Founded on a rich heritage of groundbreaking research, the University of Birmingham’s School of Engineering is a beacon of innovation in automation, robotics and control. Our multidisciplinary team is a powerhouse of academic excellence and industrial knowledge, ensuring we’re perfectly positioned to meet industry’s ever-evolving demands and understand the needs of end users.
Our mission is clear: to conduct world-class research in automation, robotics and control as well as intelligent machines, taking the field into new dimensions of excellence. We have a robust track record of industry collaboration, guiding the transition to Industry 4.0 and laying the groundwork for the intelligent robotics at the heart of Industry 5.0. Beyond manufacturing, we are instrumental in integrating automation, robotics and control across a wide range of sectors and environments.
Additionally, we are addressing the global skills shortage through our comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate programs in mechatronics and robotics. As ARC technology and techniques become an integral part of our graduates’ professional lives, equipping them with cutting-edge knowledge is our top priority.
Our facilities are second to none, boasting extensive automation, robotics and control labs with both industry-standard and avant-garde robotic equipment. This enables our team to delve into a wide array of academic and industrial research, including but not limited to:
- Robotic Grasping and Manipulation
- Digital Twin and Condition Monitoring
- Fault-tolerant systems
- Actuation
- Soft Robotics
- Medical Robotics
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Cell Manipulation and Injection
- Automated Assembly and Disassembly
- Industrial Automation
- Waste Management
- Exoskeletons and Force Augmentation
- Robotic Rehabilitation
- Autonomous Systems/Machine Learning and AI
- Intelligent Control
- Nature-inspired Metaheuristics and Swarm Intelligence
- Sensors and Computer Vision
- Connected and Autonomous Systems
- Teleoperation
- Automation in Agriculture and Food Manufacture
- Human-Robot Interaction
- Autonomous Manufacturing and Re-manufacturing
In terms of our methodologies, we leverage tools and algorithms from Control Systems science, AI, and Engineering to tackle a wide array of engineering challenges. Our advanced design methods enable the development, simulation, and creation of innovative Mechatronic systems, supported by digital twin simulation models for comprehensive system-level optimization.
Impact is the cornerstone of our centre’s strategy, with a firm commitment to enhancing people’s lives. Whether making jobs safer, promoting longer, healthier living, or improving living environments, our work makes a difference. We boast extensive experience across energy, transport, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, underscoring our versatile expertise.
We invite you to explore our activities and encourage collaboration on research projects and industrial challenges. Join us in shaping the future of robotics.