What do you do if your ideas in the field of Robotics aren't being understood?

Story of my life... Stick to your guns! Do impactuful work that no one else is doing and don't worry about publication counts, citations, etc. Take pride and joy in the innovation part. Recognition for those efforts doesn't matter when you do what you love and what you believe in. People will notice if it's good work and be ok if you aren't alive when that happens :)

If ideas in the field of robotics aren't being understood, there are several steps you can take to address the situation: 1. Clarify Your Ideas 2. Provide Context 3. Engage in Dialogue 4. Demonstrate Examples 5. Seek Support 6. Be Patient and Persistent

To clarify goals in robotics, it's important to understand the problem statement very clearly. If necessary (for example, a complex robotic structure), we can try to divide the project into parts and understand the problem easily. This will surely clarify on the goals that we want to achieve. Discussing with other team members and collecting their opinions is a good approach. Sometimes we may not be familiar with the skill that is required to be applied in the project. At times, try to learn that first or simultaneously, which will help in building the project.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to always try to tie your goal to an organizational goal that’s pre-existing. If you’re solving an organizational top level goal people always lean in to listen just a little bit harder which can help when you’re trying to communicate a complicated concept

Take a step back and reorient the conversation to outlining the goals of the discussion. Start at the 10k foot view and make sure that everyone is onboard and understand. Then you can start to move back slowly into the technical aspects. Whenever presenting, always assume there is a much lower base of knowledge in the group. They may not have been living and breathing automation for the last 20 years and need to ease into it.

Tailor your pitch to the interests and needs of your audience. Whether you’re speaking to potential investors, customers, or partners, focus on the aspects of the robot that are most relevant to them.

If your ideas aren't being understood, refine your pitch to communicate effectively. Simplify technical jargon and use clear, concise language to convey your ideas. Tailor your message to your audience's level of understanding and interests. Provide concrete examples or demonstrations to illustrate the potential impact of your ideas. Listen actively to feedback and adjust your pitch accordingly to address any misunderstandings or concerns. Practice delivering your pitch with confidence and enthusiasm to enhance engagement and receptiveness. By refining your pitch and adapting it to your audience, you can increase understanding and gain support for your ideas in robotics.

One thing I found helpful is to remove unnecessary details. Make sure the information you're delivering is relevant to the topic AND audience at the time and place. Some details can be withheld. Over sharing can hurt more than it helps. If details are needed, welcome the audience to request it. This will encourage engagement and close the knowledge gap.

Introducing robotics to new industries often means dealing with a customer base unfamiliar with automation. Identifying and addressing these knowledge gaps is crucial. For instance, at my company, we showcase a robot at tradeshows configured in a manner to optimize for booth space, a setup that is not reflective of our production robots. At a recent show, a potential client dismissed our product, stating that the configuration of the demo robot did not match their warehouse workflow. This highlighted their unawareness that our robots are highly configurable. This experience taught us that we assumed too much about our customers' understanding of robotics and our products.

Let's say you're developing a new educational robot designed to teach programming concepts to children. Seeking feedback must involve discussing your idea with robotics engineers, educators, parents, and even children themselves. As you present your concept, observe their reactions and listen to their questions. For instance, if parents express concerns about the safety features of the robot or educators inquire about its adaptability to different learning styles, these insights highlight areas that may need further clarification or refinement in your communication strategy. By incorporating this feedback, you can ensure that your messaging resonates with a broader audience and addresses their needs and concerns effectively.

To figure out where you're not explaining well, ask for feedback. Talk to different people, even those who don't know much about robotics. Their questions and comments will show you what you need to explain better. Listen to their advice and use it to make your message better.

We’ve just invested in Visual Components simulation software to show ideas before heavy hardware investment. Still getting used to it.

If my ideas in the field of robotics aren't being understood, I actively seek feedback from my audience to pinpoint areas of confusion or misunderstanding. I listen attentively to their questions, concerns, and suggestions, and use this feedback to refine and clarify my ideas. Additionally, I explore alternative ways to present my concepts, such as using visual aids or demonstrations, to enhance comprehension. By proactively seeking feedback and making necessary adjustments, I strive to ensure that my ideas are communicated effectively and resonate with my audience in the field of robotics.

This is very common problem when the proposed robotic solution is of complex nature and client is new to Robotic. I always prefer to present the solution through Animation or visual simulation. This give immense clarity on 1. How solution looks. 2. Each and every steps are covered. 3. Layout. 4. Man and material movement. 5. Components used in Automation. 6. Throughput. And many more...

Visuals like diagrams, flowcharts, and prototypes are super helpful when talking about tricky robotics stuff. They make ideas easier to understand. Sometimes words just aren't enough, but a good picture can really make things click. Just remember, keep your visuals clear and make sure they match up with what you're saying or writing. You don't want to confuse folks even more!

A simulation of the robot program is one of the best ways to show the robot program in action without powering up the hardware. Some software's allow for the simulation to be recorded to a sharable animation format. This animation could then be replayed by any stakeholder in their own pace.

Incorporating visuals like diagrams, animations, or prototypes can significantly enhance understanding of intricate robotics ideas. These tools offer a concrete representation of abstract concepts, facilitating easier comprehension for your audience. Focus on creating visuals that are straightforward and directly related to the key points of your presentation. This approach can bridge communication gaps, making your robotics innovations more accessible and engaging to a wider range of individuals.

If my ideas in the field of robotics aren't being understood, I leverage the power of visuals to enhance comprehension. I create diagrams, charts, and simulations to illustrate key concepts and processes. Visual aids can effectively convey complex ideas in a more accessible and engaging manner, helping others grasp the intricacies of robotics. By incorporating visuals into presentations, documents, and discussions, I provide a visual context that complements verbal explanations, making it easier for audiences to conceptualize and internalize the information presented. This approach facilitates clearer communication and promotes a better understanding of my ideas in robotics.

I would also add to this - don’t use acronyms without defining them in the deck. Especially in a sector like robotics that’s multi-vertical you’d be surprised how often acronyms mean different things across different industries. I’d say avoid acronyms altogether, but in presentations and slides they are space saving

As a German I can clearly recommend to avoid "German Over-Engineering". Don't explain the functions in all details, but explain the user value and the potential benefits. Avoid techical terms and abbreviations that only insiders and nerds understand. Use simple, straight forward messages.

Customers don't want a robot, rather they have jobs that they want done, and they want them done better. Robots are just one way to accomplish this job! Use simple language that your customer understands surrounded by terms native to their field. This helps identify how your solution will solve the problem and gains the needed respect (if you're new to the field) that establishes credibility with your customer.

When explaining robotics concepts, it's crucial to use language that's accessible to all. Avoid industry-specific jargon that might confuse your audience. Instead, explain your ideas using simple, everyday language or analogies that relate to common experiences. This approach ensures that your audience, regardless of their technical background, can understand and appreciate the value of your robotics initiatives. Making your ideas accessible doesn't diminish their complexity; it broadens their appeal and fosters a deeper connection with your audience.

Like my posts here on LinkedIn, using common language to reach a wider audience and spread knowledge while demystifying robots. Showing that they are allies, not job stealers that will leave you unemployed, but rather help make things better without physical effort.

I will convert the project into small sets of projects / deliverables and would achieve the final target but gradually. Sometimes if you break the broad projects into pieces it is good even to meet the timeframe as well.

Adopt a gradual approach by introducing ideas incrementally and provide various learning resources such as guides or videos for independent review. Additionally, organising interactive workshops can further enhance understanding and engagement, allowing stakeholders to explore concepts deeply and clarify doubts in real-time.

If your robotics ideas are really new or hard to understand, teach your audience slowly. Begin with simple stuff about robotics and move to the harder parts of your project. This way, they can learn bit by bit and understand your cool ideas better.

When a concept seems overwhelming, I find that breaking down the components and explaining how each part works and how the inputs and outputs work together helps understanding happen.

I will try simplifying my explanations by providing practical demonstrations, or creating visual aids. I will also consider engaging open discussions, actively listening to feedbacks, and adapt my audience communication style to better convey the concepts effectively.

Always know your audience. Knowing your audience should actually be the first step in this entire flow as it informs everything that comes after. Take some time to consider what your audience cares about. What are their pain points? What are the factors that drive their top and bottom lines? What are their goals? If you don’t know - even a couple emails or LinkedIn messages asking can be very valuable

When it comes to B2B, try to keep one thing in mind: At the end of the day, customers don't care about your robot/solution - they care about how much money it can make or save them. We have a tendency to see the robot as an end, but it is only a means. If the customer could do it some other way for cheaper/better they most certainly will. Seems obvious, but it's easy to forget.

Implementatie van robots in het veld is naast het ontwikkelen van robots en overtuigen van potentiële gebruikers één van de belangrijkste onderwerpen. Gebruikers "vergeten" dat een robot voorwaarden nodig heeft om het werk autonoom over te kunnen nemen. Het is essentieel om met gebruikers te spreken over operationele zaken die moeten worden aangepakt. Denk bijvoorbeeld bij een reinigingsrobot aan kabels, putjes of roosters op de grond welke de robot (nog) niet zelfstandig kan ontdekken en daardoor vast kan lopen. Er moet dus worden geanticipeerd op een nieuwe taakverdeling voor de gebruiker. Dit kost minder tijd dan de complete taak uitvoeren en is minder fysiek belastend dan de oorspronkelijke taak op een conventionele manier uitvoeren.

This may be one of those times when you keep this one close to your chest; in other words you may have to investigate these ideas on your own. Woodshed on it for a while and see if you can create a prototype of at least a part of your idea. Then you can show and tell and go from there.

Can the idea be quickly demoed ? Making a demo can be an efficient way to present and sell ideas. It also has the advantages that it demonstrates feasibility, and can identify the challenges connected with bringing it into production.