In the latest episode of Lexicon, the podcast by Interesting Engineering (IE), we sit down with Jaroslaw Rzepecki, Ph. D., Monumos chief technology officer (CTO).
Our mission is to improve the efficiency of motor systems in a way that has never been possible before and, in doing so, help us use precious resources more sustainably, Monumo explains. Monumo is working hard to get there using a unique set of data and machine learning techniques to build one of the worlds first large engineering models (LEM).
Once matured, this model will work like an engineering R&D Midjourney or Dall-E to help engineers with components or entire machine plans on demand. A quantum leap in computer-aided design (CAD), if you like.
While the interface wont be as dumbed down as you might expect from large-language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, it will leverage an engineers time to make the best kit they can imagine. And the potential is enormous.
Jaroslaw Rzepecki leads the companys technological development, oversees the hardware and software development pipelines, and directs machine learning (ML) research.
Before joining Monumo, Jaroslaw was an integral part of the Codemasters team behind the racing video games Grid and Dirt 2; he has also worked as a software engineer at Siemens and held senior roles at Microsoft Research and ARM.
As he told Interesting Engineering during our interview, he also spends some of his spare time in martial arts, specifically kickboxing. We asked him if martial arts had helped his professional life.
Yeah, so its a bit similar to my professional journey, so I tried several different disciplines as I moved around. You know I was also changing clubs, and obviously, then you also change the styles a little bit, Jaroslaw told us.
I did quite a few different ones. I would say that my favorite sport is kickboxing. Ive done that for probably the longest out of all of them, and whether it helps, it does. I think it helps with focus. It helps with clearing your mind, he added.
Afterwards, you probably feel physically exhausted; youre quite invigorated. You have more energy that day to do something than if you would skip that training the previous day. So yes, I would say that it does help, Jaroslaw said.
After his extensive and diverse career, including academia, computer game design, and software engineering at Siemens and ARM, Jaroslaw saw the potential for Monumo and jumped ship to become its second-ever employee. He has since worked up the ranks to become its head tech honcho.
When asked if this was a big risk for him, Jaroslaw said, Um, there is always some risk involved when you change, right? But you know no risk, no fun, right? So, yes, I think a bit of a risk was involved. But um, as I said, I calculated that risk and thought, thats okay.
The main thrust of Monumos work is to combine physics and engineering knowledge with machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to build a computer model that can help sketch out new models for machines. The idea is that, with enough data and training, such a model could conceivably be used to make novel designs never dreamed up before.
And it will be data and professional-driven to boot. Not just any Tom, Dick, and Harry will be able to pick it up and run with it. This is mainly because Monumo plans to keep its software proprietary but also because, at its heart, the software is a complicated multidisciplinary physics model.
It combines data and understanding of many different engineering fields and physics and can conceivably integrate many other diverse fields. This could encompass nuclear physics, nanotechnology, biology, and geology. It could be integrated into the model if it can be measured or modeled.
One sentence headline here, and Im sure that everybody in the engineering community listening to this podcast will appreciate how difficult it is to find the right balance of different components of a complex engineering system if you want to design it, right? Jaroslaw said.
Its a difficult problem. So I like a challenge, I like difficult problems, and applying deep tech to engineering also automatically makes it a multidisciplinary problem because obviously, you have to combine, you know, the latest developments in computer science algorithms optimization, math, and physics, he added.
But the LEM is the long-term goal. For now, they are building an Anser model that can generate models but, crucially, provide the training data for the LEM later down the line. Monumo is focusing on making electric motors as energy-efficient as possible.
When pressed about problems of LLMs and hallucinations, Jaroslaw explained that Anser and the eventual LEM would be immune to this. He explained this because the generated designs are then sense checked using mechanical engineering tools to assess their viability.
If they dont pass the muster, the software flags issues, and the user will go back to the drawing board to amend the design accordingly. The entire design process is the same as in real life, with multiple stages yielding the final piece.
It is a collaborative approach, like tweaking parameters in Midjourney or Dall-E to get the picture you want. Anser can also integrate certain customer considerations or constraints into the design based on their needs.
Since many aspects of our modern world use energy in some form or another, even a marginal increase in energy efficiency could provide enormous energy savings around the world. Less energy wasted is a bonus for the planet as a whole.
And so any kind of improvements that we can make to electric motors will have a huge positive impact on ecology and our movement of the society to towards a more and more green way of life, Jaroslaw said.
The company chose the electric motor as it is a simple and complex enough problem. If Anser can be proven with something like this, it can be used for basically anything (within reason) with enough data and training.
The techniques that were applying and the simulation that we build is a multiphysics simulation so that it could be applied to other branches of engineering we are indeed. Yes, we are laying the foundations and building the simulation that is flexible enough, he explained.
LLMs (Large Language Models) drive todays AI models to mimic human ability with words and pictures. Tomorrow, LEMs (Large Engineering Models) will create solutions that surpass anything humans have previously achieved. Our ability to run and store large volumes of simulations, combined with our optimization intelligence, means that we are already on the way to building these precious data sets and training new models, Monumo explains.
And dont worry about such a model taking your engineering job. Jaroslaw explained that Anser and its progeny should be considered a new, competent computer-aided (CAD) design software.
I dont think that Engineers have to worry about losing their jobs. I will always need engineers. You know, all of this is, um, its a tool, and weve seen in the past that each time a new tool is developed in principle, he said.
Humankind has an option: either Im going to use this great new tool and do the same thing that I did before but with fewer humans being involved, or I can use this new tool and all the humans that I have just to do more, and we always go for Lets just do more, he added.
So, it may be time to brush up on your AI and ML expertise.
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Christopher McFadden Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.
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