Robotics, CPS and Innovation:It’s How We Make Our Living

Richard Voyles

Assistant Director

Robotics and Cyber Physical Systems

Office of Science and Technology Policy

Executive Office of the President

S&T as Presidential Priority

“We'll restore science to its rightful place, … we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.”

“Reaffirming America’s role as the global engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation has never been more critical. …

"In America, innovation doesn't just change our lives. It is how we make our living."

–January 2009

–May, 2010

–January, 2011

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Implemented with a Pen and a Phone…

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…and a strong interest in Robotics and CPS/IoT!

What is the Potential for CPS/IoT?

• Healthcare

–Interconnected Operating Room

–Home Healthcare / Elder Care

–Home to Hospital to Home

• Transportation

–Congestion

–Pollution

–SAFETY

• Energy & Environment

–Smart Grid

–Environmental/Climate Monitoring

• Emergency Response & Management

• Manufacturing

• Agriculture

Disasters impact us in many ways. The total cost of fire in the United States

is about $329 billion, or roughly 2.1% of U.S. GDP. Hurricane Katrina was

estimated for up to $1 trillion in total damage. Smart Emergency Response

Systems project seeks to incorporate the products of cyber-physical systems

research to save lives and reduce costs during times of great stress.

What’s in a name??

Defining the Essence

• Timely and Trustworthy

• Coupled and Controlled

• Verified and Validated

Stakeholder Roles

Why?

Stakeholder Roles

13Directorate for Engineering

Risk-Averse Culture Infects U.S. Workers, Entrepreneurs

Updated Nov, 2014

Re-Shoring of Manufacturing

• Robotics & CPS are key enablers to the resurgence of manufacturing!

• But who will install the new lines??

–Decades of off-shoring not only off-shored jobs, but off-shored manufacturing expertise

Agriculture Workers

What Do Legalized Hispanic Workers Do?

Precision Farming, Vertical Farming

Gotham Greens, Brooklyn

Potential advantages

> 1000 fold increase in productivity per sq ft

> 100 fold decrease in water consumption

Medicago greenhouse, RTP

Could CPS-enabled

automation make

vertical farming viable?

Challenge to Education:

• Training STEM Engineers/Technologists

–Attracting “traditional” students

–Attracting “underrepresented” students

–Training and Re-Training of Workers and Unemployed

• Training STEM Technicians/Operators

–Attracting “traditional” students

–Attracting “underrepresented” students

–Training and Re-Training of Workers and Unemployed

• Cost and Relevancy?

• Stronger Continuum from High School to Grad School?

Thanks!

Thanks!

Richard Voyles

OSTP

http://www.us-robotics.us/reports/CCC Report.pdf

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsit

es/ostp/pcast-nitrd-report-2010.pdf

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/

microsites/ostp/pcast_amp_steering_commit

tee_report_final_july_27_2012.pdf

Federal Programs –

NSF, ARPA-eI-Corps Nodes

I-Corps Sites

I-Corps Teams

I-Corps Mentors

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• Big Data – Cloud Robotics

• Cybersecurity – Trustworthy Teams

• Energy – Power-Aware Systems

• Human-Physical Systems – HRI

• Networking – Distributed Systems

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Robotics/CPS is the “Gateway Drug” to Many STEM Fields

Unprecedented Optimism in Robotics & CPS!

Education (all levels)

Laypublic

Government Leaders (jobs, innovation)

Industry (buyers and sellers)

Finance

Kiva Systems$775M

Rethink Robotics $75M

Rethink Baxter$22,000

KukaYouBot$26,000

Universal UR5 $44,000

What is the Federal Govt Good At?

• R & D

• Regulation

• Certain Infrastructure

• Infrastructure Equality

• Encouraging Standards and Interoperability

• Taxation

Stakeholder Roles