robotics which offers professional service robots mainly in healthcare and hospitality. Exciting research stays abroad are coming, but that would be the topic for another blog post.

I am very happy to have set that intention that brought me to where I am now. Let’s see what the future brings!

Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash