# Episode Thirty-Eight: Jonathan Aitken

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2023-02-24
- Length: 37m
- Episode: 38
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken

## Summary

Dr. Jonathan Aitken, a Senior University Teacher in Robotics at the University of Sheffield, discusses his research on building usable, expandable robotic architectures for manufacturing and infrastructure. He explains how digital twins create a continuous feedback loop between virtual models and real-world collaborative robots to ensure safety and operator-agnostic control. Aitken also details the Pike Bots project, which uses computer vision for localization in GPS-denied sewer environments, and describes software architectures for autonomous reconfiguration in harsh nuclear settings.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=7) Introduction: Jonathan Aitken and the University of Sheffield
- [2:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=120) Designing Robots that Work in the Real World
- [5:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=316) Digital Twins for Collaborative Manufacturing Robots
- [15:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=943) Pike Bots: Localization in Sewer Pipes
- [22:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=1373) Autonomous Reconfiguration in Nuclear Environments
- [27:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=1663) Challenges of Deployment in the Real World
- [30:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=1846) Emerging Tech in Construction: Drones and AR
- [33:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2023-02-24-episode-thirty-eight-jonathan-aitken#t=2011) Future of Home Robot Assistants

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- University of Sheffield (company)
- Pike Bots (product)
- Kushima (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Digital Twins and IoT for Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-06-09-digital-twins-and-iot-for-robotics) (Over the Air)
- [36. How To Reinvent Construction Using Robotics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-09-21-36-how-to-reinvent-construction-using-robotics) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Ep085: Cable Robots Two-Ways, Cubic Raspberry Pi, Plastic Wrap Kayak, and Digging Inductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-09-18-ep085-cable-robots-two-ways-cubic-raspberry-pi-plastic-wrap-kayak-and-digging-in) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [490: Wait Until Physics Has Happened](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-11-28-490-wait-until-physics-has-happened) (Embedded.fm)
- [Electronica 24: The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics at Fideltronik and Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-09-electronica-24-the-rise-of-ai-powered-robotics-at-fideltronik-and-beyond) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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