Month: February 2026
The ShieldBot Consortium Holds the Project’s First General Assembly at the University of Nottingham
The ShieldBot consortium reunited for its first General Assembly at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom) on the 3rd and 4th of February 2026. Organised by Xin Dong, Associate Professor in Engineering Design for Manufacturing, Jung-Che Chang, Research Associate, and Dragos Axinte, Professor of Manufacturing Engineering, this two-day event brought together the ShieldBot partners to reflect on progress since the kick-off meeting in Elgoibar (Spain) in November 2025.
Held at the Jubilee Campus, the Assembly served to align future activities, strengthen cooperation among the project’s technical and management teams and drive forward innovative robotic solutions for a more sustainable and efficient built environment.
ShieldBot Management, KPIs, Dissemination and Exploitation
A welcome session and networking lunch opened the Assembly, providing partners with the opportunity to reconnect and to prepare for the upcoming discussions. The meeting started with Work Package 1 (WP1): ‘Management and Coordination Activities’, where our coordinator IDEKO presented the overall project work plan, including the updated Gantt chart, key milestones and deliverables. Partners also reviewed financial statements and administrative procedures and discussed best practices for effective project management to ensure smooth collaboration across the consortium for the upcoming three years.
In the afternoon, we reviewed the Work Package 2 (WP2): ‘Requirements and KPI Definition’, which plays a crucial role in establishing the key performance indicators (KPIs) and the specific technical requirements, set by our partner Bouygues Construction, that will guide the development of the project’s robotic solutions for the construction sector: InnerShieldBot, InspectionShieldBot and FaçadeShieldBot, complemented by EcoShield and DigiShield.
The day concluded with a session dedicated to Work Package 7 (WP7): ‘Dissemination and Exploitation’, during which partners reviewed the project’s communication strategy, including the development of the ShieldBot visual identity and new website launched in January 2026. The team also presented the dissemination work plan and outlined key actions planned for the next six months to increase visibility and engagement with industry stakeholders, researchers and policymakers. In the evening, the team met for a networking dinner where partners could interact in a more relaxed atmosphere.
The ShieldBot Technical Work: Disruptive Robotics Solutions for a Sustainable Built Environment
The second day focused on the project’s core technological work packages. Morning sessions began with Work Package 3 (WP3): 'Disruptive Robotic Solutions for a Sustainable Built Environment', where partners discussed the work plan, management structure and technical priorities for the coming months. This was followed by updates on Work Package 4 (WP4): 'Advanced Robot Functionalities for Construction and Renovation', highlighting ongoing developments in robotic capabilities designed to support safer and more efficient construction and renovation processes and sites.
Later in the day, partners reviewed progress within Work Package 5 (WP5): 'Advanced Construction Site Technologies', examining how innovative technologies can support the integration of robotic solutions into real construction environments. For each work package, leaders presented detailed plans and defined the key actions to be undertaken during the next six-month period.
The meeting concluded with a final session summarising the key outcomes, defining action points and confirming the schedule for upcoming meetings to make sure we are aligned to develop innovative robotic solutions that improve building efficiency, sustainability and safety across Europe.
A Tour around the University of Nottingham's Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology Lab
In the afternoon, Xin Dong and Jung-Che Chang took us for a guided tour in the Advanced Manufacturing Building of the university -see our family picture in the Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology laboratory with an engine for a Boeing 767. There we had the opportunity to meet researchers working with lasers, 3D printing and, of course, the snake robot that will be used in ShieldBot. In addition to the applications of the snake robot in medicine or nuclear plants, ShieldBot will explore its potential in the construction industry.
In words of Professor Dong:
"It was a great pleasure to host the fantastic ShieldBot team at Nottingham. We look forward to making a real impact in the construction sector through novel robotics technologies."
Thank you to the University of Nottingham, especially to Xin Dong, Jung-Che Chang and Dragos Axinte, for hosting us!