Dive Brief:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched RoboMaker, a service to help developers generate, test and deploy intelligent robotics applications.
- The cloud-based service works on Robot Operating System (ROS), an open-source robotics software framework. It includes AWS services — such as machine learning, monitoring and analytics — that help a robot to stream data, navigate, communicate, comprehend, and learn.
- AWS says the infrastructure will make setting up a robotics application development, testing and deployment environment less difficult and time consuming than it has been thus far.
Dive Insight:
The idea behind RoboMaker is to provide an easy, cloud-based resource that smooths the web of logistics that developers must navigate when testing and deploying their ideas. This gives them more time to focus on pushing out new innovations instead of taking months trying to set up testing infrastructure.
The service can be used for a slew of innovative ideas, but one area that AWS especially highlighted is "receiving and processing sensor data." Sensors are integral to a variety of existing smart technologies including drones and air quality detectors, not to mention emerging technologies like autonomous vehicles (AVs).
RoboMaker promises to speed tech testing and development both for existing and emerging technologies. For example, drones are well known and already in use, but using them for deliveries hasn't been worked out yet and is being tested by entities including UberEats and Domino's. In addition, dozens of companies are feverishly working to perfect AV sensor technology to make driverless vehicles a safe, viable transportation option. RoboMaker could help developers roll out those innovations to the public much faster than by using existing testing and deployment processes.
