EcoBot-II, a robot that eats flies to fuel itself, will be among the ground-breaking environmental technologies on display at ETS UK, the region’s biggest-ever environmental trade show.
The fly eater has been developed by researchers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a pioneering partnership between the University of West of England and the University of Bristol.
EcoBot-ll is the world’s first attempt at developing a robot that does not need solar cells or ordinary batteries to function. Instead its power comes from microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology which can produce electricity from organic matter including food-waste, wastewater, urine and insects.
The trade show, on October 13 at UWE's conference centre, has already attracted some of the UK’s most innovative projects in sustainable transport, such as Ecotricity’s wind powered supercar and bike, has attracted record numbers of exhibitors. Some 100 of the UK’s top environmental and clean technology companies will be exhibiting and a record 2,000 visitors are expected to attend.The objective is to focus on the business case for sustainability and there will be keynote speeches from Matthew Sexton, director of corporate social responsibility at DIY retailer B&Q, and Geoff Lane, partner at national accountancy firm PwC. A number of symposiums and workshops will provide expert advice within specialist sector areas such as sustainable construction, resource efficiency and sustainable transport.
There will also be an Investors' Forum, run in association with the South West Angel & Investor Network (SWAIN) and sponsored by Bath Ventures. Innovative companies from the environmental sector will pitch to an investment panel with the winner receiving a prize of a range of business support. Panellists include SWAIN managing director Phillip Tellwright, Simon Bond, head of Bath Ventures, Martin Bowles, director of Horatio Investments, Vanessa Moon, director of Moon Consulting, and Chris Lawrance, director at PR firm JBP.
Amy Robinson, network director at Low Carbon South West, the environmental trade body behind ETS UK, said: "We are very excited to have EcoBot-II to showcase. Our exciting conference programme, symposiums and workshops make ETS UK the perfect business event where companies can share ideas and gain knowledge.”
To book a free place at the conference, register as a visitor or to exhibit at ETS UK, visit www.environmentaltradeshow.co.uk or call Amy Robinson on 0117 945 8730.
