Engineering news
Innovate UK has launched its Northern Robotics Network (NRN), an open network of partners in academia, research and development and commercial innovation in robotics and autonomous systems.
Building on the recent UK strategy for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, RAS2020, the NRN will identify ways in which the northern RAS community, through research, technology companies and innovative application, can help drive the future of robotics in the UK.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, has said that the UK is in a prime position to achieve a 10 per cent share of a robotics and autonomous systems market estimated to be worth £70 billion by 2020. A report by McKinsey estimated the application of advanced robotics could generate a potential global economic impact of $1.9 trillion to $6.4 trillion by 2025.
Paul Mort, chairman of the NRN, said: “By collaborating with our partners, academia and commercial enterprise we can create new economic opportunities across the UK and worldwide faster and more productively than previously possible.
“The aim is to establish our network as a Northern Powerhouse for Robotics and Autonomous Systems, growing it on behalf of UK plc and export the applications and products across global markets.”
More than 300 delegates gathered for the launch, with experts and scientists sharing their progress made so far under a programme known as GAMMA (Growing Autonomous Mission Management Applications), a three-year, £9million investment by the government in the regions.
Experts from industries including food production, manufacturing, nuclear, aerospace and rail demonstrated their technology at the University of Salford at Greater Manchester’s MediaCity UK.
Small businesses represented included TGC from Harrogate, a business specialising in fields including flight training, autonomous mission management applications and mobile app development and SUAVE Aerial Photographers in Wigan and Daresbury, specialising in photography from unmanned aerial vehicles for use in projects including 3D modelling, surveys and inspections.
Corporate business, too, showed their advances including Siemens, ABB and James Fisher, which has developed remote underwater vehicles for helping to remove nuclear waste from Sellafield.
Dr David Bailey, chair of the steering committee for GAMMA, said: “This demonstrates how far we have come in developing this technology for everyday business - and how far it can go. The sheer diversity of innovation and applications brings home the real value being developed through businesses in the region large and small.”
Bailey, also chief executive of the North West Aerospace Alliance, added: “The GAMMA programme has provided SMEs with funding and practical technology support, enabling them to develop their intellectual property into a real successful business and developed the infrastructure to serve this developing supply chain into the future.”