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Month: November 2025

Cobots in Action Workshops – 27th November

Posted on by Merryn Ballantyne

On 27 November, the Australian Cobotics Centre welcomed over 20 industry attendees for a full-day event focused on practical strategies for implementing collaborative robots. Participants rotated through five interactive workshops, covering topics from foundational concepts and safety to advanced applications like no-code vision quality assurance, human-centred design, and strategic workforce planning. The sessions provided hands-on experience and actionable insights to help businesses integrate cobots effectively and prepare for future workforce needs.

All participants could attend one, two, three, four or all five interactive workshops designed to explore different aspects of collaborative robotics — from technical integration and no-code machine learning to human-centred design and workforce readiness. 

Each workshop was led by Research Programs and tailored for engineers, managers, and professionals looking to deepen their understanding of cobot adoption and innovation.

Workshop 1: Getting Started with Cobots

  • Focus: programming, cobot terminology, safety
  • A foundational introduction to collaborative robots, covering technical concepts, safety, and ethical considerations.

Workshop 2: No-Code Vision Quality Assurance: Train, Test, Deploy with Cobots

  • Focus: Inspection, traceability, ergonomic efficiency
  • A practical session on using no-code machine learning tools and cobots for automated visual inspection.

Workshop 3: Demystifying Cobots – XR, Human Factors, and Planning Tools

  • Focus: Simulation, human factors, planning tools
  • This session will showcase human-centred design strategies and tools for planning cobot integration.

Workshop 4: A Framework for Understanding, Evaluating, and Designing Cobot Solutions

  • Focus: Strategic alignment, design-led evaluation, planning
  • A hands-on session exploring frameworks for designing, evaluating, and implementing cobot solutions.

Workshop 5: Introducing New Technology: Workforce Implications

  • Focus: Change management, skills gaps, workforce engagement
  • A strategic session focused on preparing teams for cobot adoption through work design and future skills planning.

All resources from the workshop can be found here: Cobots in Action Workshop resources 

2025 Annual ACC Awards

Posted on by Merryn Ballantyne

ACC Annual Awards 2025: Celebrating Excellence and Collaboration

The Australian Cobotics Centre proudly celebrated the outstanding achievements of our researchers, collaborators, and supporters at the 2025 Annual Symposium. These awards highlight the dedication, creativity, and impact of our community.

Research Achievement

  • Munia Ahamed – For high-quality publications and impactful industry outcomes, including award-winning work on defect management and leading the Cook Medical quality framework validation project.
  • Jagannatha Pyaraka – For multiple first-author papers on human-object interaction and humanoid navigation, alongside significant contributions to industry projects and workshops.

Best Collaborative Research Output

  • InfraBuild Coil Raking Project Team
    Andrew (InfraBuild), Jagannatha Pyaraka, Danial Rizvi, Nadimul Haque, Sheila Sutjipto, Mariadas Roshan, Michelle Dunn, Chris McCarthy, Gavin Paul, Mats Isaksson, John McCormick, Teresa Vidal-Calleja, Jonathan Roberts.
    This team delivered an innovative coil-stack quality monitoring framework through multi-node collaboration, integrating robotics, computer vision, and manufacturing expertise for direct industry impact.

Industry Champion

  • James Dwyer – For exceptional industry engagement and design-led innovation, including a rapid prototype for Cook Medical and tools that advance teaching and collaborative projects.

Industry-Research Collaboration

  • Cook Medical Quality Framework Project Team
    Munia Ahamed, Mariadas Roshan, Nathalie Sick, Michelle Dunn, Matthias Guertler, Lee Clemon, Kettina Materna, Gareth Keen.
    Recognized for developing a systematic methodology to improve quality control in precision manufacturing, with strong multi-node collaboration and direct operational value for industry.

Contribution to Public Debate

  • Jasper Vermeulen – For thought leadership and active engagement in public discussions, enriching societal understanding of ACC-related research.

Emerging Leader

  • Mariadas Roshan – For transforming Program 4 from “surviving” to “thriving” through new research projects, mentoring HDRs, and driving publications—all while meeting every deadline and seeking new opportunities.

Quiet Achievers

  • Valeria Macalupu – For stepping into Project 2.6 with Stryker, supporting HDRs, and initiating new research within her first year.
  • Nisar – For joining an editorial board, publishing a journal paper, and winning two best poster awards at ANZAM.
  • Zongyuan – For developing a robotic battery sanding proof-of-concept with Vaulta and supporting industry engagement for humanoid robotics.

Epic Centre Citizens

  • Müge Belek Fialho Teixeira – For championing HDR experience, promoting collaboration, and supporting cross-university engagement.
  • Mariadas Roshan – For embodying the Centre’s spirit through exceptional research, industry collaboration, and cross-program leadership.

Whoopsie Daisy

  • Jagannatha Pyaraka – For resilience in turning multiple journal rejections into high-impact publications and attracting industry interest through persistence and innovation.

Thought Leader

  • Penny Williams – For shaping conversations on ethical technology and future-of-work, regularly presenting at industry forums and panels.

Centre Supporter

  • Jasper Vermeulen – For being a KPI champion, sharing updates across programs, and fostering community within the Centre.

 

Celebrating Together

To close out another successful year, our team swapped robots for lawn bowls and enjoyed a fun afternoon of barefoot bowls—a perfect way to celebrate collaboration, innovation, and community spirit.

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who contributed to making 2025 a year of impact and progress. Here’s to an even bigger and brighter 2026!

QUT Excolo! Grant for Prof Will Browne

Posted on by Merryn Ballantyne

Congratulations to Chief Investigator Professor Will Browne, whose project ASTRO has taken out the top spot as the 2025 Champion of QUT’s Excolo! pitching competition Grand Final, securing up to $100,000 in investment funding via the Industry Engagement Fund. ASTRO is an Upper Arm Active Stroke Rehabilitation Orthotic that aims to enhance post-stroke recovery while easing demand on healthcare systems.

QUT Excolo! is a pitching competition delivered by QUT’s Office of Industry Engagement: research teams are matched with a commercialisation coach, and participate in pitching workshops in collaboration with QUT Entrepreneurship.

Read more: QUT – News