The National Robotarium News | Dec 2024

Merry Christmas from The National Robotarium!

As another busy year draws to a close, we wish all of our friends, followers, partners and colleagues a restful festive season.

We look forward to sharing more exciting news and updates from your favourite #robotics and #AI centre in 2025!

News

Academic lead announced as new ELLIS Fellow

Professor of Conversational AI at 英国赫瑞瓦特大学 and academic co-lead at The National Robotarium, Oliver Lemon has been named as a new Fellow by the esteemed European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) Society, a pan-European network of AI centres of excellence.?

Professor Lemon’s Fellowship was announced in December 2024, alongside 160 other machine learning researchers recognised for their contributions to advancing science and shaping the future of machine learning in Europe. He now joins a prestigious network of outstanding AI scientists, with numerous opportunities for professional exchange, collaborations, workshops and conferences.?

Building partnerships across Europe

In December, Chief Operating Officer Steve Maclaren visited Robotekin , a robotics innovation centre based in álava, Spain. During the visit, Steve presented on the National Robotarium’s holistic enterprise model that is advancing science in robotics and automation, and supporting early-stage technology companies. He also met with Robotekin’s senior leadership team, and associated industry partners to explore opportunities for collaboration and cross-cutting ecosystem expansion.

Robotics engineer delivers soft robotics lecture

Senior Robotics Engineer Dr Alix Partridge was invited to Bristol Robotics Laboratory to deliver a talk to students about robotics careers. Alix spoke about his career path, from PhD to present day, encompassing his work developing reflexive response mechanisms for soft robotic devices, research into sustainable robotic materials, such as recycled silicone and plastics, and the success of a recent industry project delivered in partnership with Senai Cimatec in Brazil.

Following the lecture, Alix ran a crochet workshop to illustrate to researchers how old crafts can be used to create new designs and enhance product dimensions.

Industry residents Bioliberty meet major milestone

Pioneering medical technology company Bioliberty , who are based within the National Robotarium have made massive strides in getting their innovative assistive robotics system closer to market in the United States. With official FDA registration, a key regulatory process, their rehabilitative Lifeglov and Lifehub systems are being launched in the US in 2025 in partnership with early-adopters in leading rehabilitation facilities.

Read more: https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7275507761017188352 ???

UKRAS-Steps Technician secondments

For one week, beginning 25 November, we hosted two secondments in partnership with the UK RAS STEPS network. Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Technicians from esteemed institutions in York and London spent a week collaborating with the National Robotarium's technical and engineering teams. This initiative provided an opportunity for them to gain deeper insights into our facility, exchange skills and best practices, and explore potential avenues for future collaboration.

Hitting the Headlines

• Following a ￡321m funding commitment by The Scottish Government for emerging technologies CEO Stewart Miller outlines in Futurescot how robotics manufacturing can help realise Scotland’s innovation and enterprise ambitions: https://futurescot.com/build-it-here-scotlands-321m-opportunity-in-robotics-manufacturing/
• This month, Stewart also featured The Manufacturer discussing how the formation of a new UK Government Industrial Strategy offers a pivotal opportunity to create robotics clusters at a national level: https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/op-ed-why-2025s-industrial-strategy-must-close-britains-manufacturing-robotics-gap/
• Business Development Manager Lisa Farrell highlights the role of robotics in transforming the NHS in a piece for The Herald : https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/24773515.scotlands-nhs-needs-robotics-revolution/
• Head of Robotics Dr Ingo Keller shares his predictions for robotics in 2025 in TechRound : https://techround.co.uk/tech/expert-predictions-robotech-2025/ and The Engineer UK : https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/opinion/robotics-in-2025-the-key-developments-set-to-transform-industry-and-society
• Robotics Engineer Coena Das was featured in Robotics & Automation Magazine in November, sharing her insights on robot perception systems: https://flickread.com/edition/html/67348adfaba3d#29

Engaging with Government

Economy and Fair Work Committee visit

In November, members of the Scottish Parliament Economy and Fair Work Committee visited the National Robotarium to gather insights on the effectiveness of the City Growth Deal for improving regional economies, creating jobs, attracting investment and driving inclusive economic growth.

WATCH: Convenor Colin Smith MSP discuss the visit and how centres like the National Robotarium are delivering value for money for Scotland.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7272268487048237057

Research Round-up

• Assistant Professor in Generative AI at Heriot-Watt University Dr Alessandro Suglia has been named a winner of the ‘Italy Made Me’ Award 2024. The awards, led by the Italian Embassy in London’s Scientific Office, highlight research excellence in the UK: https://amblondra.esteri.it/en/news/dall_ambasciata/2024/11/italy-made-me-2024-winners/
• The Edinburgh Centre for Robotics are recruiting for a number of PhD opportunities in the field of aerodynamics and robotics at the VOILab (Vortex Interaction Lab) at 英国爱丁堡大学 . Find out more: https://voilab.eng.ed.ac.uk/phd
• Researchers from The National Robotarium Heriot-Watt University and The University of Edinburgh presented at the 2024 IEEE RAS HUMANOIDS Conference which took place in Nancy, France from 22-24 November. Hefan Wang and Steve Tonneau presented a paper outlining the latest developments from a joint project that aims to optimise how humanoids move in changing environments.

Events and Outreach

• National Engineering Day 2024 | On 13 November, we celebrated National Engineering Day 2024, marking it with new Q&As with our amazing Robotics Engineers. Read them on our website: https://thenationalrobotarium.com/national-engineering-day-2024-meet-our-robotics-engineers/
• FirstTech Gamechangers Conference | We had the honour of hosting the FIRST Tech Challenge UK Gamechangers Conference on 15 November, the annual Game Changer Conference for A-Team volunteers and Champion Organisation Ambassadors. This event provided a valuable opportunity to bring the FirstTech community together to enhance skills, share inspiration, and further our collective impact in the field of STEM. [photo]
• AI, Automation and Bots4Good Online Conference Business Development Manager Lisa Farrell spoke at the UKAuthority AI, Automation and Bots4Good online conference on 28 November. The event stream, and panel Q&A, can be watched in full at: https://www.ukauthority.com/events/catch-up-ai-automation-bots4good-2024/
• Women in Computing Event | On 11 December Schools Engagement Officer and 英国赫瑞瓦特大学 robotics student Liza Masson delivered a talk and robot demonstration at St George’s School, Edinburgh The event was targeted at encouraging and empowering women and girls to consider careers in computing, technology and other STEM subjects.
• Skedda webinar ‘From Chaos to Control: Effective Workplace Management’ | COO Steve Maclaren took part in a webinar for global digital information and technology solution providers Skedda on 18 November. Watch the webinar on demand at: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4744611/1222B7CEB37259FF28B89740F4041F6A?partnerref=Skedda
• Learning Places Scotland 2024 | Industry and Engagement Lead Blair Wilson took part in a panel session on ‘EDI, young people, and robots – building the future of STEM education’ at the Learning Places Scotland conference on 19 November.
• FutureScot Conference Our team members attended the Futurescot Conference on 26 November, where GovTech leaders from across the UK shared their strategies for technology-led transformation of public services.
• Robotics Society Robot Contest | As part of European Robotics Week, Heriot-Watt Robotics Society hosted a robot racing competition at The National Robotarium, bringing together robot enthusiasts for an afternoon of robot building and racing.

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