When it comes to autonomous mobile robots, navigating a hallway is only half the battle. The true test of a robot’s autonomy in high-stakes environments like hospitals and industrial facilities is its ability to move vertically. Meet Ken Lambert an Engineer who has been with ST Engineering Aethon for over 20 years.
Q: How long have you been with Aethon and what is your background?
I’ve been with Aethon since February 2003. At that time, we had only one customer and were still developing the robot, so I’ve essentially been here since the beginning of the company.
Q: Can you tell us more about ReadyElevator?
ReadyElevator is a solution that allows building owners to inexpensively enable any elevator in their building to be ready for robots, whether they intend to deploy the robots now or sometime in the future. It also allows robot companies to take advantage of our tried and tested elevator interface, eliminating the need for them to create their own, ReadyElevator is unique because it not only allows a robot to interface with an elevator, it also orchestrates the use of all elevators with all robots to make sure everything flows smoothly.
Q: Why is integration to the elevator so important for Aethon?
Our value really comes from getting vital supplies from point A to point B to free staff up for more important tasks. There is a huge challenge involved in designing an interface that can work with any elevator, new or old. The fact that we solved this problem early on, and spent more than two decades refining our solution, has given us a depth of experience that other companies just don’t have.
Q: What were the biggest challenges you faced when you first started?
The word “robot” initially scared elevator companies. They assumed installations would take three times longer than they actually did, and that there would be many post-installation support issues. We had to learn a great deal about elevators very quickly to set them at ease and reduce their share of the installation costs.
Q: What advancements are you excited about with ST Engineering Aethon’s ReadyElevator program? How will new technologies or capabilities impact ST Engineering Aethon and the broader robotics market?
Our experience over the past 20+ years means that our ReadyElevator solution can interface with virtually any elevator, old or new. With the ReadyElevator Development Platform, any robot company can take advantage of this. This solves huge problems for robot manufacturers who are being held back because they do not have their own solution. For building owners, they can be sure to meet the needs of residents and occupants well into the future.
Q: What makes ST Engineering Aethon stand out?
It’s not unusual to see a robot navigating the hallways of a hospital, delivering food in a restaurant, or even a driverless car on the street. Having been with the company for so long, I have been able to witness people’s initial reactions, young and old, when they see a machine autonomously moving along a hallway on its own for the first time. Knowing that I was part of the team that created that moment of surprise is incredibly rewarding. It never gets old.
Q: What excites you about the job?
It’s not unusual to see a robot navigating the hallways of a hospital, delivering food in a restaurant, or even a driverless car on the street. Having been with the company for so long, I have been able to witness people’s initial reactions, young and old, when they see a machine autonomously moving along a hallway on its own for the first time. Knowing that I was part of the team that created that moment of surprise is incredibly rewarding. It never gets old.
Q: What advice do you give to young engineers?
If you want to contribute to your company’s success in a meaningful way, focus on developing depth of knowledge and becoming an expert in an area where your company has a problem that needs solving.
Q: Tell us something fun about you/what do you do in your free time.
At 52, I still play competitive Ultimate Frisbee with a team out of Boulder, Colorado. I also lived in Singapore from 1997 to 2001 and founded the Singapore Ultimate League which has evolved into a thriving competition! I also enjoy Latin dancing, having taken salsa and bachata classes for more than four years. Read more about Ready Elevator in this link.
Read more about Ready Elevator here.
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