AI and Robotics Ventures (ARV), the technology development and venture building spin-off from PTTEP, organized special panel discussion sessions at AI & Robotics Hackathon 2021: Open House in two topics: Quantum Cryptography: The Future of Cyber Security, and Subsea Machine Learning: Deep Diving into Undiscovered Opportunities, featuring insights into current technological advancement from Thailand’s leading experts in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Dr. Thana Slanvetpan, General Manager, ARV gave keynote address by sharing the company’s success over the past three years. “We have so far culminated considerable achievements in three perspectives.
Firstly, our workforce is constantly growing with more than 200 employees now, as well as new hires joining every week.
Secondly, the development of the 5G x UAV Sandbox project, an innovation testing center for increasing data transmission speed at Wang Chan Valley, is now completed and set for official opening in November.
Lastly, we have successfully established four business units to support our business, namely, Rovula; an end-to-end augmented subsea inspection, repair and maintenance robot; Skyller; an AI-enabled robotic industrial infrastructure inspection platform; Varuna – a one-stop, national-scale service for smart farming and smart forestry using drones and platforms; and Cariva, a health data network which leverages AI, IoT, and robotics to empower and generate health insights to users, both individuals and businesses.
- KBank and H SEM Motor debut H SEM Power Station and EV bike rental service on K+ market
- Beacon VC and Fuchsia VC invest in Pantera Capital’s latest blockchain fund
The key objectives of the AI & Robotics Hackathon 2021 are to promote, develop and build upon knowledge base on AI and robotics; to explore new business opportunities enabled by the two fields of technology; to create network of alliances with all sectors openly; and to provide the contestants with unprecedented opportunity to gain both broad and in-depth knowledge for refining their ideas and put them in practice.
The first discussion session – Quantum Cryptography: The Future of Cyber Security addressed the Hackathon Track 1: Cyber Security – Design an interoperable digital wallet to enhance privacy, security and convenience for all, by leveraging the advancement of quantum computers and its crucial role to shape the future of cyber security technology
Sinthu Satawiriya, Head of Ventures, ARV explained that cyber security threats have currently affected the lives of people across the world. The key to problem solving for Track 1 is to design a solution for digital wallet, an emerging e-payment system now available in mobile and desktop applications as well as hardware wallet for bitcoin. Given its pervasive adoption in mass-consumer market with a healthy influx of investment, digital wallet requires a robust, end-to-end security solution that entails identity management, communications and access protocols.
Dr. Jirawat Tangpanitanon, CEO & Co-founder, Quantum Technology Foundation (Thailand) added that, in light of the advancement and powerful capability of quantum computer today, the challenge in tackling Track 1 is to create an evolving layered cyber security defense using cryptographic solutions with high dynamism capable of detecting and preventing both current and future threats.
The second discussion sessionin the topic of Subsea Machine Learning: Deep Diving into Undiscovered Opportunities provided insights for problem solving in the Hackathon Track 2: Subsea Machine Learning, by creating a synthetic dataset and build an AI model to classify underwater objects.
Phakhachon Hoonsuwan, Co-Founder of Rovula pointed out that, in applying AI and machine learning technology in underwater exploration, first and foremost, we need highly-skilled humanoid robots equipped with sensors to navigate and locate themselves, given the limitation of wireless underwater communication signals. ARV’s ambition is to leverage technology to build an ecosystem that allows robots to orient themselves under water and carry out assigned jobs, and soon completely replace human divers.
Dr. Pravee Kruachottikul, UTC Team Leader, Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (UTC) added that today machine learning and AI technologies can be applied to over 90% of real-life problems and situations, including service development, medical and healthcare applications, and specific industry applications. Therefore, these emerging technologies have vast opportunity and potential to be applied to many use cases in underwater exploration tasks.
According to Chitvisut Poomontree, AI Apprentice, Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (UTC), major challenges in developing underwater robot are to equip the ability to perform accurate detection by identifying as many anomalies as possible, which is far less expensive than using human divers. Ideally the robot must be able to screen for initial underwater abnormalities without the need for intensive human effort to monitor them from thousands of hours of video recorded. The solution developed should also enhance the quality of underwater images by removing blurring effects from noises, build an AI model for underwater object classification, create optimal dataset and indicators for anomaly detection as well as generate useful information for practical use.
ARV Hackathon 2021, an unprecedented opportunity to put your idea into practice
The hackathon is open for applicants of all professions, students, start-ups, programmers, innovators, or anyone, in a team of 3-5 people. Application is open until 5 November 2021 with chance to win prize of 100,000 baht for the winner, 50,000 baht for the first runner-up and 20,000 baht for the second runner-up, as well as the opportunity to work with ARV in the future.
- Track I: Cyber Security – Design an interoperable digital wallet to enhance privacy, security and convenience for all, with hackathon session on 20-21 November 2021 and pitching session on 27 November 2021.
- Track II: Subsea Machine Learning – Create a synthetic dataset and build an AI model to classify underwater objects, with hackathon session on 11-12 December 2021 and pitching session on 18 December 2021.
Both hackathon tracks involve ARV’s current key business focuses and represent a great opportunity for the contestants to join team of experts in developing solutions for real life business case study and application in specific industry.
ARV Hackathon 2021 opens up a new competitive experience where the contestants are challenged to solve real life problems encountered by the industry, allowing participants to showcase their calibre with opportunity to develop innovations in partnership with ARV in the future. Apply today until 5 November 2021. For more details and competition rules, visit arvhackathon2021.riseaccel.com.
Watch the AI & Robotics Hackathon 2021: Open House event and the panel discussions at https://bit.ly/3CfuiFP
