What changed?
The Impacts and Benefits
Benefits for the Company
- Organisational Impact: Skills gap. Will require a change in knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and skills. Displace jobs traditionally requiring human labour, upskills existing employees to collaboratively work with the cobot. New ways of working and interacting
- Technological Impact: Integration of new technology will change the way we operate, hopefully enabling greater efficiency, collaboration and adaptability
- Financial Impact: Of acquiring and implementing new technology, which not only include the cost of the new technology, but also costs associated with training, infrastructure upgrades and potential disruptions during the transition
Benefits for the Academic Team
This project provides a significant opportunity for the academic team at the University of Strathclyde to advance research in robotics, AI-driven automation, and human-robot collaboration within a real-world manufacturing environment. The integration of machine learning, computer vision, and adaptive motion planning into a dynamic, safety-critical setting will contribute to key research areas such as digital manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and intelligent automation.
Academically, the project will generate high-impact research outputs, including journal publications and conference presentations in leading venues such as IEEE Transactions on Robotics and International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology.
Additionally, working on a real-world industrial challenge will enhance the team’s experience in technology transfer, industry collaboration, and commercialization of research. The project’s success may open doors for future grants, partnerships, and research funding, strengthening the university’s position as a leader in collaborative robotics and intelligent automation.
Benefits for the Knowledge Transfer Associate
The Knowledge Transfer Associate (KTP Associate) will gain hands-on experience in developing and deploying an AI-driven collaborative robotic system (iCoBOTS) in a real-world industrial automation setting. This project offers a unique opportunity to apply robotics, machine learning, and system integrationexpertise in a dynamic manufacturing environment, bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application.
The Associate will develop skills in robotic system design, adaptive motion planning, and real-time perception, working with cobots, sensors, and AI algorithms to optimize manufacturing processes. Additionally, they will gain experience in hardware-software integration, ensuring the cobots seamlessly interact with Glenrath Farms’ existing infrastructure.
Beyond technical development, the Associate will enhance project management, leadership, and communication skills, collaborating with academics, engineers, and industry stakeholders. The role also offers opportunities for technical writing, publishing research papers, and attending conferences, strengthening their academic and professional profile.
By the end of the project, the Associate will have industry-relevant expertise in robotics and AI, significantly improving their career prospects in automation, manufacturing, and intelligent systems.