University of York unveils new robotics laboratory (From York Press)

University of York unveils new robotics laboratory

7:56am Thursday 26th January 2012 in Video

SCIENTISTS in York have launched their bid to explore how teams of robots could be used to save lives after air and sea disasters, writes Rebecca Angell.

A £250,000 robotics laboratory has been opened at the new Heslington East site at the University of York that will allow researchers to make big advances in so-called swarm robotics systems.

Research at York is led by Professor Jon Timmis, who delivered a lecture on his work yesterday to mark the official opening of the lab.

Professor John McDermid, of the computer science department at the university, said: “Swarm robotics could potentially play a vital role in future planetary and deep sea exploration, as well as search and rescue operations.

“For example, groups of small, inexpensive robots could be used to search for aircraft black boxes following a disaster over water, or as part of search and rescue missions following natural disasters.”

He said such teams of robots could cover more ground than one large robot and should one break down, the rest of the group could continue the operation, making search and rescue, not only more efficient, but cost effective.