This conference track is specifically designed to help attendees get updated on the state of the practice and state of technology of next generation of commercial robotics systems. The sessions will focus on the state of the AI and robotics marketplace as well as the design and development of commercially viable robotics and intelligent systems products including robots, drones, and autonomous machines.

Friday, October 25

Waterfront 1

7:45 am Registration Opens

8:00 Continental Breakfast (Harborview Foyer)

8:15 am – 12:30 pm Keynote Session (Harborview)

12:30 Networking, Coffee & Dessert in the Expo – Last Chance for Viewing (Commonwealth Hall)

1:45 Opening Remarks

Remy Glaisner, Research Director, WW Robotics, IDC

1:50 Robotics Enable Flexible Automation

Remy Glaisner, Research Director, WW Robotics, IDC

Companies looking to deploy automation within their operation are no longer constrained to large scale and fixed automation projects.  Innovators in the field of robotics have delivered robotic applications that can be deployed on-demand and as-a-service, which is helping companies to achieve the benefits of automation without the high cost and disruptive deployment typically associated with fixed automation giving companies a new set of options to consider.

Attendees will learn:

• What robots are capable of today?
• What we can expect in the future?
• How those that have actually deployed this technology are benefiting from the use of robotics?

2:20 Cognitive Robotics: Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going?

Dan Kara, Vice President - Robotics and Intelligent Systems, WTWH Media

The use of AI and machine learning to increase the intelligence of robotics systems is increasing dramatically. The growth of “cognitive robotics” can be quantified in terms of expanded capabilities, along with the development of wholly new classes of applications enabled by intelligent robots. However, the rate of innovation and the rapid introduction of new cognitive robotics technologies makes it is very difficult for engineers and academics, to say nothing of business professionals, to track, analyze and predict market developments. The result can be missed opportunities. In this session, attendees will learn how the current state-of-the-art in AI and machine learning software, hardware and services are currently being employed in robotics systems to enhance operational effectiveness, increase flexibility and improve productivity. Recent research advancements and new commercial solutions, along with their expected impact, will also be discussed, and emerging commercial opportunities will be highlighted.

Attendees will learn:

• How are commercial class intelligent robotics solutions being applied today?
• What are the key hardware, software and services supporting the development and deployment of cognitive robotics systems?
• What research and engineering advancements will be driving the sector in the future?
• What new business models and opportunities are enabled by intelligent robotics systems?

2:50 Collaborative Multi-Agent AI in Complex Mixed Multi-Robot Systems

Mike Franklin, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Computing, Kennesaw State University, Marietta Campus 

Many researchers and industrial partners have worked over the years to produce multiple agent AI, where each agent has their own policy but there is no larger group policy, but only recently have we seen the emergence of multi-agent AI, where each agent has an individualized policy but they are also compliant to a larger group policy. This means that these newer systems are functioning as a team rather than as a set of individuals with similar goals. Multi-agent AI produces a stronger synthesized synergistic outcome where both short-term and long-term goals can be met with local and global optimization. This talk will explore several ideas in this area, including coordinated deep-learning, emergent behavior in groups, model-based hierarchical systems, and more. 

3:10 Networking Break (Plaza & Harbor Level Atriums)

3:25 Software Defined Robotics in Industrial Automation

Derik Pridmore, Co-founder, CEO, OSARO

Derik will present an overview of the warehouse and industrial automation market with a focus on the growth of new robotics applications. He will outline the established and emerging players, define and debunk some of the terms used in industrial automation (AI, deep reinforcement learning), and discuss the current state of deployed technology. Derik will also describe Osaro’s technology and product philosophy.   

3:55 Panel: Cutting-Edge AI and Robotics Startups

In this panel, you will hear directly from several of New England's most exciting AI Robotics startup founders. MassRobotics is the collective work of a group of Boston-area engineers, rocket scientists, and entrepreneurs. With a shared vision to create an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community, MassRobotics was born.  This panel will feature startups that are developing the next generation of successful robotics and connected device companies.

Moderator: Tom Ryden, Executive Director, MassRobotics

Panelists:
Peter Howard, CEO, Realtime Robotics

Jay M. Wong, Co-founder, Southie Autonomy

Kosta Sidopoulos, VP Sales and Business Development, Deep AI Technologies

In this panel, you will hear directly from several of New England's most exciting AI Robotics startup founders. MassRobotics is the collective work of a group of Boston-area engineers, rocket scientists, and entrepreneurs. With a shared vision to create an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community, MassRobotics was born.  This panel will feature startups that are developing the next generation of successful robotics and connected device companies. 

4:45 Close of AI World 2019