Experts in cables, wire harnesses and innovative connectors, Axon’ Cable will be hosting a showcase event at The National Robotarium on 23 January.
From 10:00-15:00, visitors to our main Atrium space can see live demonstrations and speak to members of the Axon team about how their advanced cabling solutions can be applied to robotics and automated systems, including high-performance, flexible cables for robotic arms, miniaturised systems, and EMI-shielded designs for data integrity.
We look forward to welcoming Axon’ Cable and exploring their innovative solutions for our robotics and autonomous Systems.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Hari-and-Spot2.jpg6661000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2025-01-07 13:31:152025-01-08 13:46:02Axon Cable – Thursday 23 January
To mark National Engineering Day (13 November 2024), we have been speaking to our Robotics Engineers about their career paths, engineering role models and what a typical day is like at the National Robotarium…
Hsing-Yu Chen
Who’s your engineering role model?
One of my key role models in engineering is Morris Chang, the founder of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). His technical expertise, leadership and vision have revolutionised the semiconductor industry and made a huge impact on global technology innovation. His emphasis on long-term thinking, collaboration, and focus on excellence in manufacturing processes continues to inspire me in my own work.
What in your mind is an example of good engineering?
An example of engineering that truly inspires me is the development of reusable rockets. This breakthrough in space technology shows us the power of dreaming big and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The ability to reuse rockets—once thought to be impossible—has the potential to completely reshape the aerospace industry, opening up new possibilities for space travel and exploration.”
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.
Hari Lakshman
Who are your engineering role models?
The reason I pursued an engineering career was after watching an animated video about Nikola Tesla’s life. Reading about his work, dedication, and passion to keep inventing things inspired me to follow in his footsteps. Another inspiration in my life is Henry Ford, who taught me so much about tech business, optimisation, and efficiency.”
Can you give an example of good engineering that inspires you?
The pyramids are the first engineering marvel that blew my mind; it’s exhausting even to imagine the methods ancient people might have used to build such a magnificent structure. Another marvel is the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which enables scientists to collect data and images for space research. This incredible piece of engineering has revolutionised space science research.”
What does the role of Robotics Engineer involve?
Robotics engineers involve themselves in various fields of engineering. It is always a big learning curve, sometimes building robots feels like creating a human child. We have knowledge in coding, software development, and designing prototypes, which involves an extensive understanding of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and control systems. We try and implement cutting-edge machine learning and AI algorithms to make the robot more intelligent and more efficient. For me, I’m still learning lots and lots to become a fine-tuned robotics engineer.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
Robotics engineers should have skills such as critical thinking and design thinking, programming, active learning, teamwork, safety skills and leadership qualities.
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
Engineering helps to improve people’s lives in every possible way: economically, and ethically, it helps to improve quality of life, solve societal problems, fight against climate change and more. At the National Robotarium, we use our engineering skills to build robots that can help people with physically or mentally challenging tasks, and improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
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.
Can you give an example of good engineering that inspires you?
I would look to the semiconductor industry and the advancement of the transistor-based processor over the past several decades as an example of inspiring engineering. Computers today are using billions of tiny transistors, manufactured at nanometre scale, to perform trillions of mathematical operations every second. This achievement has relied on back-to-back advancements and innovation across materials science, lithography, quantum physics, and of course computer and electronics engineers. To me, this is a shining example of human ingenuity and our ability to work together on a large scale to create technology that is so pervasive and seamless that we are able to take it for granted.
Rahul Ramachandran
Who are your engineering role models?
The Wright brothers and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam are two of my biggest role models. The Wright brothers’ achievement in creating the first successful powered airplane inspires me with their relentless pursuit of innovation and their ability to overcome doubt and failure. Similarly, Dr. Kalam’s perseverance and contributions to ISRO, especially his leadership in missions like India’s Mars Orbiter Mission, remind me of the importance of vision and hard work in achieving groundbreaking results. Both have shown me that with determination and passion, it’s possible to change the course of history.
Can you give an example of good engineering that inspires you?
One piece of engineering that really inspires me is the Moog synthesizer. What I love about it is how it simplified the complex technology of earlier electronic instruments, making it easier for musicians to use. The design is so elegant, and the way it combines innovation with simplicity was groundbreaking at the time. The Moog didn’t just change the way music was made; it made a complex tool feel accessible, showing how thoughtful design can open up new possibilities and spark creativity in unexpected ways.
What does the role of Robotics Engineer involve?
Robotics is an interdisciplinary field and because of that robotics engineer’s role depends on one’s engineering background, be it mechanical, electrical, computer science, sociology or applied physics. For example, a robotics engineer with a degree in Mechanical Engineering would work on the design and modelling of robot mechanics, whereas one with a background in electrical and electronics engineering would develop the robot’s battery management system and its sensors and actuators.
What skills are required to be a good engineer?
I believe that to be a good engineer, you must be able to understand the need for an engineering solution to any given problem. It’s not the “what” and “how” but the “why” that comes first.
Be curious, take inspiration from nature and question EVERYTHING! Analytical thinking is very important as is the ability to communicate effectively in a collaborative environment. It is helpful to have an engineering degree, but it is not always necessary if you have the proper knowledge and practical skills.”
How does engineering improve people’s lives?
We live in a world where everything we see has been engineered for us to live a better life, especially in today’s modern digital world, where everything is data-driven. We now have self-driving cars and text-to-speech solutions such as Okay Google, Alexa and Siri which enable us to make calls and play songs using voice commands.
At the National Robotarium, we are developing solutions such as unmanned underwater robots to undertake the inspection of offshore turbines, which is currently being done by deep-sea scuba divers. We are also improving the quality of life for many people doing repetitive tasks in factories by developing solutions for factory automation, which will enable people to safely undertake less repetitive and more skilled tasks side-by-side with robots.
Ameca, one of the world’s most advanced humanoids, will take to the stage for a one-on-one interview with nationally decorated author Jeanette Winterson, as part of the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) official launch event.
The robot, recently installed at The National Robotarium, a world-leading centre for robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) at Heriot-Watt University, will share its thoughts on the rapid advancement of AI in society and how people’s lives, work and learning will be impacted by the development of these technologies.
Also speaking at the event, taking place 7 October, is the National Robotarium’s Head of Robotics, Dr Ingo Keller, who will join a panel discussion with Jeanette and Chair JL Williams for a deep-dive into the future of robots and how human trust and relationships robots will evolve as the technology gets increasingly more sophisticated.
‘Jeanette Winterson: In Conversation with Ameca’ kicks-off EFI’s new season of events, Learning Curves, its first since renovation work was completed on the building. It also marks the first joint event delivered by EFI and The National Robotarium, both partner hubs of the Data-Driven Innovation initiative, funded as part of the Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal to make the region the data capital of Europe.
On Saturday 28 September, The National Robotarium will be open to the general public for Doors Open Day!
Visit us at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh campus for a tour of our hi-spec labs for Human-Robot Interaction, Robotics and Autonomous Systems and Precision Laser Applications, watch live demonstrations of our quadruped robotic dogs and advanced conversational humanoid Ameca, and test your own robotics skills through hands-on activities.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Ben-38-scaled-e1724410004325.jpg6651000Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2024-08-23 15:26:132024-10-31 10:25:02SOLD OUT Doors Open Day at The National Robotarium – Saturday 28 September
The chance for children to meet advanced humanoid robots like Ameca reveals the potential for artificial intelligence to enhance learning in schools, says Schools and Industry Engagement Lead at the National Robotarium, Michelle McLeod
Last month, we welcomed students from Lasswade Primary and High Schools to the National Robotarium here at Heriot-Watt University to meet Ameca, one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.
As robots become more commonplace in classrooms and other child-focused environments, understanding how children form trusting relationships with these machines will be crucial. With this insight, we can design robots to more effectively collaborate with teachers and help to educate children.
We’ve done considerable research on human-robot interaction. One of our studies found that a robot’s ability to reliably perform its intended function is the most significant predictor of whether humans will trust it. In other words, if a robot consistently completes its tasks as expected, humans are more likely to have confidence in the machine.
A similar but separate study by scientists in Sweden, Germany, and Australia, shed some light on how children in particular perceive, and trust robots compared to humans. The research revealed that children tend to trust robots more than humans, believing that when the humans in the study made mistakes they were doing so on purpose, while the robots were not seen as making intentional errors.
So, why is trust between humans and robots so important? Their potential applications in education aside, it is increasingly likely that robots will become ubiquitous in the workplaces of the future so if we can get our young people comfortable living and working with them early, it will make that transition much easier.
This is why we invested in Ameca. We want to use it to engage with people of all ages to try and demystify robotics, to break down the barriers often associated with the apprehension of interacting with a machine that looks a lot like you.
Ameca’s makers, Engineered Arts, designed Ameca so that it mimics human behaviour as realistically as possible, maintaining eye contact and using familiar facial expressions and hand gestures, which are part of how humans interact with each other.
The young people who visited today were clearly awestruck by Ameca. Their eyes lit up when they walked through the door and saw it for the first time, some grinning from ear to ear, one little girl’s mouth dropped open, another mouthed a silent ‘wow’. They were initially unsure how to interact with Ameca but after a little prompting the questions started to flow.
“Would you like to be human?”, “Can you feel emotions?”, “What is 1,000 plus 1,000?”, and even, “Ameca, do you like Taylor Swift?”. (Turns out it does, or at least “can appreciate the emotional depth of her music”.)
The children then drew pictures for Ameca to identify. Most were of simple things like apples, or a spaceship, which it was easily able to recognise. Impressively, it was also able to identify that one child had drawn more irregular than regular pentagons on their page. Ameca’s blatant cheating at ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’, however, making its choice after the child it was playing had revealed his, wasn’t so impressive.
By the end of the visit, the children were posing for selfies with Ameca, and a bond had clearly been formed. One little boy even returned to the room after a break, ran up to Ameca with his arms outstretched and shouted, “Ameca, it’s me, I’m back!”.
Ameca has limitations. It hasn’t been created to walk, for example, and does lose focus if too many people speak at once, so it won’t necessarily be the robot we find moving amongst us in the years to come but there is a higher purpose.
Research with school-aged children shows puppets , like a favourite doll or teddy bear, can encourage learning and improve communication and behaviour. Talking to a puppet, as opposed to a person, makes the conversation feel less personal and more pretend. It is a play-based technique sometimes used in therapy to help the child feel less self-conscious and open up.
We believe it’s the same with robots. In terms of interacting with artificial intelligence, for example, Ameca allows children to explore systems in a natural conversational manner, rather than battering questions into something like ChatGPT.
I think the questions the children were asking today showed their curiosity and interest in robotics and AI. That they so quickly adapted to Ameca was interesting, they were talking to it as if it was something more than a robot, as if it had a human personality. That’s a good sign.
Originally published in TES magazine on 24 July 2024.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Ben-Glasgow-175.jpg13632048Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2024-07-24 09:10:292024-07-24 09:10:29BLOG: “Ameca, do you like Taylor Swift?” Coming face-to-face with one of the world’s most advanced humanoid robots.
Researchers, engineers and students working in Artificial Intelligence are invited to the National Robotarium for an insightful session with the Children’s Parliament.
During the session, they will present the outcomes of their participatory engagement project with school children that, for past two years, has been delving into the intersections of children’s human rights and the development, use, and regulation of AI in Scotland. This initiative marks a significant milestone in involving children in the discourse surrounding AI.
Throughout their comprehensive work with four key schools and 13 Investigator MCPs (Members of Children’s Parliament), they discovered that children had received minimal education on AI concepts and applications. Although many children have access to AI-enabled devices in their personal lives, their understanding of AI’s extensive usage and potential impacts is often limited. This lack of understanding means they are not always empowered to be proactive users of AI, relying heavily on adults for guidance.
The team was inspired by the innovative ideas and recurring themes shared by the children. In this lunchtime session, they will highlight the children’s calls to action for consideration in future research projects.
https://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Ben-Glasgow-113-1.jpg13632048Louise Jackhttp://thenationalrobotarium.com/wp-content/uploads/Robotarium.pngLouise Jack2024-05-06 17:00:252024-05-07 11:32:06Robots unveiled at National Robotarium family open day
The National Robotarium is continuing its successful outreach and engagement work through its prominent support of the VEX IQ Robotics competition, an international contest sponsored by global tech heavyweights, including Tesla and Microsoft, to encourage budding roboticists to design and create their own innovative robot.
As host venue for the first event regional heats in Scotland since 2019, the UK’s leading centre for Robotics and AI welcomed 13 teams from 10 high schools to take part in an intensive battle, during which teams had to engineer innovative robotic solutions with a basic kit of components.
Teams from primary schools James Gillespie and Strichen were the overall winners and relative newcomers First Step Robotics, a community interest group from Livingston, also dazzled the judges to win the prestigious Amaze Award, which recognised their submission as the most outstanding, well-rounded, and best performing robot in the competition.
The winning teams will now take on other regional winners in the UK finals event taking place in Telford on 1-2 March. Over the two days, the finalists’ robots will be judged based on criteria including design, build, sportsmanship, and innovation, with the Tournament Champions securing a place at the ‘largest robotics competition in the world’ final in Dallas.
Blair Wilson, lead for Engagement at the National Robotarium will be attending the event with support from robot dog Spot. He’ll also be judging one of the categories. He said: “I am thrilled to join-up with VEX Robotics to support young people in Scotland in developing their robotics engineering skills.
“The National Robotarium is passionate about inspiring the next generation to become the roboticists of the future, empowering them to learn an entire range of STEM skills including maths, programming, computer science and engineering.
Blair Wilson, Engagement Lead at the National Robotarium
“That’s why we were so excited to host the Scottish heats and help provide the robotics kits to the teams to enable them to realise their vision.
“I’ll be at the finals to cheer on all our Scottish regional qualifiers as well as all the amazing UK teams that are taking part.”
WATCH the stream of the VEX Robotics Competition UK National Championships using this link, live from 0900 on Friday 1 March.
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Ben Glasgow
