Robotics for industry-led challenges: Thermo Fisher

The National Robotarium has forged a strong partnership with global leaders in scientific services and products, Thermo Fisher Scientific, supporting them to identify operational and business challenges that could be addressed through robotic solutions.

So far, the collaboration, also supported by leading experts from Edinburgh Business School, has delivered a bespoke, rapid proof-of-concept project focused on automated supply of production lines.

A number of MSc Robotics with Industrial Applications students were recruited, as part of a paid internship, to help deliver the solution, enhancing their theoretical learning and deepening their understanding of real-world applications of robotics with a major industrial partner.

Since then, the consortium has worked together to co-produce and design a Robotics Roadmap, a methodology that helps identify, score and prioritise projects that could benefit from robotic integration. Through its holistic approach – which considers everything from business need and budget to staff safety and wellbeing – the tool, which was funded by an accelerated Knowledge Transfer Partnership, helps de-risk the deployment of robotics within existing infrastructures and allows for better multiyear planning.