Two of Scotland's universities have received £6m of government funding for a joint research centre.

The money will be used to develop a joint research centre in the capital city and will focus on robotics and autonomous systems.

Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh University will team up for the Edinburgh Robotics and Autonomous Systems Interaction Research Facility.

It will look at the potential of the research across a range of sectors including oil, gas, search and rescue, manufacturing and defence.

The funding is part of a wider £85m investment by the UK Government in three specific areas. These include the creation of new materials for manufacturing, as well as other industries, and developing new ways of storing energy.

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Researchers will develop expertise in areas including robot learning and underwater systems.

It is understood experts at the University of Edinburgh will focus on robot-robot interactions, while Heriot-Watt University scientists will target interactions between humans, robots and autonomous systems.

Professor Dave Robertson, School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh said: "This new centre builds upon Edinburgh's reputation as an international hub for robotics research and prepares us for new challenges where humans and robotic systems must work together."

Professor David Lane from Heriot-Watt University added: "With our partners from the University of Edinburgh, we will draw on the expertise of more than 50 investigators in 16 research groups and institutes in Edinburgh, making the city a global leader in the field."

(JP/CD)