The Italian model of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence technology at Expo 2020 Dubai

The innovative Italian systems of Robotics and Artificial Intelligence technology land in Dubai.

With the claim "Beauty unites people"The Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, contributes decisively to the comparison between the participating countries on ideas and projects for the future with a vast program of international initiatives and events: from climate to space, from urban development to the promotion of intercultural dialogue, up to the challenges of scientific and technological innovation and digitalisation in health, agriculture and the blue economy.

Since the beginning of Expo 2020 Dubai, the first universal exhibition in the ME.NA.SA. (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia), the Italian Pavilion has established itself as a place for discussion on best practices and projects for the future in terms of innovation, research, international collaboration between governments, companies and professionals. 

Forum "Creating the future: today's trends for tomorrow's manufacture"

With the title "Creating the future: today's trends for tomorrow's manufacture ", today at the amphitheater, the second took place Innovation Talk of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, promoted in collaboration with the Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalization of Italian companies (ICE). At the center of the debate, the prospects for the robotics andartificial intelligence where the innovation challenges that Italy must face in order to increasingly strengthen the most innovative sectors and companies were highlighted.

The Commissioner General of Italy at Expo 2020 Dubai kicked off the forum, Paul Glisenti and his Excellency Nicola Lener, Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates.

The event, moderated by Amedeo Scarpa, Director of ICE Dubai, saw the presence of a rich parterre of Italian and international excellence as well as the presentation of some Italian best practices in the robotics and artificial intelligence sectors. Among others, Prof.Giorgio Metta, Scientific director of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) e Antonio Bicchi, president of the National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM) and research manager Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation at IIT.

Italian Institute of Technology at Expo 2020 Dubai

Giorgio Metta, Scientific Director of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) with his speech "From curiosity driven research to applications: the IIT's magic!" presented the IIT model and the factors that contribute to its success. The Italian Institute of Technology is able to carry out both basic and applied research, impacting the country's economic system, creating new companies (startups), innovation (patents) and partnerships with public and private entities of international importance.

Italian Institute of Technology (IIT)

IIT is a state-funded scientific research center that promotes technological development with the aim of supporting excellence in basic and applied research to foster the development of the national economic system. The research activity of IIT is characterized by a strong multidisciplinarity and refers to four scientific areas: robotics, computational sciences, technologies for life science and nanomaterials.

IIT technologies applied to health: prosthetic robotics 

Many technologies of the Italian Institute of Technology applied to health: from humanoid robot iCub, created by the same Institute, which for the first time takes part in a experimental treatment as part of a research on autism spectrum disorders, the use of robotic surgery even remotely with 5G, the discovery, by IIT researchers, of a new chemical compound that could become a useful drug for the treatment of characteristic symptoms of some neurological conditions, such as Down syndrome and autism, to the Hannes robotic hand prosthesis, able to restore most of the lost functionality to people with upper limb amputations.

The Hannes robotic hand prosthesis, thanks to its design it won the "Compasso d'oro 2020", the prestigious recognition ofAssociation for Industrial Design (ADI) e will be on display from 7 to 22 November 2022 at the Italian Pavilion at the "Italia Geniale" exhibition, promoted by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, to enhance the inventiveness, creativity and design of Made in Italy.

Hannes: the robotic hand prosthesis

Hannes is the polyarticulated robotic hand prosthesis with myoelectric control created by the joint laboratory Rehab Technologies IIT - INAIL, the result of the collaboration between the Italian Institute of Technology and the Inail Prosthesis Center in Budrio. Conceived by taking inspiration from nature, Hannes manages to replicate about the 80% of the grips of a natural hand.

It is a certified medical device, ready to become a commercial product, able to return most of the lost functionality to people with upper limb amputation and is characterized by extreme versatility, no invasiveness, ease of use, robustness and a weight similar to that of a human hand. The IIT-INAIL prosthetic hand control system is of the myoelectric type, that is, it exploits the electrical impulses that come from the contraction of the muscles of the residual part of the limb and implements strategies based on artificial intelligence algorithms. 

The National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Expo 2020 Dubai

According to Antonio Bicchi, president of the National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines “Italian robotics stands out internationally for two fundamental aspects. First of all, it is an excellence for the industry that has deep roots, the first welding, assembly and measurement robots were introduced by the world of Italian industry. In the field of research, Italy holds a position of absolute prestige, in the international rankings our country ranks at the top after the United States. This represents a highly prestigious eco system for Italy, ”he said to the Journal of Italian Healthcare World.

National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (I-RIM)

The National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines (Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines - I-RIM), is a non-profit organization, established in the form of an Association. I-RIM promotes the development and use of robotics technologies and intelligent machines to improve the quality of life, the well-being of citizens and the conditions of the Company in general, through the development of new solutions to help people, the improvement of working conditions, the application transfer, the economic enhancement of research, the improvement of production and its sustainability. 

“The National Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Expo Dubai - he added - bears the testimony of a rich and widespread community throughout the Italian territory. The Universal Exposition is an opportunity to show the world the Italian potential for the future of this sector. The companies present at the forum in the Italian Pavilion represent the best we can express in terms of “intelligent machines”, products for which our industry is famous throughout the world with ever-increasing capabilities of artificial intelligence, on board and in the cloud ”.

Robotics systems and intelligent machines applied to health

“Health is one of the most important sectors for transformations enabled by robotics and intelligent machines - he concluded Glasses - Robotics has opened up previously unusual possibilities for surgery, which today sees an expansion and proliferation of methods and tools. Rehabilitation today uses intelligent machines that support medical staff and therapists by not only giving physical help, but above all by monitoring and evaluating clinical progress, with consequent adaptive planning of therapies. Finally, prosthetic robotics is opening up new opportunities with the integration of functions of partial autonomy and sensory return, with new approaches that exploit the new knowledge of neuroscience and new materials to build devices that integrate with people almost completely " natural".

During his speech at the Forum, Dr. Antonio Bicchi, who in addition to being president of I-RIM is responsible for the research line Soft Robotics for Human Cooperation and Rehabilitation in IIT, stressed the potential of Italian robotic technology systems and spoke about JOiiNT Lab Robotic Intelligence League Bergamo, a joint laboratory resulting from the agreement between the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Intellimech, the mechatronics research consortium, promoted more than 10 years ago by Kilometro Rosso and Confindustria Bergamo, aimed at research in the field of advanced technologies.

The laboratory aims to strengthen the technology transfer mission and fill research activities and industrial needs, as well as the training of high-level professionals with advanced technical and scientific skills. 

At the Forum "Creating the future: today's trends for tomorrow's manufacture" intervened: Ismail Mali Abdulla - CEO of Strata Manufacturing (a Mubadala Company), Andrea Pontremoli - CEO and General Manager of Dallara, Veronica Just - UCIMU board (Italian machine tool, robots, automations systems and ancillary products manufacturers' association) co-owner Milutensil, Salvatore Majorana - Director of Kilometro Rosso, Hussain Mohamed Al Mahmoudi - CEO Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, Roberto Croci - Managing Director Microsoft for startups MEA e Michele Emiliano - President Apulia Region.