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.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC0223-copy-scaled.jpg17072560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-11-02 12:32:122023-11-02 12:46:02New training centre created to make robots safer and more trustworthy
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
Heriot-Watt University has been named as one of 29 new members joining the Turing University Network. The network provides institutes that excel in data science and AI the opportunity to engage with its broader network to advance world-class research that address global challenges. Heriot-Watt is home to the National Robotarium, a £22.4m centre for robotics and AI, created to produce new and innovative technologies to overcome real-world obstacles, boosting its credentials as a leader in the UK data science and AI landscape.
The Alan Turing Institute launched the network as a pilot in April 2023, with an open call for new members announced in early summer this year. It now includes 65 members across the UK, facilitating better connections and providing access to a bespoke network that encourages collaboration across the data science and AI ecosystem. The network is a key component of The Alan Turing Institute’s strategy and supports it in delivering its three overarching goals: to advance world-class research and apply it to national and global challenges, build skills for the future, and drive an informed public conversation.
Dr Jean Innes, Chief Executive Officer of The Alan Turing Institute, said: “We’re really pleased to welcome our new members to the network. We hope that they will benefit from being part of our data science and AI group and find opportunities for new, meaningful collaborations across the data science and AI landscape.”
Oliver Lemon, Professor in Conversational AI, and academic co-lead of the National Robotarium, Heriot-Watt’s Global Research Institute for robotics and artificial intelligence, said: “We are thrilled to be accepted into the Turing University Network, a prestigious consortium of universities dedicated to advancing world-class AI research with real-world applications.
“The National Robotarium was created to develop robotics and AI solutions that make a difference in the world. By joining the Turing University Network, we will be able to collaborate with other leading institutions and build on our collective expertise to create even more ground-breaking innovations.
“This partnership is a testament to the strength of our AI research programme and our commitment to using technology to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. We are excited to work with our fellow Turing Network members to make a positive impact on the economy, industry, and society.”
The full list of universities joining the network are:
•Aston University
•University of Aberdeen
•University of Bath
•University of Bradford
•University of Dundee
•University of East Anglia
•University of Essex
•University of Greenwich
•University of Hull
•University of Lincoln
•University of Portsmouth
•University of Salford
•University of Sussex
•University of Westminster
•University of York
•Birkbeck, University of London
•Coventry University
•Edinburgh Napier University
•Heriot-Watt University
•Lancaster University
•London Business School
•Loughborough University
•Manchester Metropolitan University
•Oxford Brookes University
•Sheffield Hallam University
•Swansea University
•The Open University
•University of Leicester
•University of St Andrews
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/TATI_UniversityNetworkLogo_Black-scaled-1.jpg25472560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-10-02 09:01:002023-10-24 12:05:34Turing University Network: A Collaboration for World-Class AI Research
The National Robotarium have joined forces with ServiceKey, a UK-based digital technology start-up.
Through the utilisation of ServiceKey’s Perpetual Innovation™ AI-empowered toolset, the National Robotarium will benefit from enhanced project solution development, reducing time and cost, and identifying otherwise hidden alternative solutions. The facility will also work with ServiceKey personnel on joint activities using the ServiceKey methodologies to enhance live projects with industry partners and customers.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Robotarium, Stewart Miller said: “This close collaboration between The National Robotarium and ServiceKey opens up a world of possibilities for the robotics and AI industry.
“By combining our research knowledge and expertise with ServiceKey’s dynamic methodologies, we have the opportunity to reshape the future and realise the true potential of these technologies.”
Chief Operating Officer, Steve Maclaren said: “This partnership with ServiceKey is a key element of our Digital Enterprise, allowing The National Robotarium to remain at the forefront of the latest technologies and methodologies across all elements of our organisation.”
The partnership will empower The National Robotarium and ServiceKey to drive innovation across a broad range of sectors, including healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, and more.
Co-Founder of ServiceKey, Mark Conyers said: “We are proud to collaborate with the National Robotarium on such a ground-breaking endeavour, supporting them through rapid Concept Creation and Solution Design.”
ServiceKey Co-Founder Neil Bramwell said: “This partnership not only aligns with our shared vision for the future, but it also highlights our commitment to delivering solutions of unparalleled quality, fostering innovation, and driving transformative change across industries.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/ServiceKey-scaled-1.jpg11522560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-09-18 10:51:382023-10-24 12:05:58The National Robotarium and ServiceKey forge transformational collaboration
Over 10,000 young minds have been inspired to consider a career in robotics, thanks to the significant public engagement activities fostered by the National Robotarium that aim to increase the representation of disadvantaged young learners.
The world-leading centre for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) has successfully hosted over 50 in-person and virtual events at its facility in Edinburgh since opening in September 2022 with a host of industry and educational partners including Glasgow Science Centre and social enterprise group Datakirk.
With the aim of broadening access to revolutionary technology, the facility’s public outreach and engagement programme is building key skills and encouraging more young people from a wider range of backgrounds to consider starting a career in robotics, data analytics, and AI.
This summer [2023] also marks the 5th anniversary of the South-East Scotland City Region Deal. The National Robotarium is part of the £1.3 billion 15-year investment programme jointly funded by the UK Government, the Scottish Government, and regional partners.
Its pioneering £22.4 million facility is the largest and most advanced of its kind in the UK and acts as an innovation hub for the practical application of robotics and autonomous systems in industry and society.
Its objectives include partnering with various organisations including charities with a mission to increase the engagement of disadvantaged learners with the technology sector to tackle digital exclusion. The National Robotarium is also collaborating with groups that aim to encourage greater gender diversity among those applying to STEM subjects at university.
Sabaht Bashir is industry and schools engagement co-lead at the National Robotarium. She said:
“Innovation and collaboration are at the heart of the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal which is helping to accelerate knowledge and cutting-edge technologies into Scotland and the UK’s economy.
“At the National Robotarium, we’re showcasing ways robots can help humans do things better, for the benefit of industry and society, and inspiring the next generation of roboticists and AI pioneers.
“The research our world-leading experts are conducting today to make our lives safer, healthier, and more productive will be the world that our young learners inherit tomorrow. It’s an incredible milestone to have engaged with so many young people from a range of diverse backgrounds since opening our doors last year. We look forward to continuing to work with schools and educators from all around the world to bring careers in robotics to life.”
Sabaht Bashir, Industry and Schools Engagement Lead
Libby Robertson, a year 6 pupil at Glasgow’s Knightswood Secondary School, said:
“The activities were fun and insightful about what robotics could do and have already done to the world we live in. The visit was so amazing that I’m now considering doing it as a future career choice.”
Gordon Cooper, Technical Teacher at Glasgow’s Knightswood Secondary School, said:
“The team at the National Robotarium were friendly and informative and our pupils had a great day enjoying the variety of experiences planned for them.
“The fully and semi-immersive reality activities were fascinating and showed our students the potential uses of these types of technology. The robotic dog was definitely the star of the day. All of our students were awakened to the possibilities on display, and many are now seriously looking into careers in this field. ”
Lauren Stalker, Curricular Leader of Computing Science & Digital Literacy at St Thomas of Aquin’s R.C High School in Edinburgh, said:
“I would highly recommend this trip for all students as seeing the robots in real life is a fantastic experience. The information shared inspired pupils to want to get into robotics and see possible career opportunities. All the students thoroughly enjoyed the virtual reality experience and getting to see a programming language they learn in school being used in that way.”
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Malcolm Offord, said:
“The National Robotarium is a prime example of how the City Region Deal is creating exciting opportunities, driving economic growth, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
“The UK Government is investing £21 million in the National Robotarium and more than £380m in levelling up across South East Scotland.”
Scottish Government Wellbeing Economy Secretary, Neil Gray, said:
“I congratulate the National Robotarium on its successful first year inspiring technological innovation and sharing those advances with young people to help seed the next generation of entrepreneurs. In 2021 the Scottish Government committed to supporting the development of ethical artificial intelligence as part of Scotland’s AI Strategy, which will be complemented by actions in the recently published National Innovation Strategy.
“Through the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal we are delivering a fair and sustainable wellbeing economy which aims to create even more good quality jobs.”
Jarmo Eskelinen, Executive Director of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative and South-East Scotland City Region Deal, said:
“The National Robotarium is one of six hubs at the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University offering a world-leading platform for data-driven innovation across ten industry sectors. As the DDI initiative marks its fifth anniversary, it’s fantastic to see the hubs developing as individual institutes and centres and very exciting to be working with them to explore joint opportunities in tackling societal and industry challenges.”
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_0100-scaled-1.jpg17072560Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-09-11 16:14:122023-10-27 12:21:57National Robotarium hits public engagement milestone as it celebrates 1st anniversary
Innovators, healthcare experts, students and scientists converged for a special 5-day hackathon event, focused on shaping solutions for better independent living.
Sponsored by the Scottish Informatics & Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) and the EPSRC Network+ EMERGENCE, the Robotics + Care Mashup took place at the National Robotarium from 16-20 October.
Hosted by the Heriot-Watt University CARE (Cognitive Assistive Robotic Environments) Group, the event offered a unique opportunity to test and develop emerging technologies, including cloud, robotics and IoT (Internet of Things) equipped with machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities, for health and social care. Applications can include non-intrusive monitoring of health status and vital signs, detecting patterns and trends in behaviour, triaging, facilitating communication and social-connectedness, and generally supporting general self-management of health and wellbeing.
Working in teams, students in different disciplines, such as robotics, engineering, computer science, nursing, medicine, psychology and business, developed new and innovative concepts that can address challenges for healthcare providers and people who require assisted living support. Throughout the week, end-users, academics, technologists and care providers assesssed the progression of each idea and provided feedback in real-time.
The Mashup also hosted a number of talks and product development sessions from technical providers on topics including APIs and sensor kits, ethics and cybersecurity, and live robot demonstrations in the Laboratory for Robotic Assistive living (LARA)
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/NR-stills-76.png10552000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2023-09-07 14:01:542024-04-08 16:08:13Robotics + Care Mashup event to improve independent living
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