Speakers

Title: Autonomous Small Robot with Robust Speech Recognition and Its Consumer Product

Prof. Yoshikazu Miyanaga, Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, Chitose, Japan

Abstract:
This topic introduces the design of a noise robust automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. It is suitable for speech communication robots, and in particular for ASR robots isolated from internet. For almost all of speech communication robots, a strong noisy robust speech recognition has been demanded. For both of a continuous speech dialog-based and a command-based ASR, we have designed strong robust ASR systems against various noise circumstances.
In this presentation, noise robust speech analysis techniques have been introduced. In order to develop the robustness under low SNR, Dynamic Range Adjustment (DRA) and Modulation Spectrum Control (MSC) have been first developed for the robust speech features and they focus on the speech feature adjustment with important speech components. The DRA normalizes dynamic ranges and the MSC eliminates the noise corruption of speech feature parameters.
In addition to DRA and MSC, the psychoacoustic masking effects for speech feature extraction in ASR is also introduced in this presentation. It is based on the human auditory system. Generally, the mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCC) are widely used speech features in ASR systems, and however one of their main drawbacks is the lack of psychoacoustic processing, which can affect and hamper the results. This presentation introduces noise robust speech features which improve upon MFCC and its modified features. A psychoacoustic model-based feature extraction which simulates the perception of sound in the human auditory system is investigated and integrated into the front-end technique of the proposed ASR system. This new approach has been useful for noise robust speech recognition embedded into AI-Robots.
In addition to this research development, some of real consumer products with these techniques will be introduced. Among them, a small robot has been announced over the world as a practical product.

Title: Siam Soft Power Challenging for Developing STEAM Activities in Classroom

Reutai Jongsarit, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), Thailand

Abstract:
Soft power has become an important tool in growing economic, environmental, and social value. How we design and develop STEAM curricula in classroom to give knowledge, intellectual property, expertise, and creativity by linking with culture and society, and technology and innovation for the further development of the production of goods and service.
In Thailand, Sirindhorn Science Home is one of the national learning centers for STEAM activities for teachers and children under the National Science and Technology Development Agency. The STEAM activities aim to equip children and youth with three major skills for a worthwhile future: inspiration, motivation, and creativity by applying Siam soft power.
We support developing science projects and science programs in schools which increase high-value products and services that are eco-friendly and require less resource input with suitable for Thai soft power such as Thai food, Thai fighting, Thai traditional fashion, Thai festival, and Thai biological resources. Furthermore, the activities are related to the 17 goals of sustainable development. For example, the Climate action program, STEAM plus culture program, Energy and transportation program, Food program, Agriculture program, Robotics program, Smart material program, Health program, and Biodiversity program.
The key pillars of STEAM activities in classroom with Siam soft power, STAEM project and STEAM camp for youth, and the development of curricula and learning materials. Building on this, the STEAM activities encourage and help develop

Title: Tokyo City University's SDGs-Education and Research
Prof. Akira Taguchi, Director of International Center, Tokyo City University, Japan

Abstract:

Today, under the slogan "leave no one behind," the world is working toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015, which include 17 global goals and 169 targets. The fact that the international community must set common goals is, in turn, an indication that the challenges facing humanity are becoming increasingly sophisticated, complex, and global.

In order to achieve the SDGs, Tokyo City University is committed to becoming a "Best Value University" (a university with the greatest educational value-added) in terms of education, which measures educational effectiveness by the degree to which students can improve their abilities from enrollment to graduation, and to building an "educational support system" that leaves no one behind. In addition, we have declared that we will work even harder with every student to build an "educational support system" that leaves no one behind, and we are striving to develop human resources with unwavering "value" in the form of outstanding expertise, practical skills, and internationality.

In terms of research, we have established the Future City Research Organization to promote research aimed at realizing "Urban Digital Transformation (UDX)," which incorporates advances in digital technology to solve the various issues facing cities. Furthermore, we are strengthening our commitment to the SDGs by communicating to the outside of the university the goals that all of our eight faculties (18 departments) and two graduate schools (8 majors) are working on themselves. In this presentation, we will introduce specific examples of Tokyo City University's educational and research efforts to achieve the SDGs.

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