Achievements
The GAMMA Programme has:
Engaged 50 SME’s
Had 46 applications
And had 24 projects from 18 SME’s
In the final stages of the programme, 5 case studies were conducted SME’s involved in GAMMA:
DMS
In Touch
RNC Avionics
Suave
The Great Circle
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Case study: Flying the flag for UAV photography – August 2015
Aerial photography is to become safer and easier thanks to an innovation from a leading company in the unmanned aerial vehicles sector.
Suave Aerial Photographers provides aerial photography and other remote sensing data using UAVs.
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Case study: Securing the ‘Internet of Things’ – September 2015
The ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) imagines a connected world, with objects linked across homes, cities and the globe communicating with each other without the need for human intervention.
But one issue facing this emerging technology is how do you identify these ‘things’ and how do you communicate securely with them across the Internet or indeed any other communications network.
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Case study: Starting to solve the UK’s chronic flooding through targeted gullying – September 2015
A unique approach to collecting and analysing data could be one of the answers to tackling the UK’s chronic flooding problems, which has cost the UK £4.9bn since 2007.
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Case study: Tracking people and objects reaches new levels – September 2015
Adapting software on a drone means that tracking vehicles, people, animals or anything else of special interest that moves can be taken to new levels thanks to a development by experts at Lancaster-based RNC Avionics.
With funding from the GAMMA Programme for autonomous systems, the company provides information and data for building an increased situational awareness of an incident or ongoing position, leading to improved decision-making.
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Case study: Managing drones in our skies – September 2015
The way drones are used in disaster zones, search and rescue efforts and at major events could take a huge step forward thanks to a ground-breaking mission planning programme which will save time and money.
With funding from the GAMMA Programme for autonomous systems, The Great Circle, based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, has created an algorithm which enables airborne UAVs to communicate and re-evaluate intelligence in the air.
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N-RAS-E Showcase
On 4th September 2015, the first Northern RAS Event was held at MediaCity, Salford and created the perfect opportunity for SME’s and Partners involved in the GAMMA programme to demonstrate and exhibit their achievements.
To create the widest possible awareness, the GAMMA programme collaborated with a range of other leading robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) groups to create the first Northern RAS Event at MediaCity UK. This provided a high profile platform for the GAMMA SME’s to promote their achievements through their conference presentations and exhibitions.
Overall, the event was a huge success with over 300 participants, 39 presentations, and 50 exhibitions & demonstrations. Representatives came from a diverse range of industry sectors including food technology, aerospace, rail, nuclear, advanced manufacturing and smart cities.
There were demonstrations of technology applications throughout the event, right across the MediaCityUK display areas on land, water and in the air. One of the main demonstrations from Manchester University displayed the possibilities the future can hold for UAV’s by showing a real life situation involving autonomous systems, aerial and water based vehicles, presented in real-time on large public screens. Other demonstrations included the exhibiting of the advanced Gobotix driverless car and an example display of demolition robots being used in nuclear and hazardous environments.
In addition, the event was the official public launch of the Northern Robotics Network (NRN) which will enable the legacy of GAMMA’s investments to be fully utilised in further technology programmes.
Dr Paul Mort, chairman of the Northern Robotics Network, “We’ve got to really keep pushing and developing otherwise, quite quickly, the rest of the world will start taking over our leading positions.”
The challenges in Advanced Manufacturing were set out by Siemens, ABB, Rolls-Royce, Festo and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
Importantly, Dr David Bailey, CEO of North West Aerospace Alliance raised the awareness of the importance that Robotics and Autonomous systems will have in the future by stating “Everyone talks about the skills shortage so if we’re going to solve the capacity problem, if we’re going to make all of the aircraft then we have to bring in new technology.”
There was extensive press and media coverage of the event including; Sky News, BBC national and regional TV, BBC Radio 5 Live and ITV Granada Reports totalling 51 items and reaching a national audience of 38.2 million. This helped to bring attention to the investment in R & D in the regions which generates supply chain growth and jobs.
The event has produced a tremendous platform with which to promote RAS networks and help to shape new wealth creation through powering productivity in the Northern Powerhouse and beyond through the application of autonomous systems.
Press Coverage:
http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/business/drone-programme-to-feature-at-new-event-1-7441028
http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2015/sep/northern-robotics.cfm
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/yorkshire-post/20150904/281809987663945/TextView
http://www.advancedmanufacturing.co.uk/news/northern-robotics-network-launched-tap-%C2%A370bn-market
http://www.adsadvance.co.uk/robotics-network-up-and-running-in-the-north.html
http://www.ati.org.uk/innovate-uk-launches-northern-robotics-network/
http://www.aero-mag.com/news/20159/3381/
https://bdaily.co.uk/technology/10-09-2015/robotics-network-launched-in-greater-manchester/
http://www.machinery.co.uk/machinery-news/northern-robotics-network-launched-in-manchester/107569