Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS)

We are rapidly approaching a future where every object that is constructed will have its own digital twin, many moving entities will be autonomous and the interplay between these will be simulated.

CFMS combines its extensive Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) experience in edge based deployments with its established data centre capability and cloud based compute, to provide a collaborative environment for next generation RAS development. Our expertise accelerates the development of both an on-board autonomy stack, enabling RAS technologies and the deployment of RAS for autonomous tunnel inspection and digital twin creation.

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Transforming robotics through design validation and test

Our capabilities enable the development of complex robotic and autonomous systems, integrating proprietary algorithms, physically accurate multi-sensor simulations, robotics frameworks, and design tools into a visually representative validation environment. This streamlined concept design process accelerates progress.

Our capabilities also facilitate seamless collaboration for teams allowing them to securely build, train, simulate, validate, and deploy robots through our private cloud environments. With our High Performance Computing (HPC), large-scale developments become feasible, including concept trade-offs on a significant scale, scene randomisation, and the generation of synthetic data for training extensive neural networks.

Our team of robotics and autonomy experts possess extensive technical knowledge in researching, developing and field testing robotics systems that can autonomously navigate, be utilised to build digital twins and intelligently inspect challenging-to-reach environments. They have a proven track record in designing and delivering groundbreaking, TRL9 robotics systems, from deep space exploration to tunnel inspection for over 20 years.

Autonomous inspection and digital twin creation using RAS

Our team specialises in digitising the physical world using cutting-edge autonomous robotics systems and high-resolution data acquisition, resulting in the creation of a highly accurate digital twin. This eliminates the need for humans to enter dangerous environments, and the data is securely stored at our UK data centre. These environments can be visualised remotely using technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), whilst the data can be analysed to obtain valuable insights.

To analyse this information our team utilises advanced techniques for more effective data processing. By combining established methods such as data visualisation and applied statistics with innovative processes that include Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), new approaches are developed to enhance the speed and quality of data analysis. These techniques are not limited to data captured by robots but can also be applied to large existing datasets held by companies, thereby enabling improved decision-making and reinforcing digital engineering solutions.

Meet our RAS team leaders:

Dr. Mark Woods heads up the team with over 20 years of experience in applied, industrial robotics for the European Space Agency, Airbus DS, TAS-I, NASA JPL, Sellafield, & others. He has pioneered and led several First-Of-A-Kind innovations in robotics and autonomy including key R&D and autonomy elements of Europe’s first Robotic Mars mission, long-range desert field trials, fully autonomous tunnel inspection & in-orbit flight demonstration of AI systems.

Dr. Mateusz Malinowski is the Robotics Lead within the group and has 10 years of experience in robotics system R&D for the development of autonomous navigation systems and simulation environments for mobile robotics. This includes space and industrial based applications utilising full stack autonomy capabilities.

Our technical skills, capabilities and enabling IP within RAS include:

Full Autonomy Stack

Our stack includes autonomous localisation, mapping, path planning, situational awareness and mission planning.

End-to-End Simulation

Next generation, collaborative simulation environments from cloud to the edge for First-of-a-Kind RAS developments.

Robotic Digital Twins

We utilise RAS systems to generate a digital twin of the surroundings, enabling us to visualise key aspects faster than real-time.

Computer Vision

To enhance the productivity of our customers, CFMS automates the inspection tasks through the analysis of digital imagery.

Machine and Deep Learning

Our experts apply and develop state of the art AI including deep learning on 2D and 3D datasets to enable automated analysis.

Autonomous Perception Subsystems

We develop and provide stand-alone sensor and associated software perception subsystems using stereo-vision, LIDAR and depth sensing among others.

Data Visualisation

Simulation means nothing if results cannot be translated to our customers, so we always find the optimum way of communicating the work we undertake.

Synthetic Data Generation

Using simulation data we generate synthetic data for testing and validation of mathematical models and to train machine learning (ML) models.

Data Mining and Curation

CFMS ensures that our customers’ data is organised and maintained to the highest quality. Accessing the data to identify gaps and suggest strategies to improve the generation of insight.

More information on our Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) services can be found in our case studies, or to discuss your challenges, please contact us.

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