Prometheus - A reconfigurable robotic platform(s) with advanced sensing for confined spaces

“创新资助的普罗米修斯项目将开发一种完全自主的机器人，能够在未知的空隙中进行地质技术调查，用于采矿、水利基础设施监测和海上工业。该机器人将能够通过直径为150 mm的标准受限通道孔自动部署和回收，大大增加了现有系统的潜在用例。在项目期间，将与Network Rail一起进行关键演示，以探索和绘制在现有铁路基础设施下延伸的矿井工作区。此外，还将应用于供水基础设施老化的供水行业。这给社会带来了重大问题，如漏水、水管爆裂、洪水、污染等。这给基础设施提供商带来了巨额成本，包括罚款、法律的费用和复杂的维修。该系统本身将由Headlight牵头的一个财团设计、建造和测试，Headlight是一家拥有领先传感器和数据处理技术的中小企业。合作伙伴包括Callen-Lenz，一家在机载机器人系统开发和部署方面拥有专业知识的中小企业。他们将与曼彻斯特大学、皇家霍洛威大学和布里斯托大学密切合作，将最新的传感器、控制和制造技术集成到一个真正新颖、功能强大的平台上。这将包括由Thales和Headlight提供的传感器和自适应传感软件。在视线外（BVLOS）完全自主操作的联合要求，以及通过有限访问的150直径钻孔的部署，将在大学实验室环境中以及与Network Rail合作的关键里程碑演示中进行演示。这将是机器人、自主和人工智能在极端环境中广泛应用的一个很好的例证。最终的系统将展示自主能力、高度灵活的操作和部署方面的一步变化，满足真实的和现有的工业需求，即对难以进入和导航复杂的区域进行快速检查。"

"The Innovate funded Prometheus project will develop a fully autonomous robot capable of geo-technical surveys in unknown voids for use in the mining, water infrastructure monitoring and offshore industries. This robot will be able to be automatically deployed and recovered through a standard restricted access bore of 150mm diameter, significantly increasing potential use cases over existing systems. Key demonstrations will be carried out during the project in conjunction with Network Rail - to explore and map mine workings that extend under existing rail infrastructure.Further, applications are also within the water industry with aging water infrastructure. This is presenting major issues to societies, in terms of leakages, burst water mains, flooding, contamination, etc. This is resulting in significant costs to infrastructure providers in terms of fines, legal fees, and complex repairs.The system itself will be designed, built and tested by a consortium led by Headlight -- an SME working with leading edge sensor and data processing technologies. Partners include Callen-Lenz, an SME with expertise in airborne robotic systems development and deployment. They will work closely with the Universities of Manchester, Royal Holloway and Bristol to integrate the latest sensors, control and manufacturing techniques into a truly novel and highly capable platform. This will include sensors and adaptive sensing software provided by both Thales and Headlight.The joint requirements of fully autonomous operation beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), combined with deployment through a limited access 150-diameter borehole will be demonstrated both in a university lab environment and at key milestone demonstrations in conjunction with Network Rail. This will be an excellent illustration of robotics, autonomy and AI in extreme environments with widespread application. The final system will demonstrate a step change in autonomous capability, highly flexible operation and deployment, meeting a real and existing industrial need for rapid inspection of areas that are difficult to access and complex to navigate."