Robotics Lunch and Learn - Startup Edition
Location Note: We will be in a different room this time. To find us, when you arrive at the Science and Education Center building, come to Door C the furthest door to the North on 5th Ave. A PSU key card is required to enter, and we will have someone posted at the door.
The Metro Innovation Hub, Portland State Business Accelerator, PSU Center for Entrepreneurship, Upstart Collective and Rose City Robotics are all in the same building:
PSU Science and Education Center
2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97201
Use Entrance C
Event Description
The automation industry is currently undergoing a great disruption and we believe it is about it experience its "ChatGPT Moment"
Join us for this exploration at the current state of robotics, machine learning, and human-computer interaction.
This workshop, hosted by Joseph Cole, PhD of Rose City Robotics, offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge research and technology.
We'll start with an update on the state of the art in robotics, and the disruption that is happening in the traditional automation industry.
Then we'll cover a high-level overview of machine learning and how transformer neural networks are applied in robotics.
Followed up with a lunch and networking session.
Whether you are an entrepreneur, investor, creative designer, software engineer, tinkerer or researcher, come join us for this exploration of the opportunities in robotics.
Run of Show:
10:45am-11:00: Check-in
11:00-11:15: Welcome and intros
11:15-11:30: Oppotunities in Robotics by Duncan Miller
Update on the state of the art in the industry and the future of physical AI
Stanford's ALOHA project and what it means for the future of AI and robotics
11:30-12:00: Educational talk by Joseph Cole, PhD
How Transformer Neural Networks apply to robotics and how to learn more
12:00-1:00:
Lunch + Networking
Hands-on teleoperation of Standford's ALOHA open-source robot
Announcements, job openings, local events and community building
Teleoperate Two Robotic Arms to Collect Datasets
We are experimenting with the ALOHA robot - and it is built to the open-source hardware specs published by Stanford here. ALOHA allows a human to teleoperate two robotic arms. The human can move their hands, wrists, elbows and shoulders in natural movements and the two follower robotic arms will mimic their actions. Three onboard video cameras and a laptop record all of the joint positioning data, visual data and mapping to the robot joints.
With 50-100 examples of a human doing a task, Stanford researchers were able to demonstrate transferring the skill to the robot to be performed autonomously, using Transformer Neural Networks with around 85-95% accuracy.
We will have our robot at the workshop and encourage lots of tinkering and playing, stacking blocks, doing tasks, collecting datasets, and troubleshooting the inevitable hardware issues.
What is Rose City Robotics?: At Rose City Robotics, we empower the next generation through elite training in robotics, AI, and clean-tech systems. Our programs blend hands-on learning, industry-recognized certifications, and real-world projects to prepare students for a future in technology.
What is the Robotics Collaborative?: A collaborative community of robotics entrepreneurs, scientists, machine learning experts, tinkerers, and fellow enthusiasts united to establish the PNW as the premier U.S. hub for robotics innovation.
How to stay up to date on events and activities?: Join our newsletter and our LinkedIn page.
Thank you to our generous partners:
Metro Region Innovation Hub: is the hub for business innovation in the Portland metro region. The hub has provided space and enabled us to open the series up to the broader community beyond PSU.
UpStart Collective: a community-driven collaboration space for founders.
Portland State University Business Accelerator: supports and serves the entrepreneur ecosystem and local startups from their early stage through growth.