Space, Cleantech and Digital Technology

As we move into the second half of 2021, we wanted to share with you some of the key insights and learnings we’ve gained during the first half. We’ve highlighted the new emerging markets for UK robotics and automation companies, which present real opportunities for the RAI and manufacturing communities.

Space Robotics and Manufacturing

• New needs for markets like telecoms, human space flight, science and exploration, will drive the development of the critical building blocks to achieve them, particularly in space mobility, space manipulation and manufacturing processes.

Space Based Solar Power

• Continuing the space theme, a recent viability study commissioned by BEIS reveals solar power harnessed in space is both technically viable and economically attractive. The technology required – hyper modular architecture – is now well defined and opens the door to provide the UK autonomous solutions required along with the high volume of manufactured standard parts to support them. Alignment to key Government priorities will mean support for the industry in taking this forward.

Offshore Energy

• Driving cost down is crucial to this sector’s ongoing viability and there’s clarity that robotics for maintenance and general operations will be central to achieving this. Key to this will be development of robust inspection systems which can be deployed autonomously and operate effectively in all weathers.

Digital Technology

• Advances in Digital Technology, and in particular data simulation is allowing us, for the first time, to gain actionable insights at the design stage into how autonomous solutions will operate at scale within their intended environments. The exponential de-risking in time and cost this brings to the hardware development landscape using rapid prototyping techniques will enable new autonomous and robotic solutions, such as those we touch on above, to become a commercially successful reality, faster and in greater volume than ever before.

And finally;

The Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) unveiled their Robotics and AI landscape map which highlights over 200 Innovators, Academics, Users and Integrators of robotic technologies in order to foster UK collaborations. This is a much-needed tool to help define the UK robotics industry and will make it easier and more expedient to identify potential project partners.

As the year goes on and these areas develop we’ll be bringing you updates. You can stay up to date by signing up to our newsletter. If you would like to talk to us more about the opportunities they might have for yours or customers’ business please do get in touch.