Robotics and autonomous systems - affecting everything that moves

A revolution in smart machines will affect all sectors of the UK economy and our personal lives. Professor David Lane CBE FREng, Founding Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics and lead author of the RAS2020: Robotics and Autonomous Systems strategy, argues that the UK has made a promising start in leading technology and skills development, public understanding and the development of ethical frameworks, but there is more to do.

At the State Opening of Parliament on 18 May 2016, the Queen’s Speech contained the memorable phrase: BIOGRAPHY

Professor David Lane CBE FREng is Founding Director of the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics, a £35 million joint venture between Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh universities. He is a former CEO and Founder of SeeByte Ltd/Inc, a multimillion dollar UK/US company in defence and offshore markets. In 2013/4, he led development of the UK’s national robotics innovation strategy, which has influenced over £200 million of government spend to date, and was a Director of euRobotics AISBL.