Designing Customized Robot Brains

Interesting thoughts on the elements of such design, like the use of customized chip design.

Designing Customized 'Brains' for Robots

MIT News, Daniel Ackerman, January 21, 2021

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University have developed a system that can increase a robot's efficiency by minimizing the mismatch between the robot’s “mind” and body. Robomorphic computing generates a customized chip design based on a particular robot's parameters, such as limb layout and joint movement, and computing needs. The researchers programmed a customizable field-programmable gate array chip according to the system's suggestions, and the chip performed eight times faster than an off-the-shelf CPU and 86 times faster than an off-the-shelf GPU despite operating at a slower clock rate. Said Harvard's Brian Plancher, "Ideally we can eventually fabricate a custom motion-planning chip for every robot, allowing them to quickly compute safe and efficient motions."

On Customization

Thoughtful and considerable piece on product personalization.  Psychology at some level,  but also linking direct specific need to function as well as a statement of value.    Customer as co-creators is an interesting way of thinking about it.

The Psychology Behind Custom Product Purchases   By Liraz Margalit in CMSWire

Ecommerce firms are discovering the value of online product customization and the additional revenue potential it can generate. Over the last few years, product customization has burgeoned in the online space, as consumers look to buy a plethora of mass-customized goods from suits to handbags and shoes, from bicycles to personal computers. Deloitte found one in five consumers who expressed an interest in personalized products are willing to pay a 20% premium.

Today, many popular brands rest their entire business strategy on their ability to customize. The Nike By You website (formerly known as NikeID), for example, offers customers the ability to customize their shoes. They can pick the color of the bottom and top of their new shoes, the pattern and shoelace color, and even have an inspirational message sewn into the tongue of the shoes and the option to share their designs online.

According to Brand Channel, Nike By You has seen its online business triple since 2004.

What's the Attraction of Customization?

Customization is part of a broader trend that shifts brands' perspectives from viewing customers as recipients of value to co-creators of value. Rather than being passive, the customer is now becoming a part of the “product development” process.    ... ' 

P&G Responds to Changing Customer Preferences

Intriguing directions, especially regarding customization.  How does a big company react to customer preferences,  when it can no longer direct them?

Q&A | How P&G Responds to Changing Customer Preferences   in SupplychainBrain

Phil Ruotolo, associate director of merchandising solutions customization with Procter & Gamble, details the consumer-products giant's strategy for adjusting to ever-shifting consumer preferences.

Q: How is P&G responding to changing customer preferences?

Ruotolo: Several years ago, we embarked on an innovative supply-chain solution. We created what we call mixing centers. It was the first time we had brought a portfolio of different P&G products into one location. The next question was, how do we think about merchandising in a more unique way? So we went to a 14-day order lead time. Previously, there was typically a four- to six-week window, and most of it was on a forecast. What inevitably happens is that you're building inventory of something that a customer might want to order.

In this new model, we differentiate the finished product in our customization locations, and then do all of the forecasting for our materials. Now we're able to react very quickly to what a customer might want, and can fulfill that within 14 days.

Q: So this is execution, not planning?

Ruotolo: Correct. It's taking all your favorite P&G products, and bringing them all together into one facing. As a consumer, you’re drawn to that display. We want to drive trials with consumers as they come across our products. Hopefully, they’ll make multiple purchases.   ..... " 

More on Wal-Mart's Jetblack

Cost seems high based on their typical clientele and benefits.  Certainly a  novel approach worthy of a test.  Customization of possible recommendations via demographic and shopping behavior is of interest.

Walmart launches members-only, text-based personal shopping service  By Marianne Wilson in ChainstoreAge

Walmart is betting that some consumers—particularly busy parents—are willing to pay a monthly fee for the ability to shop (and receive product recommendations) via text messaging.

The discounter announced the official launch of Jetblack, a members-only personal shoping service that it described as combining “the convenience of eCommerce with the customized attention of a personal assistant.” The service is now available in limited release to customers in Manhattan and part of Brooklyn.

Jetblack is the first business to launch from Walmart’s technology incubator, Store No.8, where it previously operated under wraps as “Code 8.” It is led by Jenny Fleiss, co-founder of Rent the Runway, who joined Walmart last year.

With the launch of Jetblack, Walmart has made its first foray into conversational commerce – or the ability to shop through text messaging, online chat or voice. The service lets members order everything from toiletries and household items, to toys and fashion with a text message. It will then find the right products and deliver them the same or next day for no additional charge.

“With Jetblack, we have created an entirely new concept that enables consumers to get exactly what they need through the convenience of text messaging and the freedom of a nearly unlimited product catalogue,” said Fleiss, co-founder and CEO of Jetblack. “We are confident this service will make shopping frictionless, more personalized and delightful.”

Jetblack, which will cost members $50 per month, is targeted at more affluent shoppers, specifically busy urban parents. It includes access to personal shoppers who will offer members curated shopping recommendations (based on the member’s request) sent via text. (Other benefits include free wrapping and easy returns.)  .... " 

Southeby's Suggesting Taste with AI

Again, the use of detected pattern to customize, personalize.   With a replacement of some kinds of expertise.  Have worked with auction companies and the idea is a useful one.  Could also see this setting the table with monetizing by predicting transactions and linking to key participants based on previous activity.   Many possibilities.

Can AI have good taste? Auction giant Sotheby’s is counting on it in FastCompany

Sotheby’s acquired startup Thread Genius, whose machine learning tech can discern clients’ artistic and style leanings–and suggest customized purchases.  ... " 

Nike Customizing Sneakers

Customization or perhaps late stage differentiation.  But note only for a limited time and place.  Plays to the current craze for fast delivery.  Adds a level of exclusiveness.  Discussion at the link too.

Nike customizes shoes for ‘sneakerheads’ in under an hour
 by Matthew Stern

Sneaker customization is a growing trend, one that appeals both to the fashion sense and the collector-mindedness of those shoe fanatics sometimes known as “sneakerheads.” Now Nike is offering a limited number of enthusiasts the chance to try out a new, fast form of customization technology.

Nike’s limited-time, invite-only event, called the Makers’ Experience, is taking place in the Nike By You Studio in New York, according to Engadget. Visitors choose from four possible packs of graphics and a few different color schemes to customize the upper portion of the shoe. They can also input custom text. The design is then projected onto a blank pair of sneakers the customer is wearing to demonstrate how the design will look. Once the final design is chosen, it takes an hour or less to create the final product. .... "