General Robotics was founded in 1988 by Dr. David Broome and several colleagues from the Mechanical Engineering Department of University College London (UCL). The company focus was initially on the development of software controls for Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and the undertaking of a number of Ministry of Defence contracts. Early success included working on the now NATO-owned ROV rescue vehicle LR5 project, GRL providing the state of the art training simulator.

The early 1990s saw General Robotics become a recognised supplier to the commercial offshore oil and gas sector with the supply of manipulator control and inspection software and in the late 1990s, ROV simulation and cable release simulation software. clients include the likes of Sonsub, Fugro, DeepOcean and WesternGeco.

GRL launched its DeepWorks simulation software suite of tools in 2008. This was in response to the growing demand for a simulation and visualisation toolset capable of being used at each stage of the Upstream Oil and Gas production process.

• 1988

  Incorporated as a commercial offshoot from the Mechanical Engineering Department at UCL

• 1991

  Current Chairman Trevor Larkum joins the company

• 1995

  Develops LR5 Submarine Rescue Training Simulator

• 1997

  Awarded Neptune, FLACS, TRIADS and SPI projects

• 2002

  Awarded contracts to develop ACDsim, Freelay and ASCsim

• 2004

  Current Managing Director Dr. Jason Tisdall joins the company

• 2006

  Moves to larger premises in Milton Keynes

• 2008

  Expansion continues with the opening of Aberdeen office
  Launches DeepWorks simulation software suite of tools