Keywords
Citation
(1998), "GESL to play key role in robot development", Industrial Robot, Vol. 25 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.1998.04925dab.008
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
GESL to play key role in robot development
GESL to play key role in robot development
Keywords Gravatom, Robots
Hampshire engineering specialist, Gravatom Engineering Systems Limited, GESL, has been awarded a place on a European research project which is behind the development of a generation of walking and climbing robots.
The robots are being developed for use in marine, humanitarian de-mining, nuclear, defence and chemical/biological fields.
GESL is one of 20 partners on the program company elected on to the Executive Committee of the CLAWAR Thematic Work Group. This four year programme involves both industrialists and academics drawn from all over Europe.
Dave Barker, GESL's Managing Director said: "The co-ordinator is Professor Gurvinder Virk, Professor of Control Engineering at the University of Portsmouth. We all have great strengths in different areas and GESL's contribution will be on the practical applications side.
"The principal idea behind walking and climbing robots is that they can undertake tasks within hostile environments where access for people is unacceptable or even impossible."
Mr Barker added: "The strength we bring to the partnership is experience of developing methods and products to solve the engineers' problems. This programme will lead towards lower cost systems that will enhance our society in the future. It's not just Europe that leads the way in this technology, but Hampshire." Commented Professor Virk: "The aim of the Group is to bring together knowledge and experience in the area of robot technology, so that the current wastage of time and effort on re-invention can be avoided.
"In this way we hope to produce a common design philosophy and thereby encourage the development of a proper robotics industry able to service the future requirements of industry. GESL, with their skills in turnkey solutions for industrial applications, are key in this respect."
Inquiries to: Dave Barker, Managing Director, Industrial Systems Division, Gravatom Engineering Systems Limited, Claylands Road, Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire SO32 1BH, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1489 896010.