The latest robotics and autonomous systems were on display at Cradle (Centre for Robotic Autonomy in Demanding and Long-lasting Environments).
Funded by Jacobs, The University of Manchester and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council’s Prosperity Partnership program, Cradle focuses on researching, developing and commercialising transformative robotic technologies. Its remit also covers the societal and regulatory challenges of robotics, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence.
The systems on display included Mirrax, a reconfigurable snake robot capable of accessing narrow pipes and an X2 tracked rover commissioned by Jacobs and Digital Concepts Engineering. It also featured several aquatic robots, including the drinks can sized Jacobs MicroROV, Mallard (an aquatic surface robot for inspecting nuclear pools) and CuttleBot (a mini cuttlefish robot); a robotic 3D printer; and Pepper, a humanoid robot that interacts with people and speaks 15 languages.
Jacobs vice president Greg Willetts described Cradle as a new chapter in the company’s collaboration with the university.
“It will allow us to expand our robotics capability into new areas, enabling research into autonomous systems which are crucial to extending asset life and sustainability,” added Willetts.