GE wants to 'create an R2-D2 for every field worker'
William Ruh, VP of global software, tells Computing how GE has big plans for robotics and connected devices in industry
The rise of connected devices and computational power will eventually lead to Internet of Things-connected robots being deployed throughout industry.
That's according to William Ruh, GE's VP of global software services, who told Computing that the company - which forms part of General Electric, the fourth largest company in the world - is seriously looking into industrial uses for intelligent, internet-connected robotic machines.
Ruh explained how GE – whose corporate slogan is "imagination at work" – is looking to build robots to carry out inspection in the field and "dirty, dull and dangerous tasks", and has already experimented with this in the railway industry.
"We're testing robotic rail inspectors that will go along and look for problems in rail yards, looking to see if there's anything broken," said Ruh. "The nice thing about that is they work 24 hours a day and they can work in the dark as well."
Network Rail has also embarked on a connected devices project that will enable it to track and monitor every facet of the network through a vast array of connected devices, including trains equipped with lasers.
GE called its first robotic inspector "The Guardian", because as Ruh pointed out, it's there to help people, not replace them .
"It's something which actually works with a human," he said, adding that GE got inspiration for this model from the film Star Wars.
"Most people think robotics is separate from humans but I look at something like Star Wars, where the robots weren't there to replace humans, but to help them. So the question is: how do you create an R2-D2 for every field worker?"
Ruh went on to describe how this could lead to interesting questions in future, as robots get more intelligent and people potentially start treating them on a more equal level.
"People are treating their robots like pets or members of the family. People are giving robot vacuum cleaners names, but not only that - and I think this is strange - but people take them on vacation," he said.
"The fact is that we're now seeing the Turing Test being passed every day, with people having no idea that they're talking to a computer," Ruh said, adding that if the trend continues, robots will become widely accepted in homes and workplaces.
"Once robots take on human qualities – and I think that's what's going to happen –we're going to find these things are playing a role in our lives as part of the family," he said.
Speaking to Computing last year, Ocado technology director Paul Clarke explained how the online food retailer is investing in robotics, machine learning, simulation and more.