Seven of country’s most innovative robotics companies have been chosen to attend the ‘Robotics and Autonomous Systems Mission 2014‘ in California, and four of them are based in the Bristol and Bath region.
The mission is led by the Technology Strategy Board, the UK government’s agency for innovation, and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI). The teams will represent the robotics industry in the UK from the 23-27 June.
The four Bristol and Bath-based robotics companies are:
Agilic, a startup based at the Bristol Robotics Lab incubator, has been developing a range of education robots that inspire learning and play for children.
Reach Robotics is also based at the same laboratory. It has developed MechaMonsters- small, four-legged robots that can interact with their owners and each other.
MapleBird, a company at the forefront of developing tiny Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), opening up possibilities for sophisticated reconnaissance by civilian services and industrial plant inspection through to personal drones controlled through a smartphone.
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D-RisQ, based in Malvern, which produces automated formal analysis tools that change the way the world develops safety critical systems and software. They have been used successfully on military aircraft.
The other winners are:
- Aura Technology (AuraTech) offers engineering and design consultancy services and is currently working on a remote operate aerial endurance vehicle
- Sebastian Conran Associates is developing a mimetic robotic companion, designed to support and enhance people’s experience of later life by increasing their independence
- Shadow has developed the Dexterous Hand, which gives robots the same capability and flexibility as the human hand, for roles such as hazardous material handling and industrial quality control
“These companies will benefit from meetings with leading robotics, academic and research institutions, gaining fresh ideas and developing new partnerships and funding opportunities”
This year the mission will take place in San Diego, San Francisco and Silicon Valley from the 23-27 June. The event will showcase the very best of the UK’s robotics technology to peers, partners, investors and potential customers.
The itinerary involves briefings, meetings, pitching opportunities as well as important networking events. It offers a packed programme that will give British robotics companies and entrepreneurs unparalleled access to the US robotics ‘ecosystem’.
Mike Biddle, Deputy Director of Innovation Programmes at the Technology Strategy Board was enthusiastic about this year’s event. “(The Mission) is a springboard which can help (the companies) to launch their business, thrive and turn their innovations into tangible business opportunities”
Biddle concluded by saying “These companies will benefit from meetings with leading robotics, academic and research institutions, gaining fresh ideas and developing new partnerships and funding opportunities.”
On behalf of the TechSPARK team we would like to wish all seven teams the best of luck in California.
UPDATE: the Technology Strategy Board released a video about this robotics mission to California.
[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXScGVgYhg0″]
- You may like: Profile: Bristol Robotics Lab
