The researchers took the initiative themselves and proposed the idea of a merger between the robotics groups from INESC Porto (the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering of Porto) and ISEP (the Higher Education Engineering Institute of Porto). The objectives of this merger include optimising resources, increasing the critical mass of expertise and synergies as well as strengthening the scientific and technological capacities of both institutions. As a result, it will be possible to improve commercialisation and increase the transfer of Portuguese technology to rapidly expanding markets such as Brazil.

With regards to Portugal, the Robotics Unit will combine competencies to respond to the needs of the maritime economy (maritime security, the ship building industry, pleasure boating and pleasure fishing, conservation and transformation of fish stocks) and develop R&D that can be applied to automated technology for the industrial equipment market. 

These are three priorities that form the foundations of the strategy for the new Robotics Unit that brings together 42 researchers from INESC Porto and ISEP.
When talking to the Portuguese News Agency Lusa, Vladimiro Miranda, one of the directors of INESC Porto, highlighted the example that this union sets for the country. “By creating this agreement between the polytechnic and university systems, we are showing that uniting forces and cooperation are worth far more than fruitless arguments over the “pedigree” of each system”.

According to João Rocha, the President of ISEP, this Memorandum of Understanding "came from the realisation that it is possible to establish synergies between groups with common interests and thus create a critical mass of expertise that can use technology transfer to be competitive in terms of scientific research and valorisation of knowledge and can reach business markets". He adds that “both INESC Porto and ISEP have developed activities in robotics in similar areas and these activities will now be strengthened by a larger unit with significantly increased capacities”.

In the ceremony of the signing of the agreement between the two entities, various robotics projects and prototypes were on display including “TriMARES”. This underwater robot is capable of monitoring dam structures and silting in the basins in real time with high precision and to a degree of accuracy of centimetres. This INESC Porto technology will be used in the first joint international consultancy project for the new Unit and will be implemented in Brazil.

Furthermore, Vladimiro Miranda claims that “the Project will not stop with the robot; one of the future objectives is to create a spin-off company that provides inspection services for dam structures and rivers”.

Fibra.pt, 17th February 2011