ITRI Showcases Breakthrough AI and Robotics at CES 2022
At CES 2022, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) presented a suite of advanced AI, robotics, and ICT technologies, underscoring its role as one of the world’s leading applied research institutions. The centerpiece was the RGB-D AI Robot, honored with a CES 2022 Innovation Award. This collaborative robot integrates smart 3D vision as a built-in standard—a first in the industry. The sensing module, described as functioning like “a pair of sharp eyes on a robotic arm,” achieves a 168-fold reduction in sensor size compared to conventional systems, while boosting sensing speed by 38.6 times. Automatic three-dimensional scanning enables precise determination of object orientation and optimal grasping angles, with applications spanning manufacturing, logistics, retail, service, and healthcare.
Beyond vision, the RGB-D AI Robot incorporates self-learning capabilities that eliminate the need for lengthy reprogramming when production lines change. Instead of one to two weeks of manual teaching, the system can scan tens of thousands of training materials and learn optimal handling strategies in under 12 hours. This rapid adaptation reduces engineering costs and increases throughput. The technology has secured 34 patents across 16 domains and has been transferred to Techman Robot, the world’s second-largest collaborative robot brand, for commercialization with market entry planned by March 2022.
ITRI also unveiled the Autonomous Selfie Drone, designed to automate the art of personal photography. Leveraging AI algorithms informed by professional photography techniques, the drone autonomously manages composition, angle, and lighting. It can analyze posture and head orientation, adjusting its position and camera depression angle to achieve optimal framing. A relative portrait mode uses smart framing to harmonize subject and background, producing natural compositions. Notably, the system employs the user’s smartphone camera directly, ensuring high resolution and avoiding format conversions.
Another highlight was the Interactive Time Machine, a novel AI-driven system that generates a full-body 3D interactive avatar rather than a face-only model. It can render a younger-looking version of the user along with their surroundings, enabling real-time interaction between the avatar and the user. Movements are mirrored instantly on the display, creating a blended experience between physical and virtual environments. Potential applications include VR, AR, and MR gaming, teleconferencing with 3D models, and interactive exhibitions.
Complementing these flagship products, ITRI showcased several ICT innovations. The DNN Video Analysis OS applies AI image recognition to smart streetlights, providing instant alerts for events such as illegal parking and traffic violations. In semiconductor design, the Ultra Low Power AI Accelerator departs from the von Neumann architecture, employing computing-in-memory (CIM) for exceptional efficiency—exceeding 1000 TOPs/W at 1-bit precision. This architecture minimizes data movement, reducing power consumption while enabling high-performance AI processing.
For critical online services, ITRI’s Virtualization-based Fault Tolerance system offers resilience against hardware failures, network disruptions, or power loss. Its backup mechanism maintains service continuity with low latency and minimal performance overhead, without requiring application modifications.
In telecommunications, the 5G O-RAN RIC platform integrates an open radio access network-based 5G RAN intelligent controller and element management system. The non-real-time RIC gathers RAN data and predicts network behavior using machine learning, while the near-real-time RIC dynamically adjusts radio resource management to maintain quality of experience. The EMS coordinates all managed elements, including O-CU, O-DU, and O-RU components.
By bringing these technologies to CES 2022, ITRI signaled its readiness for technology transfer and business collaboration, inviting partners to explore applications across industries from manufacturing to communications.
