At the beginning of February, EXU convened a meeting involving representatives from AIRE (AI & Robotics Estonia) and researchers from Tallinn University to explore potential avenues for collaboration. The objective of the meeting was to identify solutions that facilitate cooperation between humans and robots in industrial environments while prioritising the safety and well-being of employees.
Representing AIRE at the meeting were Indrek Orav, process manager, Katre Eljas, service manager for demo projects; and Tõnis Segerkrantz, innovation manager. Representing the university were Ingrid Hindrikson, chief expert on business partnership, Kairit Tammets, professor of technology-enhanced learning at the TLU School of Digital Technologies (DTI), Sonia Sousa, associate professor of interaction design, Mustafa Özömir, visiting lecturer of user experience evaluation; and Martin Karjus, ICT specialist at the TLU School of Humanities (HTI).
During the discussion, a shared interest emerged in exploring how to ensure safe and seamless cooperation between humans and robots in the work environment. Participants emphasised that implementing technological solutions must focus on people’s sense of security and well-being – employees should always feel safe and confident alongside technological tools.
Trust in technology and international cooperation
The topic of trust in technology has long been a research area of the DTI Human-Machine Interaction (HCI) team. The contribution of TLÜ researchers has led to collaborations with several key defence institutions, including organisations outside Estonia, demonstrating the importance of reliability and safety in an international context.
In addition to theoretical discussions, several practical projects are underway. Last week, a roadmap for the joint project "Smart Industry Centre" was presented, outlining plans to develop new services and procure the necessary equipment. Furthermore, cooperation continues in various consortia with TalTech, the University of Tartu, the University of Life Sciences, and other institutions. For the second year, practical collaboration has also been ongoing at the TalTech Virumaa College industrial laboratory.
The forthcoming phases in AIRE’s activity framework encompass developing a model service, executing a demonstration project, and coordinating a club event.
Following the meeting, a number of intriguing ideas and collaborative initiatives were generated, reinforcing the notion that technological advancement and a human-centred approach are interconnected. Both representatives from TLÜ and AIRE express their readiness to enhance their cooperation in the future to provide the industry with new, practical, and user-friendly solutions.
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