Cumbria Chamber of Commerce’s Directors Forum met this week for an event on the theme on robotics, in partnership with Createc.
The event was held at Createc’s new facility in Cockermouth and led by head of robotics Etienne Hocquard, who kicked off with a presentation on the robotics industry and some of projects undertaken by the firm.
These included deploying robots to conduct surveys in areas of high radiation such as Fukushima in Japan and in North America and in other contaminated areas where humans would be at risk.
Etienne also covered the sensors designed by Createc which are used for crowd monitoring in busy areas such as large railway stations.
Etienne’s talk emphasised the safety and efficiency gains of using robotics, maximising productivity and taking humans out of harm’s way where necessary.
Guests were then taken on a tour of the facility, taking in a range of specialist equipment from radiation-sensing cameras to robotic arms used for sorting nuclear waste.
The group was then treated to a demonstration of one of Createc’s Boston Dynamics’ Spot robots and even had the opportunity to control the robot themselves.
Conversations continued around Createc’s various spinout companies resulting from R&D projects; the use of robotics in sectors including healthcare and social care and the future of the robotics industry.
After the tour, the group made their way to the nearby Trout Hotel where networking continued over dinner.
Joe Sanders, marketing manager at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our thanks to Etienne and the rest of the team at Createc for such an interesting afternoon! During our research on the Local Skills Improvement Plan, businesses told us they wanted to better understand the opportunities provided by robotics and how they might use it to innovate. Etienne did a fantastic job of showcasing the diverse applications of this technology and how it can boost efficiency and innovation.”
Directors Forum sponsor is Muckle LLP and it is supported by the Cumbria LSIP, funded through the Department for Education.
