Robotics and autonomous systems applications

Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are to invest up to £5 million in innovation projects to stimulate new partnerships across robotics and autonomous systems (RAS).

Innovate UK are looking for innovators to develop new solutions to existing or emerging problems. Commercially viable RAS solutions often need to combine several different technologies to achieve the required performance. This competition aims to support and speed up this work.

The aim of this competition is to enable UK companies to explore new RAS opportunities. It will enable them to develop capabilities for application in many sectors of the UK economy. The commercial opportunities are clear. Innovate UK intend to encourage RAS research projects to progress towards them.

Developing RAS involves combining many complementary disciplines. These must work seamlessly together to achieve the necessary functionality. These include, but are not limited to:

• modelling and simulation
• digital signal processing
• algorithm design
• software engineering
• sensor technologies
• vision systems and imaging
• analogue and digital electronics
• embedded system design
• mechatronics system design
• wireless communications
• energy efficiency
• mobility and manipulation

Proposals should show how they can speed up the development of RAS technologies towards demonstration and commercialisation. Projects may focus on technical feasibility, industrial research or experimental development.

Innovate UK expect projects to range in size from total costs of £50,000 to £500,000. Projects should last between 6 and 15 months. Businesses must complete the work and incur, pay and claim for all costs before the end of March 2018.

A business must lead the project. Projects with costs of £100,000 or above must be collaborative.