Research
A recognised robot maker space
The Cobot Maker Space is one of eight European Robotics League certified testbeds for the recognised testing of tasks and functionality benchmarks.
The facility provides an environment where collaboration elevates research quality through different disciplinary perspectives, bringing together researchers from a broad range of disciplines, supporting new teams to embark on multi and interdisciplinary research.
Our specialist area is sociotechnical research which addresses the connection between people, AI driven robots and autonomous systems. AI features across most of our research, including technical developments in algorithms and techniques, working with specific sectors such as healthcare and focusses on aspects of AI for end-users, communities and the wider society.
Case Study
Cat Royale
Read moreCat Royale by Blast Theory was developed in collaboration with the Mixed Reality Lab at the University of Nottingham and funded by UKRI via the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems (TAS) Hub. It was co-commissioned by Queensland Museum for World Science Festival Brisbane 2023, and Science Gallery London.
Cat Royale is a landmark artwork in which a small family of three cats, Ghostbuster, Clover, and Pumpkin, inhabited an AI-driven ‘cat utopia,’ at the centre of which a robot arm tried to enrich their lives by playing with them.
A video installation of the work exhibited at the Brisbane World Science Fair and the Science Gallery, London, engaged thousands of people with the deep questions of trust and autonomy posed by the seemingly simple idea of using AI to create such a utopia. The project also delivered research papers on designing robot worlds, embracing play with robots.
Case Study
FAILSAFE
Read moreThis project will explore the potential of using a robotic arm to aid humans with the task of unloading a dishwasher in the home environment to facilitate the future uptake of the technology and aid inclusion/accessibility and independence of users in a range of settings.
