CRIS - Centre for Robotics & Intelligent Systems

Last week, we were delighted to welcome primary school students and their teachers to our labs for a two-day visit. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience robotics and engineering up close.
Students had the chance to get hands-on with a range of robotics platforms—from field robots and UAVs to small unmanned surface vehicles—seeing first-hand how these technologies work in real-world applications.

The CRIS Team, led by Prof. Ger Dooly, delivered a series of interactive demonstrations, giving students a glimpse into the exciting world of robotics and technology. Their curiosity, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn were truly inspiring.

A big thank you to everyone involved in making this outreach activity such a success. Encouraging the next generation of innovators is at the heart of what we do.

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Advancing Robotics for Ireland’s Future! An Taoiseach Micheál Martin visited CRIS

Last Friday, the Centre for Robotics & Intelligent Systems (CRIS) at University of Limerick was delighted to welcome An Taoiseach Micheál Martin for a briefing on our latest innovations in marine and aerial robotics.
The visit highlighted CRIS’s ongoing efforts to promote the future of marine and aerial robotics and its importance for Ireland’s strategic research and service ecosystem.

The Taoiseach met with the CRIS team, led by Prof. Daniel Toal, and heard presentations from team members on how our robotics platforms are supporting national priorities, including:
🔹 Offshore renewable energy
🔹 Maritime security
🔹 Environmental and biodiversity monitoring
🔹 Climate resilience
🔹 Emergency and search-and-rescue operations

The visit also included a tour of our labs, where the Taoiseach saw cutting-edge technologies applied in real-world operations at sea, including seabed exploration, offshore wind support, environmental and biodiversity monitoring, and other robotics applications addressing complex national challenges.

Mr. Martin said he was “delighted to meet the team at CRIS… These technologies will shape how we protect our waters, safeguard renewable energy, and respond to global challenges.”

Prof. Toal highlighted the team’s collaborations with national agencies, including the Irish Navy and Marine Institute, and their ongoing commitment to mission-driven robotics research.

🌊 CRIS—Innovating field robotics for a sustainable, secure, and resilient Ireland.

, , , , , , , EElectronic and Computer Engineering Department UL FFaculty of Science & Engineering at University of Limerick
Pictures: Brian Arthur

🎉 What an exciting two days at the IEEE 8 Robotics Competition in Malta!

At CRIS, we are beyond proud to support the UL IEEE Student Branch BRIS team and our talented PhD students in this thrilling event.

✨ We’re delighted to announce that BRIS team has triumphed with a triple win! 🏆
🏅 Best Overall Award
🏅 Best Manoeuvrability
🏅 Best Pushing Power

🙌 A huge congratulations to Marco Moreno, Ben Bartlett, Tom D., Matheus Cardoso, and Petar Trslić, PhD – your innovation, skill, and teamwork have shone brightly, showcasing the very best of UL. 💪👏

Over two intense days, the BRIS team faced fierce competition and demonstrated technical brilliance across multiple challenges, including precise navigation, agile maneuverability, and unmatched pushing power. The atmosphere was electric with innovation and teamwork on full display.

💡 What made this success possible? Stay tuned in the coming days as the BRIS team will share how they prepared for this milestone – from concept to creation, teamwork, and problem-solving.

Missed the action? Don't worry! The full two-day competition is available to watch:
Day 1 - https://lnkd.in/dZvbzdt9
Day 2 - https://lnkd.in/dNwFYjRQ
Relive the excitement and see how BRIS made their mark on this prestigious event.

None of this would have been possible without the support of Ger Dooly. A huge thank also, Eoin O'Connell, Lubna Luxmi Dhirani, Electronic and Computer Engineering Department UL

Well done also to the organisers IEEE Region 8 (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and University of Malta. 👏

🙌 , , , , , , University of Limerick, Mechatronic Engineering University of Limerick.

We had a fantastic two days at the Wind Energy Ireland Trade Show this week! It was a pleasure to exhibit and engage in insightful discussions on Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions and the technology challenges that lie ahead. 💡

Gerard Dooly, CRIS co-director, presented our latest advancements in bird monitoring technology—an important focus for reducing environmental impact in wind energy. 🌍 We also showcased the intervention, repair, and maintenance surveys conducted at OW Ocean Winds , the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, along with other recent offshore operations we have carried out. ⚙️

Huge thanks to the UL CRIS team—Daniel Toal, Ger Dooly, Edin Omerdic, Petar Trslic, Phillipe Santos, and Isela Ibrahimovic—for representing our work, and to the organiser for a great event .
Looking forward for other exciting opportunities!

, , , , Electronic and Computer Engineering Department UL, SFI Research Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine

We were excited to participate in the OCEANS2024 Halifax 🌊 conference and exhibition this week! The event offered a fantastic opportunity to network and reconnect with members of the OCEANS community. With over 100 exhibitors and more than 2,000 attendees, the event was buzzing with energy and excitement!

The CRIS team members, Prof. Daniel Toal and PhD student Cillian Fahy, presented our latest research advancements through the following papers:
Fault-tolerant SCADA for UAVs In Inaccessible Environments, main author PhD student Kanishk Vishwakarma
AND
Automated Detection of Sacrificial Anodes on Offshore Windfarms for ROV Inspections, main author PhD student Cillian Fahy

Well done to Cillian and Kanishk! 👏

A big thank you to the organisers for putting together such an excellent event.

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, Electronic and Computer Engineering Department UL,