ARM Institute Hosts Discovery Workshops to Generate Roadmap for AI Applications in Robotics for Manufacturing

AI and Robotics

ARM Institute Hosts Discovery Workshops to Generate Roadmap for AI Applications in Robotics for Manufacturing

The Need

Recently, the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence released a report that outlined concerns about the Nation’s ability to compete with other countries in Artificial Intelligence. With AI poised to disrupt the way we live, from the U.S industrial base to our ability to defend the Nation, collaborative action between industry, government, and academia is needed to deploy AI solutions at scale in manufacturing.

Specifically, the report noted: “For the first time since World War II, America’s technological predominance—the backbone of its economic and military power—is under threat” and “Given these convictions, the Commission concludes that the United States must act now to field AI systems and invest substantially more resources in AI innovation to protect its security, promote its prosperity, and safeguard the future of democracy.”

The report also identifies the need for partnerships to win the AI race. Since 2017, the DoD sponsored Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, a robotics institute, has catalyzed robotics and workforce solutions to strengthen the U.S. industrial base. Several ARM Institute-funded technology projects developed by ARM Consortium members have already started to leverage AI in areas such as Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), Path Planning, Inspection, Mobility, and Control. With ARM Institute projects organically incorporating AI into their work, the Institute is well positioned to take a leadership position in support of our national strategy.

The ARM Institute’s Strategy and Workshop Process

Leveraging its public-private partnership of close to 300 organizations and four Defense Manufacturing Communities (DMCs), The ARM Institute plans to be a key part of the strategy to get the Nation AI-Ready by 2025. To continue building on the Institute’s existing momentum in AI, the ARM Institute has invited a group of thought leaders representing industry, government, and academia to participate in an AI Discovery Workshop. The workshop process consists of four interactive session that will be conducted over a four-week period throughout April 2021.

The workshop will focus on answering four key questions, exploring how AI can be used used to enhance robotic technologies to improve manufacturing processes and capabilities:

  1. Where is AI is currently being used in robotics for manufacturing and what are the best practices?
  2. Where has AI been identified as the best solution in advanced manufacturing and what other areas should be considered?
  3. How is AI being implemented today and what are the considerations moving forward?
  4. What is the impact of AI on the manufacturing workforce?

From there, the working group will analyze and prioritize concepts and strategies focusing on solutions that can have the largest impact and greatest opportunity for real world adoption.

Ultimately, the workshop will result in a robust technology roadmap that will inform the Institute’s AI strategy and accelerate the adoption of AI solutions in robotics for manufacturing at scale, invigorating the U.S. industrial base.

Next Steps

The ARM Institute has a proven ability to quickly catalyze manufacturing solutions, accelerate the adoption of these solutions, generate real impact, and operate on the leading edge of technology.

To support the Department of Defense’s newly identified modernization priorities, the ARM Institute will replicate this workshop process to explore additional topics.

ABOUT THE ARM INSTITUTE

The Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute accelerates the development and adoption of robotics technologies that are the foundation of every advanced manufacturing activity today and in the future.  The Institute leverages a unique, robust, and diverse ecosystem of partners across industry, academia, and government to make robotics, autonomy, and artificial intelligence more accessible to U.S. manufacturers large and small, train and empower the manufacturing workforce, strengthen the U.S. economy and global competitiveness, and elevate our nation’s security and resilience.  Founded in 2017 in Pittsburgh, PA by Carnegie Mellon University and operating as an independent public-private partnership sponsored by the Department of Defense, ARM is part of the DoD Manufacturing USA® network. Learn more at www.arminstitute.org, follow @ARM_Robotics on Twitter or ARM Institute on LinkedIn.