‘Robot Whisperer’ Mikko Kiviranta turns innovation into automation

In product development, innovation is more than a fancy word – it’s something that materializes into a tangible solution. System Specialist, Controls Mikko Kiviranta’s job at Cimcorp covers the entire journey of automation from brainstorming ideas to software development as well as support and maintenance.

An expert in software development and motion planning, Mikko works in a team responsible for designing new robotic products and maintaining already implemented features. An integral part of the job is creating something that did not previously exist.

It all starts with an idea that we hope will one day become a solution for a client. It’s our job to turn thoughts into a reality that fulfils their needs 24/7 and to develop all the relevant functions. Our efforts find their purpose through the client.

Mikko’s experience in the field has gained him the nickname Robot Whisperer. “Well, it’s true that I have been practicing the language of robots for quite a while now,” he laughs.

“We each hold the brush, but the team helps steer it”

No two days are alike in product development: there’s everything from hands-on days in the workshop to math-intense research. The variety of tasks and timelines ensures there’s no space for boredom. With cooperation happening with everyone from sales to customer support, the past, the present and the future are all simultaneously on the table.

Today, we may be looking at how the equipment performs for a client month to month, while tomorrow, we could be working on robot motion millisecond to millisecond. Both scales are needed for smooth everyday operations.

When conjuring up something completely new, fostering creativity and valuing expertise is key. Mikko depicts his team as a group of artists with different backgrounds, knowledge, and ambitions. Open and honest conversations help choose the most viable options and discard the rest.

We each hold the brush, but the team helps steer it. In a way, I see my job as artisanal work. Contributing to the creation of functional machinery and software is what keeps me going.

Developing robots for a complex and imperfect world

Even with roots near Ulvila, Mikko first heard of Cimcorp when studying automation engineering at Tampere University of Technology. He specialized in factory automation and worked two summers at Cimcorp before doing a commissioned thesis for the company and landing a long-term position. Returning home to Satakunta felt like a natural next step.

You can’t work a job for 15 years without an occasional shortcoming. Mikko has a straightforward recipe for moments of imperfection: admit your fallibility, take an analytical look at the situation, and try to find the root cause.

“The reality is such a complex and peculiar thing that we simply can’t predict every outcome. When the robots interact with the random events of an imperfect world, a hiccup is bound to happen every now and then. What we can do is learn and make use of the lessons in the future,” Mikko explains.

The launch of a new solution is a moment of celebration that makes up for every bump in the road along the way. We may have spent months on a project, from initial plans and brainstorming to creating tangible mechanical equipment and software that suit the client’s needs. The work doesn’t end there, but it sure does feel good at that moment to have a machine up and running.

When things change fast, adaptability makes all the difference

As a long-time expert in factory and intralogistics automation, Mikko has contributed to many a robotic product and their ability to fulfil the demanding and versatile tasks that modern industries require. Both the equipment and the software need to perform day in, day out, and be robust enough to keep going for years.

The times we live in bring fast changes, and the ability of our solutions to adapt to those changes is a key development area.

Mikko believes that deeper and automated use of data will be the trend in automation in the future. Machine learning and AI raise data utilization to a new level. I see great potential in both system-level data and the minute details on, for example, robot motion. Utilizing that can give us a competitive advantage and further develop our machinery and software.

Grow, flow and glow

At Cimcorp we don’t fill vacancies; we solve our clients’ business challenges by sourcing the best people with the right mix of skills, experience and attitude.