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Cobotics Quarterly – March 2025
March Cobotics Quarterly is now out! We’ve got lots of project updates. Read all about: * Latest project updates and news with InfraBuild, Stryker, & more. * Details on the upcoming ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre Propel-AIR program * Upcoming launch of a cobotic welding microcredential developed ...
Beyond Efficiency: Ethical Considerations of Adopting Cobots
In this article, researcher Nisar Ahmed Channa, a PhD Researcher in the Human Robot Workforce program based at Queensland University of Technology, examines the ethical considerations surrounding the adoption of collaborative Robots (Cobots) in manufacturing. While Cobots are poised to revolutionise...
What Would Jim Henson Do? Roleplaying Human-Robot Collaborations Through Puppeteering
In this article, researcher James Dwyer and Dr Valeria Macalupú, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, both from QUT (Queensland University of Technology)’s Human Robot Interaction research program, examine an innovative approach to designing and testing human robot collaborations through puppeteeri...
Integrating Vision-Guided Cobots into Steel Manufacturing
In this article, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Sheila Sutjipto, from University of Technology Sydney examines how vision-guided collaborative robotics can enhance automation in steel manufacturing. As part of the Australian Cobotics Centre’s Biomimic Cobots Program, researchers from UTS and QUT par...
Cobotics Quarterly – December 2024
December Cobotics Quarterly is now out! We’ve got lots of news to share! Read all about: * Our Industry Symposium and cobot mini-expo * Research Showcase and annual awards * Congratulations and goodbyes Mats Isaksson, Mariadas Capsran Roshan, Stine Johansen * Links to our latest publications, ...
How Vocational Education and Training (VET) looks to meet the skills needs of the advanced Manufacturing Sector
In this article, researcher Jacqueline Greentree from Queensland University of Technology’s Human Robot Workforce research program examines how Vocational Education and Training (VET) is evolving to meet the skills demands of the advanced manufacturing sector. With the rise of technologies lik...
Beyond the Factory Floor: Cobots as the Ultimate Growth Hack for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
In this article, Postdoctoral Researcher Mariadas Capsran Roshan at Swinburne University of Technology in the Quality Assurance and Compliance research program explores ‘Beyond the Factory Floor: Cobots as the Ultimate Growth Hack for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)’. Roshan hi...
The Role of Haptics in Collaborative Robot Applications & Project Overview: Multi-Specialty Robots
The recording from our recent webinar that included a talk from UTS Robotics Institute PhD researcher, Danial Rizvi and QUT (Queensland University of Technology) researchers Dr Alan Burden and PhD researcher, Jasper Vermeulen is now up on our YouTube channel. 📺 📺 The first part of the seminar ...
Industry 5.0 and Cobot Adoption
In this article, PhD Researcher Bochao Xu from UTS explores Industry 5.0 and cobot innovation, emphasising the shift toward sustainability, human-centric design, and resilience in industry. Cobots, or collaborative robots, are crucial to this vision, working safely alongside people to handle repetit...
Proposed guardrails for the safe and responsible use of AI
In this article, Penny Williams Research Program Co-lead (Human-Robot Workforce program), examines the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in daily life and work and the challenge of keeping regulations aligned with its development. She discusses the Australian Government’s newly...
Cobotics Quarterly – September 2024
September Cobotics Quarterly is now out! We’ve got lots of news to share! Read all about: * Our upcoming Industry Symposium and cobot mini-expo * Weld Australia roadshows * Congratulations and goodbyes Anushani Bibile, Müge Belek Fialho Teixeira * Links to our latest publications, articles an...
From Lab to Market (Part II): Bridging the Gap – Solutions for Effective Industry-Academic Collaboration
In this article, Dr Anushani Bibile from the Australian Cobotics Centre explores the vital intersection of academic research and industrial innovation. Building on earlier discussions of the barriers to effective collaboration between these sectors, Bibile delves into practical solutions to bridge t...
Accepted Papers for the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS)
Researchers from the Australian Cobotics Centre have had two significant papers accepted for presentation at the prestigious IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) 2024 in Abu Dhabi. This conference is a major event in the robotics field, drawing experts and profe...
Enhancing Human-Robot Collaboration: The Role of Extended Reality
In this article, Yuan Liu from the Australian Cobotics Centre explores how Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR), enhance Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) in industries. XR improves safety, workspace design, data visualisati...
From Lab to Market (Part I): Navigating the Obstacles in Academic-Industry Collaborations
In this article, Anushani Bibile from the Australian Cobotics Centre explores the significant challenges that hinder effective collaboration between academia and industry, emphasising how these barriers impact innovation and the practical application of research. She highlights time constraints as a...
Understanding Entrainment in Human Groups: Optimising Human-Robot Collaboration
The recording from last week’s special webinar presented by Dr Eike Schneiders, Transitional Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science, University of Nottingham, is now on our YouTube channel. Successful entrainment during collaboration positively affects trust, willingness to coll...
Addressing gender pay disparities in engineering
In this article, Melinda Laundon from the Australian Cobotics Centre discusses gender pay disparities in engineering, focusing on Australia’s manufacturing sector. Despite employing over 46,000 qualified engineers, manufacturing has a 70% male workforce. The sector’s gender imbalance is ...
Complexity of manufacturing workforce diversity
The recording from last week’s webinar presented by PhD researcher, Akash Hettiarachchi, is now up on our YouTube channel. In this talk, Akash provided an overall diversity composition and an in-depth analysis of the sub-sectors to identify the opportunities to improve diversity strategies and...
Thought Leaders Series: Inclusive cultures, inclusive leadership
Last week, Centre Director Prof Jonathan Roberts was part of an “Inclusive Cultures, Inclusive Leadership” panel discussion. The panel, part of the Engineers Australia Thought Leadership series and co-hosted by QUT (Queensland University of Technology) also included: * Karen Whelan, As...
Cobotics Quarterly – June 2024
June Cobotics Quarterly is now out! We’ve got lots to share including: * A new partner – Workr Labs Inc. * People news and PhD Milestones * Latest project updates and news * Upcoming installations at hashtag#ISEA24 * Links to our latest publications, articles and webinars- hashtag#ICRA20...
Enhancing Hydraulic Maintenance Operations with Multi-modal Feedback
In this article, Danial Rizvi, PhD Researcher from the Australian Cobotics Centre, discusses the integral role of hydraulic systems in industrial applications that demand significant force, such as mining and manufacturing. Despite their power and efficiency, traditional hydraulic systems pose opera...
Workforce Planning and Optimal task allocation case studies
In this talk, Dave Scerri, CEO of Biarri Optimisation, provides an overview of some of the problems faced in the workforce planning and task allocation space, and discusses some success stories of Australian companies leveraging optimisation in this space. Biarri Optimisation is a commercial mathema...
Industry 4.0 Awareness and Experience Workshop
In this article Jagannatha Pyaraka, a PhD Researcher at the Australian Cobotics Centre bridging the gap between industry professionals and the transformative potential of Industry 4.0 technologies. Over the past few weeks, four workshops were organised at strategic locations to maximise outreach and...
Automated management in work and employment
In this article Melinda Laundon, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Human-Robot Workforce Program) at the Australian Cobotics Centre explores the growing sophistication of artificial intelligence and its role in replacing human decision-making in work, management, and employment. Drawing on research, ...
Empowering Robots with Continuous space and time representations
Associate Professor Teresa Vidal Calleja from the University of Technology Sydney presents a seminar on “Empowering Robots with Continuous Space and Time Representations.” In this technical talk, Teresa discusses her work on localisation, mapping, and planning using continuous space and time rep...
Enhancing Collaboration Between Humans and Robots: The Critical Role of Human Factors Research
In this article Jasper Vermeulen, a PhD Researcher at the Australian Cobotics Centre provides a comprehensive analysis of the integration of collaborative robots (cobots) in industrial environments, emphasising the importance of human-centric considerations alongside technological advanc...
Robotic Blended Sonification: Consequential Robot Sound as Creative Material for Human-Robot Interaction
Current research in robotic sounds generally focuses on either masking the consequential sound produced by the robot or on sonifying data about the robot to create a synthetic robot sound. We propose to capture, modify, and utilise rather than mask the sounds that robots are already producing. In sh...
Harmonizing Mind and Machine: Strategies for Symbiotic Knowledge Exchange in Collaborative Robots
Explore the future of human-robot interaction in manufacturing as Munia Ahamed delves into the necessity of seamless knowledge transfer between humans and robots and discusses the obstacles hindering this exchange and the crucial role of trust in fostering collaboration for workplace safety. Key Top...
Cobotics Quarterly – March 2024
March Cobotics Quarterly is now out! We’ve got lots of project updates. Read all about: * New partner – TAFE Queensland * New faces and goodbyes – Zongyuan Zhang, Victor Hernandez Moreno * Latest project updates and news with Jagannatha Charjee Pyaraka, Kartik Choudhary, * Upcomi...
RoboBlox A new kind of breeze blocks
Last week, we were lucky to have Dr Müge Belek Fialho Teixeira, from QUT Engineering, Architecture and Built Environment and co-Lead of our Designing socio-Technical Robotic Systems research program, present her work on RoboBlox. RoboBlox are sustainable breeze blocks created via ruled-based sto...
Reflections from the 2023 OZCHI workshop on Empowering People in Human-Robot Collaboration
At the OzCHI 2023 conference, a collaborative effort between researchers from the Australian Cobotics Centre (QUT and UTS) and CINTEL (CSIRO) resulted in a workshop titled “Empowering People in Human-Robot Collaboration: Why, How, When, and for Whom.” Building upon the success of the pre...
Advanced Manufacturing The Challenges of Managing Change
A/Prof Penny Williams and Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Melinda Laundon gave an engaging seminar on Advanced Manufacturing: The Challenges of Managing Change. Penny and Melinda, from the Centre’s ‘Human-Robot Workforce’ research program, presented on research into technology a...
Human-Robot Collaboration in Healthcare: Challenges and Prospects
Amidst a global healthcare workforce shortage, technological advancements such as robotics offer promising avenues for improvement. Learn about the role of HRC in enhancing patient care and easing the burden on healthcare professionals in this article authored by Amir Asadi, PhD researcher at the Au...
Parliamentary inquiry report into advanced manufacturing in Australia
Support from the Government through its policies and programs is vital for Australian manufacturing. Last year Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Melinda Laundon led our Centre’s submission to the Australian Government Inquiry into Advanced Manufacturing in Australia. As a result of this submi...
Shorts Project (Phase 2) Highlights
One of our project highlights in 2023 was Phase 2 of the Shorts project with industry partner, InfraBuild. The project was a collaboration between University of Technology Sydney, QUT (Queensland University of Technology) and InfraBuild Sydney Bar Mill. Postdoctoral Research Fellow and project le...
Cobotics Quarterly – December 2023
Our December Cobotics Quarterly is now out! What a busy few months it’s been. Read all about: * Our annual symposium * New faces and goodbyes * Latest project news * Links to our latest publications, articles and webinars * E.P.I.C. Researchers Anushani Bibile & Nadimul Haque * and so mu...
Navigating Augmented Reality: User Interface and UX in Cobotics
Discover how Augmented Reality is transforming human-cobot interactions, reducing learning curves, and enhancing productivity. In this article, Alan Burden explores the possibilities, whilst also considering the ethical and safety aspects of this transformative technology. ...
How to ensure quality assurance when integrating a cobot
Discover the importance of quality assurance in integrating collaborative robots (cobots) in manufacturing through Dr. Anushani Bibile and Dr. Michelle Dunn’s insightful article. Cobots offer flexibility and productivity, but continuous quality checks are essential due to their reconfigurable ...
Cobots in manufacturing: Good for skill shortages and much more.
In today’s fast-paced tech world, staying ahead is crucial for success. Yet, many companies find it challenging to innovate and keep up with the times. In this article our Research Program Co-lead (Human-Robot Workforce program) and Chief Investigator greg hearn and PhD Researcher Nisar Ahme...
Can we Unlock the Potential of Collaborative Robots?
In this article Dr Marc Carmichael and Louis Fernandez will explore the untapped potential of cobot-human collaboration, and how they hope to develop new ways of enabling humans and cobots to collaborate. ...
Approaches to Planning and Productivity Improvements in Dynamic Production Systems
Manufacturing is facing increased competitiveness due to global pressures, and the Industry 4.0 revolution has brought valuable tools like simulation to enhance manufacturing systems. Discrete Event Simulation (DES) is widely used in the manufacturing sector to digitally test system changes before t...
Human-Robot Collaboration through Augmented Reality
In this article Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Alan Burden will focus on technologies that show immense potential in improving the harmony between humans and cobotic systems. ...
Supporting the digitally-enabled manufacturing workforce: the role of education and training systems
In this webinar, our Postdoctoral Researcher Melinda Laundon, and TAFE Queensland’s Emerging Industries Business Development Manager, Shawn O’Sullivan explore how education and training systems can support a digitally-enabled workforce for the Australian manufacturing sector. They discuss...
Why don’t cobots collaborate? Challenges & Opportunities in Human-Robot Collaboration
Despite the fact that they are designed to specifically work alongside humans, it is still most common for cobots to be utilised in a similar fashion to industrial robots, i.e. not interacting and totally separated from humans on the factory floor. In this engaging seminar, our Chief Investigator, D...
Cobotics Quarterly – June 2023
Check out our latest newsletter. Find out about our: * Responses to the Australian Government’s Developing Advanced Manufacturing inquiry and National Robotics Strategy discussion paper * Attendance at Australian Manufacturing Week with Weld Australia in an article by PhD researcher Jagann...
Collaborative Robots: The Benefits, Limitations and Potential for Australia
Collaborative robots, or cobots, are becoming increasingly popular in manufacturing due to their ability to work alongside humans safely and efficiently. This webinar will provide attendees with an understanding of the benefits and limitations of collaborative robots, with insights into potential fu...
6 Reasons Why We Need a Prototyping Toolkit for Designing Human-Robot Collaboration
Written by Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Stine S Johansen and PhD Researcher, James Dwyer Robots are making their way into industry, but companies still face many uncertainties about whether to make this expensive move. Many questions remain about how the robots can best be integrated in the e...
Submission to the National Robotics Strategy Discussion Paper
In May 2023, the Australian Cobotics Centre made a submission to the National Robotics Strategy: discussion paper People using and collaborating with robots (cobots) will help enable Australians to realise their potential and create new sovereign manufacturing capabilities whose products can be expo...
Implementing Collaborative Robots Cobots in the workplace seminar
Australian Cobotics Centre researchers Fikre Gebremeskel (PhD researcher) and Alan Burden (Postdoctoral Research Fellow) present an engaging seminar on implementing collaborative robots (cobots) in the workplace. They share their expertise on the planning, simulation and management of cobots while o...
Australian Cobotics Centre – Future Manufacturing Floor
As part of the official launch of the Australian Cobotics Centre, the Centre’s Director, Professor Jonathan Roberts and Chief Investigator, Dr Anjali Tumkar Jaiprakash worked with 3D design specialist, Dr Benjamin Donnelly, to create a ‘manufacturing floor of the future’. This floo...
Preserving Quality assurance & Compliance during emergent behaviour of Cobots in automated processes
As humans adapt and familiarise with their cobot teammates, emergent work patterns and behaviours are likely to evolve and be subject to change. In this talk, Anushani Bibile discusses the results of a scoping review she is conducting into quality assurance and compliance during emergent behaviour o...
Advancing Manufacturing – Exploring the Human Element of the Journey
Jobs Queensland engaged Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers from the newly established Australian Cobotics Centre (ACC) to conduct research on the progress against key priority action areas (PAAs) outlined in Advancing Manufacturing Skills: A Skills, Training and Workforce Develo...
Guidelines for Safe Collaborative Robot Design and Implementation
This document provides an overview of the comprehensive guidelines. It describes relevant definitions of working with collaborative robots, summarises important cobot-specific hazards and safety measures, and outlines the five design principles to create a cobot-safe workplace. ...
Advancing Manufacturing Case Studies
Advancing manufacturing: Two case studies – A report for Jobs Queensland. To inform a review of progress against the priority action areas (PAAs) outlined in Advancing Manufacturing Skills: A Skills, Training and Workforce Development Strategy for the Manufacturing Industry in Queensland, Jobs...
Designing Shared Human-Robot Spaces – The Impact that Spatial Design Has on Socio-Technical Systems
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Alan Burden explores the role of spatial design in socio-technical systems (STS) and its influence on human-robot teamwork. ...
Submission to the inquiry into Developing Advanced Manufacturing in Australia
The Australian Cobotics Centre provided a submission for the Developing Advanced Manufacturing in Australia inquiry. Investment in robotics, automation and digitisation is essential for Australian manufacturing to remain globally competitive and to deliver planned large-scale infrastructure projects...
A Very Brief Introduction to Socio-technical Systems: And How They Will Impact Our Future Robot Interactions
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Alan Burden has written a brief introduction to the broad subject of socio-technical systems and how approaching our interactions with technology from a holistic viewpoint allows us to design better for our futures. ...
Cobotics Quarterly – March 2023
In this issues, read about: our Advancing Manufacturing Report launch with Jobs Queensland our newest PhD researchers recent events we’ve been at including IEEE Human Robot Interaction Conference AIRAANZ conference Try-a-Trade in Gladstone latest project activity and much more…. ...
Illustrating Robot Motion
In this presentation, Dr Stine Johansen, postdoctoral Research Fellow from the Australian Cobotics Centre, presents a study of reviewing papers from the ACM/IEEE Conference on Human-Robot Interaction, 2016-2022. This presentation gives an overview that can be used to support future dissemination wit...
Cobotics Quarterly – December 2022
In December 2022’s newsletter, you can read about: our official launch event ‘Cobotic Improvisation’ performance by Dr Steph Hutchison, Marisa Bucolo and Dr Dasun Gunasinghe recent conference attendance, including ACRA, ANZAM and OzCHI awards for our reserachers, including Dr Tere...
Leadership in factory automation – exploring collaborative robotics’ – Australian Manufacturing forum
Today Leadership in factory automation looks at the potential of collaborative robots as a low-cost, more flexible and safer alternative to traditional factory robots. By Professor Jonathan Roberts. ...
How might cobots improve employee health and safety?
A taster of how Cobots could improve employee health and safety. Key health and safety challenges identified by partner organisations in the Australian Cobotics Centre include managing the risks associated with working with high temperature processes (such as preheating of cast and forged items) a...
Here’s what HR needs to know about cobots – HRM Online
Australian Cobotics Centre Postdoctoral Research Fellow Melinda Laundon recently spoke to HRM Online about what the many benefits #cobots provide including the diversification of the manufacturing workforce. ...
Australian Cobotics: Safer More Efficient, Globally Competitive, Manufacturing Industry
This Weld Australia magazine features an interview with Australian Cobotics Centre Director, Jonathan Roberts, who highlights the holistic and multidisciplinary approach the Centre will take in addressing the technological advances and the human and design factors that need to be considered when imp...
Immersive Digital Twins for Designing Cobot Systems
Australian Cobotics Centre Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Alan Burden, outlines some components and workflows for creating immersive digital twins, including head-mounted XR devices and the versatility of using game engines in this presentation. The first translation project developed by ACC Progr...
Cobots Work, Health and Safety Guidelines Workshop
In this workshop seminar from 28th April 2022, Dr Matthias Guertler, presented key findings from an Australian Cobotics Centre (ACC)-associated project on cobot work health and safety (Cobot WHS), a joint interdisciplinary research project of the UTS Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, the UTS Roboti...
Cobotics Quarterly – September 2022
In this issue: an overview of our first year awards for our researchers recent activity including a workshop at B&R Enclosures upcoming conferences and events ...
Opportunities and Challenges on the path to Advanced Manufacturing
In this seminar, Dr Penny Williams and Professor Greg Hearn shared research findings on the transition of manufacturers to Industry 4.0 through technology innovation and their experiences of investment in re-skilling and training, and leader-driven organisational change. Includes work from Dr Melind...
Participatory Design & Co design in Manufacturing
Associate Professor Jared Donovan & Associate Professor Markus Rittenbruch provide an overview over the history and core principles of Participatory Design in particular industrial settings. They draw on their experiences with design-oriented perspectives on robotics and give practical examples ...
Cobotics Quarterly – June 2022
In this issue: Australian Network for Art & Technology (ANAT) Residency at ARM Hub Our first publication: A Life-Cycle Framework to Manage Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange in Open Organisation Weld Australia Member Survey update and outcomes Welcome to our new starters Recent seminars ...
Cobotics Quarterly – March 2022
In this edition: meet our new Postdoctoral Research Fellows find out about our recent visits in Townsville with Weld Australia read about our upcoming events ...
Collaborative Robots – Showcasing value and possibilities webinar for Weld Australia
The Australian Cobotics Centre teamed up with Weld Australia to present a webinar on the 29th November 2022 on how collaborative robots work and showcase the benefits for businesses and employees. ...
Perception in Robotics and Applications to Material Processing seminar
Perception in robotics is arguably the bottleneck for autonomy. Developing efficient, accurate, on-line, off-line and mainly probabilistic perception algorithms with a wide-variety of sensors had been a key part of Associate Professor Teresa Vidal Calleja’s research journey. In the first part of t...
Learning and collaboration key to unlocking innovation
The Centre for the New Workforce has released the Peak Human Workplace report in learning and collaboration in this unprecedented era. ...
Cobotics Quarterly – December 2021
This is the first edition of our public newsletter. In this addition: About the Centre our core values our research programs Opportunities to join us as an industry partners as a PhD Researcher recent webinars and more…. ...