Abstract of the Offer
AURORA™ (Autonomous Universal Robotics for Operationally Reconfigurable Applications) is offered by Barrnon Ltd, a UK SME with vertically integrated design and manufacturing capability. AURORA™ is a semi-autonomous mobile robotic system originally developed for nuclear decommissioning, integrating mobility, multi-arm manipulation, tool deployment and perception within a single adaptable platform.
The architecture is hardware-agnostic and operationally reconfigurable, enabling embodiments from compact crawlers and subsea ROVs through to large tracked vehicles and orbital servicing systems. Barrnon also develops innovative subsystems — compact lighting, photogrammetry packages, deployable cutters and manipulators — all built around a common ROS2/Unity control framework with an immersive VR user interface.
This dual role, as both originator of new robotic platforms and integrator/sub-system provider, positions Barrnon as a strong partner for the space sector. The company seeks partnerships and joint development to adapt its technologies for on-orbit servicing, satellite inspection, debris handling, and in-space assembly, while continuing to serve demanding terrestrial domains.
Description
The AURORA™ system was conceived to address the severe challenges of nuclear decommissioning, where recognition, segregation, manipulation, and size-reduction tasks must be conducted remotely under hazardous conditions. The current embodiment is a 6.5-tonne hydraulically actuated vehicle carrying an extendable boom of approximately seven metres with dual arms. Hydraulic gross positioning is combined with electromechanical distal joints for fine manipulation, and interchangeable end-effectors include grippers, cutters, and sensor heads.
The underlying design philosophy, however, is hardware-agnostic and operationally reconfigurable. The same baseline architecture can be embodied in many forms: compact UGVs for pipe inspection or confined-space access; subsea ROVs for inspection and recovery; or orbital robotic systems for servicing, assembly, and debris handling. This scalability demonstrates that AURORA™ is not a single machine but a family of robotic embodiments built on a common core system.
Around this core, Barrnon has developed a suite of sub-systems. A compact in-tank lighting module can pass through apertures as small as 80 mm while delivering 20,000 lumens at ~80 CRI, enabling photogrammetry in irradiated or submerged environments. A complementary photogrammetry package, also deployable through 80 mm apertures, has a reach of 15 metres and can capture complete image datasets for 3D reconstruction of enclosed spaces. A form-factor-optimised laser cutter provides precision cutting in restricted spaces. Manipulator options range from heavy hydraulic arms to compact electromechanical grippers, with modularity enabling application-specific toolsets.
All modules are unified by a control architecture based on ROS2 and Unity. This supports immersive teleoperation, advanced path planning, obstacle avoidance, and real-time Digital Twin integration, ensuring consistent operator experience and rapid subsystem integration across different embodiments. A fully immersive VR system provides an intuitive means of remote operation with associated productivity gains and significant de-risking.
Advantages and Innovations
AURORA™ brings together capabilities rarely combined in one system: high-power mobile platforms, dexterous multi-arm manipulation, and scalable autonomy. Innovations include:
- Operational reconfigurability: a single architectural framework adaptable to terrestrial, subsea, and orbital domains.
- Subsystem innovation: radiation-tolerant lighting, compact photogrammetry, deployable cutters, and manipulators that can be repurposed across platforms.
- Integrated control: a ROS2/Unity framework supporting modular plug-and-play integration, digital twins, and supervised autonomy and a fully immersive VR interface.
- Vertically integrated development: Barrnon designs, prototypes, and manufactures in-house, ensuring rapid iteration and proven reliability in nuclear and subsea operations.
By uniting platform-level systems with bespoke subsystems, Barrnon offers both complete robotic solutions and standalone innovations suitable for third-party integration.