Netanyahu sets sights on advancing robotics

The Director General of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Space, Peretz Vazan, said it would make robotics a central research focus in 2017.

By NIV ELIS
Updated: APRIL 15, 2016 06:09
A representative for the company Rewalk (R) stands iwth Prof. Moshe Shoham, Dr. Sigal Berman and Professor Zvi Shiller at the Israeli Association of Robotics (photo credit: LIAT MANDEL)
A representative for the company Rewalk (R) stands iwth Prof. Moshe Shoham, Dr. Sigal Berman and Professor Zvi Shiller at the Israeli Association of Robotics
(photo credit: LIAT MANDEL)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thinks Israel can be a leader in the field of robotics, and called for advancing the industry in a statement to the Israeli Conference on Robotics, held Wednesday and Thursday in Herzliya.
“As a salient innovative nation, Israel must realize its potential in the various fields of robotics. Just as we have become a leader in cyber security, we must also propel forward the robotics and automation industry in order to take a place at the forefront of the sector,” Netanyahu said.
The director-general of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Space, Peretz Vazan, said his ministry would make robotics a central research focus in 2017.
The conference, which brought attendees from Europe, Asia and North America for technical presentations and business opportunities, featured companies such as the ReWalk – an exoskeleton robot that helps paralyzed people walk again, Mazor Robotics – a company that allows remote controlling of robots, and the Caesarea- based Mazor Robotics – which aids in surgery.
“Robotics is being integrated into a wide variety of life sciences today,” said Prof. Zvi Shiller, the chairman of the Israel Robotics Association, including manufacturing, security, medicine, nursing, building and agriculture.
“We need is to bring about the next revolution of engineers who can cope with complex systems that integrate hardware, software and artificial intelligence,” he added.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, chip-maker Intel announced a new robotics development kit using its RealSense technology, which was largely developed in Israel.
The kit, unveiled at the Intel Developers Forum in Shenzhen, China, will enable developers to use Intel’s 3D camera to integrate computer vision into robots and drones.