Page 51 - Gi flipbook August 2018

COLLABORATION response to the challenge of Silsden
Chris Clarke said: “Our industry’s
was an example of how collaboration
IS KEY IN A CRISIS makes sure we deliver for the people
right across the UK who rely on their
gas supply. And while management
processes and controls that are in
Supply emergency meeting place today make it unlikely, it’s
important that we are as prepared as
we can be for a national gas supply
emergency. It was great to see gas
networks, regulators and government
come together to discuss our
response, joint working and
communications arrangements.”
A participant from the Department
AFTER COMING TOGETHER to get Organised by Wales & West Utilities for Business, Energy and Industrial
the gas flowing again to Silsden in and chaired by the company’s Director Strategy added: “It was an interesting
North Yorkshire over the Easter Bank of Asset Management, Health, Safety day and it was great to see
Holiday, collaboration was again on & Environment Chris Clarke, the stakeholders from right across the
the agenda at a National Gas Supply networks shared good practice and energy industry come together and
Emergency Workshop held at IGEM learning in leading and managing the discuss this issue.”
House on 26 April. industry’s response to a national gas The outputs from this national
The room was full with supply emergency. workshop will be given to the Energy
representatives from Wales & West The day saw gas engineers and Network’s Association Gas Task Group
Utilities, SGN, NGN, Cadent, National managers with operational, asset and Communications Task Group
Grid Gas Transmission, the Network management and communications ahead of next winter. ■
Emergency Coordinator, Phoenix Gas, experience join with government and
Ofgem, HSE and BEIS, who gathered for regulators to grapple with the To find out more about the workshop
a workshop to simulate the isolation challenge of responding to such a contact Dave Tidball, Wales & West
and restoration of gas supplies after a significant interruption to gas supplies. Utilities Process Safety, Standards &
hypothetical loss of supply to more It follows a local gas supply emergency Assurance Manager at david.tidball@
than one million UK gas customers. (LGSE) workshop held in March 2017. wwutilities.co.uk

ROBOTICS, UTILITIES AND BEYOND techniques by using dense visual
mapping to ensure-collision free
By Ben Clarke, Scottish Section developed through to proof of motion. This was a brilliant
Committee member concept and what the next steps were. presentation highlighting cutting
Sam Wilson, of ULC Robotics, edge developments.
THE SCOTTISH SECTION and the IET gave a brief overview on some of his Although the projects covered a
Scotland South East Section held their company’s recent robotic range of differing areas including
first joint event on 26 April entitled, innovations, focusing on the utility, transport and manufacturing,
Robotics: Utilities and Beyond. challenge of taking technical-proof the presentations highlighted a
The event featured four different of concept schemes through to number of common challenges and
speakers covering both post- business as usual. themes. In particular, we learned
graduate academia and industry. Synthotech Innovations Director about the criticality of ensuring that
Joao Moura, PhD student at Wez Little covered a number of the initial problem/scope has been
Edinburgh Centre of Robotics, talked robotic projects being developed by defined properly to ensure future
about his project, the Cab Front Synthotech Limited, such as TORS, success and the wider challenges of
Cleaning Robot. His objective was to Synthotrax and GRAID. Wez also commercialising technology. Many of
develop a low cost robust looked at the process of commercial these robotics solutions are at work
autonomous cleaning solution in light implementation and emphasised the in the street around us today and
of safety concerns. Joao showed importance of innovation funding. others soon will be.
clearly how the work had been Our final speaker was Wolfgang We’d like to thank our generous
Merkt, of the Edinburgh Centre of sponsors Synthotech Limited, ULC
Robotics, who talked about Robotics and Edinburgh University
collaborative working between Formula Students (EUFS) who helped
robots and humans. He explained keep the event free to members.
why it’s necessary to ensure that They also exhibited their project work
robots, whether tethered or fully to show members during the breaks.
Delegates had the chance to get up mobile, are able to engage in reliable Without their input the event would
close and personal with the robots grasping and manipulation not have been possible. ■

51

Events.indd 2 19/07/2018 13:14