I am Deputy Director and a Principal Engineer at Paihau-Robinson Research Institute, Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand is a 45-researcher, applied science and engineering research institute, renowned for R&D in superconducting machines and magnet systems (for sustainable aviation, space, fusion and health applications), advanced materials, clean minerals, and smart sensing systems.I currently lead industrially-focused research in areas that encompass: predictive dynamic modelling from data; model-based control; sensor development and modelling for electricity distribution network asset management – in particular thermal behaviour and its influence on acceptable overloading of distribution transformers and monitoring of electrical faults in overhead power lines; and mitigation of wheel-terrain interaction (slip, skid, and rollover) and of localisation failure (due to sudden unexpected movement) for robots operating in rugged outdoor environments.Previous roles have included: - Three years in the electricity industry in the Demand Side Response (DSR) area, with a major focus on the aggregation of interruptible load for use in the Instantaneous Reserves Market; - Twenty years in the the aluminium smelting industry in industrial research, technology development, implementation and optimisation, typically working in a service-provider/client relationship (16years with Comalco Research, and worked independently as an aluminium smelting consultant). Technical project experience includes profit optimisation of an aluminium smelter, feasibility studies, reduction cell technology development (design and process control), technology transfer, operational optimisation, computer model development and application, and fundamental research. As well as industry-specific expertise, technical expertise includes time series data analysis, system identification (black-box dynamic modelling), and model-based control.Also experienced in project management, project team leadership, management of direct reporting staff and management of research contracts with universities.Specialties: Fault detection in electricity networks. Autonomous robotic safety. Model-based process control. Systems identification for development of dynamic models. Time series data analysis and signal processing. Research and technology development project management. Demand side participation in electricity markets. Aluminium smelting (both practical and theoretical technical knowledge) - reduction cell modelling, design and validation, operation, and control.
Listed skills include System Identification, Process Control, R&D, Chemical Engineering, and 10 others.