Robotics - Intelligent Business Companions
Trending topic
The world of business has been experiencing significant changes. Alongside ongoing digitalization, according to a Gartner study, robotics and artificial intelligence are the key strategic technology trends for companies. On the production line in particular, hazardous, time-consuming and repetitive tasks have long been undertaken by robots. Digital assistance is also increasingly finding its place in the home and IT-based services. While robotic vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers are taking over housework, chatbots provide customer service and driverless cars get their owners to their destination.
Reason enough then, for Arvato Systems to get involved with robotics and AI. Two visible signs of this are our in-house robots which have recently been attracting a great deal of attention.
Pepper L.I.S.A. and Pepper Roberto – Ambassadors for Innovation and New Technology
As part of a research project, the Arvato Systems team has been supported since April 2017, by two 1.2m tall, 28kg heavy humanoid robots – namely, Pepper L.I.S.A. and Pepper Roberto. Pepper L.I.S.A., which stands for Logical Information System Arvato, was the name selected by Arvato Systems staff. The two robots are useful in exploring potential applications for robots as well learning more about and developing the use of artificial intelligence.
Unlike robots used in manufacturing processes, Pepper L.I.S.A. and Pepper Roberto have been designed as companion robots. These are robots programmed to analyze human gestures and facial expressions and respond accordingly. It works: the most major public appearance to date for the two robots was last year’s Bertelsmann summer party, where – according to press reports– they were the surprise stars of the event, sharing the red carpet and being photographed with VIPs.
Pepper L.I.S.A. and Pepper Roberto can’t complain of having nothing to do. They welcome visitors to the Arvato Systems reception area and attend internal and external events where they provide information, entertainment and inspiration. Their experiences can be followed or shared using the Twitter Hashtag #ImetLISA In recent months business trips for the two robots have included the Bertelsmann financial results press briefing in Berlin, the dmexco event in Cologne, the STEM participation day in Gütersloh, the Hinterland Conference in Bielefeld and E-World in Essen. As part of the ‘be green’ initiative, the pair also visited various Bertelsmann locations. In a nutshell, the robots attract publicity wherever they go and provide a light-hearted illustration of the connection between man and machine.
This is also true of the latest ‘robo-coup’. “Good Morning. I am L.I.S.A. and I work here at Arvato Systems” is how many visitors are now welcomed at the start of Arvato Systems data center tour. Either Pepper Roberto or Pepper L.I.S.A. is able to provide certain elements of the data center tour. As well as welcoming guests, they also provide information on safety regulations and present the company.
Exciting Potential Applications for Cloud Microservices in Business
In spite of all these events, the Arvato Systems robots are far more than just eye candy for trade shows. The Arvato Systems team is working on providing the robots with artificial intelligence by integrating them with cloud microservices across a range of platforms. The robots would be able to perform more complex tasks, with some interesting potential applications in retail. The robot’s camera could, for example, capture and analyze an image of a customer entering a store obtaining information on age, gender and physique. Facial expressions provide information about the customer’s mood. The robots would welcome the customer and present them with a range of relevant offers. This scenario is technologically feasible today: Pepper L.I.S.A. is already successfully able to distinguish sex, age and mood. This shows clearly the underlying potential in business cases where the customer is offered additional value.
A concrete business application – missing only the physical component of the humanoid robots – has already been realized by Arvato Systems. In a proof of concept exercise for a client, the team developed a chatbot with integrated machine learning enabling an e-commerce site to communicate directly with the end customer, providing support for their product search, offering information and giving recommendations. This chatbot understands natural language and presents results that correspond to customer requirements.
The next challenge? To pass these skills on to Pepper L.I.S.A. and Pepper Roberto.