Robohub.org
 

New Robotics and new opportunities


by
28 May 2013



share this:

Here are the slides of my talk at the BARA Academic Forum for Robotics meeting Robotics: from innovation to service, on Monday 20 May 2013:

The key messages from my talk were:

  • The new wave of robotics represents a kind of Cambrian explosion in robotics: an exciting but also bewildering exploration of new forms, functions and materials. This explosion of diversity means that the New Robotics is not one kind of robot. Thus any kind of prediction about which of these will successfully evolve to become mainstream is more or less impossible.
  • There are two common myths: first, the waiting-for-AI myth: the idea that robotics is waiting for some breakthrough innovation in Artificial Intelligence, without which robotics is stuck. And second, the need-full-autonomy myth: the idea that fully autonomous robots represent some ideal end-state of the development of robotics; this is not true – instead we need robots and human-robot interfaces that will transition smoothly between tele-operation and semi-autonomy. We call this dynamic autonomy.
  • There are significant opportunities for innovation right now – underpinned by a significant head-of-steam of fundamental technologies from university R&D. I offer some examples for discussion, including companion robots, wearable robots and tele-operated robots with immersive tele-presence, perhaps making use of remote tele-haptics (although I claim no special insights).
  • We need new and agile approaches to innovation. New kinds of research-industry partnerships and flexible, responsive pathways to commercialisation. Especially campus start-ups and incubators, nurturing post-docs as next generation entrepreneurs; and innovative modes of funding. We also need responsible and sustainable innovation.Haptocs

Here are links to further information, and video clips, on the projects and robots highlighted in the talk:

Slide 10: The Cooperative Human Robot Interaction Systems (CHRIS) project

Slide 11: MOBISERV – An Integrated Intelligent Home Environment for the Provision of Health, Nutrition and Well-Being Services to Older Adults

Slide 12:Hand exoskeleton for post stroke recovery

Slide 13: Tactile Sensing – tele-haptics

Slide 14: Surgical Haptics

Slide 15: Search and Rescue – Disaster Response

Slide 16: Towards energy sustainability



tags: ,


Alan Winfield is Professor in robotics at UWE Bristol. He communicates about science on his personal blog.
Alan Winfield is Professor in robotics at UWE Bristol. He communicates about science on his personal blog.





Related posts :



Robot Talk Episode 129 – Automating museum experiments, with Yuen Ting Chan

  17 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Yuen Ting Chan from Natural History Museum about using robots to automate molecular biology experiments.

What’s coming up at #IROS2025?

  15 Oct 2025
Find out what the International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems has in store.

From sea to space, this robot is on a roll

  13 Oct 2025
Graduate students in the aptly named "RAD Lab" are working to improve RoboBall, the robot in an airbag.

Robot Talk Episode 128 – Making microrobots move, with Ali K. Hoshiar

  10 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Ali K. Hoshiar from University of Essex about how microrobots move and work together.

Interview with Zahra Ghorrati: developing frameworks for human activity recognition using wearable sensors

and   08 Oct 2025
Zahra tells us more about her research on wearable technology.

Women in robotics you need to know about 2025

  06 Oct 2025
This global list celebrates women's impact across the robotics ecosystem and globe.

Robot Talk Episode 127 – Robots exploring other planets, with Frances Zhu

  03 Oct 2025
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Frances Zhu from the Colorado School of Mines about intelligent robotic systems for space exploration.



 

Robohub is supported by:




Would you like to learn how to tell impactful stories about your robot or AI system?


scicomm
training the next generation of science communicators in robotics & AI


 












©2025.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence