At CES 2023, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) presented a suite of innovations in artificial intelligence, robotics, and information and communication technologies, underscoring its role as one of the world’s leading applied research institutions. The featured developments included the AI Aquarium, Cubot ONE autonomous mobile robot, and RobotSmith system for automated metal finishing.
The AI Aquarium, recognized as a CES 2023 Innovation Awards honoree, is the world’s first interactive smart aquarium capable of identifying marine life in real time. Leveraging dynamic object recognition and an intuitive virtual-real fusion interface, it achieves up to 98% accuracy in species identification and gesture recognition. A transparent display aligned with the observer’s gaze presents detailed information about aquatic species, creating a self-guided learning experience without the need for touchscreens. This contactless interaction not only enhances hygiene but also allows free movement, making it suitable for museums, exhibitions, retail displays, and even surgical simulation. Installed at Taiwan’s National Museum of Marine Science & Technology, the system has served tens of thousands of visitors, earning strong positive feedback.
AI Aquarium’s design accounts for varying visitor heights and eliminates interference from unrelated gestures or environmental factors such as water clarity, ambient light, and fish movement. It supports recognition of more than ten distinct gestures, enabling an engaging human-machine interface. Integrated audio and video capabilities further enrich the immersive atmosphere, offering an advanced blend of education and entertainment.
Cubot ONE represents a significant advance in autonomous mobile robotics. Designed for both indoor and outdoor operation, it combines 5G connectivity, AIoT integration, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication to deliver door-to-door services. Its smart perception systems allow it to navigate complex environments, avoiding pedestrians and obstacles, traversing uneven terrain, and taking elevators via direct communication with controllers over a 5G network. The ability to move between floors and cross signalized intersections equipped with cellular V2X roadside units expands its operational range beyond typical indoor robots.
Powered by a rechargeable lithium battery, Cubot ONE offers an environmentally friendly alternative to fuel-powered delivery vehicles. In Taiwan, it has been deployed for applications such as 7-Eleven’s foodomo service in a science park and as an autonomous book return cart for a national library. The robot’s modular chassis supports diverse payload configurations, enabling adaptation to various logistics tasks. A management platform coordinates multiple units in the same area, with open APIs allowing integration into custom fleet management systems.
Cubot ONE’s navigation relies on LiDAR perception, high-precision mapping, and flexible path planning, ensuring safe arrival at destinations without collisions. This combination of sensing and connectivity technologies reflects broader trends in robotics toward integrated, networked autonomy capable of operating in both controlled and open environments.
RobotSmith addresses the manufacturing sector’s need for precision, efficiency, and resilience in the face of labor shortages and supply chain restructuring. Developed to automate grinding and polishing of metal workpieces, it captures the expertise of skilled workers through AI-driven simulation and trajectory planning. Applications range from plumbing fixtures and high-end knives to medical devices such as artificial joints.
The system integrates sensing technologies, robotics, and ITRI’s proprietary AI software EzSim to replicate the delicacy and accuracy of human craftsmanship. EzSim performs simulation, optimizes path parameters, and ensures high-quality surface finishing. Real-time defect detection through trained AI models maintains process integrity, while the automation removes limitations inherent to manual labor. By enabling traditional industries to adopt digital transformation without sacrificing artisanal quality, RobotSmith exemplifies how AI and robotics can bridge the gap between heritage skills and modern manufacturing demands.