Robots to the fore at new national centre for artificial intelligence in Scotland
By Kristy Dorsey
Construction has started on a new Scottish research facility to drive early-stage product development in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence.
The National Robotarium on the Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt University is scheduled to open in the spring of next year, and has been described as the largest and most advanced facility of its type in the UK. Key areas of research will include hazardous environments, offshore energy, manufacturing, healthcare, human-robot interaction, assisted living and agritech.
Funded as part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the project is a collaboration between Heriot-Watt and the University of Edinburgh. It is being supported by £21 million from the UK Government and £1.4m from the Scottish Government.