Advanced Robotics

Our team of Advanced Robotics Engineers provides technology driven, bespoke solutions to the nuclear, aerospace and defence industries.

Ground breaking projects in these demanding sectors are continuously undertaken based on our world leading Advanced Tele-operation Controller (ATC) and related technology.

Combining state-of-the-art, proven, proprietary software and controls with significant project and application experience, we excel where applications are complex, hazardous and often remote - when human involvement is either undesirable, inappropriate or unavailable.

With over a decade of experience in this unique and demanding field, the team has developed many areas of expertise used in each of the sectors we serve:

Multi-Disciplined Engineering

• Mechanical engineering
• Electronic and electrical engineering
• Software engineering
• All three disciplines are required by the solutions we provide and each team member is skilled in at least two

Software Engineering

• Software robustness and reliability must be engineered into the solution - all our software is robust, especially where the control is for a safety related application
• Good real-time systems engineering is essential - we have experience of several major real-time operating systems including: OS9, VxWorks, QNX, Real-time Linux and POSIX compliant code
• Good design is key - we use Rational's UML toolset
• Quality standards are vital - we work to a quality plan appropriate to the project, e.g. ISO9000, Defence standards, or BNFL "NF" standards

Systems Integration

• We have a multi-disciplinary approach to integrating systems
• We intelligently trade off the application of a "black box" versus "whole system" approach
• We have extensive experience in working at the hardware/software interface

3D robot simulation

• 3D robot simulation is used extensively including: IGRIP, Telegrip and Envision TR
• Control systems are often integrated with the simulation package to ensure that the mechanical hardware performs as expected
• The package supports off-line programming - essential in many aerospace applications

Remote Handling and Tele-operation Control

The advanced robotics team works closely with our Nuclear Solutions Group, complementing one of the leading design, build and systems integration companies in the UK. Having originated in the nuclear industry, as founders of the National Advanced Robotics Research Centre, the advanced robotics team provides:

• A world leading tele-operation controller - ATC (Advanced Tele-operation Controller) which remains the preferred choice for tele-operating manipulators in the UK nuclear industry today
• Experience in the whole field of Human Machine Interface (HMI) design, and operator workload reduction, for remote handling and tele-operation systems
• Continuity through feasibility, design, training and implementation

The ATC family of tele-robotic, state-of-the-art controllers is tailored to meet your needs and improve the operational efficiency of remotely operated manipulator systems. The system offers:

• A high productivity interface across a wide variety of manipulators thereby decreasing operator training time
• A standard Windows™ interface and operating parameters - configurable by the user, with different password protected access levels
• Protection against technology obsolescence via an active technology upgrade programme backed by continued product development
• An interface to 'Virtual Reality' 3-D graphics systems allows operators to plan tasks and assess plant operations
• A robust, proven system with a track record of many years operational experience supplied on a rugged standard computing platform

Further details of our Nuclear Solutions Group can be found at www.rtsnuclear.com.

Mobile Robots

RTS provides cutting edge control systems to help obviate or de-activate dangerous situations and to remove hazardous or contaminated objects. With many applications being undertaken for the MOD, confidentiality is of prime consideration and, in today's terror threatened world, the need for protection and the reduction of potentially dangerous or hazardous situations is increasing.

Working with leading RCV and mobile robot manufacturers, RTS solutions involve:

• Engineering solutions from commercially available technology wherever possible
• Control of manipulators and RCVs for Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (IEDD)
• The design of bespoke mobile robots including improved control (used for example in bomb disposal where combined vehicle and manipulator control is available)
• The refurbishment and upgrade of existing equipment, and feasibility studies (for example military de-mining systems)
• Consultancy (for example mobile robot control architecture)
• Abrasive water jet cutting deployment robot
• Design and supply of complete systems (eg Abrasive water jet cutting deployment robot for CMD (Conventional Munitions Disposal) "in the field")

Sensor Guided Robots

In any industry, and aerospace is no exception, the key to success is lower cost, improved quality and faster time to market.

Applying the same design philosophy to that utilised in hazardous environments our sensor guided robot technology provides solutions 'beyond the conventional'. For example:

• Robot calibration and off-line programming
• Integration of 3rd party laser or 3D vision camera-based sensing
• Deployment of drilling and fastening tools that require sub millimetre accuracy
• 3D robot and cell simulation
• Feasibility and "pilot" studies into robotic manufacturing techniques for aerospace manufacturing problems
• Provision of complete robotic systems from conventional industrial robots, up to specialised systems with up to 10 degrees of freedom and a reach of over 6m.