“Innovation Driven by Social Needs.” ~ Omron
A founding faculty member at the Rutgers University School of Business Executive Education “Mini-MBAs” Programs, Glen Gilmore is an instructor of Emerging Technologies, among other topics. An attorney by training, he is ranked a top influencer in the “Internet of Things” and “Health Technologies” (Onalytica). For several years, he served on the board of directors of a major university hospital. Often asked to collaborate with brands in the technology space, he traveled to CES as a sponsored guest of Omron Automation. What follows are his thoughts alone.
From collision-free roads to “Going for Zero heart attacks and strokes, Omron, a global leader in automation and technology since 1933, is harnessing innovation to “bring harmony between humans and machines.” The core value of the company is “Innovation driven by social needs.” As one Omron executive I spoke with at CES said, this value is “in our DNA.”
From developing the most advanced AI-integrated robotics for agile manufacturing to creating groundbreaking applications for facial recognition in a variety of fields, Omron, with 36,000 plus employees in 117 countries, is enjoying the exceptional accomplishments of an extremely talented workforce. (Yes, they’re always on the lookout for new talent!) I had the great privilege of collaborating with them at CES 2018, in Las Vegas. I’d love to share some of what I learned.
When you bring the WORLD’S FIRST robotic table tennis instructor, FORPHEUS, to CES, you’re going to draw a crowd!
I have never seen so many robots in a single place as I did at CES 2018. At the same time, I have never been so disappointed with the state of robots as I was with those displayed at CES. There were many that danced, some that cleaned floors, others that followed you around as mobile voice assistant, but few captured the imagination or really showcased cutting-edge technologies.
Omron’s FORPHEUS was a towering exception to an army of disappointing robots at CES.
When you see FORPHEUS in real life, you are amazed, amused and charmed. Even so, no sooner did I send my first tweet about FORPHEUS than I received a sharp reply:
“Cool. But what’s the point of this? Nothing better/useful to build/engineer?” I answered, after a deep breath: “Good question! For @OmronAutomation, a leader in smart automation since 1933, the point is to share a fun experience with a robot that lets people interact with and better understand the tech the company uses in other applications — for example, to make workplaces safer & more efficient. Hope this helps.” I shared a link with more information and the diagram that follows:
A table-tennis playing robot is “cool”; what’s cooler is what it teaches.
Omron explains that FORPHEUS represents “State-of-the-art technology that embodies the world of ‘harmony’ where machines can bring out human ability.” As an instructor of table tennis, FORPHEUS rallies players to play their best game. It teaches players that they can interact with the most sophisticated technologies and become better as individuals in the process — and in the workplace.
Omron’s technologies have long been a staple of industrial automation.
Since its inception, Omron has been bringing innovation to manufacturing to achieve “safety, productivity and quality” in the workplace. Today, Omron is “incorporating human knowledge into machines to evolve sensors and controllers that can think for themselves,” making automation practices easier and more accessible. FORPHEUS is just one giant example of how Omron is achieving this.
Of course Omron had a roving robotic recruiter at CES as well!
“Hi, I just notice you looking this way…” announced an AIV (automated indoor vehicle) that buzzed by my path. It was quick to say “hello” and note that it is able to “detect smiles” — a very nice way of introducing facial recognition technology. It went on to explain that Omron is looking for talented individuals to join the Omron team. A brilliant way of showing several of Omron’s technologies in a single device.
Several Omron AIVs roamed the floor offering water and treats — and showcasing the agility of Omron’s technologies. As I noted, the conference floor was extremely crowded and these devices were mingling among the moving crowd. Another hazard that repeated itself several times as I watched the devices work their charms: every hundredth person seemed determined to try and create a collision with one of the adorable R2-D2-like devices by literally jumping into its path. Each time, the AIV stopped on a dime, leaving their would-be assailants seemingly disappointed by their own failure, but impressed by the devices’ precision.
A “collision-free car”
Not content with IAVs that can avoid collisions, Omron is committed to a “collision-free” future where the harmony of human and machine works to create new, better possibilities. At CES, Omron offered a simulator that helped visitors understand how some of their mobility technologies work. With eye-detection and facial recognition, visitors learned that the technologies can be used to ensure that only authorized drivers are able to start a car and that as the car is driven, technologies would be there to make sure that the driver was not becoming drowsy or otherwise inattentive. A fun experience at CES that put you in the driver’s seat of the future.
“Going for Zero”
A “pioneer in creating inspired solutions for the future.” ~ Omron
Omron’s lofty statement of values finds life in its products. The development of a home blood pressure self-monitoring device, EVOLV, exemplifies this. It is a compact device that allows people to monitor their health from the convenience and comfort of their own home. Unlike traditional blood pressure devices, EVOLV is free of dangling hoses and gauges. And, it can “sync your readings to your smartphone — so you can track your results, monitor your progress, share your data with your doctor and get a deeper understanding of your health over time.”
Omron is even working on a smartwatch that would have similar capabilities to EVOLV.
Omron’s goal? Nothing less than “Going for Zero” heart attacks and strokes! Again, underscoring its philosophy of harmonizing man and machine, Omron looks to tap its technologies to provide for the “passive monitoring of health in day-to-day life.”
Technology to enhance the efficiency of renewable energy generation and usage.
Looking to promote the “widespread and stable operation of renewable energy systems”, Omron is also eager to leverage its technologies “to enhance the efficiency of renewable energy generation”. For Omron, infrastructure development for renewables is essential to maximizing energy efficiencies — and a sustainable future. At CES, Omron was showing its Smart Inverters with battery storage to help maximize the efficiency of solar-powered homes.
“Innovation Driven by Social Needs.”
It was a thrill for me to spend some time with Omron at CES. Truly.
If we can harmonize machines with humanity, as Omron demonstrates in so many of its technologies, we can all look to the future with much greater confidence and hope!
