Public Funding for Motion Robotics Limited

Autonomous drones for logistics are just around the corner and they represent a paradigm shift in how we will move goods around the UK. However, in order to benefit from these autonomous flights, there must be autonomous ground systems too, otherwise the operation quickly becomes commercially un-viable as teams of people are needed at each end. Inteliports and Motion Robotics is developing the robotics that automates the entire ground operation to allow for true end to end autonomous logistics. Project AIDA will test the feasibility of using deep neural networks to synchronise the collaboration of all Inteliports' robotic systems so as to maximise the objective of efficiency, accuracy and interoperability between drone ports. AIDA aims to remove the cognitive complexity experienced by human managers from the logistics loop, allowing humans to manage at a higher level of oversight, devolving boring repetitive tasks to the robots and thereby increasing productivity, scalability and safety. AIDA is especially useful when collaborating within a network of multiple drone-ports where the complexity of operations becomes exponentially complex. Advancing the state of the art, the study will test the feasibility of a specific solution for simulating the Deep Reinforcement Learning Training environment in such a way it perfectly matches the real world drone port and can be achieved efficiently though the use of statistical modelling. Moreover once fully trained we will show that the trained network can drive the systems in the real world.

At Rogers EV we look to redesign the electric drivetrain an a complete integrated unit, leveraging benefits in novel blade and motor design. Our system, HaloDrive, brings together an evolutionary step change in aircraft propulsion delivering an ultra-efficient, easily maintainable, low noise solution that is completely scalable. Our design approach yields an initial solution within this project for lighter aircraft and UAV's with a focus on proving and validating scale designs eligible for the domestic aircraft market. HaloDrive is a is a rim driven ducted propellor system driven by a core-less circumferential flux motor (CFM) providing ultra-high torque direct drive. The complete system boasts a total efficiency gain in excess of 35% when compared to conventional electric systems, verified by hundreds of hours of CFD simulations against real propellor data and based around already performing motor technology.

Currently launch craft are used to deliver goods and parts to ocean going vessels that do not plan to come into port. However, launch craft are expensive to maintain, typically run using fossil fuels and can present risk not only to cargo but also to human life when fighting difficult sea conditions. COVID-19 restrictions have further complicated this form of delivery. In addition to ocean going vessels, the Solent is home to many hundreds of large leisure craft, that often require resupply during cruises. Southampton is also home to several cruise liners which may benefit from resupply when at sea. Project SEASHORE is a feasibility study that will demonstrate and evaluate a shore to ship drone based delivery system. The system will be developed at high speed by adapting already available components designed and fabricated by Motion Robotics, optimising them for the sea delivery use case, The feasibility success criteria are based on observations and stated aims already well identified by a number of shore to ship drone delivery projects in the USA, Singapore and the Netherlands, as well as requirements of the USA and UK navies. In effect meeting these criteria mean that you have solved all the underlying technologies and needs for a fully commercial system. SEASHORE's technical challenges cover a range of topics; we need to make deliveries more rapid, we need to increase (double) our drone payloads, the drones need to be fire safe meeting the needs of new fossil free gas driven shipping, drone flight control and parcel delivery needs to account for vessel motion particularly heaving. To compete it must be achieved at lower cost, reduce environmental impact and remove the risk of injury to crew. The project includes non-funded partners with deep knowledge of the maritime world, merchant navy, best practice procedures, needs of the shipping industry and their commercial requirements. The key outcome of the project will be a demonstration and evaluation of shore to sea deliveries on the Solent waters. This will be done on Fawley waters, close to shore and without the need for CAA flight approval, with the aim being to prove it can be extended with full CAA approvals and fully commercialised. In the longer term, SEASHORE will use key strategic positions within the Solent, to establish a network of launch locations for our drones to access anchorages around the Isle of Wight and the south coast.

SkyBoom is an innovative and industry disrupting system which will empower drone service providers with the ability to indefinitely extend the range of any drone platform. Current limitations on battery technologies pose a serious hurdle for the implementation and feasibility of drone platforms as end-to-end delivery providers. Battery capacity limitations have led to the development of a myriad of drone architectures tailored to specific applications due to a restrictive performance envelope. There is therefore a clear demand to develop a simple, homogenous solution for range extension, which will remove battery capacity as a constraint and provide drone manufacturers with the freedom to focus their design development around requirements such as safety, parcel specifications and expedience of deliveries. SkyBoom consists of two fundamental systems, a highly extendable, self supporting boom which may be used independently or in conjunction with a compact shelter pod. A charging module is attached to the drone platform and allows for drone agnostic interfacing with the charging station. A network SkyBoom charging stations placed along developed drone flight paths will allow drone couriers to move beyond last mile delivery and instead operate as a complete end-to-end solution. In addition, the strategic placement of such stations within a built up area will allow a single drone port, with a non standardised fleet from numerous drone providers, to service an area of any size or shape.

OSPREH stands for **O**ptimising **S**peed, **P**roductivity, **R**esilience and **E**fficiency in **H**ealthcare The NHS is a non homogenous organisation that must interface with external pharmaceutical, supplies and testing laboratories. The sharing of resources between hospitals and optimised, rapid, reliable and prioritised interfacing with external suppliers and service providers could increase the resilience of the system when faced with the sudden impact of a dramatic event. Typical cases include the sharing of PPE stocks, the laboratory testing of blood pathology and the urgent supply of cancer treatments to hospitals unable to make the cytotoxic drugs locally. In each of these cases we can show that the NHS is not resilient, lacking speed of service, reliability and efficient productivity. OSPREH's vision is to apply state of the art aerial drones in combination with robotics and AI methods to speed up the interconnect between different hospitals and external bodies. Key to this vision is the development and evaluation of ergonomic SMART drone pad control centres, highly automated to deal with drone transport; specifically addressing in bound outbound flight safety and security, drone maintenance, drone garaging, as well as origin and endpoint parcel/item handling. In addition to this, OSPREH will perform SMART tracking of items (assigning priority and deadlines), the AI providing recommendations coordinating both drone logistics and hospital work flow.

As the usage of drones in the parcel delivery space gathers pace, many of the technologies required to fly drones have been solved to a large extent. Already drones are impacting the delivery of medical supplies and high value urgent items such as we are doing in the Solent FMZ project preparing to fly cancer treatments between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. However drones will only compete with humans and van delivery, if the systems are available to support all aspects of the end to end process, in particular when the drone is not flying. Before and at the end of flights drones need to be handled to load cargo, remove cargo and perform maintenance. While much emphasis has been placed on how the drone can fly safely and efficiently, very little work has focused on how parcels are loaded and delivered autonomously in such a way that the drones can function with greater functionality and autonomy. For the past 9 months Motion robotics has concentrated its research in this area; to develop different automated cargo loading and unloading methods that will suit different real world needs such as field replenishment of medical products to pop up clinics in remote areas, autonomous collection of waste and automating warehouse parcel to drone interaction. The key objective of the project is to build on our TRL5/6 solutions and take them to TRL9 levels such that at the end of the project we can begin deployment of our drones, in the field, and scaling up the service to meet the needs of COVID-19 rapid response as early as possible in 2021\.

"The STAR project proposes a heavy lift transportation aerial drone for high value timely delivery services specifically aimed at countries with poor transportation infrastructure or comprising multi island archipelagos. It therefore has the potential for a massive UK export opportunity but can also contribute to certain situations in the UK. Technical innovations include a new type of electric motor that out performs exisiting 3 phase brushless DC motors and a new approach to beyond visual line of sight autonomous and semi-autonomous flight that will boost safety and help deliver CAA certification. This feasibility project will aim to determine if the overall solution can meet the identified needs of three real life situations where such a drone would be welcome aiming for the the commercialization of transport services in the UK (isle to mainland rapid delivery transport), Zimbabwe (in support of tourism) and Nigeria (in support of the postal service)."

Care for the elderly is a growing global problem. In China 241 million people are over 60 and this is set to double by 2050. Innovative technology can assist the elderly to perform their daily life tasks. For many Chinese grandparents this includes domestic duties such as ferrying grandchildren from nursery day care, doing the daily shopping and carrying out any administration. Elderly often have difficulty walking more than 500 meters, however mobility devices are expensive and requires room to store. All in all, intelligent mobility assistance could greatly maximise the elderly functional capabilities. In other cases where family have moved away for work we want to address the impact of loneliness and improve accessibility by the elderly to the Internet and communication with loved ones, carers and medical facilities. Thus we aim in this project to develop 3 different robots: 1/ YOUBAN Home will address loneliness through companionship and pet type presence 2/YOUBAN Go will provide mobility devices for shopping and child carrying that are motorised for maximum ease and safety 3/ and YOUBAN Ride will be a small 4 wheel scooter with extra intelligent driving security.It has a unique steering capability ideal for elderly with weak arms or arthritis etc. These robots form the project’s key innovative outcomes. Healthy Ageing is fundamental to the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), implicit in Goal 3 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This project is directed at long-term care orientated around maximizing function in older age and through assistive technologies support the maintenance of functional ability where necessary. Optimizing opportunities for good health at all stages of life will ensure that older people can maintain independence and increase their social and economic participation in society, while reducing healthcare costs.

SARAH is a bidpedal humanoid silent, agile, robotic, semi-autonomous, host vehicle that can carry a high tech payload. The payload can interface to SARAH and provide further ambulation guidance and environmental context or the payload can just rely totally on SARAH to carry around the payload using remote human guidance or GPS way points. SARAH is semi-autonomous and even though blind and relying only on proprioception and inertial sensors, she can stand and walk safely under a large number of circumstances; zero visibility, unstable ground, pushed, shoved, tripped. The idea is that high tech developers of robotic health care, search and rescue, hazard detection or companionship and domestic services can simply use SARAH as their trusted bipedal locomotion subsystem on sensitive terrain, around children, pets, and frail elderly. SARAH's ultra safe and agile quiet ambulation will be feasibility tested and demonstrated in this project. The control system of systems will make use of state of the art innovations in deep learning, morphed modality pattern generators and these will be integrated with an OPEN API so a developer can quickly interface to SARAH and reach the market sooner and safer. SARAH will be developed and manufactured in the UK for export.