Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | EP/R02572X/1 | |
| Title | National Centre for Nuclear Robotics (NCNR) | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Computer Science and Informatics) 30%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 10%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 60%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr R Stolkin School of Mechanical Engineering University of Birmingham |
|
| Award Type | Standard | |
| Funding Source | EPSRC | |
| Start Date | 02 October 2017 | |
| End Date | 01 April 2022 | |
| Duration | 54 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £12,256,862 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Electrical engineering | |
| Region | West Midlands | |
| Programme | ISCF Robotics | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr R Stolkin , School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Birmingham |
| Other Investigator | Dr TB Scott , Interface Analysis Centre, University of Bristol Dr TS Richardson , Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol Professor A Richards , Aerospace Engineering, University of Bristol Dr RR Malkin , Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol Dr G Herrmann , Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol Dr CJ Taylor , Engineering, Lancaster University Dr A Montazeri , Engineering, Lancaster University Dr I I Farkhatdinov , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Professor K Althoefer , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Professor A Cavallaro , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Dr S Poslad , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Dr ME Hansard , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Dr L Jamone , Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen Mary, University of London Dr KD McDonald-Maier , Computing and Electronic Systems, University of Essex Dr M Mistry , School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham Professor A Leonardis , School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham Professor R Stone , Electronic, Electrical and Computer Eng, University of Birmingham Professor C Melhuish , Computing Engineering and Maths Science, University of the West of England Professor M Giuliani , Computing Engineering and Maths Science, University of the West of England Professor A Pipe , Bristol Robotics Laborator, University of the West of England Professor A Peer , Bristol Robotics Laborator, University of the West of England Professor G Neumann , School of Computer Scienc, University of Lincoln Professor MA Hanheide , School of Computer Scienc, University of Lincoln |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) Project Contact , UltraSoC Technologies Ltd Project Contact , Toshiba Research Europe Ltd Project Contact , Haption SA, France Project Contact , Ionix Advanced Technologies Ltd Project Contact , Imitec Ltd Project Contact , Shadow Robot Company Ltd Project Contact , Jacobs UK Limited Project Contact , BAE Systems Integrated System Technologies Limited Project Contact , James Fisher Nuclear Limited Project Contact , Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), Japan Project Contact , NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA Project Contact , Royal Institution of Great Britain Project Contact , Thales Group, France Project Contact , Eidos Education, USA Project Contact , National Nuclear Laboratory Project Contact , Forth Engineering (Cumbria) Limited Project Contact , Tohoku University (Japan) Project Contact , Nuvia Limited Project Contact , KUKA Robotics UK Limited Project Contact , Sellafield Ltd Project Contact , Rolls-Royce PLC Project Contact , Rovtech Solutions Project Contact , Bath Spa University Project Contact , Synthotech Limited Project Contact , Atlas Elektronik UK Project Contact , Shield Project Contact , EDF Energy Project Contact , National Ocean Technology Center (NOTC), China Project Contact , IHI Corporation, Japan Project Contact , National Physical Laboratory NPL Project Contact , STFC - Laboratories Project Contact , AWE plc Project Contact , Atkins Project Contact , Oaklands College |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | ||
| Abstract | Nuclear facilities require a wide variety of robotics capabilities, engendering a variety of extreme RAI challenges. NCNR brings together a diverse consortium of experts in robotics, AI, sensors, radiation and resilient embedded systems, to address these complex problems.In high gamma environments, human entries are not possible at all. In alpha-contaminated environments, air-fed suited human entries are possible, but engender significant secondary waste (contaminated suits), and reduced worker capability. We have a duty to eliminate the need for humans to enter such hazardous environments wherever technologically possible.Hence, nuclear robots will typically be remote from human controllers, creating significant opportunities for advanced telepresence. However, limited bandwidth and situational awareness demand increased intelligence and autonomous control capabilities on the robot, especially for performing complex manipulations. Shared control, where both human and AI collaboratively control the robot, will be critical because i) safety-critical environments demand a human in the loop, however ii) complex remote actions are too difficult for a human to perform reliably and efficiently.Before decommissioning can begin, and while it is progressing, characterization is needed. This can include 3D modelling of scenes, detection and recognition of objects and materials, as well as detection of contaminants, measurement of types and levels of radiation, and other sensing modalities such as thermal imaging. This will necessitate novel sensor design, advanced algorithms for robotic perception, and new kinds of robots to deploy sensors into hard-to-reach locations.To carry out remote interventions, both situational awareness for the remote human operator, and also guidance of autonomous/semi-autonomous robotic actions, will need to be informed by real-time multi-modal vision and sensing, including: real-time 3D modelling and semantic understanding of objects and scenes; active vision in dynamic scenes and vision-guided navigation and manipulation.The nuclear industry is high consequence, safety critical and conservative. It is therefore critically important to rigorously evaluate how well human operators can control remote technology to safely and efficiently perform the tasks that industry requires.All NCNR research will be driven by a set of industry-defined use-cases, WP1. Each use-case is linked to industry-defined testing environments and acceptance criteria for performance evaluation in WP11. WP2-9 deliver a variety of fundamental RAI research, including radiation resilient hardware, novel design of both robotics and radiation sensors, advanced vision and perception algorithms, mobility and navigation, grasping and manipulation, multi-modal telepresence and shared control.The project is based on modular design principles. WP10 develops standards for modularisation and module interfaces, which will be met by a diverse range of robotics, sensing and AI modules delivered by WPs2-9. WP10 will then integrate multiple modules onto a set of pre-commercial robot platforms, which will then be evaluated according to end-user acceptance criteria in WP11.WP12 is devoted to technology transfer, in collaboration with numerous industry partners and the Shield Investment Fund who specialise in venture capital investment in RAI technologies, taking novel ideas through to fully fledged commercial deployments. Shield have ring-fenced 10million capital to run alongside all NCNR Hub research, to fund spin-out companies and industrialisation of Hub IP. We have rich international involvement, including NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and Carnegie Melon National Robotics Engineering Center as collaborators in USA, and collaboration from Japan Atomic Energy Agency to help us carry out test-deployments of NCNR robots in the unique Fukushima mock-up testing facilities at the Naraha Remote Technology Development Center | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 28/01/19 | |
