University of the West of England
Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) is the most comprehensive academic centre for multi-disciplinary robotics research in the UK. It is a collaborative partnership between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and the University of Bristol, and home to a vibrant community of over 200 academics, researchers and industry practitioners.
D2 - University of the west of England
Bristol Robotics Lab
Lead Investigator: Manuel Giuliani
Focus (or foci) of the group for NCNR:
When it comes to making nuclear environments safe for humans, robot teleoperation – the ability for humans to remotely operate machines to physically interact with objects and environments – is key. To be effective, robot arms and end effectors must successfully navigate unknown spaces and interact with unknown objects, sending back dependable information to the human operator. All the while, the machine must remain safe for use.
The Bristol Robotics Lab has been tasked with analysing levels of robotic autonomy and control, and assessing how reliable robots are in their communication with human operators.
Topics investigated include:
- Levels of autonomy and variable levels of autonomy
- Enhanced remote viewing
- Human-robot interactions
- Robot teleoperation
- Reliable wireless communication
Prototypes developed for this project include:
- Mirrored teleoperation system with three levels of autonomy.
- Stereo remote viewing interface, including operator head tracking.
- A low-power, high-reliability, high-speed wireless communication interface for teleoperation.
Contact: manuel.giuliani@brl.ac.uk