Academic Report：International safety for new robot markets
Gurvinder Singh Virk
Speaker：Professor of Robotics, University of Gävle and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SWEDEN
Time: 2015.04.02 9:20-12:00AM
Location: Conference Room, 4th Floor, Hydraulic Old Building, Yuquan Campus
Abstract:
Since the 1960’s, robotics has focused on manufacturing robots for use in industrial applications to perform operations such as handling, joining, inspection, machining, spot welding, assembling, etc. In order for the robots to perform their required tasks in these classical applications, the “workpiece” had to be brought to the robots meaning that the robots were fixed-base manipulators. Since the mid-1980s, interest grew in developing new robots for applications where tasks had to be performed in-situ locations demanding that localisation and locomotion issues be also addressed. Although things have evolved a little, the key design basis for building these robot applications to date has not changed in that all robots have been designed on the basis of keeping robots and humans apart due to safety concerns. To meet these demands international safety standards have been produced to ensure a uniform and acceptable approach is adopted throughout the world.
More recently, the trend has shifted towards involving close human-robot interactions and even to allow human-robot contact so that new service robots can be realised. The new service robots need to contribute directly towards improvement in the quality of life of humans and thus assist in meeting the global ageing societal challenges. Such co-sharing of space is a huge shift in emphasis and design approach, and it poses significant challenges to robot designers and manufacturers. How the new challenges can be met is not an easy nor straightforward matter but it is clear that a global and unified approach is needed.
The presentation will describe international efforts to address the key issues which must be addressed to meet the new challenges for creating the new robot markets. New international robot safety standardization activities which have been initiated will be described as they are central to the changes being demanded and Prof Virk is heavily involved in these to develop the new areas of personal care robots and medical robots.
Prof Virk has been involved in a number of research projects aimed at developing innovative robots for new applications, and the seminar will also present some of the key projects and the results achieved.
Brief Bio:
Professor Gurvinder S. Virk (BSc, PhD, DIC, FIET, FCIBSE, CEng, CMath, FIMA, MIEEE). Prof Virk is Professor of Robotics at University of Gävle, Gävle and KTH, Stockholm, Sweden. Prior to moving to Sweden in March 2011, he was at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand and before that Professor of Robotics and Control at University of Leeds, UK. He obtained BSc 1st Class in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from University of Manchester and a PhD in Control Theory from Imperial College, University of London, UK.
He is a technical expert in control theory and its applications with particular experience in service robotics and the use of advanced model-based control to a variety of applications. His current interests are in physical assistant exoskeletons for elderly persons (medical and non-medical applications), olfactory navigation for mobile robots, CLAWAR robots as well as integration of ICT into the built environment. He has extensive experience of project management and leading international R&D and standardisation projects. He has held several grants from national and European sources (total value of over €20 M), as well as industry. He has produced over 300 papers in these areas and 14 books, 16 PhDs successfully completed and currently supervising 3 PhD students. Prof Virk is Convenor of three international robot standardisation work groups, namely:
ISO TC184/SC2/WG7 Personal care robot safety
IEC TC62/SC62A & ISO TC184/SC2/ JWG9 Medical electrical equipment and systems using robotic technology (medical robots)
ISO TC184/SC2/WG10 Modularity for service robots
which are developing the important standards for the new emerging robots.
He is Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (FIET) and Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (FCIBSE) and a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (FIMA); he is a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Mathematician. He has been awarded, the Freedom of the City of London for his work in promoting Information Technology.