We often hear about robots working in controlled, predictable environments, like an assembly line or an operating theatre, but as a former field biologist, Claire is most interested in what happens when we take robots outside into wild environments, where everything — from the elements to the local wildlife — seems to be against you. In this special live recording for the UK Festival of Robotics, Claire chatted to Sophie Armanini (TU Munich / Imperial College London), Ben Scott-Robinson (Small Robot Company) and Matthew Ryan Tucker (University of Bristol). Find out more about the UK Festival of Robotics here: https://www.ukras.org/robotics-festival/ is an assistant professor at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and a guest researcher at Imperial College London, where she previously worked as a research associate. She obtained her PhD from Delft University of Technology (the Netherlands), and has been a visiting researcher at Cranfield University and Cornell University (USA). Sophie’s research focuses on the dynamics and control of unconventional and bioinspired aerial vehicles, including flapping-wing and aerial-aquatic robots. Ben Scott-Robinson is an accomplished digital entrepreneur focused on geospatial and mobility technologies. Ben co-founded the in 2017 which endeavours to replace tractors with accurate, smart, lightweight robots. With 20 years experience in digital innovation, including the digital transformation of Ordnance Survey, Ben is also an experienced technology entrepreneur having founded two agencies, two consultancies, an app start-up and a phone for the blind. is a Physics PhD Student at the University of Bristol, researching the use of ground based mobile robots for mapping radiation and finding radiation hotspots. Last year he was part of a University field trip to the Chernobyl Exclusion zone, where he deployed a Boston Dynamics Spot robot in a variety of different locations, including beneath the New Safe Confinement at the Chernobyl Power plant.

For five years, the EPSRC UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS) Network have been holding the UK Robotics Week. This year's edition kicked off on the 19th of June as the UK Festival of Robotics with the aim of boosting public engagement in robotics and intelligent systems. Among them, we chose to recommend you the Robot Lab Live session that will take place online on Wednesday the 23rd of June, 4pm – 6pm (BST). Robot Lab Live is a virtual robotics showcase featuring 16 of the UK's top robotics research groups. Each team will show-off their cutting-edge robots and autonomous systems simultaneously to live audiences on YouTube.

The EPSRC UK Robotics & Autonomous Systems (UK-RAS Network) has announced the inaugural programme for the UK Festival of Robotics – a brand new 7-day celebration set to boost public engagement in robotics and intelligent systems. This week-long programme will run from 19th – 25th June 2021, offering online events, special competitions, and interactive activities for robot enthusiasts of all ages. Full details of all the events and activities on offer throughout the week are available here: https://www.ukras.org/robotics-festival/ Hosted by Dr Claire Asher and featuring Dr Sophie Armanini (TU Munich/Imperial College London), Matthew Ryan Tucker (University of Bristol) and Ben Scott-Robinson (Small Robot Company), Episode 9 will focus on "Robots into the Wild". In this fun, interactive session, participants will take on the role of a robot accident investigator, work together with others and have fun'solving' the case!