Robotics and automation are already helping to reduce risk to humans and increase productivity on building sites, writes Pete Felton, Business Development Executive at the National Robotarium.
FROM its early use on films such as Rocky, Marathon Man, and The Shining through to its modern appearances at the side of football matches and other sporting clashes, the Steadicam has revolutionised the life of camera operators, removing much of the strain of manoeuvring heavy equipment from their shoulders and arms. Soon, construction workers should be benefiting from similar assisted technology too.
In the same way that the Steadicam rig helps camera operators by spreading the weight of cameras, batteries, and monitors throughout their core, engineers are developing systems to aid construction workers in handling heavy tools. Rather than putting the pressure on workers’ shoulders or arms, these robotic structures should help to spread the load, cutting down on the number of potential workplace injuries.
Other robotic systems are already making a difference on construction sites. Hilti’s Jaibot semi-autonomous drilling robot is harnessing data from building information modelling (BIM) systems to carry out mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installation tasks such as overhead drilling, both improving productivity and reducing the strain on human workers.
Helping to narrow the skills gap
That focus on health and safety is one of the key areas in which robotics and automation can help to take people away from dangerous and dirty jobs, helping to improve the quality of life for everyone. Robots and people can work side by side in safety.
This isn’t about robots taking people’s jobs – there’s a massive skills shortage in the construction industry and so if we can take workers away from mundane and repetitive jobs and use robots instead then those workers can be retrained to carry out more skilled tasks, adding greater value to projects and giving them more job satisfaction.
Brick-laying machines don’t work well because people are better suited to that type of skilled work. But, in the pre-construction phase, robots could be assembling panels and other prefabricated materials, freeing up people to do tasks on site that require finer skills – such as sealing, plumbing, or installing electrics – which are much harder for robots.
Pete Felton, Business Development Executive at the National Robotarium
Harnessing the power of digital twins
Here at The National Robotarium, we know that it’s no good talking the talk if we don’t walk the walk as well. That’s why we used a Spot robot – built by Boston Dynamics and kitted out with sensors by our team – to inspect our building site at night when construction was underway on our flagship facility.
This type of simultaneous localisation and mapping work is going to become even more important when stricter building regulations are introduced throughout the UK. Robots can help to gather the data that will be needed to prove that construction projects comply with environmental regulations – if robots don’t carry out this type of work then construction companies will need to employ people, at significant expense, to carry out mundane tasks such as checking sealant and auditing insulation.
Ultimately, using robots to gather data will enable the creation of digital twins while office blocks and industrial projects are being constructed, creating an accurate record of where each wire, cable, pipe, and duct is situated. Those digital twins can then be passed on by the builder to the facilities manager, making the maintenance of properties much easier and creating a digital link all the way through from the architect to the maintenance staff.
Widening opportunities for export success
As well as improving conditions for workers and increasing productivity in the UK, the greater use of robotics and automation could also generate an economic boost for Britain through exports too. If British construction companies harness the power of robots then the technologies they create and the expertise they develop could be exported to markets throughout the world.
The building boom across the Gulf States and the wider Middle East is set to be eclipsed by the growth of the affluent middle classes in India, with the ensuing need for buildings that rapid urbanisation will bring. Such growth can only be achieved in an environmentally sustainable way if robotics and automation are harnessed throughout the construction process, from prefabrication through to retrofitting of existing buildings to make sure they keep dwellers cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
BIM and automation go hand-in-hand when it comes to energy efficiency, both for cooling systems and heating systems, making sure that buildings consume as little power as possible. If we get these factors correct in the UK then we can export that expertise around the world.
Health and safety and digital twinning are just two of the exciting areas in which robots can make a difference to building projects, but our engineers are always looking to work with staff at the sharp end of the construction industry to come up with new ideas – that’s why the doors at The National Robotarium are always open for collaborations.
This article was originally published in BIM Plus magazine on 11 January 2024.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/AdobeStock_220539261-scaled.jpeg17072560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2024-01-22 16:23:192024-01-22 16:24:25How robots are taking BIM to the next level
I knew when it began that 2023 was going to be an interesting year. I had secured a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship to pursue Frontier Robotics, a new spin-out created to advance software for underwater robotic autonomy, exploration and inspection and had one year to make the company a reality. Little did I know that, by the year’s close, I would be exhibiting our technology in Dubai during COP28, the world’s largest climate change conference, and meeting VIPs, including royalty!
The support included in the Fellowship provided a great grounding to this whirlwind year. As well as a year’s salary, it offered new Fellows a business support programme, consisting of several days intensive business training from St John’s Innovation Centre with expert advice encompassing pitching, branding and marketing, finance, and legal – all the foundational elements of a fledgling business – as well as access network of ~600 other startup companies. The Fellowship also provided a £15k business support grant that I put towards early-stage financing, webservers, and integrating our core produce AUIP (Autonomous Underwater Inspection Payload) with an ROV manufacturer for a potential future partnership in Norway.
3D reconstruction from testing in a harbour in Norway
The advice and insight from the Fellowship proved invaluable. In May, Frontier Robotics won £100k grant at the Scottish EDGE Awards, the highest possible funding, including a special EDGE prize for Net Zero. This was only our first attempt (I’d heard anecdotally that most successful companies take at least two), so it really proves the effectiveness of the business support I’d had to that point. Particularly learning how to effectively pitch our business in less than 3 minutes.
The Scottish EDGE win changed everything. The investment allowed me to expand the team – I now employ 1 full-time and 2 part-time engineers, as well as a PhD student one day per week – and establish a base for developing Frontier’s technology from theoretical research developed during ORCA Hub(the offshore robotics research project that was a precursor to the National Robotarium’s autonomous underwater robotics research theme), to practical commercial applications that can be adopted by industry.
Jonatan Scharff-Willners winning the top prize of £100k at Scottish EDGE 2023
The win also led to an invite to join the Scottish Enterprise High-Growth Venture Programme, matching me with a mentor to support entrepreneurial skills development, develoeping my business models and helping me engage with investors to raise additional funding. I look forward to working with them over the next few months to accelerate the growth of the company.
Being part of the Heriot-Watt University ecosystem has reaped its rewards. In 2022, ORCA won ‘Research team of the year’ at the Heriot-Watt people celebration awards, and we were a finalist in the Times Higher Education Awards, two significant achievements that felt like the peak of success. Little did I know it was just the beginning of a much larger adventure, preceding a year when I gained more knowledge and experience than I could have imagined!
The ORCA hub wins Research Team of the Year at the 2022 Heriot-Watt University ‘Celebrating our People’ Awards
The in-house Business Development team at Heriot-Watt have also been incredibly supportive throughout the year, offering advice, invites to events and networking opportunities. The team at GRID was instrumental in my participation in the Clean Tech exhibition, part of the Climate Hub programme running at Heriot-Watt’s Dubai campus during COP28. They approached me to showcase the business at an exhibition space visited by scientists, policymakers, schools, invited guests and VIPs throughout the global conference.
I was honoured to exhibit alongside nine other companies that are developing technologies and products for a more sustainable future. These included Crover, also based at the National Robotarium, who have created a burrowing robotic drone to test the environmental conditions of grain silos, feeding back data to help farmers reduce waste caused by moisture and pest infestations; and Smartrawl, headed by Professor Paul Fernandes from the University’s Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Sciences, which has invented an AI-empowered fishing net to identify different species of fish and prevent bycatch of those not needed by trawlers.
A prototype of the Smartrawl AI-empowered fishing net to prevent and reduce trawling bycatch
Meeting and sharing the space with these innovative businesses was one of the most beneficial aspects of the trip. We were able to share our experiences of running a startup and I got lots of valuable advice from those who have already navigated the potential and pitfalls of the Scottish funding and investment landscape. Being in an environment where we quickly connected and could share our successes and struggles bonded us immediately and it’s great to be part of a network of start-ups that can learn from each other’s mistakes and provide much-needed motivation.
The first day in Dubai was an exciting one. We had been informed that His Royal Highness, King Charles III would be visiting to officially open the campus and tour around the CleanTech exhibition and we each had an opportunity to pitch. Despite being told there was only enough time to speak for a single sentence, the King was hugely generous with his time, showing genuine interest in our companies and asking lots of questions. I loved his down-to-earth nature and, as someone who’s been championing sustainable futures for decades, it was clear he was very knowledgeable about the challenges and opportunities for green businesses in the UK.
The First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, was also in attendance on the first day. I had met him before at Scottish EDGE and enjoyed speaking with him again about energy transition in Scotland.
Jonatan and Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf
Over the week, the event brought in over 1000 visitors and it was lovely to meet so many interesting people. Our activity challenged willing participants to become an offshore operator in under 2 minutes using our shared autonomy system that guides and approves the actions in a simulated robotic inspection system.
I was particularly impressed with how quickly the school groups were not only able to grasp the importance for creating a greener future together, but also their ability to pick up the task, controlling the autonomy engine, robot, and 2-camera system (all developed at the National Robotarium) with ease. Our vision for the future is to see robots and humans seamlessly working together and it’s important that people feel empowered to use and control them effectively.
SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) data
On our one day off, we were able to visit the COP28 exhibition arena and talk to some of the companies showcasing there. I was excited to see the latest inventions, learn what kinds of green tech we’re going to be using in the near-future and talk to potential investors.
What became really clear, really quickly, was that small start-ups and spinouts are leading the way for sustainable innovations, advancing new ideas and solutions to real-world problems quickly, and at scale. It’s an exciting time to be building a new business and heartening to see so many cool new companies coming through with a fresh vision, in comparison with bigger businesses who seem to be less transparent about what they’re doing to tackle climate change.
The week ended with some fruitful discussions with offshore industry representatives, and I’m excited that some have continued since I returned to Scotland.
In 2024, Frontier Robotics will be moving into our next phase of growing our industry portfolio and partnerships so it’s fantastic to have been able to connect with global companies and big industry names thanks to being part of Heriot-Watt University.
Jonatan, a Senior Robotics Engineer, and Frontier Robotics are based at the National Robotarium
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/king1.jpg408612Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-12-19 16:25:572023-12-19 18:26:09A view from the Heriot-Watt Dubai Climate Hub – Frontier Robotics
The UK has a major opportunity to position itself at the forefront of the robotics and AI revolution. These technologies promise to reshape industries and provide significant economic benefits, but capturing this potential will require vision, investment and focus from government, academia and business.
Recent research highlighted Edinburgh as the top start-up hub outside London for high-growth companies in AI, digital security and fintech. With academic hubs like the National Robotarium nurturing specialist talent, the ingredients exist for Britain to become a leading developer and exporter of robotic and AI technologies.
The global market for robotics is projected to reach $383 billion by 2032. Meanwhile, PwC estimates AI could contribute more than £200 billion to the UK economy by 2030. To seize a share of these booming sectors, strategic action is needed to foster R&D, translate innovations into commercial technologies and ensure necessary skills are available domestically.
The applications of advanced robotics and AI are near limitless. In factories, automated production lines promise improved quality control and reduced operating costs. Machine-learning algorithms can unlock efficiencies in areas from medical diagnosis to supply chain optimisation. And robots can take over hazardous tasks – from construction to nuclear decommissioning – improving safety and productivity.
The benefits for the services sector are immense too. Chatbots using natural language processing are improving the efficiency of customer service interactions. AI analysis of datasets across finance, retail and other sectors is leading to new data-driven insights.
Pepper, an assistive and rehabilitative humanoid robot
Crucially, embracing these technologies can revive our industries and support levelling-up. The UK has an opportunity to be a producer of robots, and not just a consumer – creating jobs and delivering economic growth. But we need to move fast.
Naturally, there are concerns regarding the need for appropriate regulation as robotics and AI develop. It’s imperative that human values steer the design and application of these technologies. And their implementation must avoid perpetuating biases or compromising privacy.
However, scare stories of runaway autonomous systems are misplaced. In reality, robots will allow people to focus on more satisfying, high-value work – collaborating with ever-smarter machines to find innovative solutions.
The UK Government has ambitious plans to promote AI adoption, but greater effort is required if we’re to build national capability spanning R&D, commercialisation and skills development.
Denmark and South Korea’s investments in their domestic robotics sectors demonstrate what focused strategy can achieve. The UK must now play catch-up and articulate its own long-term vision.
Initiatives like the National Robotarium, which is celebrating its first anniversary since launching its state-of-the art facility in 2022, are working closely with government and industry, and can help make this vision a reality. But broad collaboration is vital, alongside public engagement initiatives to improve understanding of how technology can drive prosperity.
The prize of global leadership in AI and robotics is within reach. But in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, action is urgently required. With the right strategic investments and partnerships, these promising technologies can catalyse innovation across the UK economy.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Stewart-Miller-CEO-of-the-National-Robotarium-2-1-scaled.jpg17032560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-12-18 13:21:582023-12-18 13:22:42Stewart Miller: Britain must grasp the opportunities presented by robotics
An innovative medtech start-up which has created a soft robotic glove to help rehabilitate stroke patients has received almost half a million pounds of new funding to accelerate its product to market.
Bioliberty has secured a £435,000 project from the Biomedical Catalyst, Innovate UK’s flagship grant funding mechanism. The scheme is designed to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable businesses.
The Edinburgh-based company’s robotic glove works by assisting a patient to open and close their hand, an action which can be severely limited following a stroke. Developed in collaboration with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and clinicians, the glove has built-in sensors that allows it to vary levels of resistance to tailor rehabilitation exercises to the user. This new Innovate UK funding will go towards developing the machine learning and data collection elements of the product.
Bioliberty is a tenant at the National Robotarium, benefitting from the world-leading robotics centre’s incubation facilities, state-of-the-art labs, and engineering expertise.
The National Robotarium is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government. The initiative aims to turn Edinburgh into the data capital of Europe and is part of the wider £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal.
Statistics from the UK’s Stroke Association state that someone has a stroke every five minutes in this country affecting 100,000 people every year. It’s estimated that 1.3 million people in the UK have had a stroke with many requiring ongoing therapy to recover from the symptoms.
New guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published in October states that stroke victims should receive up to three hours of rehabilitation a day, five days a week. However, the Stroke Association has voiced concerns over the NHS’ ability to deliver on this target.
Bioliberty, which has already raised more than £3.5 million in private and public funding and created 8 new highly skilled roles within the company over the last six months, believes the new technology can help deliver on these new guidelines.
Speaking ahead of the UK Stroke Forum in Birmingham, Conan Bradley, Co-Founder at Bioliberty, said:
“Bioliberty is on the verge of a revolutionary leap in rehabilitation technology. Our upcoming trials for our soft robotic glove are set to ignite the United States, with top rehab clinics eagerly in discussions. With this newfound funding, we’re poised to accelerate trials and expedite our market launch. But we’re not stopping at the U.S.; the UK beckons, with a significant demand for innovative rehabilitation solutions amidst the latest NICE guidelines.
“Having access to the National Robotarium’s state-of-the-art office and lab facilities, including its ecosystem of collaborators, industry experts and academic teams, has been vital in helping us to develop our product.”
Lisa Farrell is Business Development Manager at the National Robotarium. She said:
“With an ageing population, demand for robotic solutions to assist in the rehabilitation of those who’ve experienced a stroke will be in great demand. Stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide1, so Bioliberty’s product is addressing a global need, which is one of the core missions of the National Robotarium.
“The National Robotarium’s mission is to develop robotic and AI solutions which make people safer, healthier and more productive and working with tenant companies, we want to provide a catalyst for entrepreneurship, and deliver economic and societal benefits.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:
“This pioneering technology has the potential to become a vital tool for health professionals to help improve stroke patients’ care during their rehabilitation process.
“The UK Government has invested £21 million in the National Robotarium helping foster world-leading research and support high quality jobs, investment and growth, as part of our more than £2.7 billion investment to level up across Scotland.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Bioliberty-Soft-Robotic-Glove-2.jpg4601000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-12-04 11:57:362023-12-04 11:57:36Innovate UK funding accelerates robotic stroke rehabilitation device towards launch
Heriot-Watt University’s National Robotarium facility for robotics and AI took home the Project of the Year prize at this year’s Learning Places Scotland awards, held on 14 November in Glasgow. The awards, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government as part of Scottish Learning Estates strategy, are an annual celebration of Scotland’s growing learning estate, recognising facilities that are making strides in sustainability, technology and student experience.
Supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4m from the Scottish Government as part of the £1.3bn Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the National Robotarium officially opened in September 2022. Since then, the facility has been a catalyst for bridging knowledge between science and business, delivering sustainable economic benefit to Scotland and the UK through its expanding portfolio of industry partnerships that are developing new robotic technologies to address real-world and sectoral challenges.
Designed with sustainability at its heart, the 40,000ft² facility itself offers unrivalled learning spaces, allowing Heriot-Watt to maximise its AI and robotics strengths and lead the field in research. It boasts a variety of flexible spaces and test beds for specialist research, student projects, public engagement, and industry collaborations across three distinct themes; Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), Human-Robot Interaction (HRI), and Precision Laser Applications (PLA).
The estates and projects team at Heriot-Watt, along with external consultants Michael Laird Architects and Atkins Realis, who collected the award on the night, were recognised for their collaborative efforts in creating a cutting-edge, sustainable centre for the advancement of research and learning in robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
The success of the project and its construction, enduring challenges such as the Covid pandemic and Brexit, was the result of extensive stakeholder engagement, ensuring the building met the requirements of individual teams and research areas, and accommodated emerging technologies through its flexible, fabric-first design.
More on the awards: https://www.learningplaces.scot/awards-dinner-information
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/National-Robotarium-at-Heriot-Watt-University-36.jpg9981500Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-11-23 16:34:552023-11-23 16:41:41The National Robotarium wins Project of the Year at Learning Places Scotland Awards
Scottish entrepreneurs will be given access to ground-breaking discoveries and innovations that have the potential to reshape entire industries thanks to a pilot programme being launched at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh which is supported by the Barclays Eagle Labs Ecosystem Partnership Programme, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Deep technology or “deeptech” harnesses major scientific discoveries or engineering innovations and has the potential to revolutionise whole economic sectors rather than leading to incremental advances in individual products, processes, and services.
Under the six-month pilot scheme, the DeepTech LaunchPad will give six entrepreneurs from across Scotland access to experts, facilities and equipment within Heriot-Watt University and the National Robotarium.
“Deep-tech isn’t about organic improvement – it’s about harnessing the latest scientific research and engineering breakthroughs to create companies that will disrupt their industries and grow to a global scale.”
Entrepreneurs will also receive training and support from the university’s commercialisation team, helping them to become investment-ready with proven prototype products, industry partners and a viable route to market.
If the pilot scheme is a success then DeepTech LaunchPads have the potential to be rolled out across other Scottish universities.
Grant Wheeler, Head of Commercialisation at Heriot-Watt University, said:
“Having a deep-tech accelerator is one of the missing pieces in Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and will allow our nation to create companies that can compete on an international scale.
“Deep-tech isn’t about organic improvement – it’s about harnessing the latest scientific research and engineering breakthroughs to create companies that will disrupt their industries and grow to a global scale.
“Our DeepTech LaunchPad pilot will give entrepreneurs from outside the university access to the same scientific discoveries and engineering innovations as the students and academics who want to launch spin-out companies, levelling the playing field.
“We expect that the businesses that will be created will go on to attract support from other parts of Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as Codebase’s Techscaler programme and Scottish Enterprise’s programmes for high-growth businesses.”
Matthew Corbidge, Director, Barclays Eagle Labs, added:
“Heriot-Watt University’s DeepTech LaunchPad is exactly the type of game-changing initiative that we want to support through our Ecosystem Partnership Programme.
“Using our Ecosystem Partnership Programme, we’re allocating funding to organisations such as Heriot-Watt that are already plugged into their national and regional ecosystems.
“This isn’t about reinventing the wheel or setting up competing schemes – instead, this is about spotting gaps in the ecosystem and helping existing players to fill that need.
“Deep-tech is one of the most-promising opportunities within both the Scottish and wider UK economies and accessing deep-tech at the National Robotarium will help to create companies of a truly global scale.”
The six entrepreneurs chosen to take part in the DeepTech LaunchPad’s pilot phase will each receive a £15,000 innovation voucher, which they can spend on access to facilities and expertise at Heriot-Watt.
If their companies go on to successfully raise funding or hit operating profit targets then they will repay the £15,000.
Trainee surgeons learning to conduct laparoscopic (or keyhole) surgery will soon be able to complete their training quicker thanks to an AI-empowered system being developed by researchers at the National Robotarium of Heriot-Watt University, in collaboration with the Dundee Institute for Healthcare Simulation of University of Dundee.
Using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor human movements in real-time, the self-training system called AILap will combine machine learning and machine vision technologies with low-cost physical box trainers to provide users with real-time feedback that improves their keyhole surgery techniques and skills.
Over the past 30 years, keyhole or laparoscopic surgery has become common practice for a number of procedures, including operations on the gastrointestinal tract where precise stitching (called suturing) is vital. Existing assessment and training methods for these vital skills are often time consuming, labour intensive, access limited, and costly.
A recent survey from surgical-training body the Fellowship Council revealed that up to 56% of fellows who had finished their training were not able to sufficiently execute laparoscopic suturing, with surgical trainees identifying laparoscopic suturing as the most deficient, yet the most important skill, at the conclusion of their surgical training.
It is hoped that AILap will support surgical trainees to increase their access to training through self-directed exercises and benefit from immediate feedback powered by AI. The project will also help clinical academics responsible for the training of surgeons to restructure their programmes to teach more trainees with the support of AI.
The project is composed of researchers from the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, alongside academics from the University of Dundee. It has been awarded £600,000 from the UK Government by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation.
As the National Robotarium celebrates its first anniversary since opening in September 2022, AILap is the latest in a series of transformational projects associated with the facility.
The National Robotarium is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative and is supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government through the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
AILap project lead and National Robotarium academic, Dr Mustafa Suphi Erden (pictured), said:
“Laparoscopy training takes a significant amount of time to learn and currently requires access to training platforms and guidance from expert surgeons who are often time-poor. That’s why AILap technology has the potential to play an incredibly important role in supporting professional training in our public services and health systems.
“We hope AILap will enable training a greater number of surgeons without the need of an expert supervision. The technology will work with off-the-shelf components so it will be affordable and accessible for health care systems around the world.
“At the National Robotarium, researchers are passionate about developing robotics and AI innovations that can be harnessed to tackle the biggest challenges in healthcare. Whether in the field of robotic surgery, laser surgery, assisted living, or early diagnosis for diseases, we’re driving research and building partnerships that can change lives.”
Stewart Miller, CEO of the National Robotarium, said:
“We launched the National Robotarium a year ago with the mandate to develop AI and Robotics solutions that will help people live safer, healthier, and more productive lives. Technologies like this have enormous potential to address key challenges we face as a society, such as the significant time and resources it takes to equip prospective surgeons with the knowledge, practice, and experience of laparoscopic procedures.
“The announcement of this pioneering research project follows 12 months in which our dedicated teams of researchers, academics and engineers have delivered a breadth of cutting-edge innovation on the world stage in social and medical care, agritech, the global energy transition and beyond. AILap is another important milestone in that story and one which I believe demonstrates Scotland and the UK’s role at the forefront of global developments in AI and robotics.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:
“This pioneering AI technology has the potential to deliver faster and cheaper training for surgeons in the UK, meaning improved skills and better outcomes for patients.
“The UK Government is supporting the National Robotarium with £21 million investment helping to foster this world-leading research as well as delivering high-quality jobs and bringing sustainable economic growth to the region as part of our £300 million investment in South East Scotland.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/laparoscopic-surgery.jpg14142121Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-11-02 17:19:182023-11-02 17:20:09Autonomous training tool delivers in-demand surgical skills with real-time feedback
Funding for a new training centre to make robots safer and more trustworthy has been announced for the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics.
The new UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Dependable and Deployable Artificial Intelligence for Robotics – shortened to CDT-D2AIR (pronounced ‘dare’) – will train new PhD students in verification and certification systems for robotics and AI.
The aim of the centre, delivered in partnership by experts from Heriot-Watt University and The University of Edinburgh, is to ensure that robotics applications in the home and in industry – such as AI assistants to help with independent living or robotic machinery in manufacturing and construction – can interact safely with the environment and users. Postgraduate students in the CDT will be given access to high-spec lab space, robotics equipment and expertise at the National Robotarium as part of their studentship.
The centre is being awarded a share of £117 million funding by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – the UK’s national funding agency for investing in science and research – as one of 12 new Centres for Doctoral Training announced by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in the week of the AI Safety Summit 2023.
The successful submission, driven by former National Robotarium academic co-lead Professor Helen Hastie, highlighted the opportunity and need for students to be able to build skills and understanding around AI, verification, design and robotics, ensuring the UK is equipped with the knowledge to develop AI-driven robotic technologies that are trustworthy, dependable and ethical for end users and industry. The centre builds on work already being undertaken by the UKRI TAS (Trustworthy Autonomous Systems) Node in Trust, which Professor Hastie and others at Heriot-Watt are involved in.
Professor Ron Petrick, a Professor of Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University and a world-leading researcher in automated planning and robotics, is Director of the new D2AIR Centre for Doctoral Training.
He said: “There is a clear need for robotics and AI systems be certifiable, reliable and capable of interacting safely with people and the environment. While AI methods are being increasingly used in robotics, much of this technology was not originally designed with safety and other important human-centred requirements in mind. Making AI truly applicable to, and deployable in, robotic solutions will require advanced sets of skills and a new way of thinking.”
Professor Petrick said examples such as generative AI assistants – embodied as robots or speakers – that are deployed in the home to help with independent living, had to converse and collaborate safely. Robots that can sense and interact in their environment for manufacturing and construction also had to work in challenging and extreme environments.
“Crucially, in all of these cases, the safety of autonomous systems is key to their deployability, especially when they need to operate around people,” he added.
Professor Petrick said D2AIR would build a new talent pipeline of graduates who can think in new ways around researching, designing, building and deploying dependable and safe robotics solutions.
“This pipeline will increase productivity, catapulting the UK as a world-leader in trustworthy robotics and AI technologies,” Professor Petrick said.
UKRI said £117 million funding in total had been awarded to 12 Centres for Doctoral Training in Artificial Intelligence based at 16 universities. The investment will continue to ensure that the UK has the skills needed to seize the potential of the AI era, and to nurture the British tech talent that will push the AI revolution forwards, UKRI said.
Michelle Donelan, UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “The UK is at the very front of the global race to turn AI’s awesome potential into a giant leap forward for people’s quality of life and productivity at work, all while ensuring this technology works safely, ethically and responsibly.
“The plans we are announcing today will future-proof our nation’s skills base, meaning we can reap the benefits of AI as it continues to develop. At the same time, we are taking the first steps to put the power of this technology to work, for good, across Government and society.”
UKRI Chief Executive, Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser, said: “The UK is in a strong position to harness the power of AI to transform many aspects of our lives for the better. Crucial to this endeavour is nurturing the talented people and teams we need to apply AI to a broad spectrum of challenges, from healthy aging to sustainable agriculture, ensuring its responsible and trustworthy adoption. UKRI is investing £117 million in Centres for Doctoral Training to develop the talented researchers and innovators we need for success.”
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To mark National Engineering Day 2023 on 1 November, we have been chatting to some of our Robotics Engineers about their role, the skills involved, and how innovative and sustainable engineering can improve people’s lives.
Lizzie Pendleton
What is a typical day like as a Robotics engineer?
Good question! I’ve been at The National Robotarium for about six weeks so my days have been quite variable so far. More recently, I’ve started to learn about the robots at The National Robotarium: what they are, how to operate them, and how to demonstrate them at events. I have some projects now involving setting up new robots and coming up with new uses for them – which is perfect for me because when someone asks, “what do you want to do in robotics?” I always say “play with robots!” I’m really excited to get stuck into my projects, start to get things working, and learn a lot!
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
The biggest thing we do as engineers is solve problems. Problem solving gives you the opportunity to be really creative, and this is the bit I really enjoy. Inspiration can come from anywhere so it’s about learning to take your different experiences and creatively feed them into how you come up with solutions. The most important thing is to keep trying. When a prototype fails for the 44th time, it’s about finding the motivation to come back in tomorrow, change something, and try again. When you find the thing that you’re really passionate about, having the motivation to keep going becomes easier because you know that at the end, you’re always going to end up with something brilliant and fascinating. Even if your prototype still doesn’t work.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Engineering can be seen everywhere. It improves travel infrastructure, brings new healthcare treatments, assists people who have difficulties with daily tasks, and removes humans from some workflows, to name a few examples. The National Robotarium creates robots that remove people from dangerous places or dirty tasks, for example by building robots to inspect offshore wind turbines so humans don’t have to go and do it.
But it can be easy to forget that the serious field of engineering brings people fun and enjoyment. Improvements in film special effects comes from software engineers who built better rendering software, more sport can be watched live because of improvements in online streaming, and suitcases have been made lighter so they’re easier to carry on holiday. There are engineered systems all around us that have been designed to make our lives better in one way or another.
How can engineering help us live and/or work more sustainably?
Engineers across all sectors are coming up with new solutions to improve sustainability. For example, large-scale changes are happening in the energy sector to connect more green or renewable electricity sources and replace the natural gas in the UK’s gas grid with cleaner hydrogen gas. This goes with improving public transport infrastructure and making transport greener in general to reduce carbon emissions. New, more sustainable materials are being developed that last longer, produce less waste and can be recycled more easily. For example, manufacturers are replacing some plastic packaging with sustainable paper- or card-based alternatives. These kinds of changes involve engineers at all stages and they help to make it easier for all of us to live more sustainably.
Dr Jhielson Montino Pimental
What is a typical day like as a Robotics Engineer?
The day is full of opportunities for engineers to engage with cutting-edge technologies across various sectors of the industry. Here, we can delve into projects involving unique robots or even craft our own autonomous systems. While the challenges may be demanding at times, we consistently conquer them through collaborative efforts with our colleagues.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
Through my PhD programme and past and present work experiences, I’ve acquired the ability to approach robotics problems from a unique perspective. A proficient robotics engineer must be prepared to tackle demanding tasks, as novelty is a frequent occurrence. This entails the engineer’s capacity to delve into existing literature for potential solutions and demonstrate resilience. Moreover, given the breadth of the field, collaboration with colleagues is essential to rapidly identify the most optimal solutions.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Engineers play a pivotal role in reshaping and enhancing people’s lives. Robotics engineers, in particular, exert a profound influence on the industry. Their impact extends across various domains, from healthcare, where they revolutionise the care provided to the elderly in hospitals and nursing homes, to the manufacturing sector, where they eliminate human involvement in high-risk activities, thus reducing the potential for fatalities and injuries. This broad spectrum of influence underscores the transformative power of robotics engineers in our world today.
How can engineering help us live and/or work more sustainably?
The integration of robots into farming practices is a compelling illustration of how we can enhance our lives while fostering sustainability. This innovative approach not only benefits agriculture but also contributes to broader ecological and societal well-being. Robots in agriculture have the potential to revolutionise the way we produce food. They can monitor crops, apply fertilisers and pesticides precisely, and manage irrigation systems, thereby optimising resource utilisation and reducing environmental impact. This sustainable farming approach mitigates soil erosion, conserves water, and minimises the need for harmful chemicals, ultimately promoting healthier ecosystems. In essence, the introduction of robots into agriculture not only offers a pathway to more sustainable farming practices but also holds the promise of improving food security, ecological health, and the overall quality of our lives.
Coena Das
What is typical day like as a Robotics Engineer?
The specific tasks and activities can vary widely based on the project and type of robotics being developed. Additionally, some days may involve more hands-on work with hardware, while others may focus on software development or research.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
To be a good engineer, a combination of technical, soft, and problem-solving skills is needed. These skills will not only help one excel in their role but also contribute to the professional development and career success. Continuous learning and staying up to date with the latest advancements in their area of expertise is also essential for a successful engineering career.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Engineering is a driving force behind many of the technological and infrastructural advancements that have significantly improved the quality of life for people around the world. It addresses both the basic needs of society and the complex challenges of our time, contributing to a safer, healthier, and more connected world.
How can engineering help us live and/or work more sustainably?
Engineering efforts are critical in addressing the growing challenges of climate change, resource scarcity, and environmental degradation. By creating innovative, sustainable solutions, engineering helps society reduce its ecological footprint and ensure a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Ronnie Smith
What is typical day like as a Robotics Engineer?
What you spend most of your time on day to day depends on your own role within the team. Some engineers can spend most of their day at a computer doing design or programming, while others might do largely hands on work building, extending, debugging, and maintaining robots. Since we tend to work on multiple projects at once, most days start by figuring out what to prioritise. For me, a typical day might involve some proposal writing, development work, project team meetings, and monitoring/debugging some of the robots we are testing as part of ongoing projects.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
Since robotics is such an inter-disciplinary field, I think there is no fixed set of skills to be a robotics engineer. I think a good robotics isn’t necessarily someone who is an expert in all aspects of robotics, but rather someone who has their own strengths in a few core areas and who is interested in learning about the whole robotic system to the point where they can understand how everything fits together. This applies to myself, as I come from mainly a software background, but am keen to use my time at the National Robotarium to learn and become a more “rounded” robotics engineer.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Most of the time, when engineers are working on a problem it is in the name of improving our comfort, efficiency, safety, or our general quality of life. Robotics is a field which has the potential to touch on all of these aspects. In my previous role as a PhD student, we worked on assistive robotics and technology for older adults. Through user engagement we worked to understand the ways in which collaborative robotics can enable individuals to live in their own home for longer by automating aspects of daily tasks that might otherwise be impossible to complete alone.
How can engineering help us live and/or work more sustainably?
One of the main ways that robots can aid with sustainability is by being more efficient than the solutions that came before. What is meant by efficiency will of course differ across domains, but for example in manufacturing this might mean process efficiency which increases hourly output for the same or less energy. On the other hand, in agriculture it could be that increased precision in turn leads to increased efficiency, e.g., more accurate and targeted spraying of crops conserves resources.
Hsing-Yu Chen
What is typical day like as a Robotics Engineer?
A typical day for a robotics engineer begins with problem-solving, addressing challenges and issues related to the robots they are developing. This entails brainstorming innovative solutions to optimize robot performance, troubleshooting both hardware and software components, conducting experiments to validate the robots’ functionality, and delving into data analysis. Given the collaborative nature of their work, engineers often engage in ongoing communication with team members and clients.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
Beyond technical proficiency, being a good engineer relies on essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills, enabling the identification and resolution of intricate engineering challenges. Equally critical is a commitment to continuous learning and stay attuned with this rapidly evolving field, ensuring that engineers can adapt to new technologies and innovate effectively.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Robotics engineering plays a pivotal role in enhancing people’s lives in numerous ways. For instance, the creation of surgical robots and prosthetic limbs improves the quality of medical treatments and enhances the lives of patients. Autonomous vehicles not only increase transportation efficiency but also enhance road safety. Assistive robots simplify daily tasks, making life more convenient and accessible for individuals. These advancements underscore the transformative impact of robotics engineering on our daily existence and overall well-being.
How can engineering help us live and/or work more sustainably?
Robotic engineering offers substantial potential to enhance sustainable living and working in various domains. This can be achieved by automating industrial processes to boost efficiency, optimising resource utilisation to reduce consumption and lower carbon emissions, improving recycling rates through precise sorting, and monitoring environmental changes. These technologies have the potential to create a more environmentally friendly and resilient world.
Since opening its doors in September 2022, the National Robotarium has earned a world-class reputation in advancing research in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI).
More than a dozen companies developing unique solutions to global challenges across society and industry have benefitted from the National Robotarium’s state-of-the-art facilities, expert engineering advice, and industry collaboration, with its tenant companies tackling issues facing the agriculture, health and social care and energy industries.
Developing talent is a key goal for the National Robotarium and under the leadership of Stewart Miller, the team has significantly expanded, with 50 new jobs created in the first year in engineering, public engagement, professional services, business development and research.
The National Robotarium launch event at Heriot-Watt University on 28 September 2022
Engaging with the next generation of robotics and AI engineers is a key goal. More than 10,000 young people, many of them from disadvantaged backgrounds, have been involved with the National Robotarium since its inception, and their dedicated outreach and engagement team have delivered over 50 in-person and online events over the past 12 months. These events have been staged with the support of a host of industry and educational partners including the Glasgow Science Centre and social enterprise group, Datakirk.
Home to world-class laboratory and industry facilities, the National Robotarium supports research and development in Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), Human and Robotics Interaction (HRI) and Precision Laser Applications.
The Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Lab
Among its tenants is TouchLab, which has developed a first-of-its-kind robot equipped with e-skin, the most advanced electronic skin ever developed to transfer a sense of touch from its robotic hand to clinicians, giving them the ability to ‘feel’ their patients remotely.
In agritech, Crover has built a prototype of a unique robot which ‘swims’ through grain bulks, monitoring environmental conditions to ensure crops are stored more efficiently.
Finally, Bioliberty have developed the LifeGlov, a soft robotic glove that can be used to restore upper limb mobility in stroke patients. The company has received £2.2 million in new funding for further development.
High profile research projects include UNITE, which is developing electric remotely operated vehicles (eROVs) to perform maintenance tasks on offshore wind turbines with the aim of drastically improving health and safety for offshore employees working in dangerous and inhospitable environments.
The FEATHER project, a collaboration with researchers from the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, is developing artificial intelligence and socially assistive robots to detect urinary tract infections (UTIs). Meanwhile, the National Robotarium is working closely with the university’s Lyell Centre on a prototype called Smartrawl, which is developing a revolutionary AI-empowered fishing net device that helps fishing trawlers prevent bycatch.
Fostering relationships with researchers and industry around the world is part of the National Robotarium’s mission and global coverage of its work in the media has played an essential role. Research stories and industry partnership announcements in the last 12 months have been covered by media from the USA to Asia, Saudi Arabia to South Africa.
The facility, a partnership between Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh University, is part of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative. It is supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4 million from the Scottish Government through the £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal – a 15-year investment programme jointly funded by both governments and regional partners.
The National Robotarium was also lauded as the ‘gold standard’ in a Scottish Parliament debate on the future of robotics technology in Scotland and the UK. A debate received cross-party support, with ministers in agreement that the UK would greatly benefit by prioritising growing its robotics skills, technology, and manufacturing capabilities.
Is it Spot or is it cake?
At the National Robotarium’s 1st birthday party in September 2023.
Stewart Miller, CEO of the National Robotarium, said: “The team at the National Robotarium has delivered an exceptional first year for the facility and our partners, helping to develop solutions which are going to make us all safer, healthier, and more productive. We’ve been building strong relationships with industry and engaging with schools and organisations to open young minds to a future where robotics and AI systems will be central to our lives.
“With the combined robotic and AI experience of Heriot-Watt and the University of Edinburgh, the National Robotarium is paving the way for the UK to take a globally significant role at the forefront of developments in AI and machine learning technology but this is only the beginning as we work to accelerate our impact on the world stage.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said:
“The first anniversary of the National Robotarium is a welcome opportunity to celebrate the incredible work and pioneering research carried out over the last year. From robots to help farmers and fishermen to those helping improve patient care, they are delivering vital solutions to real-world issues through their AI and robotic technology.
“The UK Government is investing £21 million in the National Robotarium as part of the £300 million Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.”
Colin Cook, Director of Economic Development, Scottish Government, said:
“The Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation sets out a long term commitment to building a green, wellbeing economy in which Scotland builds clusters of successful businesses in new markets and industries.
“As we accelerate towards net zero and a low carbon economy, Scotland has the potential to be a world leader in new high-value and innovative sectors such as Robotics & Autonomous Systems (RAS). The National Robotarium is a crucial asset because it offers access to internationally competitive innovation facilities and expertise that support Scotland’s high-value manufacturing capabilities.
“It also represents a catalyst for the Robotics industry around which to coalesce and shape the broader development of robotics research, design and manufacture in Scotland, driving economic growth and raising Scotland’s profile in the global Robotics marketplace.”
DDI’s Director, Jarmo Eskelinen, said:
“The National Robotarium is a vital part of the wider DDI platform – six innovation hubs across the City Region. One year after opening, the companies, staff, and researchers at the National Robotarium are off to a great start, working to benefit society and many industry sectors.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/timeline-mob.jpg500750Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-10-26 09:30:542023-10-26 09:28:31Making an impact on the world stage – the National Robotarium celebrates its first birthday
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