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FIMAnews 1/2010

March 2010

Like a Friend

What kind is a good friend? I think we all know. At least three big things. First if He/She has a problem, it is important to tell to You immediately. Secondly if You have a problem or You are in a risk of making a mistake, what a good friend is doing. He/She can notice that and can assist You to solve the problem and manage properly. Thirdly, when being busy for example, what a good friend is doing. He/She is going and doing the job independently and just telling You, that all is done and ready!

Why I am talking about this now in FIMA News. The reason is clear and easy. Intelligent machines like FIMA machines are now and in future still more like humans or friends.

First, if an intelligent machine has a problem, what is it doing or what we hope anyway. It is important to tell clearly and in good time, what is getting wrong and why the feelings are not good. Like a close friend is doing. It is important, that communication is good, reliable and that the message is clear and easy to understand. Also if You have a message or good advice to tell, it is important to have good means and methods to get it communicated. I think that is exactly what is developed in the FIMA programs TOLKKU and MOTTI.

Secondly we all know, that many accidents still happen in every day work. In more than half of the cases the reason is human mistake. More and more customers and insurance companies are asking for, is it not possible the intelligent machine to assist the driver like a friend is doing? For example to slow down the driving speed, if a collision risk is exceeding the threshold. This is what FIMA/ EFFIMA is planning in the coming FAMOUS program.

Third is independency. The autonomous machines are like our best friends or grown up children. They can do everything what is needed by themselves. And come and tell You about, how they feel! But sometimes it also is needed a lot of work and development to get it work properly. That kind of full automation is also included in FIMA visions now and maybe it is developed more in coming future.

One more thing I would like to emphasize in modern co-operation between companies and people is good and positive atmosphere. That is also like between friends. But how to reach a good atmosphere in co-operation? One think what I could propose is, that please be brave and make good proposals from Your side. And from experience I know, that very often You will get as good or still better proposals from others, like from friends! And that’s it, positive atmosphere of doing, which is important on this kind of recession periods for all of us!

Jorma Nurmi VP, Technology Development

Data management in a multi-machine environment brings valuable advantage

In intelligent machines, one important research and development field is the control of multi-machine environments. According to experts, research of this specific field will bring Finland an excellent competitive advantage. MOTTI-project, financed by FIMA, is carried through by research organizations and companies. The project aims, for instance, at finding new architecture for the control of multi-machine environment. Articles below show how researchers and companies work together in MOTTI-project.

Increasing state of automation

D.Sc. Jussi Suomela from Aalto University is a manager of MOTTI-project. Suomela says that one key aim of the research in the project is to improve data transfer and task control in multi-entity working environments including both humans and machines with different automation levels. Thus, the project seeks to find the right architectures for a smooth system management and data transfer. Read more

Cargotec seeks new architecture for multi-machine control

Cargotec improves the efficiency of cargo flows by offering handling systems and related services for the loading and unloading of goods. Read more

‘Distributing knowledge benefits us all’

Professor Kalevi Huhtala researches intelligent working machines at Tampere University of Technology. He points out that the research of multi-machine control paves the way for the construction of working sites of tomorrow. Read more

Rocla aims at ‘one step further’

Rocla develops, manufactures and markets electric warehouse trucks and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and information services during their lifespan. Company, which is well known all over the world in its own field, now aims at producing more comprehensive services for its customers Read more.

 

Column

Harri Kulmala writes about Finnish innovation system and SHOK (Strategic centre of science, technology, and innovation). According to Kulmala, the start and ramp-up of industry-driven research programs and volume in three SHOK companies in 2009 was faster than anybody could guess. Read more

FAMOUS program

Last year FIMA started to prepare a framework for a new research program which focuses on the development needs of mobile work machines, vehicles and other machines and devices operating in various worksites and logistics processes. Read more

Project Review

The latest highlights from research work financed by FIMA can be read here.

Current issues

Read FIMA's current issues here.

Members profile

OptoFidelity delivers both R&D services and measurement and data collection systems specifically tailored for our customers. Read more

Members Profile

Cybercom Plenware designs, develops and tests systems from embedded machine control and their user interfaces all away to remote diagnostics and service business solutions. Read more

FIMA

FIMA Forum for Intelligent Machines


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