As the use of robotics in data collection increases, a leading UK environmental research charity says now is the time for researchers and other professionals to learn how to use them.
The Scientific Robotics Academy, based at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, will host two courses this March: ‘Environmental monitoring using autonomous platforms’ and ‘Applied photogrammetry for environmental monitoring’.
The courses come amid the rapid expansion of twin technologies of AI and robotics, which are transforming the way tasks such as survey work and species identification can be completed.
Based at beginner to intermediate level and intermediate to advanced level, respectively, the courses aim to help improve career prospects for researchers, engineers, planners and environmental managers.
Dr Phil Anderson, who heads up the Scientific Robotics Academy said: “By the end of this decade we will have seen a huge change in how we collect data. The affordability and reliability of autonomous systems means that recording data in this way is very much the current direction of travel.
“Those who are familiar with such systems and understand their strengths and limitations will be ideally placed to not just adapt to this change, but help to develop and influence how robotics is used.
“Our course gives participants practical experience with autonomous systems and the necessary data processing skills to support that.”
The new offering follows on from a development course run by the Scientific Robotics Academy last September.
University of Stirling PhD student Ximena Aguilar Vega, who was a participant on the course, said: “It has been amazing to see all the options out there in terms of robotics and all the things we could do, not just in facilitating fieldwork, but what could be achieved through various sensors being used. The course has sparked a lot of ideas!”
Another attendee, Dr Sean Morgan of Dalhousie University, Canada, said: “I’ve been using robotics in my research, but mostly autonomous surface vehicles, so it was great to see what else is available. The work we’ve done during this course on protocols and best practice has given me ideas on what I can do better.”
The new courses are backed by Argyll and Bute Council, with renewable energy developer Nadara part-sponsoring places on the courses for the first 10 applicants.
For more information on how to attend the courses, see Courses — SAMS Enterprise – Marine Consultancy
