|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The University of Sydney has launched the ARC Australian Robotic Inspection and Asset Management Hub (ARIAM), poised to reshape the landscape of technology. ARIAM’s technological innovations are set to revolutionise asset management by significantly reducing the need for human intervention in challenging or perilous environments, such as tunnels and underwater infrastructure. The aim is to address the impending “infrastructure cliff,” where aging post-World War II infrastructure assets are fast approaching the end of their operational lifespan.
Under the leadership of Professor Ian Manchester, from the School of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Mechatronic Engineering and also directing the Australian Centre for Robotics, ARIAM’s research team is working to develop semi-autonomous and autonomous robotic systems capable of inspecting and maintaining intricate structures in the harshest conditions. Their primary objective is to eliminate the risks and dangers associated with human inspections in hazardous locations, making these activities safer and more efficient.
Professor Stefan Williams, also from the Australian Centre for Robotics and the School of Aerospace, Mechanical, and Mechatronic Engineering, underscored the critical situation Australia faces with its aging infrastructure. ARIAM’s technological solutions are far-reaching, spanning across various domains, including public sector infrastructure, renewable energy, space exploration, mining, and land care. This versatile technology has the potential to significantly enhance national productivity and competitiveness, vital for sustaining and bolstering Australia’s economic growth.
ARIAM is poised to collaborate closely with industry partners to develop robotic systems with unprecedented capabilities. These capabilities encompass a range of robotic forms, including aerial, marine, and legged robots. These robotic systems will undergo rigorous field trials to demonstrate their effectiveness and suitability for various applications.
The mission of the hub is to equip these robots with the capability to autonomously collect data and generate real-time representations of physical assets. These virtual models, often referred to as “digital twins,” are created by processing data collected by the robots, and they encapsulate essential asset information, such as structural integrity, temperature, movement, and other critical parameters.
The potential applications of ARIAM’s research have attracted the interest of 15 industry partners. One partner is developing a spider-like robot with magnetic feet, designed for crawling around metal structures and inspecting them for damage.
The collaboration with industry partners is expected to usher in a new era in naval sustainment. ARIAM’s technological advancements will empower the creation of an efficient and agile environment through automation and modelling, as highlighted by Andrew Seale, Sales Director at Thales Above Water Systems. This will enable the capture of decades of knowledge and help streamline naval maintenance processes.
ARIAM is designated as an ARC Research Hub and is hosted by the University of Sydney in partnership with Queensland University of Technology and The Australian National University. This collaborative approach brings together diverse expertise from academia, government, and industry, fostering interdisciplinary research that propels advancements in robotics, sensing, planning, data processing, and machine learning technologies.
The official launch event of ARIAM occurred on November 2 at the Australian Centre for Robotics in Chippendale, drawing together industry leaders, academics, and government representatives. The event was a comprehensive showcase of the hub’s potential, featuring keynote speeches, industry panels, and live demonstrations of cutting-edge robotic technologies.
ARIAM is a pioneering ARC Research Hub that brings together a consortium of global leaders in the field of robotics research. This collaborative initiative unites academia, government, and industry to generate knowledge and foster technological advancements in the realm of robotics and associated fields.
The hub’s main objective is to revolutionise the way assets and infrastructure are managed through the development of intelligent robotic systems equipped with novel capabilities for inspection, monitoring, maintenance, and optimization. This not only marks a significant leap forward for robotics but also holds the promise of transforming industries and improving safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
