Using Robotics Laboratories and Equipment
Instructions for requesting lab access, lab rules, and links to health and safety
The robotics laboratories are a world class facility offering cutting-edge robotics equipment, sensorised spaces to run experiments, and support. We strive to make the space available for all research staff and students. However, due to the nature of the equipment and the related risks, the lab access is strictly restricted to authorised lab users only. This page describes the process to request access to the robotics labs and provides relevant materials that each lab user must familiarise themselves with.
IPAB operates across multiple labs located across two buildings:
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Informatics Forum, 10 Crichton Street, EH8 9AB, Edinburgh
- G.13 Computer Graphics Lab (capacity 6)
- G.17 Aerial Robotics Lab (capacity 10)
- 1.30 Manipulation Lab (capacity 6)
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Bayes Centre, 47 Potterrow, EH8 9BT, Edinburgh
- G.6 Gait Lab (capacity 6)
- G.7 Field Robotics Lab (capacity 20)
- G.20 Robotics Teaching Lab (capacity 10)
- 1.25 Living Lab (capacity 20)
- 1.42 VR Lab (capacity 10)
Before you you can start using the facilities you must:
- Complete building inductions
- Request lab access
- Read and sign health and safety risk assessments
- Receive training and induction for requested spaces and equipment
Each of these steps is detailed below. These instructions and rules may change in the future. Please refer back to this page if you are unsure about the current rules and procedures.
Lab rules
- Working hours are: 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
- Out of hours working is allowed subject to lone working policy (this does not apply to UGR students).
- Equipment use must be logged where logbooks are provided.
Building access is managed by our facilities colleagues. If you do not already have building access on your card, you need to follow the relevant induction procedure as detailed in the Informatics Health and Safety page :
If you require assistance with the building induction process, our facilities team can be reached at: facilities@inf.ed.ac.uk
Lab access is managed by the Institute Admin Office. For students and research associates, lab access requests must be submitted on your behalf by your supervisor.
When submitting a request for access, please email the admin office (institutes-admin@inf.ed.ac.uk) providing the following details:
Faculty, research staff and PGR students
- Student or staff card number. This is the number on your card with the following format: 100100900#######.
- Email address.
- Supervisor's name.
- Lab name.
You will be given full access to the requested labs and you may supervise other's working in the lab. This access may also be granted to visiting students and researchers who have been issued with an official visitor access card. Those who have not been issued an access card must request access as an external collaborator as detailed below.
UG Research students
You must provide:
- Student card number. This is the number on your card with the following format: 100100900#######.
- Email address.
- Supervisor's name.
- Lab name.
You will be authorised to work in the requested robotics labs exclusively using the requested equipment within lab opening hours only (9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday). The period of time during which you will have access will be agreed by your supervisor and the lab manager. You are required to undergo an initial orientation session with the lab manager, a standard procedure for all lab users, and any additional equipment-related training.
UG Taught students
You must provide:
- Student card number. This is the number on your card with the following format: 100100900#######.
- Email address.
- Supervisor's name.
- Lab name.
You will be authorised to work in the requested robotics labs exclusively using the requested equipment. You will only be given access while under supervision. Your supervisor will manage the door access to the lab or delegate this task to another authorised lab user.
External collaborators
You must provide:
- Email address.
- Supervisor's name.
- Lab name.
- Equipment you would like to use.
You will be authorised to work in the requested robotics labs exclusively using the requested equipment. You will only be given access while under supervision. Your supervisor will manage the door access to the lab or delegate this task to another authorised lab user.
Lab Induction
As part of the lab induction process, those with lab access must read, understand and sign the relevant risk assessment forms. Please see the Health and Safety section below for more information.
Swipe access to the requested lab will be added to your staff or student card. For the labs based in the Forum, you may use your personal PIN code when entering the lab. For the labs which do not have card readers, a key will be issued instead (please note a £10.00 repayable cash deposit is required).
The labs located in the Bayes Centre have a security alarm installed, the PIN numbers will be shared with you when the access is added. Please do not attempt to enter any of the labs until you receive the codes and instruction on how to operate the alarm. In cases where your swipe access has already been added, you may be able to open the door but it will trigger the alarm.
Before starting to work in any of the labs, you must arrange to meet with the lab manager or a lab lead who will ensure that you have completed the induction, help you to familiarise yourself with the alarm system, introduce you to other lab users, and walk you through the lab rules.
If you require access to other areas or equipment at later time, please get in touch with your supervisor.
Ensure that you log all equipment use using the provided logbooks.
The robotics labs are equipped with a security system that is used when the lab is not occupied: after hours, over the weekend, etc. All lab users must know how to unset the system when they begin work and how to set it when they are the last one leaving the lab space. Each area has a separate access code for its users. The cleaning staff has a dedicated code that works in all areas. You will receive the lab alarm codes when your lab access is granted. Please contact the institute admin if this hasn't happened.
Each of the user codes (including the cleaners) can set and unset the system. In case of a failure, the system will display a fault message and users won’t be able to set the system. In this case, please contact the: lab manager, building manager, or the security. They will be able resolve the issue and set the system. You must not leave the security system unset without notifying the lab manager or the security.
To unset the system:
- The keypad will beep after entering the area.
- Type the access code.
- Press A (or B).
- The beeping stops and the system has been disengaged.
To set the system:
- Type the access code.
- Press A (or B).
- The keypad will beep continuously.
- Leave through the door next to the keypad and close the door.
- The keypad will beep twice and go quiet (the system is set).
Common situations:
-
The alarm is triggered:
- Unset the system as outlined above and inform the security.
- You enter through a door other than the one adjacent to the keypad:
- The alarm will get triggered, proceed to unset the system, then inform the security.
- The keypad doesn’t beep twice after being set:
- The system is not set, retry, check for faults on the display, contact the lab manager or security if necessary.
- To dismiss minor faults, press enter. Then report the faults to the lab manager or lab lead.
- The system can’t be set:
- Check for faults on the display, contact the lab manager or security if necessary.
- You accidentally enter a menu on the keypad:
- Press ESC until you exit all menus and then continue operating the keypad as usual.
Only students and staff who have read and signed the health and safety risk assessment are allowed to conduct work in the robotics labs without supervision. External collaborators must also read and sign these documents but they require supervision while working in the lab. A paper copy of H&S documents is always kept in each lab. This copy has to be signed by each lab user.
Additionally, only people who have been fully trained on the particular piece of equipment are allowed to use that piece of equipment. Training on most equipment can be obtained by any person who has been fully trained to use that piece of equipment. Contact the lab manager or the lab lead regarding training.
Below is the list of risk assessments available for download. Feel free to read through these documents in your own time to speed up the induction process.
If the equipment or activity is not on the list below, please get in touch with the lab manager or lab lead.
Visits require a separate risk assessment for each visit or event.
If you are conducting experiments with human participants, you must create a separate risk assessment, as well as comply with all ethics and data protection rules and regulations. Please contact the lab manager and the ethics committee. The links for additional information are provided below.
All labs
INFRA12 – Working in robotics laboratories
INFRA35 – Use of lab air compressor
INFRA55 – Lab lifting equipment
Field experiments
INFFA02 – Mobile robot field experiment
Human experiments
Drones
Robot arms
INFRA52 – Franka Panda robot arm
INFRA58 – UR10 multi-arm robot
Mobile robots
INFRA53 – Husky dual arm robot
Dual arm robots
Legged robots
Valkyrie robot risk assessment
Valkyrie safe operation instructions
Lab rules
Additional resources
Ethics and integrity
Research and data management
We are keen to present our research to variety of visitors, collaborators, and stakeholders. However, the robotics laboratories are a busy working environment where we have to balance disruptions and safety of the lab users.
Whenever possible, use the atrium of the Bayes Centre to show visitors our facilities and present our research. This area is accessible to the general public during working hours and these visits don't disrupt our work. We always keep the Field Robotics lab equipment on display when it is not being used. We have also set up a Valkyrie robot interactive display.
If you'd like to request a formal visit, please get in touch with a faculty member. They will then coordinate with the lab manager, the school and the college offices if appropriate. We are keen that each visit gets accompanied with the right faculty and staff that can present our research and the vision of the school and the university. Lab visits must undergo a dedicated risk assessment. This will take some time so please start the process early.
Unfortunately, we cannot facilitate last minute and drop-in visits.