Smart Automation
Smart Automation
Research into the next generation of advanced robotics engineering systems. Robots that can make human like decisions whilst carrying out manufacturing process.
Research Lead: Assoc. Prof. Farid Dailami
Contact the team here
Research Objectives
To bring advanced robotics and automation from laboratory into the real world applications. The group will pursue objectives that lead to the following when considering automated systems:.
- Affordability – value for money, it is commercially justifiable to acquire and operate.
- Reliability – operate at an acceptable level of performance, will meet its functional requirements and will have sufficient redundancy to allow graceful degradation of service.
- Friendliness – user interactions are simple, the user does not need extensive education and training to make use of the device and the robot and humans can co-exists in the same physical space without the need for extensive guarding.
- Robustness – handle uncertainty in physical dimension, forces, locations and other environmental variables etc.
- Flexibility – can do more than one job – is not limited to one type of product or task but can easily switch between tasks and products of similar nature.
Key Enabling Technologies
Sensors
Actuators
Software
Materials of construction
Machine elements
Communication
The approach adopted will concentrate on integration of the above technologies.
Engagement Opportunities
The Smart Automation team invites individuals and organisations to collaborate on "real-world" problems, utilising the wide range of expertise, software and robotics hardware available at Bristol Robotics Laboratory. It's recent success working with numerous industrial partners as diverse as Numatic International and Open Bionics has resulted in the creation of the Robotics Innovation Facility
(RIF).
The RIF is a physical space housing a wide range of hardware and a dedicated team of engineers to undertake Research & Development projects. For further information and an opportunity to apply to the various initiatives available, please visit the RIFBristol webpage.
