Oxford’s Chancellor visits Oxford Robotics Institute to explore cutting-edge research

On 24th July, the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) was delighted to welcome the Oxford's new Chancellor, Lord William Hague, alongside Professor Jim Naismith, the head of MPLS for a tour of the robotics centre basement lab.

With demos from Soft Robotics Lab showcasing the robotic soft hand, a robotic inversion demo from MRG, and a demo from GOALS of the Boston Dynamics Spot with the ORI's Auto Inspect system, the Chancellor was given a real insight to the top-level research and works that are carried out by our groups at the ORI. Professor Jim Naismith, Head of the MPLS Division said of the visit:

"It was great to see our Chancellor, Lord Hague, share our pride and excitement when he saw first-hand the fantastic work of our students and researchers at ORI" 

Two of our students - Efimia Panagiotaki and Michael Groom - were also on hand to give an overview on the role they play. 

“Welcoming the Chancellor to the Oxford Robotics Institute was a real highlight. It was inspiring to see his genuine interest in our research and to witness the enthusiasm of our team as they demonstrated their work. The visit sparked thoughtful conversations and affirmed the impact of what we’re building together at ORI”- Daniele De Martini, Departmental Lecturer, Principal Investigator - MRG

"It was an incredible opportunity to showcase my research to the Chancellor and head of MPLS. Serving as an ambassador for the ORI was not only a privilege, but the experience proved truly insightful - hearing their perspectives opened up new avenues for thinking about my project that I hadn't considered before." - Luke Robinson, MRG DPhil student