Hawaiian Host is the largest manufacturer of chocolate-covered macadamias in the world, with millions of boxes of the treats distributed around the globe. According to its website, the company „combines premium ingredients – handcrafted milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Hawaiian honey, Kona coffee, to name a few – with dry-roasted macadamias to create its signature delights“ (Website Hawaiian Host). Hawaiian Host has now taken a big step forward in packaging. Watch a video of Chris Rabago getting his first look at Cama’s new equipment. The robot, which is protected by glass walls in the video, allows the chocolate-covered macadamias to be packaged at high speed in a small space. This is important because rental and construction costs in Honolulu are very high and factory expansions are difficult and expensive. It’s actually several robots working together – it’s very effective and looks fascinating. How many workers this new level of automation will replace is unknown.
Mauna Kea volcano is the highest mountain in the world, measured from the bottom of the sea. It is considered a sacred place in the culture of Hawai’i. In this context, the famous and important telescopes on the top are always the cause of bitter disputes. The operation of drones is also not allowed on the mountain. However, a small robot made it on it in 2008. This was reported by several media outlets, including Science Daily. „During the field experiment, Nov. 1-13, the robot called Scarab will simulate a lunar mission to extract water, hydrogen, oxygen and other compounds that could potentially be mined for use by future lunar explorers. The four-wheeled robot will trek to different sites, using a Canadian-built drill to obtain a one-meter geologic core at each site. Each core will be chemically analyzed by on-board instruments developed by NASA.“ (Science Daily, 14 October 2008) After that, it became increasingly difficult for robots to climb Mauna Kea. It is easier for scientists and tourists, who only need 4-wheel drive and robust health.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel on the top of Mauna Kea with a few snowflakes (Photo: Stefanie Hauske)
The west coast of the Big Island is known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and coral reefs, from Honomalino Beach in the south to Hapuna beach in the north. It is now threatened by climate change, drought, fire, invasive species, and human impact. The region of Hawai’i has been classified as a vulnerable ecosystem zone. A Boeing Company describes these dangers on its website and has developed technology to counteract the dangers. The Liquid Robotics Support Operations Test and Evaluation Facility in Kawaihae, Hawai’i is the main hub for Wave Glider development, ocean testing, and regional operations, as well as the birthplace of the Wave Glider. The Wave Glider sits on the surface and is connected to another device floating in the water eight meters below it. The two look like mother whale and baby whale, except baby whale is a little off. The Wave Glider is capable of collecting and communicating ocean data in real time through unpredictable conditions for up to a year. It connects and communicates undersea data to satellites and land, creating an ocean network. The Wave Glider is designed to support a wide variety of sensors and payloads. The modular and adaptable payload design is coupled with a powerful solar power system and on-board computing environment.
Cleaning robots, along with security robots and transport robots, are among the service robots that work largely error-free and are already saving costs. The Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports Division continues to modernize Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and give HNL an open, clean feel. The modernization includes the addition of two robotic floor scrubbers to supplement custodial services. This was reported by the Hawaii Department of Transportation. „The robotic scrubbers will help us keep HNL sanitary and sparkling,“ said Ross Higashi. He is the Hawaii Department of Transportation’s deputy director of airports. „Use of this technology will also allow us to maximize available staff in maintaining our busiest airport to standards.“ (Website Hawaii Department of Transportation) Without a doubt, cleaning robots are also an option for the other islands of Hawai’i, such as the Big Island and Kaua’i. On the Big Island, there are two airports that come into question. In addition, cleaning robots could be used in the streets of Hilo. Also other service robots are entering the market that can clear beaches and lawns of litter.
Surveying and collecting rare plant species that grow on steep cliffs has been a risky business for scientists and conservationists for centuries. The world’s first aerial sampling system, which uses a robotic arm suspended from a drone, is attempting to solve this problem in Hawai’i. An article published by Mongabay magazine back in November 2022 states: „In Hawai’i’s Kaua’i island, the world’s first aerial sampling system has successfully flown into high-altitude cliff faces to cut out samples from rare plants and bring them back to a nursery. Scientists call it ‚the Mamba,‘ a cutting mechanism on a remote-controlled robotic arm suspended from a drone. The system was developed by Hawai’i-based not-for-profit conservation organization National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) and Quebec-based technology company Outreach Robotics and the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec.“ (Mongabay, 9. November 2023) Ben Nyberg, the NTBG’s geographic information system and drone program coordinator, told Mongabay in an interview: „It is really unlocking a lot of areas that have previously been completely inaccessible.“ (Mongabay, 9. November 2023) Of course, criminals could also adopt the technology. But it would be almost impossible to smuggle rare plants out of Hawai’i due to strict customs controls.
Ruby Tuesday is a popular restaurant in Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai’i), on the island of O’ahu. The location close to the airport is not one of the most beautiful ones. The food is also not praised by everyone. But the restaurant is known for its artificial staff. „Our KEENON DINERBOT is helping the staff here deliver trays and plates, so that they can pay more attention to improving customer satisfaction.“ This is the message in a promotional video from Keenon Robotics in Singapore. The robot is a classic transport and serving robot. It has large, square blue eyes. In Europe and Asia, BellaBot is best known. It has a cat face and cat ears and is controlled via user input and voice commands. The European model Plato is also shaking up the market. Khon2, a platform from Hawaii, first reported on the new employee at Ruby Tuesday in 2022. „Staffing is such a problem now. Everything from managers down to servers and kitchen help cooks so this really helps our servers out,“ Ruby Tuesday owner Rick Nakashima told Khon2 journalists. Indeed, robots of this kind seem to be at least a band-aid for the shortage of skilled workers. Customers‘ reactions vary. Some seem to find the robots entertaining. Others say that direct contact with waiters is important to them. The restaurant emphasises that the robot is not intended to replace waiters. Rather, the robot acts as a support.
Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai’i) is not necessarily associated with robots. But in the larger cities, you can be sure to encounter them. There are service robots such as the Keenon Dinerbot and surgical robots such as the da Vinci Surgical System. In addition, robots are used in the wild, for example for nature conservation. The hospital group in the east of the archipelago advertises with the following words: „East Hawaii Health Clinics is excited to introduce our fully operational robotic surgery center. This state-of-the-art equipment allows us to perform minimally invasive surgeries that would otherwise require greater surgery time and recovery time. We look forward to continuing to provide East Hawaii with exceptional surgical options.“ (Website East Hawaii Health Clinics) This type of care is available in Hilo, among other places. The small town on the Big Island has the latest medical technology, such as that used in Basel and Berlin. Hilo is surrounded by tropical rainforest. Nearby are Akaka Falls and Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. In the city itself, giant banyan trees grow. One must not forget the many homeless people who are at the end of their tether. Like California, Hawai’i has not dealt with this problem. These people will never be able to afford treatment with a surgical robot.
Fig.: Oliver Bendel at the Akaka Falls (Photo: Stefanie Hauske)
Since the late 1960s, „the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) has been known worldwide as the longest-standing working scientific conferences in Information Technology Management“ (Website HICSS). In 2019, one of the tracks is dedicated to the health sector. „Addressing the complexities of today’s healthcare issues requires more than one perspective. The Information Technology in Healthcare Track serves as a forum at which healthcare, computer science, and information systems professionals can come together to discuss issues related to the application of information technology in healthcare. In bringing technical, behavioral, clinical, and managerial perspectives together, this track provides a unique opportunity to generate new insights into healthcare problems and solutions.“ (Website HICSS) The track includes the minitrack „Security and Privacy Challenges for Healthcare“: „Digitizing healthcare services can provide many new benefits and opportunities. However, it can also introduce new research challenges in terms of protecting the security and privacy security of patient data and electronic health records.“ (Website HICSS) In the year 2019, the conference will take place on the island of Maui. Paper submission deadline is 15 June 2018, 11:59 pm HST. Further information is available on the HICSS website.
Die Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung lädt in der Reihe denkraum_medien wieder zu einer Diskussionsrunde ein, dieses Mal unter dem Titel „Ausfall im Störfall? Netzkommunikation in Krisensituationen“. Den Impulsvortrag hält die Autorin und IT-Compliance-Managerin Dr. Aleksandra Sowa. Aus der Medienmitteilung: „Das Internet ist global zum primären und alternativlosen Kommunikationsnetz geworden. Aber das Medium erweist sich als störanfällig und öffnet Tür und Tor für verschiedene Formen des Missbrauchs. Ob eine an alle Bewohner Hawaiis abgeschickte SMS, die vor einem Raketenangriff warnt, oder eine automatische Ansage in der Berliner U-Bahn, die dazu auffordert, geschlossene Räume nicht zu verlassen: Für die Menschen ist kaum zu unterscheiden, ob eine echte Gefahr droht oder ob es sich um einen Fehlalarm oder eine Notfallübung handelt. Sind Hacker in die Frühwarnsysteme eingedrungen und testen ihr Können? Sind ausländische Cyberkrieger im Netz unterwegs, um für Massenpanik zu sorgen? Was kann, muss oder darf der Staat tun, um seine Bürger angesichts einer – wahren oder fiktiven – Krise verlässlich zu informieren, aufzuklären und zu schützen? Wieweit steht die Privatwirtschaft, in deren Händen sich fast vollständig die kritischen Infrastrukturen befinden, in der Verantwortung?“ Weitere Informationen über www.fes.de.
