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Robot Dexterity

Backed by £57m, this programme aims to transform robotic capabilities and unlock a step change in human productivity.

Meet the R&D Creators

We're funding 17 teams with expertise across multiple disciplines and a strong institutional mix, spanning startups, university labs, public research institutions, and large companies. Together, they'll bridge the software-hardware gap in robotics, realising the full potential of more dexterous robots to advance human productivity and welfare.

TA1 | Novel Hardware

Taking a co-design and co-delivery approach these teams will produce novel hardware components, manipulators (robot ‘hands’), and approaches for integrating hardware with control. They'll also test these in practice on important real-world problems.

Three-Dimensional Force and Temperature Sensing Skins

Tawfique Hasan, University of Cambridge

R-ADA: A Rational Automated Design Agent

Zenna Tavares, Basis Research Institute

Computer-Aided Invention of Robot Manipulators Across Domains

Andrew Spielberg, MorphoAI

A New Analytical Framework for Developing Dexterous Soft Robotic Manipulators

Min Pan, University of Bath

SILA Miniaturisation (SAMI)

Graham Whiteley, Wavedrives Ltd

DEXTER – Simulation for Dexterous Manipulation

Michelle Lu + Kier Storey, Vsim

Min Pan

"From an agile funding process and a unique collaborative strategy, to now having opportunities to collaborate with Activation Partners, being part of the ARIA universe is exciting and highly motivating for me and my team."

Min PanUniversity of Bath

Scalable Tactile Sensing Based on Electrical Impedance Tomography for Dexterous Multi-tool Use

Fumiya Iida, University of Cambridge

Synthetic Muscles for Robotic Dexterity

Rodrigo Alvarez, Elysium Robotic

Romex: Robot Muscles as Dexterous Linear Actuators

Guggi Kofod, Pliantics

Printed Electronics Components – a new toolbox for the dexterous robot

Zlatka Stoeva, DZP Technologies Ltd

The ARTHUR Hand

Udayan Bulchandani, Arthur Robotics Ltd

Sangtera Joint Actuator

Tairan Wang, Sangtera, Jakub Kedzierski, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, + Chia-Chun Chung, Cadence Process Consulting

Zlatka Stoeva

"I’m excited about working with like-minded Creators who dare to explore the unknown and challenge beliefs about the impossible. As a scientist and entrepreneur, being part of this community supports me to think in new and creative ways about science and about building a technology business."

Zlatka StoevaDZP Technologies

Pneumatic Overbraided Actuating / Manipulator Components

Michael Newsam, Stellar Advanced Concepts Ltd

MagTecSkin: Novel tactile sensitive electronic skin based on magnetic technology

Lorenzo Jamone, University College London

DexComp

Marc Funnell, National Composites Centre

Realising the Future of Dexterous Robotics with Flexible Electrohydraulic Artificial Muscles

Nicholas Kellaris, Artimus Robotics

Variably Constrained Drives for Muscle-like Electrical Actuators

Matt Mellor, Createc

Nicholas Kellaris

"This programme is unique in how it encourages and actively facilitates collaboration amongst Creators at all levels of development, from fundamental hardware to the simulation, integration, and validation of full solutions. We're thrilled to join this multi-level and cross-disciplinary approach."

Nicholas KellarisArtimus Robotics

The Creator experience

What you can expect as an ARIA R&D creator

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Applicant guidance

Discover the process of applying for ARIA funding and find key resources

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