As part of the Robotics Summer Showcase 2021, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and CSI:Cobot project are jointly hosting a manufacturing robotics challenge for young researchers, developers, and industrialists working in robotics and digital manufacturing technologies.

The challenge will be held remotely from the 19th to the 21st of July on the theme of collaborative robot safety. Participants will use digital twinning technology to develop solutions to the provided challenges, and drive real hardware at Factory 2050 in Sheffield. The event will bring together early career researchers and engineers from across disciplines to develop practical solutions to real-world problems in a competitive environment.

The event is open to final-year masters students, PhD students, early-career researchers, industrial engineers and others with relevant experience in areas including robotics, autonomous systems, computer vision, machine learning, augmented reality, and safety. Successful applicants will be arranged into small teams, based on skills and experience, and will compete against each other to complete a series of robotics challenges.

 

 

Training on the Robot Operating System (ROS) and safety methods will be provided on the the first day, followed by two days of practical challenges. The challenges will reflect real manufacturing scenarios, played out on the state-of-the-art Factory 2050 shop floor, using cutting-edge technology (including collaborative manipulators, grippers, industrial vision and sensor systems, digital twins etc.). 

To support innovation in industry, we need to foster the development of knowledge and skills, and the transfer of novel technologies from research into the industrial environment. This challenge will bring together the technology leaders of tomorrow to work together to create innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Dr James Law, Sheffield Robotics, Department of Computer Science, & the AMRC

The Robotics Summer Showcase, organised by the UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Network (UK-RAS), is a summer-long programme showcasing the cutting-edge in UK robotics research and innovation. Running from May - July, it features a variety of free-to-register lectures, workshops, demonstrations and events aimed at engaging the RAS community, and helping to create meaningful connections and foster collaboration. It is supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).