Robug IV to be laid to rest

A walking and climbing, eight-legged robot that cost a million euros to develop is to be donated to the Powerhouse Museum later this month.

Developed by UK company, Portech, in the late 1990’s, Robug IV was a successor to robots designed for inspection and maintenance of nuclear plants.

Professor of Mechatronic Engineering at USQ and robot specialist, John Billingsley was a founding Director of Portech and acquired the robot for “about £5,000” when the company went into receivership at the turn of the century.

'We bought it cheap – it was the scrap metal price and it has been used a lot by research students over the years. But it’s coordinated by a CANBUS system and the communications broke down, so it’s been sitting there in the lab not doing a huge amount for the last few years.'

In its heyday, the spider-like device was of great interest to companies looking for a machine that could be used in hazardous environments, including chemical, marine and nuclear industries.

'It will be a pity to say goodbye, but it’s an honour to have Robug IV included as a display in the Powerhouse.

'It’s a museum that is renowned for having the most significant advances of past years, so the inclusion of the robot means it’s acknowledged as having a place in robot history.'

Prof Billingsley said the University has donated several robots to the Museum over the years.

'There have been some robots that have been on display for many years, including the STIC robot that was built by Sam Cubero as the focus of one of the newly-fledged USQ's earliest doctorates. This will also be officially donated after being on loan.

'Also on display I have a robotic cow and Robotoad III – a wall climbing robot, which I gave to them a long time ago, after both had been featured on the UK's television programme, 'Tomorrow's World.'

The robot will be shipped to Sydney as soon as a suitable carrier is arranged.

More information about the robots can be found at:
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/var/var115.html
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/news/robug-iv-takes-it-all-in-its-stride/286736.article
http://eprints.usq.edu.au/3934/1/Billingsley_CLAWAR2007.pdf

Contact Details:
USQ Media: 07 4631 2977