IFOW: Automation impacts workers’ quality of life

A recent study conducted by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) sheds light on the profound impact of automation technologies on the quality of life of workers.

The study, conducted as part of the Pissarides Review, delved into the effects of exposure to new workplace technologies on the wellbeing of nearly 5,000 UK workers. For the first time, the research utilised the EuroQol EQ-5D-3L, a widely-accepted measure of health-related quality of life and...

13 March 2024 | AI

Robot guide dog to help the visually impaired

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have teamed up with industry partners and charities to develop RoboGuide—an AI-powered four-legged robot aimed at helping visually impaired people navigate museums, shopping centres, hospitals, and other indoor public spaces more independently.

The prototype integrates various cutting-edge technologies into an off-the-shelf robot body to address challenges preventing wider use of robots as assistants for the blind and visually impaired....

8 February 2024 | AI

UK boosts ‘cyber-physical infrastructure’ funding

The UK Government is boosting innovation in cyber-physical infrastructure by awarding £200,000 to the X-Catapult Consortium. This initiative aims to create a vibrant community of tech experts, bridging the gap between industry, academia, and the public sector.

The funding, a result of the Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Ecosystem Building competition launched earlier this year by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), will fuel the development of a robust...

18 October 2023 | Applications

Telefónica Tech and ARME establish a robotics hub

Telefónica Tech has partnered with the Spanish Mobile Robotics Association (ARME) to establish a mobile robotics technology hub.

The purpose of the collaboration is to create an environment where companies from the technology and industrial sectors can collaborate on research, innovation, and co-creation of solutions to advance the field of robotics.

The mobile robotics technology hub will be housed within The ThinX, Telefónica Tech's IoT and Big Data applied...

13 June 2023 | Applications

Oxbotica raises $140M to expand its B2B autonomous vehicle platform

B2B autonomous vehicle platform developer Oxbotica has raised a further $140 million.

The Oxford-based firm plans to use the funds to advance its goal of creating “universal autonomy” around the world.

Paul Newman, CTO and a Founder of Oxbotica, said:

“Oxbotica was founded eight years ago on the vision of Universal Autonomy—providing safe and sustainable autonomy that is independent of workplace and vehicle type.

With the greatest engineering...

11 January 2023 | Connected Vehicles

Industrial robots increase unemployment and lower wages

Research from China justifies concerns about the impact of industrial robots on the workforce.

Critics of automation believe it will replace many predominately blue-collar jobs. Proponents of industrial robots argue that new jobs will be created and the workforce will adapt.

At least in the short term, a paper from China backs the critics.

The paper, How Do Workers And Households Adjust To Robots, analysed the effects of exposure to industrial robots on labour...

6 December 2022 | Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Robot makers pledge not to weaponise their creations

A growing number of robot makers are pledging not to weaponise their creations.

This week, an open letter – currently signed by six robotics companies – pledges not to support the use of their creations for deadly purposes.

Here’s a copy of the full letter:

“General Purpose Robots Should Not Be Weaponized

We are some of the world’s leading companies dedicated to introducing new generations of advanced mobile robotics to society. These new...

7 October 2022 | AI

Musk: Tesla’s robot will be ‘worth more than the car business’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made the bold statement that the company’s robot will be “worth more than the car business”.

The company surprised many when it announced its ‘Optimus’ robot during its Artificial Intelligence (AI) Day event on 19 August 2021:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP6Z5voiS8

The pitch for the 5'8" and 57kg humanoid robot was that it would take on tasks that are "dangerous, repetitive, and boring" like providing assistance in...

21 April 2022 | IoT

Survey: Adoption of digital transformation tech is accelerating

According to a survey of UK leaders conducted by bluQube, the adoption of digital transformation technologies is accelerating.

“So-called ‘future’ technologies, such as robotics or the Internet of Things, have now firmly entered the mainstream for businesses looking to grow and stand out from the chasing pack,” commented Simon Kearsley, CEO of bluQube.

Almost three-quarters (72%) of business leaders report their organisations have adopted mobile technology. An...

13 April 2022 | Digital Transformation

Cyberselves reaches finals of global competition for ‘teleporting’ humans into sense-relaying robots

UK robotics firm Cyberselves has reached the finals of a global robotics competition for its tech which “teleports” humans into robots that can relay what they see, hear, and feel.

The Sheffield-based company entered the prestigious Avatar XPRIZE global robotics competition and is one of just two British firms to make it to the finals. The other company is Edinburgh-based Touchlab.

Daniel Camilleri, Co-Founder and CTO at Cyberselves, said:

“We are...

23 November 2021 | IoT