Robotics software company Cyberselves, working with Resolve Robotics and the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University, have been awarded funding to develop 'telexistence' technologies for hazardous environments.
This immersive tech find ways to physically remove humans from dangerous situations by using a robot as a surrogate self.
While there have been significant advancements in robotics in recent years due to improved sensor technologies and artificial intelligence, human-machine interface technologies have remained largely unchanged since the 1980s.
Emergent technologies - such as cloud robotics, virtual reality and haptics - now allow humans to telepresence remotely into a robot and be immersed in a remote environment or situation.
The project, named TEL-SUBSEA, will develop underwater solutions for bomb disposal and nuclear decommissioning.
The project is one of 11 in an £800,000 programme managed by the UK's Defence and Security Accelerator, run on behalf of the Ministry of Defence’s Chief Scientific Adviser and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and managed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
The collaborative team will create a robot-agnostic, low-latency communication system that addresses the current challenge areas of telepresence: haptics, robotics, and telecoms.
While immediate work will focus on bomb disposal and nuclear decommissioning, wider potential applications include offshore wind production and space exploration.
Cyberselves, which will lead the project, spun out of Sheffield Robotics - a collaboration between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University - in March 2020, with the vision of bringing unity and simplicity to robotics.
Cyberselves’ co-founder and chief technology officer Daniel Camilleri said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to draw together many exciting new technologies and help realise the true potential of telepresence and robotics for working alongside humans and keeping us safe by helping us to do the jobs that place us at risk.
“That we can do this with partners that are neighbours here in Scotland and the North of England is a testament to the strength of innovative, cutting-edge talent that’s here, right on our doorstep.”
Professor Yvan Petillot from the National Robotarium said: “We will accelerate research from laboratory to market, paving the way for the UK to take a leadership role in telexistence technologies - our academic team will integrate new solutions for underwater telepresence and manipulation on small to medium ROVs for remote intervention.”
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