UK Research and Innovation has awarded grants to 11 late-stage industrial robotics and automation projects equivalent to $4.7 million in total.

The projects span process control, machine vision and deployment in end gripper technology. The projects secured between £107,000 and £535,000 in funding. Each project will last nine to 15 months and will be tested across sectors including food and drink, electronics and fast-moving consumer goods.

The projects have  a focus on developing solutions to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience within factory production areas.

The MSI Challenge has been delivered by Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council.

The funding opportunity required each project to deploy an in-factory demonstration to test operation in real-life conditions. The technology development partners will then use the learnings from across the cohort of projects to further develop commercial solutions.

Rivelin Robotics was awarded for its Project CAMPFIRE. Rivelin is advancing metal post-processing for additive manufacturing (AM) with 3D vision and force control algorithms. Collaborating with GKN Aerospace and others, the project aims to automate finishing for flight parts, orthopaedic implants and gas turbine components.

Success could revolutionise tightly regulated industries, unlocking growth and investments in automation, impacting sectors such as aerospace, medical and energy, as well as civil aerospace, defence and automotive industries.

Brompton Bicycle won funding for its Project BROM-BOT, which aims to optimise bicycle production at Brompton’s Greenford site through the development and demonstration of industrial-grade robotic and automation solutions.

The project involves creating a ‘robot sandpit or playground’ and leveraging East Kent Colleges Group’s robotic learning factory in Canterbury to test integration across key operations within the factory.

The goal is to identify operations and upskill its current workforce with the potential to significantly enhance productivity, quality, scale, safety and sustainability.

Flamingo Flowers was awarded for its Project FLORABOT which develops digital and automation technologies for flower packing factories to overcome the industry’s reliance on seasonal migrant labour from the EU. The project looks to maximise production efficiency and develop flexible automation solutions for bouquet-making operations.