Imperial News

Registration now open for the International Robotics Showcase

by Jo Seed

Full-day event in London will feature world-leading speakers and cutting-edge demonstrations to celebrate UK Robotics Week, 24th to 30th June 2017.

LogoRegistration is now open for the International Robotics Showcase, the pinnacle event of UK Robotics Week 2017. Jointly organised by the EPSRC UK-RAS Network (chaired by IGHI’s Deputy Director, Professor Guang-Zhong Yang) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the International Robotics Showcase will take place at IET Savoy Place in London from 9.00am – 6.30pm. The full-day programme includes exclusive talks by world-renowned experts in science and technology, panel discussions, exhibitions, robot demonstrations and an award ceremony for competition winners demonstrating cutting edge robotics innovation.

The UK-RAS Network will also launch four new White Papers, providing an overview of the current research landscape: 

1. Resilient Infrastructure Robotics  

2. Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

3. Robotics for Emergency Response, Disaster Relief and Resilience

4. Robotics in Social Care: A Connected Care EcoSystem for Independent Living

Early-bird tickets cost from £75 (£40 discount for senior citizens and students; children under 16 go free if accompanied by paying adult) and can be booked online here.  The cost covers entry, talks, publication copies, lunch and early evening drinks reception.

At the showcase event, academics, industry and the public will have the opportunity to enjoy a host of presentations from key international robotics and autonomous systems developers (academic and industry) as well as displays of the very latest robotic technologies by network partners and industry sponsors. Delegates will be able to engage in a discussion forum and attend talks by speakers such as Professor Andrew Blake (Director, Alan Turing Institute); Professor Philip Nelson (CEO, EPSRC); Dame Mary Archer (Director, Science Museum); Dr Lester Russell (Intel); Dr James Kell (Rolla Royce Plc); and Dr Rob Buckingham (RACE), among many others. Speakers will share their vision on the key technological and socio-economic challenges and opportunities for the future, including robot ethics and the law, emotionally-intelligent robots, social care and independent living, and global robotics. 

UK Robotics Week, held annually during the last week of June, is a unique opportunity to learn about the current state-of-the-art robotic technology, discuss the role of robots and artificial intelligence in our lives, and to inspire the next generation of designers and engineers.  The event includes five competitions in the areas of surgical, extreme environments, resilient infrastructure and social care robotics, plus a special School Robot Challenge, open to all UK schoolchildren aged 4-18 years old.

Activities this year also include the premiere of an Autonomous Systems film on emergency resilience and disaster response, starring local school students and showcasing robotics and autonomous systems research in this area. For more information on the over 100 activities featured as part of UK Robotics Week, please visit the website: www.roboticsweek.uk/ and follow on Twitter (@UKRobotics, #UKRW17).

Members of the media interested in press accreditation to attend, film or photograph the International Robotics Showcase, or in scheduling an interview with a UK Robotics Week spokesperson or robotics expert, should contact nicky@evokedset.com.