(Photo courtesy of Dr. Leo Pang, and used with permission.)

The Mynt Sdeno robot is very cute.  But it's also seriously "smart".

Dr. Leo Pang, founder of Santa Clara-based artificial intelligence technology company Slightech, designed Mynt Sdeno to interact with its surroundings, and with multiple users.

Through AI, Leo and his team have created the robot to "learn" as it performs tasks, and to store information.

At Sensors Expo and Conference 2018, in San Jose in June, the robot was a standout favorite on the show floor.

Mynt Sdeno, which debuted at CES 2016, operates on Slightech's proprietary software, which allows it to "see" where it's going.   Meanwhile, the robot is interacting with humans, distinguishing faces and performing tasks in real time.

Facial recognition software allows the robot to verify identities.  Meanwhile, Mynt Sdeno's deep learning engine allows it to adapt to specific applications, such as working in a store, museum or office.

Leo shared the story of Mynt Sdeno (including a cautionary tale that's enough to scare any innovator who's ever had to transport a special product to a show!), explained how the robot works and offered a preview of what's next.
On this edition of Over Coffee® you will hear:

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How Leo first became interested in robotics;

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His journey, from there to the creation of the Mynt Sdeno robot;

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How the process worked, as he and his team designed the robot in 2014;

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A travel story that just might have you holding your breath!;

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How the Mynt Sdeno robot works in a customer-service setting, such as a small business;

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Some of the biggest challenges Leo and his team discovered, in creating Mynt Sdeno to operate with artificial intelligence in a new environment;

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What's next, for the Mynt Sdeno robot;

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And, a fantastic resource (on which you can design your own robot or robot application) available through Slightech!

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Plus--Leo's favorite experience, when he brought the robot into his home (hint: he may now have a future roboticist-in-training!).