A “golf bag” of robots will safeguard lives by replacing human intervention in hazardous chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threat environments.
Developed by Oxford Dynamics, Createc, Autonomous Devices, and the University of Bristol, these innovations have secured over £2 million in funding from the Defence, Science, and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), backed by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Dstl project leader Steve explained: “This advanced golf bag of technologies will be able to take hazardous and dangerous jobs away from people and deal with highly complex data in real time. It is an example of how the work of Dstl is delivering science and technology advantages across the government and ensuring that defence and security are prepared for the future.”
Defra intends to deploy these advanced tools for environmental remediation and recovery operations. Furthermore, the capabilities offered by these technologies are expected to address critical challenges within UK defence and beyond, while simultaneously supporting over 100 specialised jobs.
Key innovations driving the project:
- Oxford Dynamics’ “Strider”: This prototype integrates AI with advanced robotics for tackling hazardous environments. It is designed to autonomously determine the optimal method for picking up, collecting, and storing samples. This process involves sophisticated object detection, surface quality assessment, and weight estimation.
- Autonomous Devices’ multi-directional drone: Featuring a specialised swabbing system, this drone enables contamination testing in hard-to-reach areas, such as upper-level windows. Crucially, it also possesses the capability to apply decontamination spray, enhancing its versatility.
- Createc’s robot control software: Createc has developed world-leading robot control software, facilitating the coordinated operation of a diverse fleet of robots. This fleet includes drones, robot dogs, and four-wheeled vehicles, enabling comprehensive information gathering and sample collection during incidents. While primarily autonomous, these vehicles can be switched to remote control as needed, and are capable of complex tasks such as climbing stairs, opening car doors, and utilising tools.
- University of Bristol’s uncrewed ground vehicle: The University of Bristol is pioneering an uncrewed ground vehicle equipped with a robotic arm. Working in tandem with a tethered drone, this system can deliver decontamination spray at varying heights, expanding the reach of remediation efforts.
Professor Gideon Henderson, Chief Scientific Adviser at Defra, commented: “Science and technology are vital in preparing for the future and whatever challenges and opportunities that brings.
“These innovative solutions could help remove people from hazardous situations and ultimately save lives. We are delighted to work with our partners at Dstl and harness this expertise along with some of the top minds in universities and industry.”
This project forms part of a broader partnership between Dstl and Defra, with the National Technical Advisory Group for CBR Recovery (NTAG-R) playing a key role in commissioning and conducting research to enhance CBRN remediation approaches. The NTAG-R aims to accelerate the development of technological solutions for remediation activities.
See also: Magma: A glimpse at how multimodal AI will transform robotics
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