Virtusapolaris Colombo hosts second session of Sri Lanka Robotics Meetup

VirtusaPolaris Colombo hosted the second session of the Sri Lanka Robotics Meetup recently, where Dr. Lilantha Samaranayake, Senior Lecturer, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Peradeniya and Dr. Ruwan Gopura, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa delivered presentations on cutting edge robotics technologies.

Dr. Lilantha presented on the topic ‘Affordable Industrial Robots to Sri Lanka’ where he enlightened the audience on an established procedure to design and develop an inverse dynamic controller for industrial manipulators which does not depend on manufacturer datasheets and is scalable to most of the industrial manipulators with higher degrees of freedom. 

Dr. Gopura presented on the topic ‘Assistive Robotic Devices’ which was mainly focused on Robotic Prostheses and Orthoses. During his session, the audience learned about robotic prosthetic devices, robotic orthotic devices, the controlling of prosthetic and orthotic devices, possible applications in a Sri Lankan context and research conducted at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa. Dr. Sagara Sumathipala, Senior Lecturer, Department of Computational Mathematics, University of Moratuwa, was the emcee of the event.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion which was moderated by Chamindra de Silva, Senior Director and Head of Strategic Initiatives, Global Technology Office at VirtusaPolaris. Dr. Sanjeeva Maithripala, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Peradeniya and Ruwantha de Saram, Director at Nikini Automation Systems also joined as panellists. 

During the discussion the panellists expressed their views and answered questions raised by the audience. They talked about their motivation to get into this field, how they started, the opportunities available and the strengths of the Sri Lankan Robotics industry and its academia. 

In addition, they discussed how robotics could be used to change the game for the Sri Lankan export industry as well as the future of Assistive Robotics vs. Industrial Robotics in the world and the Sri Lankan workplace.

The Sri Lanka Robotics Meetup is organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Robotics and Automation Society (IEEE RAS) - Sri Lanka Section Chapter in partnership with IEEE - Sri Lanka Section. IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organisation dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity and the IEEE RAS is a professional society of the IEEE which specialises in both applied and theoretical issues in robotics and automation. 

The Sri Lanka Robotics Meetup is the leading event which has brought together the community of Sri Lankan robotics experts and keeps participants up to date on modern robotics technologies. This event has become the leading robotics event among academic and industry experts and enthusiasts.