The National Robotarium News
The National Robotarium
The National Robotarium is a world-leading centre for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence.
The National Robotarium Turns 2!
On 11 October, the National Robotarium team gathered with industry residents to celebrate the second anniversary of the world-leading facility for robotics and artificial intelligence.
Since official opening in September 2022, we have solidified our position as a leader in the UK robotics sector, testing and developing new robotic applications to address real-world challenges. We're pleased to not only have raised our profile with nationally, particularly with policymakers from the UK and Scottish governments, but to have raised awareness more generally of the positive benefits that robotics and AI bring to people’s work, lives and health. ?
?? WATCH: To mark our 2nd birthday of?two intrepid influencer detectives are invited behind-the-scenes of world-leading robotics and AI facility where they discover things may not be quite as they seem...
?? Video production CutAcross? Media
? Starring Hanna Durham Emily Fletcher Thomas McGravie Veghell Leo Acuna, REE RME Fergal Mackie Steve Maclaren Stewart Miller
?? ARI, Spot and Ameca
Other News
The National Robotarium and Touchlab Ltd at IROS 2024
Members of the Robotics Engineering and Business Development teams Rahul R. Ramachandran and Naomi Battison and along with Zaki Hussein Laura Garcia Caberol and Shayne Shaw from industry residents Touchlab Limited flew to Abu Dhabi this month for the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), one of the biggest and most impactful international robotics research conferences.
The team were showcasing an innovative new robotic touch system - developed in collaboration - that, through its advanced remote-controlled arms and tactile sensors, can support healthcare workers in delivering remote care safely with dexterity and precision.
WATCH the robot demo ?
AI and Robotics: A Near Future You're Not Prepared For"
Chief Operating Officer Steve Maclaren recently attended a special New York screening of the Nash Squared TechFlix documentary, AI and Robotics: A Near Future You're Not Prepared For.
The thought-provoking film, partly filmed at the National Robotarium, features interviews with our CEO Stewart Miller and academic co-lead Professor Yvan Petillot and offers an insightful exploration of how robotics and AI are shaping our lives, work, and health in an increasingly automated world.
The film is now streaming at: https://www.nashsquared.com/techflix
Hitting the Headlines
Policy and public affairs
New report calls for increased robotics investment by UK Government
The National Robotarium was pleased to contribute to the new Tony Blair Institute for Global Change report?'A New National Purpose: The UK's Opportunity to Lead in Next-Wave Robotics'.
The policy recommendations outlined within the report align closely with our Robotics Revolution manifesto, which calls for?the creation of a UK Robotics Strategy and?a network of specialised robotics facilities across Britain and Northern Ireland, which we believe will elevate the UK's position as a global leader in robotics innovation and manufacturing.
VIDEO: What is the Robotics Revolution?
In March 2024, at the Houses of Parliament, the National Robotarium launched ‘Reaping the Rewards of the Robotics Revolution’, an ambitious policy plan outlining the five steps needed to make the UK an active player in the global robotics economy.
More recently, the centre was namechecked by local constituency MP Dr Scott Arthur in a UK Parliament debate on Scotland's Economy and included in The Scottish Government's new Programme for Government as a driver for innovation and stimulating growth through strategic support of start-up robotics and technology companies.
But, what?is?the Robotics Revolution? And how can the UK play its part?
Find out in this video ?
NHS Scotland Chief Executives at the National Robotarium
This September, we hosted NHS Scotland Chief Executives and senior leaders from healthcare and government for two days of meetings and discussions on key issues facing the healthcare sector in Scotland. CEO at The National Robotarium Stewart Miller and Business Development lead Lisa Farrell presented on the potential of robotics technologies to help alleviate waiting lists and ease staff pressures, and underlined the role the centres like the National Robotarium can play in supporting the exploration of new models to fast-track and de-risk innovation in the sector.
Working with Industry
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New partnership with Smart Things Accelerator Centre
The National Robotarium recently entered a partnership with Filament STAC - Smart Things Accelerator Centre to support the next generation of Scottish entrepreneurs. The partnership combines resources to offer robotics and autonomous systems start-ups mentorship, education and enhanced business acceleration support across Scotland, including co-working spaces at the National Robotarium in Edinburgh and STAC's thebeyond Glasgow facility.
MSc Robotics students develop proof-of-concept for science leaders Thermo Fisher
A team of Heriot-Watt University MSc students in Robotics and Robotics with Industrial Applications undertook a paid internship to rapidly develop an innovative robotic solution for a real-world industry challenge.
Partnering with Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, the team were tasked with developing a proof-of-concept that leverages robotic and automated technologies to enhance the safety, efficiency, and productivity of the company's operations.
Events and opportunities
UK RAS Steps Workshop
On the 11 September, members of our team attended the UK RAS STEPS workshop in Leeds. This community-driven research platform, led by the University of Leeds, focuses on improving career prospects for Research Technical Professionals (RTPs) in the UK. Senior Technician Thomas McGravie represented The National Robotarium alongside COO Steve Maclaren, Robotics Engineer Hsing Yu Chen and Events lead Emily Fletcher
The team participated in breakout sessions where attendees discussed their needs and ideas across six key areas of the UK RAS STEPS programme: task groups, secondments, training events, advocacy, mentoring, and engagement.
Doors Open Day 2024
The National Robotarium hosted its inaugural Doors Open Day event on 27 September, welcoming over 350 visitors to explore the facility. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with advanced robotics, including the Ameca humanoid, and learn about laser technology in our high-spec labs. Hands-on activities included interactions with clawbots and spheroes, providing a comprehensive learning experience.
Northumbrian Water Group Innovation Festival 2024
For the second year running, The National Robotarium team were at the 2024 NWG (Northumbrian Water Group) Innovation Festival, leading innovators, creators and robot enthusiasts for special, robotics-themed design sprint.
Held over 5 days in July, the sprint explored the use of robotics to improve the safety and efficiency of water and wastewater inspections. One of the resultant ideas, a soft robotic application for water filtration units, has received ￡25k of seed funding to advance the potential of the technology.
Also at the event, held at Newcastle Racecourse, the outreach and engagement team ran a series of interactive workshops for school groups, engaging with 100s of local young people on the learning and career opportunities within robotics, computer science, engineering and other STEM subjects.
Paragon Rapid Technologies showcase
The National Robotarium hosted Paragon Rapid Technologies Ltd. for a showcase event at the facility on 24 September. The innovative UK manufacturing service gave demonstrations on a range of cutting-edge technologies.
Organisations interested in showcasing at the National Robotarium facility can contact [email protected] to discuss.
Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) News
Ameca at the Edinburgh Futures Institute
In October, The National Robotarium partnered with DDI partner hub Edinburgh Futures Institute at 英国爱丁堡大学 for a special event Ameca in Conversation with Jeanette Winterson.
The event, which kicked-off the EFI Learning Curves Autumn event season, included a panel discussion with our Head of Robotics, Dr Ingo Keller, in a wide-ranging conversation exploring the intersections of technology, literature, and human connection.
WATCH the conversation in full at: https://efi.ed.ac.uk/event/jeanette-winterson-in-conversation-with-ameca/
Research round-up
Assistive robotics for patient rehabilitation
In August, two ground-breaking projects exploring the use of assistive robots in supporting the health and care sector made the news.
The VITALISE (Virtual Health and Wellbeing Living Lab Infrastructure) project, funded by the Horizon Europe programme and led by Professor Lynne Baillie (she/her)'s Human Robot Interaction (HRI) team, has developed a system where socially assistive robots communicate with stroke and brain patients using a headset that detects brain neural activity. The technology has been successfully piloted in partnership with leading scientists and physiotherapy clinicians in Vienna. The project received widespread broadcast and print media coverage, including BBC Reporting Scotland, Sky News, The Times, BBC Online and international titles in Australia and the Philippines.
The future of robotics-assisted care has taken a step forward thanks to a collaboration with Blantyre LIFE, an innovative care development centre led by NHS Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire Council, PhD student Carl Bettosi brought assistive robot ARI to the centre, working directly with clinicians and healthcare staff to understand how the robot can use its machine learning to work autonomously and support the self-management of patient rehabilitation. The partnership announcement prompted an exclusive feature in The Scottish Sun.
Congratulations on an incredible first two years! Delighted to have been a small part of your celebrations. Who knows what other secrets there may be to uncover! Best, The CutAcross team