Robotics and Innovation Lab
The Robotics and Innovation Lab (RAIL) is an application-driven, interdisciplinary research group that is focused on the development of novel and innovative technical solutions that address major societal challenges.
If you would like to discuss possible collaboration, or you are a student interested in joining the team, please get in contact with one of the group leaders listed below.
Group Leaders
Current Research Projects
| Project Title |
Principal Investigator(s) |
Date |
|
| Digi-ID PLUS |
Esther Murphy |
2022-2024 |
| Human + Design of a compliant neck for a social robot |
Jennifer Edmond,Conor McGinn, Michael Cullinan |
2022-2024 |
| Validation of airflow model to predict time for air replenishment in hospitals |
Conor McGinn, Tim Persoons, Seamus O'Shaughnessy |
2022-Present |
| Exploring the efficacy of UV robots at reducing bioburden in hospitals and other settings affected by COVID-19 |
Conor McGinn, Michael Beckett |
2021-Present |
| Autonomous grasping of moving objects |
Conor McGinn |
2017-Present |
| Control of a wheel-leg self-balancing robot |
Conor McGinn |
2017-Present |
| Multi-modal tele-operation of social robots |
Conor McGinn |
2018-Present |
Past Projects
| Project Title |
Principal Investigator(s) |
Date |
| Robots to Protect Against COVID (ROPAC) |
Conor McGinn |
2020-2021 |
| Robots in the Care Industry (RICI) |
Conor McGinn |
2017-2019 |
| Innovation Performance Measurement |
Kevin Kelly |
2016-2020 |
| Multi-Modal Robot Control for Non-Expert Human Robot Interaction in Domestic Task Environments |
Kevin Kelly, Conor McGinn |
2014-2016 |
| Strategies to Enhance Student Selection of Engineering as a Career |
Kevin Kelly |
2010-2012 |
| ATTRACT Project |
Kevin Kelly |
2010-2013 |
| Project Anna |
Kevin Kelly |
2010-2013 |
| Control of Pneumatic Air Muscles |
Kevin Kelly, Conor McGinn |
2014-2018 |
| Actuator design for safe Human Robot Interaction (HRI) |
Kevin Kelly, Conor McGinn |
2014-2018 |
| Hybrid electro-pneumatic service robot morphology 'Aerobot' |
Kevin Kelly, Conor McGinn |
2010-2015 |
| Navigation aid for people with intellectual disabilities 'wayToB' |
Kevin Kelly |
|
| Lightweight anthropomorphic gripper for service robot applications |
Conor McGinn |
|
| TCD@Home competition team |
Conor McGinn |
|
| Social robot interface 'SII' |
Conor McGinn, Kevin Kelly |
2015-2017 |
| Robotic Dexterity Assessment Framework |
Kevin Kelly |
2012-2017 |
| Hardware platform for AI in robots 'WIP' |
Conor McGinn |
2014-2016 |
| Robot tele-operation control simulator |
Conor McGinn |
2012-2015 |
| Design of embodied social robot v1.0 'Robbie' |
Kevin Kelly, Conor McGinn |
2012-2013 |
| Design of bipedal walking robot |
Conor McGinn |
2013 |
| Autonomous patient transport system for hospitals |
Conor McGinn |
2011-2012 |
Roles and Vacancies
| Role |
Description |
Current Status |
Next Steps |
| PhD Students |
We periodically take on new PhD students where we, or the student, have funding to cover the full cost of the research and a stipend of appropriate value (i.e. we do not take on self-funded students).. Candidates will be expected to be academically excellent and capable of contributing holistically to the team. |
No positions vacant |
N/A |
| Industrial PhD |
We will consider proposals from suitably qualified and motivated individuals with topics of mutual interest and where the appropriate support structures are in place from their employer and from funding bodies. |
Open to offers |
Contact us |
| Post Doctoral Researchers |
We occasionally have positions for post-doctoral researchers, who are expected to make a significant contribution towards the advancement of our research and innovation agendas and to provide assistance and mentoring to other team members |
No positions vacant |
N/A |
| Visiting Academics |
We welcome approaches from colleagues in other institutions with overlapping and complementary research interests. We do not in general have funding available, but can usually provide basic (shared) office accomodation. |
Open to offers |
Contact us |
| Summer Undergraduate Interns |
We believe in providing challenging, rewarding experiences to our undergraduate students during which time they will contribute to the activities of the team in a number of projects under close supervision by group leaders and more experienced team members. A number of paid positions are typically available each summer, but we can accommodate unpaid positions which may be suitable for more junior students seeking to develop their experience. |
Accepting applications |
Contact us |
| Student Research Interns |
Students, who as part of their studies, are required to take an industrial or research internship, are regularly incorporated into our team. Because of the high volume of applications, we rarely accept applications from institutions with which we are not (or have not previously) collaborated. Positions are typically at least 3 months, and more usually 6 months. We rarely have funding for such positions, so students should look to avail of other sources such as Erasmus+. |
No positions vacant |
N/A |
| Research Engineers/ Assistants |
In addition to our more research focused positions we regularly employ research engineers (or research assistants) who typically engage in more applied research, development and innovation, as well as teaching support - mainly in the engineering design areas. These positions are often attractive to recent graduates who are seeking to deepen their experience in design and innovation. |
No positions vacant |
N/A |
People
Alumni
| Name |
Period |
Activities |
Current Position |
LinkedIn |
| Ms. Iseult O’ Donnell |
2019-2022 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Engineer |
Link |
| Mr. Hesham Shaarawy |
2020-2022 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Process Engineer at Pfizer |
Link |
| Mr. Richard L’agrée |
2021-2022 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Robotics Engineer |
Link |
| Mr. Robert Scott |
2020-2021 |
Robotics and UVGI |
Clinical Engineer |
Link |
| Ms. Molly O’Mara |
2020-2021 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
AME Automation Process Engineer |
Link |
| Mr. Sean McMahon |
2020-2021 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Test Lab Engineer at Stryker Innovation Center |
Link |
| Dr. Vanessa Nappi |
2016-2020 |
PhD, Innovation Performance Measurement |
University Lecturer, Brazil |
Link |
| Mr. Alex Shackleton |
2019-2020 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Product Design Engineer at Firecomms |
Link |
| Ms. Anna Rafferty-Lynam |
2019-2020 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support |
Mechanical Design Engineer at Logitech |
Link |
| Ms. Cara O’Brien |
2018-2019 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support, Project Anna |
Assistant Project Manager at AECOM |
Link |
| Mr. Rian McDonnell |
2018-2019 |
FloWaste (student) |
CEO, FloWaste |
Link |
| Mr. Robbie Fryers |
2015-2019 |
WayToB, Project Anna |
CTO, WayToB |
Link |
| Ms. Talita Holzer |
2015-2019 |
WayToB, Project Anna |
CEO, WayToB |
Link |
| Dr. Mark Culleton |
2012-2016 |
PhD, Robot Dexterity |
Post-Doctoral Research, STAM group TCD |
Link |
| Mr. Eamonn Bourke |
2016-2019 |
Design Innovation and Teaching Support, Stevie |
Director of Design & Manufacture at Akara Robotics |
Link |
| Mr. Andrew Murtagh |
N/A |
Stevie |
Developer, WayToB |
Link |
| Dr. Aran Sena |
2012-2014 |
MSc, Robotics Research |
Post doctoral research fellow, Imperial College London |
Link |
| Ms. Aoife Nic Chraith |
2010-2012 |
MSc, Robotics in Education, ATTRACT |
Principal Specialist - Intellectual Property |
Link |
| Ms. Claire Marshall |
2010-2012 |
ATTRACT Project |
Equality Officer, TCD |
Link |
