Vrobots Ltd.

It is a corporation in Hong Kong that was founded with the objective to convert our results related to AI research and development into marketable products, sell them and continue development through this company.

The primary objective of our products is to cost-effectively reduce the use of human resources, to ease the life of disabled people as well as to reduce labour costs.

What is the objective of the MAIA project?

The utmost objective of the MAIA software family is the adaptation and utilisation of the results of Artificial Intelligence (AI) R&D in our accelerated everyday life in order to make it even more comfortable, simpler and safer. We want to achieve this with products accessible and affordable to many.

What is Artificial Intelligence (in general)?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is intelligence manifesting itself through a machine, software or some artificially created consciousness. The concept is mostly associated with computers. Although artificial intelligence is originally the brainchild of sci-fi literature, at present it represents a significant branch of computation science concerned with intelligent behaviour, learning and the adaptation of machines, also topics like control, planning and scheduling, the ability of responding to diagnostic and consumer questions as well as the recognition of handwriting, speech and faces.
It has developed into a discipline which attempts to find answers to real life problems. Nowadays, AI systems are extensively used in economics and medical science, design, the army and a lot of popular computer applications and video games. (Source: Wikipedia)

What does artificial intelligence mean in relation to MAIA software programs?

In essence, it means that MAIA solutions are capable of learning to use the technical devices, equipment and other devices, e.g. computer programs surrounding us thus creating a consistent, easily applicable, speech-based communication medium between man and machine. In other words, MAIA software programs recognize and interpret everyday human speech and are thus able to carry out oral instructions and forward them to the specific devices either through line or in an IR or RF way. Their use and control need no special technology, settings or pre-learned commands and instructions. They are able to perceive the changes in their 'environment' and give intelligent responses to them.

What application fields does the MAIA system have?

There are almost infinite possibilities in the use of artificial intelligence from the already mentioned medical sciences to video games but the present level and expected development trends and rates of associated fields and everyday technology played a decisive role in the selection and development of the first fields of use of MAIA software programs. Naturally, the human factor, that is, the receptivity and 'maturity' of users in the specific fields of application also played an important role

Versions coming soon with their planned functionalities:

MAIAescort: version installed on a mobile robot, capable of giving information and telling the way to users, even taking them to their destinations, e.g. in hypermarkets, stores, industrial plants, big fairs/exhibitions, office buildings, public institutions, etc.

What language can MAIA applications use in communication?

At present, they understand, write, read and speak English and Hungarian. What is more, they automatically recognize these languages and can switch from the one to the other at any time.

Who is eligible to participate in the distributor partner programme?

Practically anyone who possesses potential clientele in any of the abovementioned fields of use. The sale of products does not require any special technical expertise or previous studies. You only need some basic knowledge, mainly of use but this can be acquired quickly and easily.
We provide end user installations, the necessary settings, and the training as well as maintenance and support services.
For our partner programme, we primarily expect the representatives of the following fields:

MAIAhome: companies involved in home automation (manufacturers, wholesalers, building contractors), planning offices, interior decorators, premium category building contractors or investors, high-end hifi/audio/video dealers, internet service providers

MAIAassist: dealers of office applications and equipment and IT and office automation devices, virtual office service suppliers, business internet service providers, companies involved in management consulting and/or training...

MAIAreception: operators and investors of office buildings, multi-company sites, industrial parks, hotels and fair premises, exhibition organisers, companies manufacturing and trading (wholesale) entry systems, companies manufacturing and trading (wholesale) security equipment...

MAIAhotel: investors and operators of big hotels, suppliers of hotel equipment, internal decorators, designers, companies involved in home automation (manufacturers and wholesale traders alike), dealers (wholesale) and manufacturers of hifi/audio/video equipment MAIAcar: car dealers and authorised dealers, distributors and repair shops of car hifi equipment, car renting services, companies operating car fleets

How does MAIA software work?

Basically, MAIA software can be instructed orally and is capable of giving an oral answer, too. There is no system of commands, in its basic version the software can be instructed in everyday English language and vocabulary, and it responds in a similar way.

In its basic configuration MAIA can cope with most of the office and home functions in an interactive way and is able to conduct a conversation on its own. To understand, process and perform tasks, the central sofware primarily uses artificial intelligence (AI) systems, speech recognition, translation and face recognition softwares, due to which in some situations it may react a little bit more slowly (but not necessarily less precisely) than it is the case in human-human communication. Our softwares make use of the most up-to-date artificial intelligence research. The knowledge base of the BotCom/Chatbot technology is extremely large with its emotional model and communication engine being able to apply complex moods, humour, associative, abstractional and other features and tasks only characteristic of humans (handling metaphors, face recognition, evaluation of human metacommunication, etc.). MAIA software is capable of playing the role of motivator and to some extent of fulfilling charismatic and management roles, e.g. it may act as the moderator and delegator of a dialogue or task.

MAIA is likewise capable of handling unexpected and individual situations and complex tasks. Although at this time, very high calculating performance is needed, which may slow down operations, and external (oral) instructions may be required, in many such cases MAIA performs the tasks unnoticed. Unexpected and individual cases are memorized in the knowledge base of MAIA so that later a similar (not necessarily identical) task runs more easily and quickly. MAIAs trained for special tasks are suitable for every general task although they are especially well-versed and fast in one field (e.g. sales, home control, interpreting, customer service, call-center, etc.). Beyond the management of a given task or problem, MAIA is capable of memorizing facts, information and peculiarities related to the user. While the system learns procedures continuously, it only stores this kind of information if instructed to do so.

Thanks to its in-built learning mechanism, MAIA performs the tasks it is commissioned with better and better as well as more and more professionally, quickly and efficiently.

In the case when the knowledge of AI technologies is not sufficient to solve the problem in question, it will be transferred to our dispatch network, which means that human resources will be utilised. In such cases, our advanced shared office centre (SOC) manages the use of resources most efficiently. Our services are cost-effective because the minimum human resources are used to perform the task. When the task is performed, control is automatically given back to the machine AI algorithms.

MAIA software is under continuous development, which, on the one hand, involves the gradual elimination of any possible deficiencies and inaccuracies, and the ensuring of better manageability, and, on the other hand, means the development and use of new applications. Technological novelties appearing almost day by day are continuously integrated into our system with the purpose to provide our customers with the fastest, most comfortable and cost-effective solutions.

The results of these innovations are regularly and automatically uploaded to our subscribers' PCs so MAIA software can always run with its latest version.

What are the main subsystems of MAIA?

The functions of MAIA depend on the operation of the following, primarily artificial intelligence-based systems, some of which are world novelties (the independent sales of these systems or their integration into applications other than MAIA is feasible):

Voice and Speech Recognition System

Converts incoming analog or digital sound files into a text file (MS Word) written in real time and complying with both grammatical and semantic rules.
Efficient noise management (filtering out strong background noises)
Speaker identification In the English (120 characters/minutes), German (40 char/min) or Hungarian (40 char/min) languages
Extremely short (1-2 min) learning period
Efficient accent or speech disorder handling

Image and Face Recognition System

Comparison of incoming picture or motion video signals with pictures stored in the database.

real-time processing of motion pictures (video signals) (approx. 10 pictures/sec)
identification of objects and faces appearing in different perspectives
handling unfavorable light conditions
handling aged faces, mimic and differences in hair
advanced association capabilities (e.g. the system is capable of identifying a pair of shoes)
that is not in its database as such
Output result: file name: does the picture (video) include any of the faces or objects in the target database. If yes, what is the name of the file that is included in the incoming picture or video. If there is more than one, the routine returns with several file names.
A database with 1,000,000+ elements recognizing all the everyday objects and famous people, in all perspectives and under all light conditions
Handling and recognition of colors
Reading function

Interactive Communication and Command System

On the basis of incoming information processed as described above, the system responds or performs the necessary task relying on the different databases as matched to the circumstances and in an intelligent way.

Automatic learning capabilities

On the basis of the incoming input data, our software continuously develops its knowledge.

In a clear, articulate voice, the software may be instructed orally about what response to give to certain commands or external stimuli. Tasks need not be explained in great detail as the system knows obvious rules without learning

It is not necessary to teach every function or alternative to MAIA one by one, it is enough to teach the most important ones, the basic principles, and behavior or response patterns possibly differing from any basic rules instead.

MAIA makes an effort to solve any situations it is not or not specifically trained for on the basis of former patterns or basic principles (let them be default or given by user), and only asks for help if it is incapable of doing so. If it has made a mistake, the error should be corrected because if it is not done, the wrong response or process will get fixed in its memory.

If the system is given no preliminary principles or patterns, it will use default patterns mirroring everyday behavioral patterns, which guarantees sufficient efficiency in most applications.

Face and Body Animation System

Display of an animated face with mimic and lip movement matched to the speech that can be heard.

Speech synthesizer

in the English and Hungarian languages

What are the forms of appearance of MAIA?

In a default case, MAIA may be run on any desktop or notebook with minimum configuration, which application is sufficient to meet demands in most cases. By supplementing the PC with a camera, scanner or printer, etc. the sense organs and execution tools of MAIA may be multiplied. With a special configuration currently under development, MAIA will become accessible on UMPC and PDA devices, too. In such a case, however, the advantages of mobility and small size will be offset by slower speed and more restricted functions. MAIA may be installed in any built-in application with a PC environment including booths (e.g. reception desk, customer service, sales point, and hostess robot) or touch screens (e.g. intelligent house control at home).