• Virtually 300 delegates and exhibitors attend showcase occasion in Cumbria
• Keynote audio system from throughout nuclear business extol virtues of the deployment of Robotics and Synthetic Intelligence for safer operations
INDUSTRIES and companies which fail to embrace the secure deployment of Robotics and Synthetic Intelligence to enhance their operations could face the same destiny as those that shunned different main technological alternatives such because the Industrial Revolution or the web.
That was the view shared at a serious business convention – “Harnessing Robotics and Synthetic Intelligence in Difficult Environments” – which attracted virtually 300 delegates and exhibitors to the occasion at Energus, Workington, Cumbria on Tuesday (Might 21).
Attendees heard how embracing robotics and AI can assist meet the 2 international challenges of local weather change and vitality safety. Delegates heard RAICo, a collaboration between UK Atomic Vitality Authority (UKAEA), Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), Sellafield Ltd and the College of Manchester, performs a significant function, aiding collaboration and bringing the best minds collectively – together with end-users, problem-holders and researchers – to seek out options to shared nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering challenges.
The deployment of robotics and AI was described as being key to accelerating nuclear decommissioning and fusion engineering in a approach which delivers missions safer, quicker and extra cheaply.
Keynote audio system from the nuclear sector, together with Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of the UKAEA; Mr David Peattie, CEO of the NDA; Mr Roddy Miller, Nuclear Operations Director at Sellafield Ltd, and Francis Livens, Professor of Radiochemistry at The College of Manchester, shared with delegates their visions for the secure deployment of the most recent applied sciences.
David Peattie stated: “I am obsessed with creating alternatives for collaboration throughout the NDA group, the broader sector, academia and the provision chain and notably inspiring younger folks to have interaction within the work we’re doing and develop modern options.
“We’re proud to be a part of RAICo and dedicated to exploring how we are able to utilise know-how and innovation to create a safer working setting for our workers, ship extra successfully and effectively, to depart a extra sustainable legacy for generations to return.”
Roddy Miller stated: “Harnessing the facility of robotics and AI isn’t just about technological development; it is about making a sustainable and safer setting for future generations. This occasion highlighted the unbelievable potential of those applied sciences and the essential function Cumbria performs on this transformative journey.”
Throughout a panel session hosted by Professor Rob Buckingham, Govt Director of the UKAEA, by which keynote audio system have been requested their views on danger, Ian Chapman highlighted that, whereas security of operations was paramount, it was additionally essential to think about the chance of business and companies failing to undertake applied sciences which assist them obtain some duties safer, quicker and extra cheaply.
He stated: “I additionally think about mixture danger in conversations like this. The largest danger for the nuclear sector is that it’s going to stop to exist. Simply return to the Industrial Revolution, or the web, these (companies) who determined to not have interaction, these firms don’t exist.” Partaking with provide chain firms was additionally highlighted as very important for industries to totally embrace robotics and AI.
The Industrial Options Hub (iSH) introduced the launch of the Cumbria Robotics Cluster on the occasion.
This cluster brings collectively organisations with a shared imaginative and prescient to raise Cumbria as a globally recognised centre of excellence within the discipline of robotics engineering.
RAICo is a founding member of the cluster which is about to play a vital function in growing superior robotics applied sciences and abilities that deal with industrial challenges, notably within the nuclear business and different difficult environments.
Dr Kirsty Hewitson, Director of RAICo, stated: “This cluster represents a major alternative for synergy and innovation amongst Cumbria’s robotics specialists and industries. Via this collaborative effort, we’re set to map out and increase the capabilities of robotics within the area, driving ahead our joint targets of technological development and capability constructing.”
Kirsty added: “The availability chain is totally essential to RAICo’s success and that broader success throughout each Sellafield, the broader NDA property but additionally the UK Atomic Vitality Authority.
“They (the provision chain) completely possess these distinctive talent units, applied sciences that they’ve developed over a few years which we ought to be tapping into and harnessing and dealing collaboratively with them.
“It was nice to see various these massive and small firms come to the occasion and be part of within the discussions happening throughout the room.”
Organised by FIS360 on behalf of RAICo and its companions, the occasion additionally highlighted the social influence of robotics and AI in Cumbria and past.
Adopting robotics and AI supplies alternatives to upskill workforces, create new increased expert jobs, and supply thrilling careers for younger folks and graduates.
Eleven college students aged 16 to 18 from West Lakes Academy and the Vitality Coast College Technical School (UTC) who took half in a four-week dash programme set by RAICo and iSH, to develop a small robotic that might transfer a mock nuclear barrel round a monitor, shared their learnings and experiences on the occasion.
Mr Richard Christensen, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at RAICo, stated: “What has been achieved by these proficient college students in such a short while is extremely spectacular, and watching them converse so confidently (on the occasion) about their findings was unbelievable.
“At RAICo, we need to champion the following era of innovators throughout the robotics and AI business, offering college students and younger professionals with alternatives to assist them get a foot within the door for a rewarding profession.”