AI-PRISM comprises 25 partners (#AIPRISM25) from 12 countries committed to improving manufacturing workers’ lives through human-centred and AI-based solutions. From educational institutions to research and technology organisations, robot manufacturers, industries and use case providers, this interdisciplinary team combines strong expertise in large national and international innovation projects. Representing all EU manufacturing value chains, they have all the key competencies to develop the collaboration ecosystem between humans and robots.
All this hard work needs a Technical Manager who will coordinate the technical board of the project. This member of the team ensures that everyone is heard and provides technical insights based on their expertise. So today, we have a short interview with Francisco Fraile, Technical Coordinator of AI-PRISM, who, in addition to replying to our questions, closed with an inspiring message. Find it out here:
What is your reflection on AI-PRISM from a technical point of view?
To me, AI-PRISM is about tearing down the fences between robots and humans so that they can collaborate efficiently. I am not talking only about the physical barriers that isolate robots in manufacturing environments to protect humans but also about the technical and psychological barriers that hinder human-robot collaboration.
We all tend to see robots as a replacement for humans in work environments, but what if, instead, we regard AI as a facilitating technology, enhancing human-robot collaboration? Together, humans and robots can empower each other, and the margin of improvement is so great that it can accommodate both.
What are the challenges and strategies of coordinating the AI-PRISM technical board?
Coordinating such a large and competent consortium is enriching and challenging at the same time. Every partner has different expectations, and as a technical manager, my role is to ensure a good balance between (sometimes conflicting) partner expectations while simultaneously ensuring the project outcomes.
Fortunately, there is a strong commitment and support from technical partners, and I listen very carefully to the good advice they give.
What are your expectations and expected impact of the project?
As a technical manager, I want AI-PRISM to make an impact and be a successful project from a technical point of view. As a researcher, my team and I would like to explore organisational aspects of human-robot collaboration in complex industrial settings.
There are many interesting collaboration modalities in hybrid human-robot teams and better ways to organise work and be more efficient.
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