National Robotarium
About
About National Robotarium
The 40,000-square-foot centre contains laboratories for human-robot interaction, autonomous systems, assisted living and precision manufacturing. Companies and researchers can build and test robots in realistic environments while drawing on Heriot-Watt expertise in perception, control, interaction and artificial intelligence.
Its industry programmes support feasibility studies, prototype development, validation and commercialisation rather than stopping at academic publication. The centre also provides access to specialist equipment, researchers, business support and collaborative projects, helping UK organisations move robotics from an initial technical idea toward deployment.
Operations
Facilities & manufacturing
- Factory floor area
2022-09-28 - The National Robotarium operates a 40,000 sq ft purpose-built facility with RAS, human-robot interaction and precision-laser laboratories for robotics and AI testing and development. - Edinburgh, Scotland
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Deployments
- Operating use
2024-04-17 - The facility purchased and installed Engineered Arts’ Ameca for outreach, school events and research into public perceptions of humanoid robots. - The National Robotarium
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Supply
Supply chain relationships
Team
- Steve MacLaren - Chief Operating Officer - As chief operating officer, he oversees National Robotarium programmes, finance, procurement, supply-chain engagement, partnerships and business-to-business delivery.
Research
- National Robotarium runs Spot research over private 5G
2025-07-30 - Research Publication - The research team had three Spot units, including an Enterprise model with a 5G-capable modem. A remote agricultural trial used Spot to collect crop images at sites kilometres from the control point. A separate project used a Meta Quest 3 interface to guide Spot through an outdoor industrial test area.
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Timeline
Events
- 2025-12-02 - Partnership - National Robotarium signs strategic agreement with Robotics Australia Group
The National Robotarium signed a Letter of Intent with Robotics Australia Group to accelerate robotics innovation and international collaboration. The agreement was signed on 2 December 2025. The partners plan collaboration across research, commercialisation and robotics adoption.
Source - 2025-09-18 - Market Signal - National Robotarium hosts inaugural UK Robotics Expo
The National Robotarium hosted the inaugural UK Robotics Expo in Edinburgh. The event brought together robotics companies, researchers, policymakers and public-sector stakeholders. It reinforces the Robotarium profile as a robotics ecosystem and translational hub rather than a robot OEM.
Source - 2025-07-30 - Research Publication - National Robotarium runs Spot research over private 5G
The research team had three Spot units, including an Enterprise model with a 5G-capable modem. A remote agricultural trial used Spot to collect crop images at sites kilometres from the control point. A separate project used a Meta Quest 3 interface to guide Spot through an outdoor industrial test area.
Source - 2024-04-17 - Commercial Order - Engineered Arts supplies Ameca to the National Robotarium
The Edinburgh facility described itself as the first UK home for an Ameca, with visits and workshops planned across Scotland and beyond. The robotics centre is based at Heriot-Watt University in partnership with the University of Edinburgh.
Source - 2024-02-20 - Contract Award - National Robotarium contracts Boardwalk Robotics for Alex Manipulation Platform
The awarded Alex system includes two 7-degree-of-freedom arms, a 3-degree-of-freedom spine, a 2-degree-of-freedom head, onboard compute, perception sensors and two Sake EZ grippers. The contract was valued at $256,375 excluding VAT; the notice said no equivalent supplier met the required form factor.
Source - 2022-09-28 - Company Formation - National Robotarium officially opens in Edinburgh
The National Robotarium officially opened in Edinburgh at Heriot-Watt University. The opening positioned the facility as a UK center for robotics and artificial intelligence. The launch created an institutional anchor for robotics research, collaboration and public engagement.
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Context
Comparable profiles
- University of Stuttgart
stack adjacency - Research Institute
- X-Humanoid
stack adjacency - Research Institute
- Fraunhofer IAO
stack adjacency - Research Institute
Shared workflows
- Dataspeed
workflow adjacency - Robotics Research Development
Context tags
- Research labs - Customer Environment
- Research institute - Stack Layer
- Robotics research institute - Peer Group
- Robotics research and development - Workflow
Commercial
- Engineered Arts supplies Ameca to the National Robotarium
2024-04-17 · Order / contract · The National Robotarium purchased an Ameca humanoid for public outreach and research into human responses to robots.
Source - National Robotarium contracts Boardwalk Robotics for Alex Manipulation Platform
2024-02-20 · Order / contract · $256K obligated
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