UT Arlington Research Institute debuts new name, mission
he University of Texas at Arlington has a new name and a bold new mission for its former robotics institute in Fort Worth: The UT Arlington Research Institute aims to become a global leader in the research and development of advanced technology to help humanity and to provide unique, affordable solutions to complex problems.
Under the direction of retired Army Lt. Gen. Rick Lynch, the UT Arlington Research Institute will focus on strengthening links between University research and the commercialization of technology and innovation. A new strategic plan calls for the Research Institute to produce $100 million annually in research expenditures, significantly increasing its current research and support staff.
The plan also calls for the establishment of a new industry consortium that will allow industry professionals to share ideas and collaborate with the Research Institute, other UT Arlington faculty and each other. Members would have access to the institute’s advanced scientific equipment and labs through annual fees or training on advanced equipment and systems through shorter-term agreements.
“We are working to become the hub for commercialization of research and university-industry alliance in the North Texas region and beyond,” said Lynch, whose background includes a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a concentration in robotics. “We will be able to help businesses adapt and refine cutting-edge technology for commercial applications.”
UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo said: “Our University is committed to strengthening its role as an engine that helps drive the North Texas economy. The Research Institute will become a focal point for leveraging technology and innovation developed in our labs and classrooms to help our business partners achieve their goals.”
The Research Institute will focus on “sweet spots” most in demand by potential private and public sector partners. They include:
· Advanced Manufacturing: Additive and subtractive manufacturing, flexible manufacturing tools, multi-scale heterogeneous systems manufacturing, micro-fabrication, packaging and rapid prototyping.
· Applied Robotics: Assisted living robots, personal robots, mobile robots (aerial, land and marine), artificial intelligence, communications, sensors, controls, swarm robotics and micro-robotics.
· Medical Technologies: Biomedical devices, medical training simulators, surgical robots, biochemical analysis systems, wound healing devices, drug delivery systems, tissue engineering devices and prosthetics.
· Energy, Water, and Environment: Energy storage and conversion, environment and water monitoring and environmentally friendly manufacturing.
As an extension of the Research Institute’s robotics labs, the plan calls for an outdoor test bed for mobile robots with air, land and water capabilities. The institute plans an open house this fall at its research campus, 7300 Jack Newell Boulevard South in the Riverbend Business Park in east Fort Worth.
Before joining UT Arlington earlier this year, Lynch managed all 163 Army installations around the world, a workforce of 120,000 and an annual Army budget of nearly $13 billion.
The UT Arlington Research Institute is among the centers of excellence at The University of Texas at Arlington, a research institution of nearly 33,500 students in the heart of North Texas. For more information, please visit, www.uta.edu.
Media contact: Kristin Sullivan, Kristinsul@uta.edu, 817-272-5364
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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