<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><ns2:project xmlns:ns1="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api" xmlns:ns2="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project" xmlns:ns3="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/fund" xmlns:ns4="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/person" xmlns:ns5="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/project/outcome" xmlns:ns6="http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/gtr/api/organisation" ns1:created="2026-06-03T15:52:43Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/projects/03636A3D-2629-4162-AD3B-F73B29B65649" ns1:id="03636A3D-2629-4162-AD3B-F73B29B65649"><ns1:links><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/persons/A4C4DF07-0864-43E3-8343-BA251EA0D76C" ns1:rel="PM_PER"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/7BD02E7C-806C-4344-90D3-20B8B0F85ADD" ns1:rel="LEAD_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/organisations/7BD02E7C-806C-4344-90D3-20B8B0F85ADD" ns1:rel="PARTICIPANT_ORG"/><ns1:link ns1:end="2018-03-30T23:00:00Z" ns1:href="http://gtr.ukri.org/gtr/api/funds/2C49BD0F-292E-4690-9B07-7BF321ED82FC" ns1:rel="FUND" ns1:start="2017-04-30T23:00:00Z"/></ns1:links><ns2:identifiers><ns2:identifier ns2:type="RCUK">102914</ns2:identifier></ns2:identifiers><ns2:title>Robotic Autonomous Laser Processing for agile High volume production (RALPH)</ns2:title><ns2:status>Closed</ns2:status><ns2:grantCategory>Collaborative R&amp;D</ns2:grantCategory><ns2:leadFunder>Innovate UK</ns2:leadFunder><ns2:abstractText>RALPH's objective is to develop an autonomous laser micromachining system with fully auto-mated part handling, but agile and easily reconfigurable, suitable for mass customisation pro-duction of different device formfactors. Despite laser manufacturing being a rapid process (typical laser drill/cut time in sec), long production cycle times of several min/part due to manual part handling, hinder further uptake of advanced photonics-based production technologies in high value microelectronics, powertrain or medical device manufacturing, resulting in uncom-petitively high laser process costs and loss of global market share for the UK. The challenge is to satisfy the stringent part positioning accuracy requirements for laser processing ( 5 m) using conventional, affordable, but less accurate robotic pick and place technology. We will develop a technical solution integrating the laser, optics, 6-axis robot and machine vision for parts hand-ling of various sample formfactors (wafer, cylinder, disc) based on intelligent part registration and adaptation of laser beam positioning through high precision optical scan axes.</ns2:abstractText></ns2:project>