European Robotics Forum 2018 in Tampere
The Neurorobotics Platform developed in the SP10 keeps improving its usability and reliability, and is looking to expand its user base. If the feedback obtained from the audience at the European Robotics Forum (900 registered guests, all roboticists from research and industry) is anything to go by, the NRP is in prime position to fill the need expressed by this community for an interdisciplinary simulation platform than connects neuroscience, AI and robotics.
Indeed, during our Workshop at the ERF and the various discussions that ensued, we were able to speak with a large number of researchers and company representatives from different backgrounds and activities. The overwhelming majority has clearly caught on the potential advantages of using the NRP, especially with standard AI tools such as TensorFlow. Furthermore, we found they were open to considering the ability of the NRP to establish brain-derived intelligent controllers that go beyond conventional AI. Finally, compliant robotics based on the up-and-coming technology of elastic elements that can make robots safe by design is an active area of research where ERF participants also saw potential for the NRP (OpenSim, custom robot designer, etc.).
We are thus looking forward to collaborating with our new contacts in the industry, and to improving the platform even further for their benefit.