Smarter Robot Bodies
Throughout history, humans have used tools and machines to reduce the burden of physical labour. Robots are increasingly able to act independently in complex and dynamic environments but advanced machines with basic hardware only go so far; for humanity to reap the benefits of smarter machines, robots need smarter bodies.
Programme development
As we develop a second programme in the Smarter Robot Bodies opportunity space, we’re sharing our current thinking around robot locomotion in the form of a programme thesis. Subject to approval we aim to open concept paper submissions in summer 2026 and launch the programme in early 2027.
Robot Locomotion
Robots can already navigate warehouses, fly, and perform impressive athletic feats. But they still struggle to move through complex environments. Wheels fail on rubble, mud, stairs, and uneven ground. Drones face limits on range and payload. Legged robots show remarkable agility, but cannot yet operate reliably for long periods beyond controlled environments such as warehouse floors.
This programme thesis outlines an ambition to create robot bodies with new forms of locomotion that can operate beyond the limits of today’s machines, such as carrying loads across rough terrain or inspecting hard-to-reach infrastructure.
More capable robot locomotion could transform how physical work is carried out, helping address labour shortages and reducing the need for humans to work in dangerous or physically demanding environments.
The challenge is not simply better robot software. The next generation of robots requires smarter physical design: bodies that adapt to difficult terrain, absorb impacts, use energy efficiently, and recover from failure in unpredictable environments.
We want to support teams rethinking robot locomotion from the ground up, building deployable systems that solve real operational problems and have clear routes to commercialisation.
Robot Locomotion Discovery Workshop
Register your interest in attending our discovery workshop to help refine ARIA's thinking on a potential programme focused on robot locomotion.
This event will be held in York, 30 June – 1 July 2026.