It says the facility will play a key role in developing innovative robotics solutions to speed up the deployment of essential infrastructure, working with the university sector and other utilities to trial a new range of UK-developed robotics which are applicable to telecoms and utility sector civil engineering challenges worldwide.

The lab is the first dedicated telecoms civil engineering robotics test facility in the UK, designed to help BT engage with the university sector and robotics startups as they develop robotic solutions to challenging civil engineering tasks.听

This includes addressing problems such as how to clear out blocked ducts, mend collapsed ducts and install new fibre network infrastructure without incurring the cost and delays that come with digging up roads and pavements.

New robotic locomotion and excavation techniques inspired by digging and burrowing mammals and insects, coupled with the latest technologies developed for space exploration, aerospace and medical applications are showing real promise for delivering so-called 鈥榯renchless鈥� infrastructure deployment.听

Magnetic, climbing and cable-traversing robotic techniques are also maturing, enabling proof-of-concept trials on wireless tower and overhead cable poles.听

It is expected that the test lab will play an important role in supporting BT鈥檚 fibre programme, as well as facilitating collaboration with other utilities such as power and water companies as they roll out and update their underground and overhead networks.

The site, an indoor facility, will enable research teams to trial the latest innovations in robotics within a variety of test zones.听

The facility emulates three different types of environments in which testing can be carried out.

Underground environment

The facility includes several test beds that can be filled with different soil and aggregate types to replicate the terrain that creates challenges for laying ducts and fibre across the country. The compaction, moisture content and stone content can all be controlled within these environments to test the ability of robots to dig pathways for ducts or direct-in-ground fibre. The test beds will also provide demanding environments for fibre sensing and robotics steering tests.

In-duct environments

Pipe stands are used at the facility to construct duct runs, using specially manufactured transparent versions of BT ducts. This enables replication of the scenarios whereby a duct collapses or becomes blocked with silt build up.

Overhead environments

The facility holds a full height telegraph pole, with platform access to allow different pole-top fixtures to be fitted. This creates opportunities to test robots that can lift tools, equipment or cable to the top of a pole. Cables can be run to another pole to provide a single 35m span for development of cable-car-like devices for pulling in new cables or dealing with tree canopies that could damage an existing cable. A series of shorter posts provides a 鈥榩ole-transit鈥� testbed for developing other cable-travelling devices.

Professor Tim Whitley, BT鈥檚 MD of Research, said: 鈥淭he UK is a hotbed of civil engineering innovation, with a thriving university ecosystem and an enviable robotics startup sector. Our aim is to bring those players together in a dedicated facility to develop solutions that make the UK a world leader in telecoms civil engineering robotics.听

鈥淭he lab will provide a hub for the creation of solutions to real world challenges and pioneering applications of robots, reinforcing the UK鈥檚 position at the heart of research and innovation into advanced technologies.鈥�

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Prior to听Karakuri, Peter served as CTO for Mclaren Applied and previously held several positions at McLaren including chief engineer for the racing team.听

With听experience in developing new, ground-breaking technologies and applying them in a range of industries,听Dr听Schroder听will work alongside CEO and founder, Barney Wragg, as the听startup听further develops听its DK-One听robot – the world鈥檚 first robotic canteen – ahead of听its pilot installation later this year.听听

He will lead the engineering team as the company pushes the boundaries of how cutting-edge robotics is combined with state-of-the-art sensing and AI to transform how restaurants, canteens, hotels and supermarkets will produce and serve meals in a post-COVID world.听

During his time as chief engineer for the Formula 1 team听Dr听Schroder听oversaw the听development and delivery of technologies across all aspects of car and race operations, including McLaren-Honda鈥檚 Formula 1 energy听recovery system.听听

鈥�Karakuri听ticked so many boxes for me when it came to moving on from Mclaren,鈥� he said.听鈥淭his is a听startup听with the ambition and drive to develop听an entirely new category of made-to-order healthy convenience food using the latest technologies across hardware and software.听听

鈥淭he achievements the team have made so far are amazing and I鈥檓 looking forward to upping the ante and pushing the innovation forward听even further.鈥�听

Wragg听added:听鈥淎t听Karakuri, engineering innovation is at the heart of everything we do. To lead such a complex multi-disciplined engineering organisation requires a CTO with phenomenal people skills, a passion for driving change and听innovation and unprecedented technical ability.听听

鈥�Peter is the perfect fit for听Karakuri, he brings that passion and enthusiasm and helps us accelerate our ability to build technology that will ultimately change how we interact with food as consumers.鈥�听

Mike听Muller,听碍补谤补办耻谤颈鈥檚听current interim CTO and co-founder of ARM, will continue to support the company and remain a member of听碍补谤补办耻谤颈鈥檚听board of directors.听

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The JV also said its first mini fulfilment centre has opened following a 40% rise in retail revenue to 拢599听million in the听13 weeks to 28th听February 2021.听

Average orders per week听were听up 8,000 to 329,000, with听M&S products accounting听for听more than听25% of the average听basket.听

M&S and Ocado signed the 拢750m JV following the end of Ocado鈥檚 partnership with Waitrose.听

Ocado Retail, headquartered in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, said its听first听mini CFC听in Bristol听had 鈥榦pened up听30,000 orders per week more capacity鈥� with听shorter lead times for听local customers.听

The company听will be opening two standard–sized CFCs in FY21, while a minimum of 12 new micro sites are being sought, primarily in London.听

This听will听support the roll-out of听Ocado Zoom,听which offers deliveries within one hour of ordering.听听

A second听mini CFC听will open in 2022 and progress is being made securing sites for further standard–sized CFCs.听

/642m-raise-for-payments-tech-scale-up-sumup/

“Over the past year, large numbers of UK consumers have made a permanent shift to online grocery shopping,鈥� said CEO听Melanie Smith.听听

鈥淥cado Retail is best-placed to serve these customers as we continue to improve the customer experience through the joint venture with M&S, adding new products, offering greater value, and maintaining high customer service levels.听听

鈥淲e opened one mini customer fulfilment centre in Bristol last month, which gives us capacity to serve more customers and with the opening of Purfleet and re-opening of Andover, both later this year, we ultimately expect to ramp our overall capacity by 40% with these sites.鈥�

Covering three-quarters of UK households, Ocado Retail says听every shopping bag is carefully packed in one of four distribution centres using market-leading software and technology such as robotic pickers.听

Available through apps, it delivers over 50,000 products, including big-name brands, a range of M&S and Ocado own-brand products and a growing non-food selection.听

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Tim Steiner, CEO of Ocado Group and Chairman of Ocado Retail, said:听“As we progress towards a new normal for grocery retail, and the focus for the industry shifts from meeting unprecedented demand to winning in a large and growing online channel, the need for a fulfilment solution that both delights a more knowledgeable customer, and enables profitable, sustainable growth, has never been more critical.听

鈥�This is the solution that Ocado’s partners are now rolling out in many countries across the world. The first international partners to go live, Sobeys and Groupe Casino, have reported a very encouraging customer response and we look forward to the official opening of the first Customer Fulfilment Centres for our US partner Kroger in the coming weeks.听听

鈥�Ocado Retail, of course, is the most advanced in demonstrating the power of the solution. It has proven that the model consistently delivers the best online customer experience in grocery with leading economics.听听

鈥�We believe that the prospects for Ocado Retail, as well as our other听solutions partners, are very promising.”听

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