“What the Tech?” – Pushing the Boundaries of Robotics

By Seth Eaton | April 21, 2025

Click here to listen to the podcast episode “Harsh Environments, Smart Solutions” on Spotify.

We kicked off our latest episode of What the Tech?! with an eye-opening deep dive into the world of robotics and autonomous systems—a topic that’s rapidly transforming how we inspect, maintain, and extend the life of mission-critical assets. I had the pleasure of co-hosting alongside Erin Ramirez as we welcomed two incredible guests: Duncan Steel, our UK-based Group Director of Engineering Development at Amentum, and Dr. Simon Watson, a Reader in robotic systems from the University of Manchester.

This episode wasn’t just about the tech—it was about what it means for our future.

We began by laying down some definitions. Duncan broke down “autonomous systems” as technologies that can make decisions without human input—a growing need as systems become more complex and environments more hazardous. And when it comes to robots? Think beyond your Hollywood visions. Simon defined them simply as tools that get a sensor, payload, or device to a location in space and time—ideally with minimal human effort.

What really stood out is how this work ties directly to asset management. From aging nuclear infrastructure to future wind turbines in the North Sea, we’re facing a massive challenge: how to inspect, maintain, and optimize critical systems safely and efficiently without enough human operators to go around. According to Simon, the UK alone is projected to need 400,000 new operators and technicians by 2050—an impossible number to staff using today’s models. That’s where robotics comes in, not to replace the workforce, but to augment it.

We also discussed our exciting partnership with the University of Manchester, where Amentum is not only helping commercialize groundbreaking tech, but also supporting an end-to-end talent pipeline. From undergraduate programs to PhDs, we’re building a generation of roboticists ready to take on real-world challenges. That partnership has already yielded results, with students joining Amentum and even Amentum staff entering doctoral programs. It’s a full-circle relationship—and it’s just getting started.

As for use cases? They’re here, and they’re growing. We talked about autonomous drones for structural inspections, teleoperated robots entering radioactive facilities, and even sewer bots equipped with collision avoidance systems. These aren’t far-off ideas—they’re being tested, deployed, and refined today. And as Duncan noted, once the regulatory and financial models catch up, we’ll see exponential scaling.

Perhaps the most exciting part of the conversation was what’s coming next. Picture integrated ground and aerial robotic systems sharing real-time data. Envision digital twins of infrastructure that allow precise, repeatable, and safe inspections. This is where we’re headed—and Amentum, in collaboration with our university partners, is helping to lead the charge.

This was just part one of our conversation, and I can’t wait to share more.

Stay curious,

Seth