Public Funding for Acuity Robotics Limited

Acuity Robotics Limited (AR) is a spin-out from the University of Leeds and its Real Robotics lab in 2019 to commercialise its inspection robots. Water utilities operate complex pipe networks with limited information on system connectivity and asset condition. Action is typically taken once failure occurs and performance is compromised. The purpose of the intervention is to fix the specific problem ASAP. Onsite reports of the fix may include images of any issues found and some textural description. These are disparate reports that can only be cross-referenced on a superficial level resulting in loss of insight to the condition of other assets locally and nationally. AR's innovation is an intelligent, data-driven analysis and decision-making tool enabled through robotic technology applied in the field to capture onsite data rapidly and simply.

Opportunity Acuity Robotics Limited (ARL) has recently spun-out from the University of Leeds to commercialise a magnetic climbing robot for non-destructive evaluation and condition monitoring. Equipped with cameras (providing video and still images) and multiple sensors, this robot can undertake a broad variety of tasks, primarily inspections at height or in difficult to access locations. Manual inspection of masts/towers, as with any tall infrastructure installation, is a hazardous occupation for those examining assets at height. ARL's robot technology provides a solution which will significantly de-risk this mandatory maintenance task. Existing magnetic climbing robots on the market for condition monitoring and inspection work are too large to climb masts and towers, or unable to move around the supporting wires. ARL's robotic solution is small and highly manoeuvrable, meaning it can easily 'drive around' complex structures as it ascends the telecommunications mast.