Two Truths and a Robot Lie is an exploration into deception, truth and robots taking place at Adam Smith’s Panmure House on Monday 8 April.
Join members of the National Robotarium team for a Traitors-style event and find out who to trust…humans or robots?
Part of the Edinburgh Science Festival 2024 programme.
💷 £10/£12 🧒 11+
Offshore robotics is on the brink of transforming industries by providing innovative solutions for complex challenges. With the integration of robots into various sectors, this presents unique testing and certification demands.
This robotic Test and Certification Workshop, organised by The National Robotarium for the OLTER Project, will focus on the Offshore Robotic Testing and Certification with a strong grasp on the need for a UK based Test and certification Centre. As an expert in a relevant field, we would value your experience and views in the testing and Certification of offshore robotics. Moreover, your opinions and perspectives on the need for a Test and certification Centre will help shape the future of National Robotarium and the OLTER project and its objectives. This is a one-day programme aiming to grasp the robotics community’s needs and insights.
Alongside fellow participants, we will explore key considerations, standards, and potential gaps that can be corrected in the testing and certification of robots.
Book your place via Eventbrite.
Unable to attend? Share your thoughts and insights in this quick questionnaire.
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)
Those interested can find out more at the CARE Group website.
Representatives from the built environment, construction, trade, science and policy gathered in Edinburgh on 2 May for a half-day event co-hosted by the National Robotarium, the UK’s leading centre for robotics and artificial intelligence, and BE-ST (Built Environment – Smarter Transformation), Scotland’s innovation centre for accelerating the built environment’s transition to zero carbon emissions.
‘The Robots are Here’ marked the beginning of a new partnership between the two organisations, which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of greater automation and use of robotics in the construction and built environment sectors, and to develop new innovations that tackle industry challenges.
The event, held at the National Robotarium, based at Heriot-Watt University in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, heard inspiring talks from key figures at the partner organisations, including National Robotarium Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Miller, and BE-ST Head of Digital Programmes, Lynsey Brydson, alongside experts from science, industry and robotics companies.
Attendees were also invited to tour the state-of-the-art facility and enjoy live demos that showcased how robotics in the built environment sector can improve performance, efficiency, quality, and help to address skills shortages.
Robots on display included unmanned ground vehicle Husky, which can traverse and scan a variety of internal and external terrains, and quadruped Spot, which was used during the construction of the National Robotarium to facilitate 3D mapping of the building site using its bespoke lidar scanner and SLAM (simultaneous localisation and mapping) technology, completing the job – which usually takes several days – in just 30 minutes.
Taking centre stage was a live demo of the Hilti Jaibot, a semi-autonomous drilling and construction robot that can increase productivity in MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering) jobs and remove the requirement for humans to undertake strenuous or repetitive tasks such as overhead drilling.
The Hilti Jaibot is a semi-autonomous drilling and construction robot that can increase productivity in MEP jobs
Ruth Plant, Project Manager at the National Robotarium who was part of the team delivering the event said: “We’re thrilled to host this event with BE-ST today and start our new partnership as we mean to go on, engaging with the construction and built environment networks and exploring the art of the possible with robotics for the sector.
“Robots have the potential of making many industries safer, more efficient and more productive. We are keen to share how we are applying robotics research to address practical challenges currently affecting the industry and I look forward to working with BE-ST on new innovation projects in this space.”
Matthew Paton, Associate Impact Manager at BE-ST, also part of the team developing and delivering the event said: “We have brought the construction industry here today to explore the use of robotics.; BE-ST aims to help industry access knowledge and achieve innovation that can transform their businesses to be more efficient, more resilient and achieve their zero carbon ambitions.
“We have been working extensively with industry to explore the many benefits of robotics and highlight the potential to support digitally enabled solutions that are scalable, sustainable and safer for workers in the sector. It’s been great to be part of today’s discussions and demonstrations and I’m looking forward to the exciting collaborations that we will develop with industry over the coming months and years.”
Selfies with robots, brain-controlled drones and a quadruped waiter were just some of the activities on display at Robots After Dark, a special evening event held on Saturday 15 April at the National Robotarium.
The leading robotics and AI research and engineering facility, which opened last year on Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, welcomed nearly 200 people to the sell-out event, which explored the relationship between humans and robots, and how to build trust in robotic and autonomous systems.
As well as hands-on activities, which also included a robot petting zoo, a live soft robotics battle, robot crafting, and live laser alignment in the £22.4m facility’s Precision Laser Applications lab, guests enjoyed talks from leading Heriot-Watt scientists and students. Professor in Developmental Psychology, Thusha Rajendran, spoke on humans’ cognitive ability to trust robots and AI, robotics CDT student Alexandre Colle shared insights into the use of design and aesthetics in robotics, and Assistant Professor in Computer Science, Dr Marta Romeo discussed her research into building trust with assistive technologies in social wellbeing and healthcare.
Dr Alistair McConnell, Assistant Professor in Computer Science and one of the event’s lead organisers said: “It was great to work with the amazing Edinburgh Science Festival team to create this unique experiential event at the National Robotarium and we were thrilled that so many people attended.
“Robotics and autonomous systems have huge potential to make people’s lives safer, more efficient and more productive, however adoption is only possible if the technology is developed with human usability, trust and safety at its core.
“As well as getting to hear interesting talks and meet some of our friendly robots, I hope that visitors have had a chance to consider how they feel about living in a more roboticised world.”
The adults-only event was organised by members of the Heriot-Watt University and National Robotarium engagement teams in collaboration with Edinburgh Science Festival as part of the two-week festival’s closing weekend. The ‘living laboratory’ event has attracted 1000s of visitors to celebrate and explore science, experimentation, and innovation from across the region.
The National Robotarium, the UK’s leading centre for robotics and artificial intelligence, hosted a Heriot-Watt University staff open day on 15 December.
The event was held to showcase the new facility to staff, many of whom were integral to its creation, design and development following completion of the project in 2022. , funded
Over 250 members of staff signed up to tour the building’s specialist labs and watch demonstrations of how researchers are using its high-spec technology and robotic systems to test and develop solutions in the areas of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS), Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) and Precision Laser Applications (PLA). Members of some of the research teams were on-hand to demonstrate cutting-edge robotic technology and share with guests how science at the National Robotarium can help industry and society be safer, healthier and more productive.
Several members of University Court – who have had full oversight of the National Robotarium’s development since its funding from the UK and Scottish Governments was confirmed in 2018 – also attended the open day, with a private tour by CEO Stewart Miller and PLA lead Dr Richard Carter, who led on the organisation and delivery of the event.
Watch this video to find out more about the event.
The eighth Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards has opened for entries, following a celebratory launch event at the new National Robotarium facility.
Interface, an organisation committed to developing and supporting collaborations between business and research communities in Scotland, will host the Awards ceremony in person on Thursday 23 March, 2023.
The Awards acknowledge collaborations from businesses, social enterprises, public sector organisations, third sector, universities, research institutes, innovation centres and colleges.
The eighth Awards were launched by Mr Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, at an event for past winners.
Business Minister Ivan McKee said: “It was great to be part of the launch event for 2023 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards (SKEAs), celebrating the innovative collaborations between business and the research community across Scotland.
“I have been involved with the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards for a number of years now and always look forward to hearing more about the impact of these business-academic partnerships across all sectors of industry, helping to tackle some of society’s big challenges and making Scotland a more resilient nation.”
Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, added: “It is important we acknowledge the impact of these unique partnerships and celebrate the achievements of the individuals who are driving growth, prosperity and innovation in our local communities.”
The awards were launched at the new National Robotarium, the largest and most advanced applied research facility for robotics and artificial intelligence in the UK. Located on Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus in partnership with The University of Edinburgh, the vibrant hub for innovation and industry collaboration was a fitting location for the launch.
Dr Gillian Murray, deputy principal for business and enterprise at Heriot-Watt University said: “We’re enormously proud to have won several Knowledge Exchange Awards in recent years. These prestigious awards recognise and celebrate the importance of working in partnership with business and the impact that approach can have on accelerating research into commercial application. At Heriot-Watt University, entrepreneurship and innovation lie at the heart of our strategy and we work hard to inspire our students and academics to pursue the commercial potential of their creative ideas.”
Individuals from academia or businesses are encouraged to apply by 9 December, 2022.
For further information on the awards and application forms please go to The Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards 2023 | Interface Knowledge Connection (interface-online.org.uk)
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh, Scotland
UK EH14 4AS
Scottish registered charity number SC000278
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
EH8 9YL
Scottish registered charity number SC005336
