Athlone robotic dog helps to launch new TUS strategy

A robotic dog designed at the Software Research Institute at TUS in Athlone helped launch its Research Development and Innovation Strategy for 2025 to 2029.

Dexter, the robotic dog created at the COMAND Technology Gateway in TUS Athlone, was instructed by researchers via remote to do flips and tricks, some powered by artificial intelligence.

Achieving €100 million in research contracts was among the ambitious goals contained in the new long-term vision announced by TUS at the university’s Coonagh Campus in Limerick.

Other targets outlined in the strategy include increasing the number of spin-ins (companies that work with TUS on research) by 30%; delivering a 20% rise in postgraduate research student enrolment; and doubling the knowledge transfer outputs and research publications, outputs and disseminations.

At the launch of the strategy, President of TUS, Prof Vincent Cunnane, said: “This strategy marks a new chapter in how we envision, deliver, and expand our research culture. Our goal is to grow research capacity, expand the pipeline of postgraduate researchers, and enable inclusive, cross-cutting collaborations.

“We know that impactful research is not created in isolation. It is fuelled by partnerships – by strong engagement with our communities, with industry, and with fellow institutions.

“It is shaped by the real-world challenges we face, and by the collective knowledge we bring together to address them.

“This strategy is designed to amplify that applied knowledge and ensure that our research speaks directly to the needs of society, both locally and globally.”

Dr Liam Brown, vice-president, Research, Development Innovation, TUS, added: “As leaders in higher education and research, we stand at the forefront of addressing society’s most urgent challenges.

“ Through our Research, Development, and Innovation Strategy, TUS reaffirms its commitment to rigorous, responsible research that advances knowledge, fosters inclusive progress, and delivers meaningful impact.

“By nurturing talent, collaboration, and accelerating innovation, our strategy will empower TUS to be a catalyst for transformative change rooted in inquiry, driven by purpose, aligned with the public good while benefiting our staff, students and our external industry and community stakeholders.”

The launch was part of the Manufacturing Solution exhibition, which attracted over 1,000 attendees over two days, June 11 and June 12.

There were also stalls from research facilities such as the IDEAM Research Institute, based at the TUS Moylish campus in Limerick as well as the COMAND Technology Gateway, based at the TUS Athlone campus, where robotic dog Dexter was developed.

COMAND, based at the SRI TUS Athlone campus concentrates on the research and development of prospective interactive media technologies focusing on augmenting user interactions, end-to-end applications and intelligent infrastructure.

These technologies are complementary and will combine to create the opportunity for new and innovative forms of “connected media” applications in a wide range of commercial fields including telecoms, gaming, TV, e-health, e-learning, e-tourism, e-retailing, entertainment and digital marketing.