Global Launch of RiREL 1.0RiREL: A tool to help identify new markets and

robot innovation for resource efficiency and low-carbon development

Robot innovation for Resource Efficiency and Low-carbon development

The 8th Asian Control Conference (ASCC 2011) 15 May, 2011 The Splendor Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

AgendaIntroduction (10 min) The role of robotics today (15 min) Presenting RiREL (30 min) The need for new solutions (10 min) Possible contributions (TBD - 10 min) Round table discussion (35 min) Summary and next steps (10 min)

Introduction

Introduction

Why RiREL?

Introduction

From To

Introduction

$350 trillion to be invested in construction and use of urban infrastructures over the next 30 years to provide basic services such as mobility, heat, lighting, etc, so 7 times current annual GDP

Booz and Co. 2010

Introduction

Robots?

Role of robots today

The role of robotics today

Robots today and current research

IDEAS FOR THIS SECTION1. Basic info about the

money invested in Robots today and what they are used for (focus on Taiwan, but some global numbers/info if possible)

2. Info about what Robots can do today in key areas

3. Something about the need for policy makers to better understand the possibilities of robotics

Presenting RiREL

Presenting RiREL 1.0

RiREL 1.0 will:

1. Identify areas where robots are needed in a resource efficient and low-carbon economy

2. Highlight robot features that are needed for resource efficiency and low-carbon development

3. Assess the market potential for low-carbon robots and investment and policy support needed

4. Estimate the GHG reduction potential of 12 existing robots

5. Provide a platform that allow robot developers and climate experts to meet and exchange ideas about potential uses for current robot solutions

Presenting RiREL 1.0

RiREL 1.0 will not:

1. Be able to provide numbers for CO2 investment potenitals based on simple data: A process/collaboration in needed. Later such a tool could be developed

2. Identify all important areas for carbon savings.

3. Help robot developers to avoid high-carbon lock in.

4. Will not answer all questions (it will not solve employment issues, answer what kind of life people want to live or other political/ethical issues)

Presenting RiREL 1.0

RiREL 1.0: Approach robots on three levelsFIRST LEVEL

– LOOKING AT THE FEATURES OF THE

ROBOT

What are the functions?

What are the possibilities of

use?

What are the new areas that can benefit from

the same function? Can it be applied in different

fields?

What are the climate impacts?

SECOND LEVEL – LOOKING AT THE

ROBOT

What is the current use of the functions

together?Is the unit based

on traditional ways to solve a

problem? Could the form be altered (or virtual) in the

future?

What are the climate impacts?

THIRD LEVEL – LOOKING AT THE

ROBOT AS PART OF A SYSTEM

How does the unit fit into

current infrastructure?

Is it designed to change the system/traditional ways of doing things?

What are the different contexts it could be

used in? What would be the effect in such

systems?

What are the climate impacts?

Presenting RiREL 1.0

RiREL 1.0: The filter

Solutions available

Solutions neededResources

needed

Resources available

RiREL21st Century

Resource Saving Robot Solutions

Existing Robot solutions Features Robot System solutions

Low-carbon solutions Feature needed Function needed New System

needed

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Results from RiREL beta demo:

Four robots identified based on Taipei exhibition250 million tonnes of CO2e could be reduced by 2020

with the help of such solutions. Idea: Should Taiwan set a target to export robots that help reduce global emissions with at least 300 million tonnes by 2030?

By 2020 investment of the magnitude $6.2 billion annualy can be expected only on the cost of carbon (assuming a modest price of $25/tonne) adding productivity and other material savings could add 3-4 times this with 5 years pay-back. Total approximately $30 billion.

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 1: Sustainable Function needed: Less mobilityRobot available: Reception/service robot for elderly

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Context for beta demo 1:

Need: Personal aid

Current challenges: 1. More many need personal aid2. Increased transport result in congestion and

emissions

Robot solution:3. Provide personal aid when needed

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 1: CO2 savings: 20 million tonnes CO2Market opportunity: US$500 – 2,500 million

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 2:Sustainable Function needed: Smart food delivery/eatingRobot available: Delivery robot

40 mil

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Context for beta demo 2:

Need: Food

Current challenges: 1. Unnecessary trips to buy food. 5% of

personal transport2. 30% of food is wasted 3. Food waste accounts for 3% of domestic GHG

emissions in OECD countries.

Robot solution:4. get people fresh food when they need it5. help people use food waste for energy

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 2:CO2 savings: 40 million tonnes CO2Market opportunity: US$1000 – 5,000 million

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 3:Sustainable system needed: New city farmingFeature available: Gentle and accurate gripping robot

120 mil

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Context for beta demo 3:

Need: Food

Current challenges: 1. Fertile soil is getting scarce2. Food transport result in emissions and less nutritious

food3. Food is about 25-30% of global GHG emissions.18

percent of all greenhouse emissions were caused by the livestock sector, using an aggregate life cycle approach. Global milk production, processing and transportation contributes 2.7

Robot solution:4. Grow food in cities using vertical farming (smarter

protein + more fresh food + less transport)

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 3:CO2 savings: 120 million tonnes CO2Market opportunity: US$3 – 15 billion

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 4:Sustainable feature needed: Light in buildingsRobots available: Inexpensive miniature robots

70 mil

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Context for beta demo 4:

Need: Lighting and temperature

Current challenges: 1. Lighting use 19% of global electricity2. Buildings are built based on old solutions,

much needs to be retrofitted.

Robot solution:3. Use small robots to provide shade and reflect

light in to provide confortable indoor temperature and light. Combined in retrofitting packages with solar solutions this could become a very significant contribution.

Presenting RiREL 1.0

Beta demo 4:CO2 savings: 70 million tonnes CO2Market opportunity: US$1.7 – 8.8 billion

The need for new solutions

The need for new solutions

Niven Huang IDEAS FOR THIS SECTION1. That companies see

climate/resource efficiency as very important

2. That BCSD in Taiwan is part of a global network where business is turning the need for low-carbon/resource efficiency to business opportunities

3. That new ways to provide services are needed and that robots could play a very important role.

Possible robot contribution

Round table

Summary &next steps

Summary and next steps

Next steps:

Collect feedback

Summary and next steps

Next steps

Develop policy recommendationsInvestmen

tpolicy

RiREL21st Century

Resource Saving Robot Solutions

Existing Robot solutions> Features> Robot>System solutions

Low-carbon solutions> Feature needed> Function needed> New System needed

Robot developmen

t strategy

Summary and next steps

Next steps (Research):

1. Select eight more robots for RIREL 1.0

2. Verification and development of the results for the four initial robots + eight additional with a top-down approach

3. Conduct bottom-up calculations for CO2 savings and investments for the 12 specific robots

4. Identify the investment/research needed to ensure that the robots can deliver the services needed on the scale needed.

Summary and next steps

Next steps (Policy):

4. Identification of relevant global processes that can support accelerated uptake of low-carbon robot solutions

5. Explore the possibility to establish a Global Robot Initiative for a Sustainable 21st Century (GRIS-21)

6. Work with low-carbon cities to ensure integration of robots as part of the agenda (e.g. three of six low-carbon cities in Taiwan should have low-carbon robot solutions by 2015)

Summary and next steps

THANK YOU!

AppendixAssumptions and

calculations

Appendix

Background data/calculations:

In Cities next 3 yearsMoving people: 163 GT = 5 433MT/YearHeat/lighting: 249 GT = 8 300 MT/YearFood: = 7 500 MT/Year (today)Total: 21 230MT/year (all today appx 35 000)

(Taiwan total 276 MT)

Appendix

Background data/calculations:

In Cities:22 trillion dollars additional in infrastructure (linked to 248 in total)

Appendix

Background data/calculations:

Appendix