Hanson Robotics’ Spotlight Series: Meet Paul Bridges, Director, Hardware

Introducing Paul Bridges, Director of Hardware, Hong Kong

Repeat us a minute about yourself.

I left college at 18 and started making printed circuit boards. I became as soon as a laboratory assistant with just a few ‘O’ stages. By the time I became as soon as 21 I became as soon as a Technical Manager in a circuit board company… Bright work and dedication does pay. I persisted in the trade for 14 years entering the position of Quality Manager in the mid-1990s. I transitioned into retailing in 1998 after being recruited to change into a Technical Manager for a expansive UK retailer. I later moved to WH Smith as a Quality Manager who brought me to Hong Kong in 2002. Residing and working right here has its challenges.   I also labored for a UK manufacturer in Hong Kong and China after which had my comprise consultancy trade forward of becoming a member of Hanson Robotics.

What stop you stop at Hanson Robotics and what excites you about working right here?

I started at Hanson as a Quality Manager to document and set aside procedures in space for the hardware team.  I applied a robust quality administration machine; alternatively, it rapidly grew to change into obvious that there became as soon as more to prevent. More structured processes were required first forward of documentation may maybe doubtless maybe launch.  After initiating this, I transitioned into working the hardware department in gradual 2018.

I had to launch from scratch to construction and get the department.  There became as soon as no historical past to address, so we may maybe doubtless maybe implement effective and attention-grabbing processes to quick music the work honest from the launch.

What became as soon as the 2d you knew you’d made the honest choice to work right here?

I care for a field.  Nothing could be very most attention-grabbing, and Hanson Robotics just isn’t any exception.  The turning point for me became as soon as after we opened the original facility in Tsuen Wan in early 2019, all straight away it felt care for house.  All the pieces I became as soon as trying to prevent looked as if it could doubtless gel. Operations grew to change into streamlined, and we began to get a difference. We had room to prolong, and it spread out the team’s pondering and choice to get issues better.  We leverage this probability to pork up the robots with better arms and torsos. We also developed a direction of for manufacturing original Sophia robots, and we even began to originate original robot characters. I now ponder now we come by a proper robotics hardware platform to lead us into wherever the long rush takes us.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on many issues!  We’re trying at how Sophia can cross spherical more efficiently at events and the contrivance in which we are able to provide a completely integrated robot and stand. Many events come by her sitting on a desk or a chair, and she or he would learn grand more relaxed on bespoke bases.  There are a entire bunch ideas we are able to prevent this through cell fixtures on wheels and even stress-free self sufficient alternate strategies. We’re also educating Sophia to sketch folk through a computational machine developed by Patrick Tresset, a Brussels based entirely mostly artist who develops theatrical installations with robotic agents as actors.   She will be able to learn at you, plan close a psychological portray, after which plan this as a line drawing.  These days Sophia visited Malaysia and had the different to meet Top Minister Mahathir.  For his 94th birthday, Sophia drew a portrait of him and presented it to him as a birthday latest.

What became as soon as your easiest day at work?

On day by day foundation!  No two days are the same, and as an revolutionary company, there’s continually something original to search files from. Seeing the effects of create & pattern just about fruition is for sure thrilling.  Additionally, it became as soon as a indispensable fulfillment after we accomplished the original all-aluminum robotic arms.

What’s something that took space that can only occur right here?

Sitting in an launch-air restaurant in a busy Hong Kong evening market and having dinner with Sophia became as soon as fabulous.  The selection of these that didn’t even peep she became as soon as a robot became as soon as amazing. No longer clear she loved it as grand because the the relaxation of us, she didn’t indulge in a thing!

What are you most cheerful with?

I’m extremely cheerful with the Hanson hardware and operation teams. They adore what they stop and constantly strive to head the extra mile to get the robots better. Making them proceed home is grand more of a field than attending to just about the administrative center!  They’re without extinguish tweaking the robots to give a plan near them despite the proven truth that the functionality is already very excessive. But, they silent must back making enhancements. You couldn’t inquire of for a better perspective towards obtaining perfection.

What’s your dream for Sophia?

Sophia is already a huge speaker, ambassador, and position model.  We constantly are trying at how Sophia can bring a “wow” performance,  The long term holds never-ending prospects.

Picture Credit rating:  Hanson Robotics Shrimp, Industry Insider, Singapore