AI and Robotics Ventures is an artificial intelligence and robotics business that started with a small group of people who were passionate about AI and robotics technology. It has become one of the business organizations that meet sustainability needs.
From a small robotics club within the organization where people passionate about artificial intelligence and robotics came together, it has now grown into AI and Robotics Ventures or ARV, a subsidiary of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited or PTTEP, which has expanded its business scope beyond the upstream energy industry.
From the beginning of using robots produced by the club to support operational work in petroleum exploration and production activities, today their robotic technology and artificial intelligence have advanced far and have been integrated into various sectors, which not only increases work efficiency exponentially, but also helps create sustainability for Thailand, reducing dependence on foreign technology and elevating the country’s innovation to the international level.
The world’s first remotely controlled underwater pipe maintenance robot, a drone for surveying and collecting forest data that works in conjunction with a satellite, and an application for processing and predicting in-depth data for farmers – these are just some of the works that the ARV team is proud of, using their skills to elevate the lives of Thai people in various dimensions. ARV’s work is amazing, as are the stories of the new generation of innovators behind it.
Today we’re going to talk to Dr. Thana Saranvetphan, ARV’s General Manager, who’s been building this technology and creativity business since its inception. How advanced will robots and AI be in the future, and how will they help improve our quality of life? The conversation with Dr. Thana on screen has the answers.
A club that acts as a laboratory
PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) encourages employees to have extracurricular activities. Dr. Thana, who was interested in robots, took this opportunity to start a robot club by inviting other employees who were interested in the same thing, regardless of whether they had basic knowledge, to join extracurricular activities that would enhance their skills in technology and artificial intelligence.
Some jobs are risky, such as petroleum pipeline maintenance in the energy industry, which requires people to dive deep into the sea. Dr. Thana and his team brought these routine problems to the robotics club to think about what solutions could help reduce the risk.
The club is like a laboratory where members create robots together, with a focus on B2B or business-oriented robots. The club team’s determination has led them to successfully create a drone to explore a flare stack on an oil production platform.
“We saw the potential and business opportunities, so we established ARV Company. I believe that the heart of using technology to solve problems is to thoroughly understand the problem in order to find a solution that can solve it. We are not just using what we have developed to increase the efficiency of the parent company, but we expect to go further. We want ARV’s technology to benefit society and create sustainability in various dimensions through integration to create comprehensive benefits and meet the needs of businesses in various industries,” said Dr. Thana.
The world’s first remotely controlled underwater pipe maintenance robot was then completed. It turns out that the club’s after-hours activities have created a cutting-edge solution that not only reduces the risk for employees, but also cuts the repair time and cost by more than half compared to traditional methods.
Driving society with technological gears
“Since our founding, the past four years have been a period of significant growth for ARV, with people, facilities, and a program to develop key technologies. We have established four other ARV-led startups to help robots and AI do more work and help people in a wider range of industries.”
Dr. Thana explained that they now have Rovula, a business that provides comprehensive services in surveying, monitoring and maintaining underwater infrastructure; Skyller, a business that provides drone technology for surveying, monitoring and managing infrastructure; Varuna, a business that develops comprehensive smart agriculture and forestry technologies; and finally Cariva, a business that brings together partners with leaders in health data network technologies.
“ARV aims to create new businesses while creating long-term value for communities, society and the environment. An ongoing project with tangible results is the integration of satellite and drone imagery technologies to monitor changes and restore green spaces in the OUR Khung BangKachao (Khung BangKachao) project to conserve and develop Bangkok’s lung space.
“Varuna Smart Farming Solution is a system and application that processes data through the use of remote sensing technology and AI to help farmers gain insights and know how much water they need to use, whether the soil in their area currently has enough nutrients or not. This will help increase the efficiency of cultivation and farmers will be able to predict the overall yield in the harvest season,” Dr. Thana said enthusiastically.
When robots and AI are the keys to sustainable development
In addition to the four sub-businesses, ARV is now developing technologies and infrastructure in many other areas. One of them is the Drone Academy, an institute to lay the foundation of knowledge and train drone pilots from basic level to those who are experts in specialized courses for use in various industries to respond to the new era of work with rapid changes in technology.
Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture, Dr. Thana explained that focused investment in innovation and technology is one of the keys to accelerating income growth, leading to a structural transformation of Thailand to escape the middle-income trap. ARV’s continued investment in technology is consistent with and meets this need, as it increases the capabilities of domestic personnel and technology, reducing reliance on foreign technology.
“PTTEP has now established an innovation research and development center named PTIC (PTTEP Technology and Innovation Center) in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Wangchan Valley, Rayong Province, to be used as a place to develop technologies for practical use in various industries. In PTIC, ARV robots are also in operation. We hope that our commitment will help enhance Thailand’s economic competitiveness.”
Collaboration that creates social innovation
As a representative of ARV Company, Dr. Thana believes that every team member is proud to use their knowledge and skills, as well as their professional experience, to create benefits for various sectors. Even though it is only a part, he is happy to push for the development of quality of life, the environment, and the betterment of society.
Dr. Thanakorn concluded by saying, “I think that in development at all levels, the key word is collaboration to integrate the work and knowledge of all sectors. As ARV itself focuses on seeking collaboration with partners in all sectors, whether it is the education sector, the industrial sector, or high-potential startups, to create more advanced innovative solutions in the future.
“Today, ARV is a business that brings together young talents. We believe that being talented is not enough. You must have good governance, be a good person, and conduct business responsibly to help the world and society move towards sustainable development.”
We Adapt, The World Changes The Next Generation: Driving Sustainability with AI & Robotics Technology
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We adjust, the world changes The Next Generation because we all can “change” the world for the better. Meet many ideas and actions from the new generation who have risen up to “adjust” their thinking and take action to jointly create a sustainable world.
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