Step into the future with Automation, Robotics, and Control (ARC), a global leader in pioneering research and education, as we innovate and solve critical challenges in industry and society, enhancing the future through world-class advancements and innovations.
Historically, while control systems and automation have been applied across many application areas, robotics was largely confined to the manufacturing industry, with the automotive sector leading the charge. The typical robots of yesteryears were massive, metallic arms, executing repetitive tasks without variation. These machines lacked the ability to think or perceive their surroundings and were deemed hazardous, necessitating their separation from human workers. However, the last decade has witnessed a remarkable transformation in both the perception and the application of automation, robots and control systems.
Automation and Robots have transcended the boundaries of factories, marking their presence in healthcare, homes, and other environments requiring close human interaction. This evolution from isolated machines to collaborative entities forms the crux of our group's research.
Our work isn't limited to redefining the applications of robotics; we continue to innovate within the manufacturing sector. Here, our research in automation, robotics and control ensures a future where the sector is more agile and sustainable. A prime example of this is our work in remanufacturing, where products are rejuvenated to a like-new condition rather than discarded as waste.
We're at the forefront of creating systems capable of safe interaction and collaboration with humans, mimicking the dynamics of a human coworker. These advanced designs are making strides in medical diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation, opening up new avenues for collaborative work.
Automation, robots and control systems of today are a completely different from their predecessors; they're no longer simple and unintelligent as in the past. Our research is relentlessly pushing the boundaries, developing innovative sensor and control techniques, and integrating state-of-the-art AI technologies. These advancements empower machines to make decisions independently, showcasing a level of intelligence and autonomy that was once thought to be the realm of science fiction.
In essence, our group is playing a pivotal role in this renaissance, ensuring that future intelligent machines are not just tools of industry, but collaborative partners in progress across various sectors.