SALINA — Cornell University professor Rob Shepherd says energy efficiency is a “critical goal” for improvement in robotics. “One of the ways we’re going about that is to increase the sensor density, or the ability for a robot to feel, so we can change what it’s doing for the most energy-efficient approach to its task,” […]
SALINA — Cornell University professor Rob Shepherd says energy efficiency is a “critical goal” for improvement in robotics.
“One of the ways we’re going about that is to increase the sensor density, or the ability for a robot to feel, so we can change what it’s doing for the most energy-efficient approach to its task,” says Shepherd, associate professor in mechanical engineering at Cornell.
When asked to define robotics, Shepherd replied that one of the definitions of robots is that they are “machines that can adapt to their environment and basically seem like animals.”
He also noted that manufacturers use robots to improve efficiencies and “throughput to produce more goods.”
Shepherd was the morning keynote speaker at NEXT 2018 held Nov. 15 at the Holiday Inn Syracuse–Liverpool in the town of Salina.
Shepherd spoke on the topic in a presentation, titled, “The human touch: How bio-inspired design and advance fabrication are revolutionizing robotics.”
When asked afterward what he hopes attendees would remember from his presentation, Shepherd said one of the messages from his remarks is that hardware is not done.
“There’s a great way to improve robots and hardware design and part of that involves 3-D printing and another part involves new types of sensors and new types of actuators,” he added.
More about NEXT
Organizers of NEXT 2018 describe it as “the event for technology, manufacturing & biotech … where fast-track companies meet and learn from world-class business leaders and industry experts.”
The event, in its fifth year, also included “interactive” workshops on topics that included law and commercialization, manufacturing excellence, and biotech innovation.
Chris Kelly, a former Facebook executive and current angel investor, delivered the conference’s luncheon keynote address. He spoke on the topic “The Future of Technology, Cybersecurity, Innovation, and our Digital World.”
Following both keynote presentations, attendees participated in breakout sessions that included topics such as “Innovation and Intellectual Property – Decision Points for Startups,” and “Key Legal Issues for Technology Companies: Startup and Finance.” The mid-afternoon group of breakout sessions focused on “Supporting the Changing Workplace,” “Finding the Funds: New Venture Assistance for Innovation and Capitalization,” and “UAS/Drone Industry Update.”
NEXT 2018 sponsors included Central New York Biotech Accelerator; CASE (Center for Advanced Systems and Engineering) at Syracuse University; NYS Science + Technology Law Center at the Syracuse University College of Law; TDO (Train Develop Optimize); and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation (NYSTAR).
