After retrieval of SNM packages from the stores, Sellafield would like to inspect them. They are seeking a solution capable of inspecting 200 packages per year, and increasing throughput to inspect at least 600 packages per year.

The Innovation Exchange programme is working alongside a major organisation that undertakes training of personnel to operate machinery in pressured environments. IX will assist them in engaging innovators who can help them solve a significant challenge they are trying to overcome, in relation to the simulation of realistic scenarios. The client is looking to detect the level of urgency/stress and then feed back relevant characteristics to create vocal responses and commands.

The Innovation Exchange programme is working alongside a large UK company that supports portside working and shipping. This business is looking to engage innovators and innovative companies that can help them solve a significant challenge they are trying to overcome in relation to supporting port or ship based activities. They will engage with the suppliers of innovation to support development, if required, to suit harsher conditions of working. The organisation’s facilities are situated throughout the UK and activities take place across the world. As part of their operations the business has significant and critical electronics in packages that need to be kept cool.

The Challenge Owner undertakes significant amounts of welding during the manufacture of new equipment and the maintenance of equipment and assets. Welding takes place in factory-type environments and outdoors, at fixed-premises and mobile environments. Visual inspection of weld quality and integrity is carried out by welders and independent inspectors however the information generated by this method is of limited value. The challenge is to inspect welds more quickly and objectively to produce data that can be used to inform production and maintenance processes. Any solution must be highly portable, precise and accurate.

The Innovation Exchange programme is working alongside an organisation with a large estate that includes many business-critical buildings, to assist them in engaging innovators who can help them solve a significant challenge in relation to the maintenance of those assets. As part of its portfolio the business has a significant number of business-critical, warehouse sized buildings which are covered in cladding secured by various forms of fixing. These fixings are currently inspected visually, often at height and even then the core strength is difficult to establish. Therefore the client is looking for an alternative method which can reduce maintenance time while providing greater assurance on the integrity of the fixing.

The Challenge Owner undertakes maintenance of sea-going vessels in docking bays that are approximately 40 years old. Silt has accumulated to an estimated depth of 2m at the base of the 20m deep bays and must now be removed, along with sundry other items of debris which have fallen in. Space and headroom constraints mean that traditional dredging methods are not applicable. The challenge is to remove the (contaminated) silt and manage its disposal, using equipment that can access the dock below water from the dock entrance or else has very low height or can operate remotely.

The Robotics Innovation challenge competition, delivered in partnership with ORE Catapult and the Knowledge Transfer Network, is supporting GE to identify innovative solutions to innovation challenges. The generator pole shoe bolt connection on the GE Haliade-X units need to be inspected within an interval of 36 months after commissioning is complete. Companies are required to develop a semi or fully autonomous device that is capable to perform the inspection of the pole shoe connection.

The Robotics Innovation challenge competition, delivered in partnership with ORE Catapult and the Knowledge Transfer Network, is supporting GE to identify innovative solutions to innovation challenges. The harsh environmental conditions that apply to an offshore wind turbine create the need for regular inspections, maintenance and repair of the blades and its subcomponents. GE seeks an inspection method that eases the job by eliminating human resource exposure to rope climbing.

The Challenge Owner operates a large number of critical safety devices that are activated by means of a pyrotechnic actuator. Pyrotechnics are used as a small electrical signal can create a chemical reaction which releases a larger amount of energy that can then release covers for emergency equipment to drop out or other such operations. The challenge is to deliver the same level of performance from a fit-and-forget solution that does not require the use of pyrotechnics and can ideally be retrofitted.

Shipping, ports and logistics is a critical part of international import and export markets and supports the global distribution of goods. Concerns and legislative requirements about climate change and local air quality impacts require the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping and ports sector. It means that the industry must prepare for the new future. ABP is the UK's leading port operator with a network of 21 ports across Britain ABP handles around one-quarter of the nation's seaborne trade, contributing £7.5 billion to the economy every year and supporting 119,000 jobs. ABP also operates one of the UK's busiest rail terminals at Hams Hall in the Midlands. Whilst new equipment is being replaced by greener options; the challenge is to improve and update equipment that has a long ROI.

ABP handles around one-quarter of the nation's seaborne trade, contributing £7.5 billion to the economy every year and supporting 119,000 jobs. ABP also operates one of the UK's busiest rail terminals at Hams Hall in the Midlands. Challenge 3: Enhancing efficiency through Operator Learning and Assisted Inspection Technologies ABP need to look at the way people are using their equipment and develop a learning for them so that they use them in both an environmentally friendly fashion and ensure care for equipment so that it runs at its most efficient. The equipment may also assist the people in their operation provided the operator can take full control at the appropriate time. ABP is looking for innovation to develop personal learning as well as data collection on equipment to build a picture of how it is being used. Telemetry may be an option to feed in usage data and then develop in to learning suites where people can analyse the data and use it to make a more efficient working environment.

ABP is the UK's leading port operator with a network of 21 ports across BritainABP handles around one-quarter of the nation's seaborne trade, contributing £7.5 billion to the economy every year and supporting 119,000 jobs. ABP also operates one of the UK's busiest rail terminals at Hams Hall in the Midlands. Challenge 1: Novel Alternative Approaches to Vessel Propulsion Systems ?ABP are keen to explore vessel performance optimisation (VPO) across their fleet to use resources more effectively, decrease fuel consumption and emissions, and create safer, less wasteful operations. It is important for ABP to develop their equipment towards a greener option which doesn’t involve replacing all existing equipment but reduces and improves existing equipment’s green credibility to meet a target of ‘zero Carbon’ for 2050.