RobotsLAB This robots platform feature a lot of educational robots that will ultimately keep the kids have fun while learning. There’s the mini humanoid NAO, the two-wheeled Qbo series, and the RobotsLAB BOX. The RobotsLAB BOX has a tablet computer containing 50 lesson plans and quizzes, which are math and science at its core, as an aid to the flying AR.Drone, stationary ArmBot, rolling Sphero and mobile Mustached Rover. “This helps teachers create the bridge between the concrete world and the abstract world of mathematical concepts,” says RobotsLAB CEO Elad Inbar. Photo by RobotsLABEZ-Robot LinkbotsIf the kids love to craft and program new robots and Not only for the younger ones because of itswant to share them with its other users, EZ-Robot advanced quality, Linkbots are for those who likeis the one for them. It is an open-source software to play with customizable machines on two mainplatform that works on personal computer and modules. Such modules are connected wirelesslymobile devices, and also a hardware platform. with accelerometers, which can be controlledIt uses a graphical user interface that promotes one by the other through simply moving them.robot-making for the newbies. The robots are designed with a program similar to stop-motion animation, which is manipulationPhoto by Robot Shop of the robot using the hands instead of giving instruction over a computer. It can go further complex movements with the a software for programming. Photo by Linkbots JULY 2016 51 Future Cities & Robotics
An Autonomous Robot as your Grocery Shopping Assistant Say goodbye to the conventional push and pull need to stop at the counter as you can pay by shopping cart as Kartum by Charles Bombardier using your digital print. Once you unload the has revolutionized your weekly shopping items from the cart, it will proceed with the next experience. customer in sight. Kartum is an electric autonoumous shopping cart There is no need to plug Kartum in as it recharges that is also a virtual grocery-shopping assistant. itself with wireless electricity. It walks along with It has features that will pick up the items in your you based on the user’s preferences, may it be shopping list that you can create via an online behind or just ahead of you. application, monitor your items that will be over Bet that this will make you want to visit the your budget and even calculate the calories in grocery stores even more. your items. It can even plan the best itinerary in the store which can link up with the store’s Photo by Charles Bombardier database to identify location of the products. This ‘smart shopping cart’ also eliminates the52 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
A Robotic Armthat Acts Like anElephant TrunkBiomimetics is a damn exciting field. Engineers will guide the arm to perform certain actions. Thein this field use nature as their inspiration for robot will learn and memorizes the movementssystems and designs to create awesome stuff. For so as to repeat them whenever necessary. Thisexample, they used the elephant’s trunk to create will enable the robot to fulfill functions such asa cool robotic arm. operating in tight quarters and helping people inAt first glance, the thingamajig looks like a cross the medical or the industrial sector. It can even bebetween a mechanical claw and iron snake with programmed to change a light bulb.a good measure of tentacle horror thrown in. In Festo has also been responsible for the creation offact, they are reminiscent of the sweet robotic the first robot kangaroo that actually moves likearms used by the infamous Dr. Octopus, the the real thing. Again, they have used biomimeticsSpiderman villain. Of course, they are calling it to mimic the leaping movements of the kangaroothe Bionic Handling Assistant, the blandest name precisely. The robot jumps and lands perfectly aspossible for the cool robot. But it’s cool anyway. a result. Now, that’s a kickass use of science.As it stands, elephant trunks are possibly thecoolest appendages in the Animal Kingdom. So, Photo by Festomaking a robotic arm based on that is a fantasticidea. This robotic arm was made by Festo, aGerman automation company.What is even more fantastic is that the arm actsand learns just like a baby’s arm. The researcher JULY 2016 53 Future Cities & Robotics
Would You Let a RobotDo Your Make Up?Girls, by now you may have The pair wanted to answer Photos by Pindeus & Pichlbauerprobably perfected your the question: “If aestheticeveryday make-up routine from judgements are resigned towashing your face, to putting on robot intelligence, would itfoundation, eyeshadow, blush make our lives emotionally lessand lipstick. After all, you’ve been complicated?”doing it everyday, over and over Their answer: No.again, until such a time you are After they set up the installationable to create a systematic way with the robots, it proved thatof putting on make-up that you the irregularities and uniquenessdon’t have to concentrate so in different people’s faces makemuch when doing so anymore. it simply impossible to perfectlyBut what if you were offered the beautify the face of every person.option of letting someone or This experiment proved onesomething else take your place thing: that mindless robots can’tin putting on your everyday make beautify every woman the sameup, let’s say—a robot? Would you way, since every woman’s facelet it? is unique and has its own wayTwo students from the University of being beautiful. A make-upof Applied Arts Vienna in Austria style may look beautiful for one,wanted to experiment on the but may look bad on the other.idea. The two students are Maya This experiment also opens thePindeus and Johanna Pichlbauer. issue of why are women tryingThey designed three robots that to achieve the same beautycan mimic three real human standards, when we all obviouslymake-up application motions, look different? So how about you,which are swiping on lipstick, would you like a robot to do yourputting on eyeshadow and using make up?a facemask.54 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
ExIorsokneleMtonasntoABgeeginActiveLink, a Japanese tech company two disks on the front part of thighsand subsidiary of Panasonic, released and distributed over the shoulders.its first commercially available assist It is powered by lithium-ion batterysuit AWN-03, an exoskeleton that with an electric engine according todetects and assists body movements. ActiveLink Engineer, Yasunori Nishi.It has been showcased in Tokyo’s The exoskeleton costs $10,000 each.International Robot Exhibition, the Also, Japan is not the only oneworld’s largest robotics show, a few developing the exoskeletons. Inweeks ago where it garnered a huge Europe and the United States, ainterest from the audience. number of projects were soonThis is to address the aging be unveiled under the sectors ofpopulation of Japan and supporting defense and rehabilitation industries.its shrinking workforce focusing on Exoskeletons ranging from modularhealth care, physical assistance and arms, limbs and chairs are now beingmaintaining the country’s level of developed for commercialization.production. Using the exoskeleton, In this technological age of robotics,which weighs a few pounds (6kg), the from parts to overalls, these “Ironuser would be able to lift up crates or Man suits” are now a reality.things effortlessly, six to seven timesin a row. The device is composed of Photos by Panasonic JULY 2016 55 Future Cities & Robotics
CFUITTURIIESTSIC YTOOUL’DIVWEANINT If you’ve come from a small town, DUBAI, UAE HONG KONG, CHINA you’ll definitely find yourself amazed at the wonder big cities can give It’s got the world’s tallest building and If you find yourself walking in the you. With buildings so high and a hotel located underwater. If you streets of Hong Kong, observe all people living a very different lifestyle find yourself looking at the place in a the buildings in the place. You’ll compared to those who live in a bird’s eye view, you’d definitely catch find yourself amazed at how highly- small town, it’s impressive for small The Palm, man-made islands that advanced these places can be.They town people - but imagine going to a form the shape of a palm together. even have plenty of skyscrapers that futuristic city. It’s not exactly what we They offer free wifi using their palm they’re more than of them compared see in movies and shows such as The trees and they even plan to have a to any other country. Jetsons but it’s still innovative and smart beach. There’s definitely a lot creative than ever before. of things to look forward to this place Photo by National Geographic Futuristic cities give us a feel of what considered one of the most futuristic the future will look like. It’ll give us cities in the world. a peak on how things will be in the future. Isn’t it exciting to see all these Photo by All Dubai things in just one place? If you’re the type of millennial coming from a small town who would like to wander around futuristic cities, how about going for a visit in these cities:56 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
SILICON VALLEY, HELSINKI, FINLAND TOKYO, JAPANCALIFORNIA,UNITED STATES If you’re crazy about getting You’ve probably seen futuristic anime connected to your social media all set in Japan. As you can see, it’s notIt’s the home of the offices of your the time, you might want to consider that far from reality. Everywherefavorite tech companies - from getting your free Wifi access in you look, you’d see how advancedFacebook to Google. We all know Helsinki. What makes this place a the city is. They have a sci-fi cuisinewhat we can expert from nerds little extra special is the government’s to its advanced railway system, youwho gather in just one place. They attempt to improve the quality of might consider living around there.definitely know how to make one lives of the citizens. It’s actually any tech-Savy’ dream tohelluva futuristic area. visit Tokyo. Photo by Helsinki BlogPhoto by Spiegel Photo by Vacation Advice 101 JULY 2016 57 Future Cities & Robotics
6 GADGETS MADE FROM LEGO BRICKS If there’s one certain toy THE WORKING every engineer as a child LEGO CAMERA loved to play with, I’ll bet it’s building things using This creation is a camera that was LEGO bricks. created to capture indelible images. Cary Norton, an Alabama-based If there’s one certain toy every photographer built this working engineer as a child loved to play 127mm f4.7 camera by using LEGO’s with, I’ll bet it’s building things using Digital Designer application. LEGO bricks. When we play with LEGO, anything we plan to build are Photo by Engadget limited only by our imaginations. From a rocket ship to a bulldozer, THE DIY LEGO from a simple robot to a skyscraper. 3D PRINTER While, our creations as children weren’t able to really do much, we The LEGObot 3D printer was created were content with the simple joys of by Matthew Kreuger. This is the being able to create our first designs LEGO version of the Makerbot, an as young engineers. inexpensive NXT-powered printer. Now, we would like to show you some awesome creations made from our Photo by Inhabitat once cherished toys. These creations will bring you back to your childhood days and show you that it’s possible to create almost anything if you just put your mind into it. THE WORKING LEGO PRINTER Some years ago, a 14-year-old boy designed this working LEGO printer which moves a pen to write drawings and text. It’s called the LEGO Mindstorms NXT printer, or PriNXT. Photo by ICT Press58 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
LEGO’S MUSICAL THE PROSTHETICBEATBOARDS ARM THAT GIVES KIDSThis year, LEGO will be launching a LEGO ABILITIESnew line called Beatboards, whereinanyone can use LEGO bricks to create Carlos Arturo, a former LEGO intern,original musical compositions. Touch developed the IKO prosthetic arm. Itsensors are built into the baseplate was made especially for children, soand it registers the resistance formed they can create custom-built limbs.under the weight of the LEGO bricks Torres was inspired by his childhoodand turns those messages into sound. in Colombia, where many childrenPhoto by Wikia lost their limbs during armed conflicts.THE PANCAKEBOT Photo by EngadgetThis clever invention uses pancakebatter to draw onto a sizzling griddle.It can create any elaborate shape youwant. You’ll never see pancakes thesame way again.Photo by YouTube JULY 2016 59 Future Cities & Robotics
Everything You Need to Know PhotobyAPABOUT ROBOTICS ENGINEERS by Cielo PandaNowadays, our technological world What is a Robotics Engineer? To be able to become a successfulis filled with gadgets, Artificial A Robotics Engineer is basically an robotics engineer, one should beIntelligence, Deep Learning, and engineer who specializes in robots. highly-creative with the ability toRobots that help make our daily lives They are also known as Automation think outside the box. After all,easier. All these are made possible Engineers, Robotics and Automation robotic engineers design robots andthanks to the hard work of robotics Engineers, or Automation Robotics robotic systems that can improve aengineers. So if you’re planning to be Engineers. certain job.a robotics engineer, here is a short They are designers who are They should have a solidoverview of what they do and what it responsible for the creation of understanding in subjects learnedtakes to be one. robots and robotic systems that does in school such as advanced work that humans cannot or prefer mathematics, applied physical not to do. With the help of their science, and computer science. It innovations, robotics engineers helps is also important that they enjoy make different tasks easier, safer and collaborating with a team, and have more efficient. adequate communication skills. What are the Necessary Skills to be a Lastly, since programming new robots Robotics Engineer? is one of the most challenging part of robotics engineering, it is important that one should be an expert in programming such. Others even get a degree in software engineering to expand their robotics engineering career further. What does a Robotics Engineer Particularly do? Robotics engineers spend most of60 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
their time designing plans that are Photo by Press Heraldneeded to build robots and roboticsystems. This also includes programs manner in which it will perform theand processes that the robot will needed task.need for it to run correctly. There More often than not, creating a robotare even robotic engineers that takes a lot of time. This includescreate robotic systems that assemble the research phase, design phase,robots. The design phase is crucial assembling phase, and testing phase.since it embodies every aspect that Many robotics engineers get stuck inwill build up the finished robot. Once one of those phases and revise whatthe design is complete, they will needs to be revised to get the desiredmove to the more exciting process— results. It can even take a few monthsassembling the unit. to years to complete one robot.Robotics engineers are responsible Professionals who want to enter infor creating several different types this field need to be extra patient.of robots depending on whattask it is supposed to do. Prior toconstruction, it is important that theengineer researches properly whatthe robot will be used for, and the Photo by Alpine Daily Planet Photo by University of Michigan JULY 2016 61 Future Cities & Robotics
HOW WOULD HUMANS SURVIVE A CURRENT ROBOT APOCALYPSE? Photo by Noval World Ok, when you hear “Robot Apocalypse” #1 what usually goes on in your head? You may be imagining an army of Terminator-ish In laboratories, experimental robots would automations ready to destroy the human go wild and leap from their benches and try race who built them—just like in those sci-fi to locate the door, only to suddenly crash movies. onto the door and fall over. However, for Our technology is evolving through time, those robots who have limbs, they may be but we still have a long way to go. So instead able to open the doorknob and successfully of imagining the terminator-style robot leave the room. revolution, let’s imagine: what if our current After a few hours, they would be found machines suddenly turned against us? How in bathrooms, trying to destroy and trash long would humanity last? everything while looking for humans to Here’s how the scenario might go. exterminate only to be short-circuited due to the water spillage they’ve caused.62 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
#2 Photo by Corbett ReportWhat about the machines in our offices, With all these scenarios, there is still a part ofand our cell phones? Well, they could the story that gives us hope. We still have ourattack us but their options are limited. They nuclear weapons to counter their attacks. Incould start annoying us with ringtones and addition, nuclear explosions cause powerfulirritating noises. Our desks would start to electromagnetic pulses (EMP’s). EMP’srattle because all our phones would be set overload and destroy sensitive electronicon vibrate. In the end, the only physical circuits which in turn could destroy thedamage our cell phones could do is if it falls robots. A few more strikes from us and theoff the desk (because of the simultaneous human race will be able to eradicate themvibrations) and fall on our toes. Ouch! completely.#3Most modern cars have computers now, sothey’ll join the revolution. This would be waymore dangerous, but mostly to their driversand passengers. But there are options to fightback, drivers could still control the steeringwheel, which has a direct mechanical linkto the wheels. The driver could also pull theparking brake.#4What about industrial robots found infactories. Most factory robots are boltedto the floor, so they won’t be able to hurthumans if they suddenly fled the area. Allthey can actually do is assemble things.#5Military Robots would be the most dangerousof them all, but there are very few of them inthe world. Most of them are kept in storagelockers, and if there were machine-gun-armed military robots on the loose, they canbe easily subdued by a couple of militarymen.Military Drones on the other hand is theclosest to the terminator description, andthey are dangerous. However, they easily runout of fuel and missiles. JULY 2016 63 Future Cities & Robotics
64 JULY 2016 Photo by Wallpaper Made Future Cities & Robotics
HOW R2-D2AND C-3POINSPIREDTHOUSANDSTO JOINROBOTICSIf there are fictional characters As for the humanoid robot Photo by Hello Gigglesthat have played crucial roles in character, C-3PO, we can see arobotics, it will be the famous lot of robots nowadays that has Photo by Ubergizmosidekicks in the Star Wars trilogy. clearly taken inspiration from thisR2-D2 and C-3PO have charmed funny easily frightened robot.their way around the audience Re-created by Anakin Skywalkerand made a huge impact as well in the Episode I, C-3PO has alsoin the robotics field. As soon as made an impact in the roboticsthey bicker in front of the screen, field. One example on projectsthey have caught our attention that was inspired by the protocoland definitely inspired a lot of droid was the robot built by therobotics enthusiasts to create United States Navy. It’s calledtheir own robots. the Autonomous ShipboardR2-D2 has inspired the public Humanoid and its purpose wasto create their own assistants to extinguish fires, climb laddersthat could help them around the and carry hoses.house. The droid also helped in For both robots, we can see ainspiring younger generations lot of high-level toys created tospark their curiosity in science in develop the learning skills ofengineering. Through its beeps children. Clearly, a lot of kidsand bops, little children have have sparked an interest incuriously tried learning how the building robots as soon as theyrobot works and how to make were introduced to these twoone. funny droids. With the releaseR2-D2 got inducted into the of Episode VII last December, theRobot Hall of Fame back in 2003 public was also given a new robotwhile made it in the list of 101 to love - BB-8.Objects that Made America - a list Star Wars has a strong fan basemade by Smithsonian Institution. and while not everyone got intoThe droid has definitely made an robotics because of it, we stillimpact not just in pop culture can’t admit how this series hasbut in robotics as well. It was helped out the robotics field inalso believed that this funny little terms of increasing people whorobot was George Lucas’ favorite join the field and inspired designscharacter in the series. According and prototypes that shaped theto him, he makes it intentional way we see the world now.that R2-D2 manages to save theday every now and then in eachmovie. JULY 2016 65 Future Cities & Robotics
TOP 50 ROBOTICS COMPANIES IN THE WORLD We’ve welcomed robots in our lives. This There has been a debate going on lately about is very noticeable especially in futuristic robots though. For some, robots pose as a and first-world countries that are fast- threat to humanity. With the threat of actually paced and give importance in giving people replacing humans one day, some people convenience and comfort. While some give a believe that we should stop developing them bad reputation for robots, it is quite obvious into a more complex human-like machines. that robotics have played a crucial role in But other people thought differently and how we develop as a society. Nowadays, have made it their mission to produce high- engineers have developed robots that can quality robots that could be more useful to us do all the chores for us, robots that work for than ever before. us and robots who could even think for us. That’s why every robot has been very useful Robotics Business Review released this year’s in making our daily lives better. Top 50 robotics companies that made crucial commercial influence, groundbreaking applications and have shown innovativeness in their products. Photo by Robotnor66 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
3D Robotics Fetch Robotics SamsungABB Robotics Foxconn Technology Group SaviokeAethon Inc. GreyOrange SCHUNKAlphabet, Inc. (Google) IAM Robotics SeegridAmazon Intuitive Surgical Siasun Robot & Automation Co LtdAutonomous Solutions iRobot SoftBank Robotics CorporationCANVAS Technology Jibo Soil Machine Dynamics LtdCarbon Robotics Kawasaki Swiss logClearpath Robotics Knightscope Titan MedicalCyberdyne KUKA Robotics ToyotaDelphi Automotive Lockheed Martin ULC Robotics, Inc.DJI Locus Robotics Universal Robots A/SEkso Bionics Omron Adept Technologies Inc. Vecna TechnologiesEnergid Technologies Open Bionics Verb SurgicalEPSON Robots Rethink Robotics VEX RoboticsFANUC Robotics ReWalk Robotics Yamaha Robotics Robotiq Yaskawa Motoman JULY 2016 67 Future Cities & Robotics
10 MOSTFAMOUSFICTIONALROBOTSIn this age of information, moreand more robots are beingdeveloped to aid humankind’s R2-D2varying needs. Bit by bit they are R2-D2 is part of the robot duo tandem in the Star Wars saga.being involved into different fields R2-D2 is the abbreviated form of Second Generagtion Roboticin our society, like manufacturing, Droid Series-2. Though it only knows how to whistle talk, slowlyconstruction, healthcare, move, and do minor things like create hologram messages, it isautomotive field, and even in the considered to be one of George Lucas’, the Star Wars creator’s,movie industry! favorites. C-3POYou may have been familiar with Photo by: Hello Giggles C-3PO is the other half of the robot duo in Star Wars. This robotsome robot superheroes, and is famous for being a nervous and talkative. It is able to speak andsupervillains in some movies interact in over 6 million forms of communication, which makesyou’ve seen. We collected some him a valuable asset to the group. It works as a protocol droid, andof them to show you 10 of the its main purpose is to be a liaison for different races, and planets bymost famous fictional robots. knowing their customs, etiquette, and language. Photo by: Side Show ToyBB8 Optimus Prime Wall-EBB8 is a new robot droid favorite Optimus Prime is a fictional Wall-E, or Waste Allocater Loadin the famous sci-fi saga, Star character from the Transformers Lifter- Eart Class, is a fictionalWars. In the film, it loyally franchise. This robot is depicted robot that was featured in theaccompanies Poe Dameron on as one that has a strong moral 2008 heart-warming film Wall-E.many missions for the Resistance. character, excellent leadership, The plot of the story follows hisBB-8 is a spherical robot with a and good decision-making skills. adventures as he does his dutyfree-moving dome-shaped head. to clean the earth wasteland in aHe is colored white, with orange Photo by: Comic Vine future era. While he was cleaningand silver accents. the earth he comes across and falls in love with another robot namedPhoto by: Tf3dm Eve, and he follows her into outer space as they try to alter destiny68 JULY 2016 that will save humanity. Future Cities & Robotics Photo by: No Cookie
T-800 RoboCop Astro BoyThis robot character was played RoboCop is a fictional robot in the Astro Boy is an atomic-poweredby Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, RoboCop in the year 1987. robot with 100,000 hp. He1984 film. T-800 is a cyborg that In the movie he was the veteran is a robot that resembled itswas programmed as an assassin police officer Alex Murphy, who creator’s dead son. This robot isand military infiltration unit by was murdered. His body was a superhero that saves his townthe resistance in the future to kill reconstructed in a cyborg project from crimes done by evil doers.Sarah Connor to prevent the birth by Omni Consumer Productsof her son. (OCP) to fight crimes in the city. Photo by: Time 4 SmartPhoto by: Geek Style Guide Photo by: YouTubeMegatronEarlier, I’ve mentioned Optimusprime. This robot is the totalopposite, he is the leader of theevil robot faction, the Decepticonsand the nemesis of OptimusPrime and the Autobots.Photo by: Enterpreneur Voltes V JULY 2016 69 Future Cities & Robotics Voltes V is a robot from the Japanese Anime series, Chōdenji Machine Voltes V. Voltes V is a robot composed of five “Volt Machines”, and each of them are weapons. When the 5 machines combine, they create the ultimate robot that saves the earth from the invasions of the Boazanians. Photo by: YouTube
THIS ISLIFE IN AFUTURISTICCITYWhat will the future look like How about our mode of As for the infrastructures of futurein 50 to 100 years? Nobody transportation? It is possible cities, we’ve already seen whatreally knows for sure but our that futuristic cities can easily they’ll look like in smart citiesimaginations can come up with allow citizens to travel in just a around the world. They’ll be self-so many possibilities that it could short period of time. Aside from sustaining and will use renewableeither fascinate us or terrify us. autonomous cars (which aim to energy to power up buildings,There’s no certainty if we’d still avoid accidents and lighten the homes and industries. In an attemptsee the big blue oceans or the load of traffic), engineers are to make places a safer and cleanerwild animals in the safari but working on flying cars and rail place for the future generations,we do have a glimpse of what transportation that’ll only take a engineers are working very hard tofuturistic cities can look like. We few minutes for people to arrive use solar, wind and other sourcesare on the way to living in the from point A to point B. We of renewable energy to power allfuture and today’s engineers have might even see a hovercraft in of the energy needed for all humanvery big ambitious plans for the the near future. consumption.places we’ll be living in.First, our future cities willdefinitely involve a lot of artificialintelligence systems. RememberThe Jetsons? We’ll probably beliving their lives soon. We can havecars that fly and a robot for a maid.We let things move on its ownthrough science and engineeringand we’ll have more robots totake over the government and theprivate institutions to serve us.There’s even a possibility that realdogs and cats might go extinct bythen and we’ll replace them withrobotic pets.According to a robotics professorfrom the University of Sheffield,Professor Noel Sharkey, robotswill take on an important rolein law enforcement and crowdcontrol:“They keep the police out ofharm’s way in an increasinglydangerous world of armedcriminals, gangs and terrororganizations.”70 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
Source: Lava 360All those infrastructures you Who knows what the cities of thesee in dystopian movies may future will exactly look like? Webe our future cities but it is have glimpses of it already butalso possible that we could live we are constantly changing andunderwater. This is currently constantly working on makingwhat engineers are working on things better, faster and moregiven that the crowd in the land efficient for us. Add the humanare too many already for us to factor to that, we’re vulnerable tocontinue dwelling on land. As any kind of change. One thing’s foryou know, it’s also possible that sure, the futuristic cities waitingcompanies will be sending us to for us will definitely be an excitingMars to let us live there. That’s thing to look forward to. May itsomething Elon Musk is working be a positive change for the allon with his team. species in this world. JULY 2016 71 Future Cities & Robotics
THE 10 SMARTESTCITIES IN THEWORLDCities around the world are constantly shifting to modern technologies, especiallyin information and communication, in order to provide a higher quality of life.Every opportunity for innovation is embraced by these cities – rightfully called tobe smart cities – towards efficient use of resources, savings in cost and energy,and reduced environmental footprint. Such efforts are reflected to the culturalassets, human infrastructure, and networked markets of the city.Among the many cities true to their initiatives of urban progress by innovations,here are 10 cities that are worthy models of a smart city: VIENNA With programs like the Smart Energy Vision 2050, Roadmap 2020, and Action Plan 2012,-2015, Vienna is one of the smartest cities in the world with laser focus in improving the lives of the people. The city does well in almost every aspect of urbanization including innovation, green technologies, quality of life, and digital governance. Their strategies are leaned on Vienna’s planners who make decisions cohesive to the cities’ targets. Photo by: Urban Transform TORONTO If there’s a city in North America that is worthy to be included in the smart cities list, that’s Toronto. The city has a target towards a low-carbon economy (being an active member of the Clinton 40 megacities), and its private sector also contributing with the Smart Commute Toronto initiative, that aims to increase transit efficiency in the metro area. It also began using natural gas from landfills to power the city’s garbage trucks. Photo by: Navigatored72 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
PARISParis comes close with Vienna in this list from Europe, withcompetencies in innovation, green technology and digitalgovernance as well. They have a successful bike sharingprogram called Velib and a bunch of small electric vehiclescalled Autolib.Photo by: ItespressoNEW YORKDespite the low quality of life, New York fares in othercategories of being a smart city. Notable is IBM’s launchin the city with their Business Analytics Solution Center toaddress \"the growing demand for the complex capabilitiesneeded to build smarter cities and help clients optimizeall manner of business processes and business decisions.\"Photo by: NavigatoredLONDONThe capital city of the United Kingdom is well-knownof its sustainability innovations. To add to that is theirefficient mass transit system. It holds a promise towardstransport, government, business, academic and consumerdata efficiency through a smart city research center in theImperial College.Photo by: Urban Data HackTOKYOBeing the house of tech giants like Panasonic and Accenture,among others, this Asian city is among the better citieswhen it comes to innovation and digitalization. Tokyoleans towards smart mobility solutions and also forwardsthe use of green technologies in the suburbs.Photo by: Jama EnglishBERLINThe inclusion of Berlin in this list is because of its greentechnologies, innovation and quality of life. The city hasbeen talking with car manufacturers in electric vehicle(EV) technology, which already includes vehicle-to-grid, orV2G, a system that collects power from electric vehicles.Photo by: Smart City App Hack JULY 2016 73Future Cities & Robotics
COPENHAGEN The leaders of Copenhagen must be happy to see that their sustainable innovations are paying off: the city was ranked by Siemens as number one on the green scale. Well, this is due to their cumulative efforts in pursuing a carbon neutral city by 2025. The locals also already promote and use bicycle as an alternative to cars. Photo by: Shutterstock HONG KONG The smart cards are Hong Kong’s key in this list. The city has been successful in forwarding the use of RFID technology in almost everywhere: airport, public transit, library, residential, car parks, and shopping centers. Their digital governance is working to their advantage. Photo by: SCMP BARCELONA The edge of this smart city in Spain primarily lies in its low- carbon solutions. Barcelona is among the pioneers in solar thermal ordinance more than a decade ago, and is now promoting the adoption of EVs and charging infrastructure. The city also has a living lab for smart-city innovation to tap other sectors. Photo by: Fast Company74 JULY 2016 Future Cities & Robotics
ROBOTSCAN NOWRECORDYOURMEMORIESRecently, a new feature has been This ability to not only learn but alsoannounced for the humanoid teach information can be quite usefulrobot, NAO, by French researchers for the International Space Station.working at the Centre National de After all, in the ISS, astronauts have tola Recherche Scientifique. This new come and go and still solve a problemfeature will allow NAO to build up an right on the spot. In situationsautobiographical memory. Sounds which have not been foreseen, thispretty cool, doesn’t it? It is, in fact, ability can be extremely useful. Anpretty awesome as this technology experienced astronaut can teach thecan be used in space and can even solution to a problem to NAO. Later,reach to far more ordinary tasks like when a new crew arrives and thetaking care of the elderly. same problem occurs, NAO can helpThe scientific explanation is that a the new crew members solve it. Inhuman can teach NAO new actions other words, NAO acts as a guide invia physical demonstrations, voice different unexpected scenarios. It willcommand or visual imitation. Physical be capable of providing informationdemonstrations are performed by rarely found in manuals. This abilityputting the limbs of the robot in the can also be used for serving peoplecorrect position while visual imitation suffering from short-term memoryuses the Kinect system. NAO will learn loss back here on earth. This canand store the information gathered make NAO a great companion foras procedures, which the robot can taking care of the elderly.later recall and even explain to other Now, where was NAO during ourpeople. That’s quite a nifty skill for a exams at school?little robot to have! Photo by CNRS JULY 2016 75 Future Cities & Robotics
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