Balance Mat robot featured at National Robotics Strategy event

Associate Professor Dr Damith Herath and Dr Maryam Ghahramani felt honoured when the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic chose to launch his discussion paper for the National Robotics Strategy at the University of Canberra Robotics Lab that Damith runs on 5 April 2023.

Since June 2021 Balance Mat Pty Ltd and the University’s Human Centred Technology Research Centre have collaborated on the development of a calibration robot that is now used to research the innovative balance testing systems Balance Metrix supplies. The robot is pictured above with Associate Professor Herath and Dr Ghahramani.

Filling gaps and creating opportunities

The National Robotics Strategy discussion paper explores the opportunities and challenges for Australian industries adopting robotics and automation. Minister Husic said automation technologies, including robotics, provide an opportunity to add between $170 billion to $600 billion per year to Australia’s GDP by 2030.

“Australian made and maintained robotics and automation systems have the potential to boost local manufacturing, open up export opportunities and create safer and more productive work environments,” he said.

“Australia has all the ingredients to grow our robotics industry – world-class research institutions, a highly skilled workforce and favourable business conditions.”

Bright future for Balance Mat technology

The Balance Mat is part of the Robotics Lab’s aim of developing automation technologies with applications in various industry sectors.

Plans are underway for Balance Mat Pty Ltd electronics engineer Abishek Shrestha – pictured demonstrating the system at the launch – to undertake a PhD research project at the UC Human Centred Technology Research Centre under the supervision of Dr Maryam Ghahramani. Dr Ghahramani is Lecturer and Program Director in Engineering, IT and Systems.

Abishek’s research will focus on using the Balance Mat system in combination with inertial sensors and visual aids to develop a new technology that supports a range of automated applications.

Over time there is potential for the Balance Mat system to be integrated into other technology solutions involving artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, aligning with the Australian Government’s objectives of building national capability and increasing the adoption of robotics.

Long-term, the potential is for Balance Mat technology – everything we’ve developed, including our optical fibre, algorithms and signal processing techniques – to be integrated into ground-breaking Australian robotic technologies.

Meeting the Minister

I managed to introduce myself to the Minister in my role as Managing Director of Balance Mat Pty Ltd before he had to rush off to his next event.