About the Automation, Robotics and Control Research Group
Founded on a rich heritage of groundbreaking research, the University of Birmingham’s School of Engineering is a beacon of innovation in automation, robotics and control. Our multidisciplinary team is a powerhouse of academic excellence and industrial knowledge, ensuring we’re perfectly positioned to meet industry’s ever-evolving demands and understand the needs of end users.
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 co-worker. 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.
Our mission
Our mission is clear: to conduct world-class research in automation, robotics and control as well as intelligent machines, taking the field into new dimensions of excellence. We have a robust track record of industry collaboration, guiding the transition to Industry 4.0 and laying the groundwork for the intelligent robotics at the heart of Industry 5.0. Beyond manufacturing, we are instrumental in integrating automation, robotics and control across a wide range of sectors and environments.
Additionally, we are addressing the global skills shortage through our comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate programs in mechatronics and robotics. As ARC technology and techniques become an integral part of our graduates’ professional lives, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge is our top priority.
Facilities
Our facilities are second to none, boasting extensive automation, robotics and control labs with both industry-standard and avant-garde robotic equipment. This enables our team to delve into a wide array of academic and industrial research, including but not limited to:
- Robotic Grasping and Manipulation
- Digital Twin and Condition Monitoring
- Fault-tolerant systems
- Actuation
- Soft Robotics
- Medical Robotics
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Cell Manipulation and Injection
- Automated Assembly and Disassembly
- Industrial Automation
- Waste Management
- Exoskeletons and Force Augmentation
- Robotic Rehabilitation
- Autonomous Systems/Machine Learning and AI
- Intelligent Control
- Nature-inspired Metaheuristics and Swarm Intelligence
- Sensors and Computer Vision
- Connected and Autonomous Systems
- Teleoperation
- Automation in Agriculture and Food Manufacture
- Human-Robot Interaction
- Autonomous Manufacturing and Re-manufacturing
In terms of our methodologies, we leverage tools and algorithms from Control Systems science, AI, and Engineering to tackle a wide array of engineering challenges. Our advanced design methods enable the development, simulation, and creation of innovative Mechatronic systems, supported by digital twin simulation models for comprehensive system-level optimization.
Impact is the cornerstone of our centre’s strategy, with a firm commitment to enhancing people’s lives. Whether making jobs safer, promoting longer, healthier living, or improving living environments, our work makes a difference. We boast extensive experience across energy, transport, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, underscoring our versatile expertise.
We invite you to explore our activities and encourage collaboration on research projects and industrial challenges. Join us in shaping the future of robotics.