Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ)Based in Prestons £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), our project team brings together expertise across all aspects of drone technology and development.We support Lancashire SMEs to unlock the potential of utilising drone products in their business. We can help you understand how drones and drone-related technology can help streamline processes, save costs and increase safety. Drone services can also support the design, prototype and testing of new products to improve profitability.Preston City Region Drone ZoneWorking in partnership with BAE systems and other innovative SMEs on various projects including experimental sensor networks for driverless vehicles and UAVs equipped with thermal imaging technology for rapid deployment within the fire rescue service.Transforming CitiesWorking closely with Lancashire County Council (LCC) and the Department of Transport (DfT) in a multi-million pound project to design and develop Preston's Smart City - Future Mobility Platform (FMP) which is a Cyber-Physical System (CPS) utilising Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) for advanced traffic management and public transport optimisation.

The Advanced Digital Manufacturing Technology (ADMT) research centre is recognised as a leader in the design, development and deployment of Industry 4.0 technologies and solutions for SMEs. The ADMT offers commercial solutions ranging from consultancy through to applied research as well as being recognised as the preferred partner for SME based funded projects, which include industry/academia collaborations.The ADMT work with other advanced manufacturing innovation centres to ensure that manufacturing SMEs across all sectors have access to support to help them become globally competitive.We begin by using Lean methods such as Value Stream Mapping to initially justify a project by identifying areas that can be improved in terms of:• Quality, • Productivity, • Cost Reduction, • Asset Management,• & Supply chain Optimisation.A Technology Transformation Plan may then be recommended enabling you to become I4 Ready.An Analytics Project justification is presented followed by a Data Assessment where we determine your Analytic Readiness.Your bespoke analytics solution is designed, developed and validated to ensure customer acceptance.We then assist you in deploying the analytics solution into your production environment to immediately begin benefiting from data-driven predictive insights into the future.In particular we focus on industry 4.0 technologies which encompass a variety of disciplines such as:• Robotics & Automation• Big Data Analysis• Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)• Additive Layer Manufacturing

Played a key role in the design and development of IN4.0 ACCESS programme which is a unique and ground-breaking manufacturing accelerator programme that empowers businesses to start, scale and succeed in Industry 4.0. The programme, which runs in partnership with NatWest and BAE Systems, powers business leaders who want to grow and scale their business using industrial digital technologies.

Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning Framework for Unknown Stochastic & Uncertain Environments

My main role was to develop PLC programmes and HMIs on a variety of platforms for commissioning turnkey solutions eg: Siemens - Tilt & Turn MachineThe purpose of this large machine was to provide semi-automation for assisting welding of large MRI Magnetic Coils for Siemens body scanners. The Machine consisted of a servo drive to raise and lower the coils to a specific height with an accuracy of 1mm and allow them to be manipulated by tilting forward or backwards as well as rotating the coil. SHARP - Solar Panel Cutting Machine (Pre-cure and Post-cure)The EVA trimming machine was programmed to convey solar panels into the machine where each side would be precisely cut removing the edges of the EVA lamination. A HMI was also developed for this project to display production data and alarms that notified maintenance of any problems that may arise such as broken cutting blades or misaligned solar panels.UYS - Pipe Leak Testing MachinePressure testing Honda car exhaust pipes for leakages in order to ensure the highest quality of manufacturing was maintained. The pipes were manually loaded onto the machine and the operator would press the start button, the appropriate sequence for each of the 20 different variants would then be called to operate a series of pneumatic cylinders in order to seal and test the pipe.Johnson Controls – Starlock FixtureThe Starlock fixture was designed to automate the process of fitting starlock washers to the pivoting rod that allows you car seats to be adjusted. The washers would be tightly fit to each end of the rod with a clearance of 0.4mm which was then tested by a LVDT.Montupet - Advanced Hydraulic PackThis system was designed to intelligently monitor the load on hydraulic pumps necessary for powering several large scale engine cylinder head casting production plants. The purpose of this system was to make their hydraulic systems more energy efficient by choosing which pumps to turn on at any time depending upon the demand.