Abstract: Simulation is a favoured technique for analysis of robotic systems. Currently, however, simulations are programmed in an ad hoc way, for specific simulators, using either proprietary languages or general languages like C or C++. Even when a higher-level language is used, no clear relation between the simulation and a design model is established. I will describe the main features of a domain-specific notation called RoboSim, designed for modelling of (verified) simulations.

Abstract: RACE, previously the JET Remote Handling department, has been maintaining the JET fusion experiment in Culham for over 30 years. Although the tasks, technology, and the tokamak itself have changed over this time, 3 crucial capabilities have remained at the core of what is required to keep the world’s most power fusion reactor functioning – management of operations, control of hardware, and the visualisation of activities. In this whistle-stop tour of how these capabilities have advanced and evolved in order to keep up with the ever-changing world of fusion science, we will also look to how RACE is applying the same 3 principals to future fusion remote maintenance applications as well as those outside fusion involving decommissioning, inspection, and maintenance. We will explore the software suite developed within RACE for various applications, how it supports current projects, and how it aims to support those in the future.

Abstract: The presentation will start with a look at ‘where we are’ with on-the-shelf robotic products at Dyson with an overview of the 360Heurist. This will be followed by a brief description of our current developments in algorithmic capability, systems engineering, product simulation and software processes. A glimpse into future developments of robotics at Dyson will also be provided. To conclude, a list of safety challenges for future domestic robotics will be provided!

Abstract: The world of robotics is full of exciting possibilities. From industrial automation to surgery, from biocybernetics to radioactive material handling, the fields of human endeavour set to benefit from innovation technological advancement know almost no bounds. Many of these advances are in fields where safety is paramount. Consequently, the rigor associated with the development processes for Proofs of Concept (PoC) may well fall short of that required for real-world applications.

The implications of that can be stark. History is littered with embedded safety-critical applications that have failed to make the grade (Ariane 5, Toyota’s unintended acceleration, Boeing 737 MAX …) – and those are the applications that have made production. Who knows how many innovations have not got that far because the overhead of retrospective adherence to the IEC 61508 functional-safety standard and its derivatives (IEC 62304 for medical devices and IEC 61513 in nuclear power, amongst many others) has rendered them commercially unjustifiable?.

This presentation will explain why productionisation of safety-critical systems software can be so onerous, and it will begin to introduce precautions that can be taken during the research process to help minimise its impact.

Abstract: Automation, Connectivity and Intelligent systems will fundamentally change industry. BAE Systems is developing that future now and through its Factory of the future programme demonstrating how automation and skilled people can work together to improve productivity, accommodate complexity but also realise a highly flexible manuafcturing capability. This capability will enable industrial investment to be maximise across multiple products, will be able to respond to change rapidly and can accommodate extensive upgrade to complex products. Mobile automation, connectivity, exploitation of data across the enterprise and embedded intelligence are key enablers for automatic and autonomous factory orchestration. BAE Systems will provide an overview of the path to autonomous factories and how the UK research and technology landscape is well positioned to help realise these differentiating capabilities.

Abstract: This presentation will cover the work conducted in Thales R&D, work conducted within TBPHASE (EPSRC-funded programme grant – focused on Hybrid Autonomous Systems T-B PHASE | Faculty of Engineering | University of Bristol) and as part of a RAEng Industry Fellowship with the RoboStar team. It explores a review of current Human Factors Techniques and bridging activities to allow user interaction with a system to be modelled within RoboStar (RoboHumans).

Abstract: Development within the agricultural domain is expensive in hardware prototypes and challenging due to limited suitable time windows during the year for testing of prototypes as part of the development and validation process. The use of digital twins and cyper physical systems have enables us to keep a very high pace in our development as well as keeping development costs to a minimum as physical prototypes have been reduced to a few during our development journey. In my presentation I will give an insight how cutting edge engineering tools have enables us to development Robotti and be one of the first agricultural robots on the market.

Abstract: The Catapult will share an insight into some of the recent initiatives from the world of Automated Vehicles, taking a look at the possible environmental impacts and some of the regulation and certification enablers to help bring them to market.

Abstract: In a short presentation, Philip English, Co-Director at Robot Center a Collaborative Robotics Company, specialising in Autonomous Mobile Platforms, will briefly introduce the company and its ROI Methodology for Robot Deployment, Development & Integration and then present MiR Robots:- MiR robots help optimize your internal logistics and take over monotone and time-consuming tasks allowing the employees to focus on more value-adding work. and Temi Robots:- Temi is a multinational robotics company that specialises in Robot as a Service solutions (RaaS), autonomous platforms, AI, smart assistant and cloud-based services.

Abstract: According to our expectations, the certification of safety-critical autonomous systems in the robotic and transportation domains will become a well-controlled process within the next 5 years. It has to be taken into account, however, that as of today, the standardisation process describing the conditions for system design, verification, and validation to be fulfilled for obtaining certification credit has not been completed yet. Verified Systems is a company specialised on V&V of safety-critical cyber-physical systems, and one of its business objectives is to provide V&V services required for autonomous systems certification. In this talk, we describe the main challenges still to be solved for obtaining a suitable basis of standards. Moreover, we explain how specific V&V methodology will become crucial for obtaining certification credit with acceptable effort.

Abstract: In this short presentation, Tony Pipe, Professor of Robotics and Automation from the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, will briefly introduce the laboratory itself, and then make a case that the field in general is nudging ever closer to the edge of a ‘slippery slope’ that leads to the bottom of another “boom and bust” loop. To avoid this undesirable scenario, he will propose that a set of linked crucial issues in robotics research and development must be addressed very promptly. He will use the very rapid developments taking place in the Connected Autonomous Vehicles sector as an illustrative example of where many of these issues are currently being addressed. Here, assuring safety in the face of a huge action state space is one of the most significant challenges. However, many of the issues to be addressed in this sector are, to one extent or another, typical of many other emerging robotics application domains.

Abstract: Shadow Robot have been developing highly dexterous robot hands for over 20 years, and recently building advanced telerobots making use of this technology. What difference does a sense of touch make to a telerobot or an autonomous robot, and what needs to be done to make that happen?

Abstract: Established in 1992, Labman Automation design and build laboratory automation, providing equipment across a wide range of sectors. This short talk reflects on the past, present, and future trends in Lab automation from Labman’s perspective.

Abstract: The benefits of high throughput experimentation, particularly in the chemistry laboratory, cannot be overstated. In R&D organizations, where trial & error is a part of a scientist’s everyday life, nothing can be better than having the ability to test multiple knowledge-driven hypotheses simultaneously. Yet, there are still many lab-based chemists that will serially test their synthetic hypotheses (new transformations, reactivity, solvent effects, etc), often overstressing how the results of each experiment will provide important learnings for future iterations. While this is arguably true, a well-designed array of carefully controlled experiments, will almost always supply you with improved conditions for a specific transformation, and usually faster than any serial journey of single reactions.

For change to occur in any organization, there must be a demonstrable benefit to the individual scientist, as well as the collective organization, but maybe more important than that, the cost of change, cannot exceed the benefit to those being asked to change their work routines. Lowering the cost of this change by simplifying the integration and adoption of semi-automated and automated kit, and improved ELNs to easily orchestrate and capture experimental results into daily workflows, is a paramount objective for software and hardware suppliers. In this web presentation we will describe our efforts to simplify acceptance so that, when appropriate, high throughput experimentation becomes the default choice for scientists that need to optimize a specific chemical transformation.

Abstract: This presentation outlines the approach taken by GSK to automating chemistry in a Process Development lab. It describes the operating model, equipment choices and impact made over the past five years. It will also focus on future requirements