Robots to test their metal

Photo: Facebook - University of Toronto

The obstacle course at the 2013 NCFRN trials in Toronto.

The latest air, land and sea robotic technologies in Canada will be on display and in action this Friday.

Research teams from the NSERC Canadian Field Robotics Network (NCFRN), based out of 20 different universities across Canada, will meet in Knox Mountain Park for a day of testing the capabilities of their new machines.

“We are deploying robotics platforms, like flying robots, terrestrial robots, and underwater vehicles to do some testing,” said Isabelle Lacroix, NCFRN network manager.  “This is basically our annual event. Our people are scattered in Canada, and once a year we meet somewhere and do a lot of work together.”

This will be the third annual meet up for NCFRN, which was established in 2012. The 2013 event was held in Toronto and in then in Montreal for 2014.

“This is our first deployment in western Canada,” said Lacroix.

The event not only lets researchers show off their work, but also allows members of NCFRN to talk with each other, see others’ projects and share valuable information.

“We have different researchers with different kinds of expertise in robotics because robotics is a wide topic,” said Lacroix.

These developing technologies have a wide range of possible applications. NCFRN members have helped the Canadian Space Agency develop a team of rovers, which will be used to explore Mars faster and more thoroughly. Autonomous robots on the land, air and sea can be used to monitor contaminated environments that would not be safe for humans. The VirtualMe robot will help seniors stay at home by supervising their health and detecting accidents.

NCFRN hopes to push Canada’s robotics forward, and become a leader in the industry.

“Canada can own field robotics,” said Gregory Dudek, director of NCFRN, in a statement. “We have the needs, the skills, the companies and the researchers. Monitoring forests, borders, fish stocks, and activities like search and rescue: robotics can provide key solutions for each.”

Viewing of Friday’s testing is open to the public. It will begin at 10 a.m. and go to 3 p.m. and will take place in the parking area of Knox Mountain Park.