Robotics is driving automation in industries worldwide. Both Oxford and Austin have highly developed research institutes focusing on improving the capabilities of robots, working closely in partnership with car manufacturers and other manufacturing partners including Honda and Tesla. Over half a million industrial robots were installed worldwide in 2021, according to the International Federation of Robotics 2022 World Robotics Report.

Robotics in Brief

• Close collaboration between leading automotive firms and robotics laboratories
• Manufacturing and testing of highly capable robots
• Teaching robots how to engage and interact with their environment
• Human brain interface technology development

Oxford Robotics Institute is pushing the boundaries of automotive driving and robot sensors. The Oxford Robotics Institute is working with a government grant to make progress on embodied intelligence in robots, which would vastly increase overall functionality. It is also working with Amazon Web Services to develop long term autonomous robots for the service and logistics industry capable of working alongside humans. Another project works with the EU’s Horizon program to develop 3D map imaging for forestry. In the self-driving space, in January 2023 Oxbotica raised $140 million in Series C funding for its universal autonomous driving software that it sells to businesses running autonomous vehicles.

At Oxford Brookes the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Group hosts collaborative cross-departmental research into aimed throwing and learning reinforcement. 

UT has a number of different research groups all under the Robotics umbrella. A new purpose built lab took over a former gymnasium on the UT campus to focus exclusively on robotics development. The Anna Hiss Gymnasium redevelopment was part of UT’s collaboration with the US military’s Army Futures Command modernization program, which works to integrate robotics into the armed forces. The Army Futures Command is also based in Austin, Texas, as is the Army Applications Laboratory that seeks to implement technology applications for army modernization. 

Tesla recently unveiled updated footage of its Optimus robot that it is building at the Gigafactory outside Austin. Like other robots of its type the manufacturers are working closely with AI developers to handle the software and control mechanisms. 

SparkCognition, the global AI firm, partnered with UT Austin’s robotics division in April 2021 to construct Hyperwerx, a 50 acre facility in the greater Austin area to test autonomous robots and AI-hardware integration. 

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