Masdar: The Future of Sustainable City in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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 RobotsLAB

EZ-Robot Linkbots

If the kids love to craft and program new robots and Not only for the younger ones because of its
want to share them with its other users, EZ-Robot advanced quality, Linkbots are for those who like
is the one for them. It is an open-source software to play with customizable machines on two main
platform that works on personal computer and modules. Such modules are connected wirelessly
mobile devices, and also a hardware platform. with accelerometers, which can be controlled
It 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 manipulation
Photo 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

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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 the

52 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

A Robotic Arm
that Acts Like an
Elephant Trunk

Biomimetics is a damn exciting field. Engineers will guide the arm to perform certain actions. The
in this field use nature as their inspiration for robot will learn and memorizes the movements
systems and designs to create awesome stuff. For so as to repeat them whenever necessary. This
example, they used the elephant’s trunk to create will enable the robot to fulfill functions such as
a cool robotic arm. operating in tight quarters and helping people in
At first glance, the thingamajig looks like a cross the medical or the industrial sector. It can even be
between 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 of
fact, they are reminiscent of the sweet robotic the first robot kangaroo that actually moves like
arms used by the infamous Dr. Octopus, the the real thing. Again, they have used biomimetics
Spiderman villain. Of course, they are calling it to mimic the leaping movements of the kangaroo
the Bionic Handling Assistant, the blandest name precisely. The robot jumps and lands perfectly as
possible 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 the
coolest appendages in the Animal Kingdom. So, Photo by Festo
making a robotic arm based on that is a fantastic
idea. This robotic arm was made by Festo, a
German automation company.
What is even more fantastic is that the arm acts
and learns just like a baby’s arm. The researcher

JULY 2016 53
Future Cities & Robotics

Would You Let a Robot
Do Your Make Up?

Girls, by now you may have The pair wanted to answer Photos by Pindeus & Pichlbauer
probably perfected your the question: “If aesthetic
everyday make-up routine from judgements are resigned to
washing your face, to putting on robot intelligence, would it
foundation, eyeshadow, blush make our lives emotionally less
and 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 installation
able to create a systematic way with the robots, it proved that
of putting on make-up that you the irregularities and uniqueness
don’t have to concentrate so in different people’s faces make
much when doing so anymore. it simply impossible to perfectly
But what if you were offered the beautify the face of every person.
option of letting someone or This experiment proved one
something else take your place thing: that mindless robots can’t
in putting on your everyday make beautify every woman the same
up, let’s say—a robot? Would you way, since every woman’s face
let it? is unique and has its own way
Two students from the University of being beautiful. A make-up
of 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 the
Pindeus and Johanna Pichlbauer. issue of why are women trying
They designed three robots that to achieve the same beauty
can mimic three real human standards, when we all obviously
make-up application motions, look different? So how about you,
which are swiping on lipstick, would you like a robot to do your
putting on eyeshadow and using make up?
a facemask.

54 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

ExIorsokneleMtonasntoABgeegin

ActiveLink, a Japanese tech company two disks on the front part of thighs
and subsidiary of Panasonic, released and distributed over the shoulders.
its first commercially available assist It is powered by lithium-ion battery
suit AWN-03, an exoskeleton that with an electric engine according to
detects 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 one
world’s largest robotics show, a few developing the exoskeletons. In
weeks ago where it garnered a huge Europe and the United States, a
interest from the audience. number of projects were soon
This is to address the aging be unveiled under the sectors of
population of Japan and supporting defense and rehabilitation industries.
its shrinking workforce focusing on Exoskeletons ranging from modular
health care, physical assistance and arms, limbs and chairs are now being
maintaining 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 “Iron
user would be able to lift up crates or Man suits” are now a reality.
things effortlessly, six to seven times
in 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, JAPAN
CALIFORNIA,
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 not
It’s the home of the offices of your the time, you might want to consider that far from reality. Everywhere
favorite tech companies - from getting your free Wifi access in you look, you’d see how advanced
Facebook to Google. We all know Helsinki. What makes this place a the city is. They have a sci-fi cuisine
what we can expert from nerds little extra special is the government’s to its advanced railway system, you
who 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 to
helluva futuristic area. visit Tokyo.
Photo by Helsinki Blog
Photo 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 Press

58 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

LEGO’S MUSICAL THE PROSTHETIC
BEATBOARDS ARM THAT
GIVES KIDS
This year, LEGO will be launching a LEGO ABILITIES
new line called Beatboards, wherein
anyone can use LEGO bricks to create Carlos Arturo, a former LEGO intern,
original musical compositions. Touch developed the IKO prosthetic arm. It
sensors are built into the baseplate was made especially for children, so
and it registers the resistance formed they can create custom-built limbs.
under the weight of the LEGO bricks Torres was inspired by his childhood
and turns those messages into sound. in Colombia, where many children
Photo by Wikia lost their limbs during armed
conflicts.
THE PANCAKEBOT
Photo by Engadget
This clever invention uses pancake
batter to draw onto a sizzling griddle.
It can create any elaborate shape you
want. You’ll never see pancakes the
same way again.
Photo by YouTube

JULY 2016 59
Future Cities & Robotics

Everything You Need to Know PhotobyAP
ABOUT ROBOTICS ENGINEERS

by Cielo Panda

Nowadays, our technological world What is a Robotics Engineer? To be able to become a successful
is filled with gadgets, Artificial A Robotics Engineer is basically an robotics engineer, one should be
Intelligence, Deep Learning, and engineer who specializes in robots. highly-creative with the ability to
Robots 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 and
thanks to the hard work of robotics Engineers, or Automation Robotics robotic systems that can improve a
engineers. 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 solid
overview of what they do and what it responsible for the creation of understanding in subjects learned
takes 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 of

60 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

their time designing plans that are Photo by Press Herald
needed to build robots and robotic
systems. This also includes programs manner in which it will perform the
and processes that the robot will needed task.
need for it to run correctly. There More often than not, creating a robot
are even robotic engineers that takes a lot of time. This includes
create 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 in
will build up the finished robot. Once one of those phases and revise what
the design is complete, they will needs to be revised to get the desired
move to the more exciting process— results. It can even take a few months
assembling the unit. to years to complete one robot.
Robotics engineers are responsible Professionals who want to enter in
for creating several different types this field need to be extra patient.
of robots depending on what
task it is supposed to do. Prior to
construction, it is important that the
engineer researches properly what
the 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 Report

What about the machines in our offices, With all these scenarios, there is still a part of
and our cell phones? Well, they could the story that gives us hope. We still have our
attack us but their options are limited. They nuclear weapons to counter their attacks. In
could start annoying us with ringtones and addition, nuclear explosions cause powerful
irritating noises. Our desks would start to electromagnetic pulses (EMP’s). EMP’s
rattle because all our phones would be set overload and destroy sensitive electronic
on vibrate. In the end, the only physical circuits which in turn could destroy the
damage our cell phones could do is if it falls robots. A few more strikes from us and the
off the desk (because of the simultaneous human race will be able to eradicate them
vibrations) and fall on our toes. Ouch! completely.

#3

Most modern cars have computers now, so
they’ll join the revolution. This would be way
more dangerous, but mostly to their drivers
and passengers. But there are options to fight
back, drivers could still control the steering
wheel, which has a direct mechanical link
to the wheels. The driver could also pull the
parking brake.

#4

What about industrial robots found in
factories. Most factory robots are bolted
to the floor, so they won’t be able to hurt
humans if they suddenly fled the area. All
they can actually do is assemble things.

#5

Military Robots would be the most dangerous
of them all, but there are very few of them in
the world. Most of them are kept in storage
lockers, and if there were machine-gun-
armed military robots on the loose, they can
be easily subdued by a couple of military
men.

Military Drones on the other hand is the
closest to the terminator description, and
they are dangerous. However, they easily run
out of fuel and missiles.

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64 JULY 2016 Photo by Wallpaper Made
Future Cities & Robotics

HOW R2-D2
AND C-3PO
INSPIRED
THOUSANDS
TO JOIN
ROBOTICS

If there are fictional characters As for the humanoid robot Photo by Hello Giggles
that have played crucial roles in character, C-3PO, we can see a
robotics, it will be the famous lot of robots nowadays that has Photo by Ubergizmo
sidekicks in the Star Wars trilogy. clearly taken inspiration from this
R2-D2 and C-3PO have charmed funny easily frightened robot.
their way around the audience Re-created by Anakin Skywalker
and made a huge impact as well in the Episode I, C-3PO has also
in the robotics field. As soon as made an impact in the robotics
they bicker in front of the screen, field. One example on projects
they have caught our attention that was inspired by the protocol
and definitely inspired a lot of droid was the robot built by the
robotics enthusiasts to create United States Navy. It’s called
their own robots. the Autonomous Shipboard
R2-D2 has inspired the public Humanoid and its purpose was
to create their own assistants to extinguish fires, climb ladders
that could help them around the and carry hoses.
house. The droid also helped in For both robots, we can see a
inspiring younger generations lot of high-level toys created to
spark their curiosity in science in develop the learning skills of
engineering. Through its beeps children. Clearly, a lot of kids
and bops, little children have have sparked an interest in
curiously tried learning how the building robots as soon as they
robot works and how to make were introduced to these two
one. funny droids. With the release
R2-D2 got inducted into the of Episode VII last December, the
Robot Hall of Fame back in 2003 public was also given a new robot
while made it in the list of 101 to love - BB-8.
Objects that Made America - a list Star Wars has a strong fan base
made by Smithsonian Institution. and while not everyone got into
The droid has definitely made an robotics because of it, we still
impact not just in pop culture can’t admit how this series has
but in robotics as well. It was helped out the robotics field in
also believed that this funny little terms of increasing people who
robot was George Lucas’ favorite join the field and inspired designs
character in the series. According and prototypes that shaped the
to him, he makes it intentional way we see the world now.
that R2-D2 manages to save the
day every now and then in each
movie.

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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 Robotnor

66 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

3D Robotics Fetch Robotics Samsung
ABB Robotics Foxconn Technology Group Savioke
Aethon Inc. GreyOrange SCHUNK
Alphabet, Inc. (Google) IAM Robotics Seegrid
Amazon Intuitive Surgical Siasun Robot & Automation Co Ltd
Autonomous Solutions iRobot SoftBank Robotics Corporation
CANVAS Technology Jibo Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd
Carbon Robotics Kawasaki Swiss log
Clearpath Robotics Knightscope Titan Medical
Cyberdyne KUKA Robotics Toyota
Delphi Automotive Lockheed Martin ULC Robotics, Inc.
DJI Locus Robotics Universal Robots A/S
Ekso Bionics Omron Adept Technologies Inc. Vecna Technologies
Energid Technologies Open Bionics Verb Surgical
EPSON Robots Rethink Robotics VEX Robotics
FANUC Robotics ReWalk Robotics Yamaha Robotics
Robotiq Yaskawa Motoman

JULY 2016 67
Future Cities & Robotics

10 MOST
FAMOUS
FICTIONAL
ROBOTS

In this age of information, more

and more robots are being

developed to aid humankind’s R2-D2

varying 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 Robotic
in our society, like manufacturing, Droid Series-2. Though it only
knows how to whistle talk, slowly
construction, healthcare, move, and do minor things like
create hologram messages, it is
automotive field, and even in the considered to be one of George
Lucas’, the Star Wars creator’s,
movie industry! favorites. C-3PO

You may have been familiar with Photo by: Hello Giggles C-3PO is the other half of the
robot duo in Star Wars. This robot
some robot superheroes, and is famous for being a nervous and
talkative. It is able to speak and
supervillains in some movies interact in over 6 million forms
of communication, which makes
you’ve seen. We collected some him a valuable asset to the group.
It works as a protocol droid, and
of them to show you 10 of the its main purpose is to be a liaison
for different races, and planets by
most famous fictional robots. knowing their customs, etiquette,
and language.

Photo by: Side Show Toy

BB8 Optimus Prime Wall-E

BB8 is a new robot droid favorite Optimus Prime is a fictional Wall-E, or Waste Allocater Load
in the famous sci-fi saga, Star character from the Transformers Lifter- Eart Class, is a fictional
Wars. In the film, it loyally franchise. This robot is depicted robot that was featured in the
accompanies 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 his
BB-8 is a spherical robot with a and good decision-making skills. adventures as he does his duty
free-moving dome-shaped head. to clean the earth wasteland in a
He is colored white, with orange Photo by: Comic Vine future era. While he was cleaning
and silver accents. the earth he comes across and falls
in love with another robot named
Photo by: Tf3dm Eve, and he follows her into outer
space as they try to alter destiny
68 JULY 2016 that will save humanity.
Future Cities & Robotics
Photo by: No Cookie

T-800 RoboCop Astro Boy

This robot character was played RoboCop is a fictional robot in the Astro Boy is an atomic-powered
by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie, RoboCop in the year 1987. robot with 100,000 hp. He
1984 film. T-800 is a cyborg that In the movie he was the veteran is a robot that resembled its
was programmed as an assassin police officer Alex Murphy, who creator’s dead son. This robot is
and military infiltration unit by was murdered. His body was a superhero that saves his town
the 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 Products
of her son. (OCP) to fight crimes in the city. Photo by: Time 4 Smart
Photo by: Geek Style Guide
Photo by: YouTube
Megatron

Earlier, I’ve mentioned Optimus
prime. This robot is the total
opposite, he is the leader of the
evil robot faction, the Decepticons
and the nemesis of Optimus
Prime 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 IS
LIFE IN A
FUTURISTIC
CITY

What will the future look like How about our mode of As for the infrastructures of future
in 50 to 100 years? Nobody transportation? It is possible cities, we’ve already seen what
really knows for sure but our that futuristic cities can easily they’ll look like in smart cities
imaginations 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 renewable
either 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 attempt
see the big blue oceans or the load of traffic), engineers are to make places a safer and cleaner
wild 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 to
futuristic cities can look like. We few minutes for people to arrive use solar, wind and other sources
are on the way to living in the from point A to point B. We of renewable energy to power all
future and today’s engineers have might even see a hovercraft in of the energy needed for all human
very big ambitious plans for the the near future. consumption.
places we’ll be living in.

First, our future cities will
definitely involve a lot of artificial
intelligence systems. Remember
The Jetsons? We’ll probably be
living their lives soon. We can have
cars that fly and a robot for a maid.
We let things move on its own
through science and engineering
and we’ll have more robots to
take over the government and the
private institutions to serve us.
There’s even a possibility that real
dogs and cats might go extinct by
then and we’ll replace them with
robotic pets.

According to a robotics professor
from the University of Sheffield,
Professor Noel Sharkey, robots
will take on an important role
in law enforcement and crowd
control:

“They keep the police out of
harm’s way in an increasingly
dangerous world of armed
criminals, gangs and terror
organizations.”

70 JULY 2016
Future Cities & Robotics

Source: Lava 360

All those infrastructures you Who knows what the cities of the
see in dystopian movies may future will exactly look like? We
be our future cities but it is have glimpses of it already but
also possible that we could live we are constantly changing and
underwater. This is currently constantly working on making
what engineers are working on things better, faster and more
given that the crowd in the land efficient for us. Add the human
are too many already for us to factor to that, we’re vulnerable to
continue dwelling on land. As any kind of change. One thing’s for
you know, it’s also possible that sure, the futuristic cities waiting
companies will be sending us to for us will definitely be an exciting
Mars to let us live there. That’s thing to look forward to. May it
something Elon Musk is working be a positive change for the all
on with his team. species in this world.

JULY 2016 71
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THE 10 SMARTEST
CITIES IN THE
WORLD

Cities around the world are constantly shifting to modern technologies, especially
in information and communication, in order to provide a higher quality of life.
Every opportunity for innovation is embraced by these cities – rightfully called to
be smart cities – towards efficient use of resources, savings in cost and energy,
and reduced environmental footprint. Such efforts are reflected to the cultural
assets, 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: Navigatored

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PARIS

Paris comes close with Vienna in this list from Europe, with
competencies in innovation, green technology and digital
governance as well. They have a successful bike sharing
program called Velib and a bunch of small electric vehicles
called Autolib.

Photo by: Itespresso

NEW YORK

Despite the low quality of life, New York fares in other
categories of being a smart city. Notable is IBM’s launch
in the city with their Business Analytics Solution Center to
address "the growing demand for the complex capabilities
needed to build smarter cities and help clients optimize
all manner of business processes and business decisions."

Photo by: Navigatored

LONDON

The capital city of the United Kingdom is well-known
of its sustainability innovations. To add to that is their
efficient mass transit system. It holds a promise towards
transport, government, business, academic and consumer
data efficiency through a smart city research center in the
Imperial College.

Photo by: Urban Data Hack

TOKYO

Being the house of tech giants like Panasonic and Accenture,
among others, this Asian city is among the better cities
when it comes to innovation and digitalization. Tokyo
leans towards smart mobility solutions and also forwards
the use of green technologies in the suburbs.

Photo by: Jama English

BERLIN

The inclusion of Berlin in this list is because of its green
technologies, innovation and quality of life. The city has
been talking with car manufacturers in electric vehicle
(EV) technology, which already includes vehicle-to-grid, or
V2G, a system that collects power from electric vehicles.

Photo by: Smart City App Hack

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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 Company

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ROBOTS
CAN NOW
RECORD
YOUR
MEMORIES

Recently, a new feature has been This ability to not only learn but also
announced for the humanoid teach information can be quite useful
robot, NAO, by French researchers for the International Space Station.
working at the Centre National de After all, in the ISS, astronauts have to
la Recherche Scientifique. This new come and go and still solve a problem
feature will allow NAO to build up an right on the spot. In situations
autobiographical memory. Sounds which have not been foreseen, this
pretty cool, doesn’t it? It is, in fact, ability can be extremely useful. An
pretty awesome as this technology experienced astronaut can teach the
can 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 the
taking care of the elderly. same problem occurs, NAO can help
The scientific explanation is that a the new crew members solve it. In
human can teach NAO new actions other words, NAO acts as a guide in
via physical demonstrations, voice different unexpected scenarios. It will
command or visual imitation. Physical be capable of providing information
demonstrations are performed by rarely found in manuals. This ability
putting the limbs of the robot in the can also be used for serving people
correct position while visual imitation suffering from short-term memory
uses the Kinect system. NAO will learn loss back here on earth. This can
and store the information gathered make NAO a great companion for
as procedures, which the robot can taking care of the elderly.
later recall and even explain to other Now, where was NAO during our
people. That’s quite a nifty skill for a exams at school?
little robot to have!
Photo by CNRS

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