- Students of ages 18-21 have developed, coded and programmed the YuMi robot for an exhibit
- The robot will entertain museum-goers with interactive drawing sessions
- Project aims to foster STEM-focused education among young students
ABB’s collaborative YuMi robot, programmed by the students of Canada’s Sheridan College, will be on display at the Musée de la civilisation in Quebec City starting November 28. The initiative is part of the “Head in the Cloud” exhibition and aims to equip the students and with digital skills in an increasingly technology-driven world.
In a short window of 15 weeks, four students, aged between 18 and 21, have developed, coded and programmed the YuMi robot to interact safely with visitors to the museum. As a demonstration of its precise movement and easy collaboration with humans, the robot has been taught to draw an outline of a picture on a sheet of paper, on which the participant can add details such as color and definition to it. YuMi then signs the drawing that is presented as a take-away for the participant.
A second, more autonomous program developed by the students will showcase YuMi drawing a series of geometric shapes on a whiteboard. As a means to relate better with a young audience, the robot is also trained to draw emojis depicting various emotions and expressions.
At Sheridan College, engineering students have the opportunity to train at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies’ (CADMT) Robotics Centre, which is a technology environment for students, faculty and industry partners to collaborate. The Robotics Centre, established by ABB and Sheridan College in 2014, features over 12 industry-leading robots along with controllers, software and work cells to train students in developing programs and handling robots for applications including robotic welding, machine tending and advanced vision technology.
YuMi – the world’s first truly collaborative robot proved to be the perfect partner for the young students to work with. The dual-armed machine uses lead-through programming that allows people to program the robot and have it running in minutes even without specialized training. With safety being built into the functionality of the robot itself, YuMi further removes the barriers of collaboration by making fencing and cages a thing of the past.
"As more and more companies seek to modernize and grow their businesses with robotics and other cutting-edge technology, the demand for people trained in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines will only increase," said Niclas Sjostrand, Head of Robotics, ABB Canada. "Our challenge to the students of Sheridan College was designed to provide positive reinforcement in STEM education at this stage in their schooling and expose the next generation of innovators to the industry of today.”
Schools across the globe are offering STEM education that trains students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math. These programs allow students to explore and innovate with new technologies that will ultimately support them when they enter the workforce. Canada is recognized as the first country in the world to develop a national artificial intelligence strategy to foster innovation for current and future challenges of industries.
About the “Head in the Cloud” exhibition:
The “Head in the Cloud” exhibition will invite visitors to open their minds to the issues surrounding the digital revolution, as well as how it is impacting society. It aims to not only raise visitor awareness about the revolution underway but, more importantly, give them the tools they need and help them develop relevant and useful skills to adapt to this changing world. It will also open museum-goers’ eyes to the growing role Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing in our lives, whereby the cohabitation of humans and robots exist and is intended is to inspire reflection and help empower. The exhibit runs from November 28, 2019 – January 31, 2021, for more information, click here.
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader that is driving the digital transformation of industries. With a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB has four customer-focused, globally leading businesses: Electrification, Industrial Automation, Motion, and Robotics & Discrete Automation, supported by the ABB Ability™ digital platform. ABB’s Power Grids business will be divested to Hitachi in 2020. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com
ABB in Canada: ABB has a strong history of over a hundred years of Canadian innovation and the company continues to expand and localize its offerings for customers. With its Canadian corporate headquarters in Montreal, ABB operates close to 50 facilities and employs approximately 4,000 people across the country. www.abb.com/ca
