Made Smarter Innovation - Research Centre for Connected Factories
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Faculty of Engineering
Abstract
The future prosperity of the UK will increasingly depend on building and maintaining a resilient and sustainable manufacturing sector that can respond to changing supply and demand by adapting, repurposing, relocating and reusing available production capabilities. The pandemic which emerged in 2020 has influenced our perspective of future manufacturing operations and, in particular, has brought into focus the capacity challenges of delivering critical products and maintaining production in the face of major disruptions. It also accelerated the emerging trend for more localised, greener and cost-competitive indigenous manufacturing infrastructure with the ability to produce a wider set of complex products faster, better and cheaper. To meet the long-term structural and post-pandemic challenges, we need transformative new methods of building and utilising future factories by embracing complexity, uncertainty and data intensity in a dynamic and rapidly changing world.
The "Morphing Factory" Made Smarter Centre aims to deliver a platform for next generation resilient connected manufacturing services. It will allow future manufacturing operations to be delivered by ubiquitous production units that can be easily repurposed, relocated and redeployed in response to changing market demand. This vision will be delivered through 3 closely related strands:
(1) An underpinning fundamental research programme to define the principles, methods and models for future morphing factories in terms of architecture, topology, configuration methods, IoT digital awareness, in-process monitoring and AI based autonomous control. (50%).
(2) A dynamic challenge-driven applied research programme to address emerging industrial needs and validate and demonstrate the results through a set of application studies including smart machining, production integrated 3D printing and autonomous assembly integrated into a common hyperconnected morphing factory cloud (45%).
(3) A programme of networking and engagement activities with other ISCF Made Smarter research and innovation centres, industry and the general public to maximise the impact of the research, encourage accelerated technology uptake and increase the public awareness (5%).
The "Morphing Factory" Made Smarter Centre aims to deliver a platform for next generation resilient connected manufacturing services. It will allow future manufacturing operations to be delivered by ubiquitous production units that can be easily repurposed, relocated and redeployed in response to changing market demand. This vision will be delivered through 3 closely related strands:
(1) An underpinning fundamental research programme to define the principles, methods and models for future morphing factories in terms of architecture, topology, configuration methods, IoT digital awareness, in-process monitoring and AI based autonomous control. (50%).
(2) A dynamic challenge-driven applied research programme to address emerging industrial needs and validate and demonstrate the results through a set of application studies including smart machining, production integrated 3D printing and autonomous assembly integrated into a common hyperconnected morphing factory cloud (45%).
(3) A programme of networking and engagement activities with other ISCF Made Smarter research and innovation centres, industry and the general public to maximise the impact of the research, encourage accelerated technology uptake and increase the public awareness (5%).
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- SMC Pnuematics (UK) Ltd (Collaboration)
- Amtico Flooring (Collaboration)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- University of Nottingham (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- GKN (Collaboration)
- BAE Systems (Collaboration)
- Beckhoff Automation (Collaboration)
- BMW Group (Project Partner)
- Fanuc Robotics (U K) Ltd (Project Partner)
- Target3D Ltd (Project Partner)
- Airbus Group Limited(Airbus Group Ltd) (Project Partner)
- Omron Electronics Ltd (Project Partner)
- Siemens plc (UK) (Project Partner)
- Loop Technology Limited (Project Partner)
- Beckhoff Automation Ltd (Project Partner)
- Starrag (Project Partner)
- Cosworth Technology Ltd (Project Partner)
- BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre (Project Partner)
- National Physical Laboratory (Project Partner)
- MakeUK (Project Partner)
- Real-Time Innovations (Project Partner)
- Spirit Aerosystems (UK) (Project Partner)
- GKN Aerospace Services Limited (Project Partner)
- PA Consultancy Services Ltd (Project Partner)
- Nestle UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Bosch Rexroth Corporation (Project Partner)
Publications
Abdel-Aty T
(2024)
A circular manufacturing framework for SMEs leveraging on low-cost digital technologies
in IET Conference Proceedings
Abdel-Aty T
(2024)
The Role of Low-Cost Digital Solutions in Supporting Industrial Sustainability
in Sustainability
Auledas-Noguera M
(2022)
Mobile Robots for In-Process Monitoring of Aircraft Systems Assemblies
in Sensors
Bock L
(2024)
Decision support for augmented reality-based assistance systems deployment in industrial settings
in Multimedia Tools and Applications
Brion D
(2022)
Quantitative and Real-Time Control of 3D Printing Material Flow Through Deep Learning
in Advanced Intelligent Systems
| Description | The project has made significant progress towards meeting the stated objectives of the grant award. In particular: * Architectures, models, and control methods for connected morphing factories and their supply chains have been investigated and defined in a way that is generic enough to be widely applicable to a range of scenarios. This has been demonstrated by implementations across the consortium of project partners, including at least one concrete way that can be directly taken up by industry. * Several methods for in-process monitoring and control, particularly but not exclusively focussed on automated drilling and machining in the aerospace domain, have been developed. These methods and technologies will enable production facilities that are both more flexible and capable of increased quality whilst remaining cost-effective. * The approaches and technologies developed in the project have been prototyped, tested, and evaluated across the project partners in the context of emerging societal needs. These research facilities, including the Omnifactory® at the University of Nottingham, will continue to support research capability beyond the life of the project. * These needs and drivers of the project have been uncovered through deep engagement with the research community, industry, and wider public through the project industrial advisory board (IAB) and ongoing workshops and open days. The original project IAB has been leveraged to expand the networks of all project partners, and to develop promising new national and international partnerships. Academic publication of the project outcomes has resulted in new research connections, particularly supporting the early stage researchers supported by the project. |
| Exploitation Route | The project is delivering a blueprint for how to embed the concepts of the connected morphing factory into a real industrial organisation. Already the project partners are working with a number of industrial organisations on how to further increase the TRL of the project outcomes and gain benefit from them in their day-to-day business operations. These partners are from a number of sectors, primarily Manufacturing; Aerospace, Defence and Marine; Digital/Communication/Information Technologies; and Energy (specifically nuclear). Other discussions with the construction, pharmaceutical, electronics, and food & beverage industries are also ongoing. It is expected that the outcomes will be taken forward primarily through further research funding (either direct funding, or with the aid of a funding agency), although some are already being directly industrialised by the project partners and/or put into production by the industrial organisations. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Construction Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
| Description | Annual UK PNT Leadership Seminar |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | The Royal Institute of Navigation is updating its workplan for PNT Advisory Group, based on the Leadership Seminar |
| URL | https://rin.org.uk/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1753405 |
| Description | Beyond the Hype: Making AI Work for Business Productivity |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | One of the participants reported that a new business idea based on using Artificial Intelligence in their LinkedIn Post attributing to one of my comments in the sessions. |
| URL | https://media.bethebusiness.com/documents/BtB_NPW_EventSummary-V2.pdf |
| Description | Business Model Innovation and National Quantum Computing Centre Testbeds |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Business Model Innovation and Strategic Productivity |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| URL | https://www.productivity.ac.uk/news/business-model-innovation-and-strategic-productivity/ |
| Description | Executive Member of The Productivity Institute (TPI) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The impact includes engaging with the East Anglia Regional Productivity Forum which consists of sharing and influencing the research findings with firms in East Anglia to help address productivity related initiatives. |
| URL | https://www.productivity.ac.uk/people/chander-velu/ |
| Description | Participation in Working Group with Department for Business & Trade regarding Industry Strategy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Policy Day for Dowling Fellows at the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) event, Cambridge |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Shaping the discussion around economic and business considerations. |
| URL | https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/network/policy-fellowship/1499-42125733471611382c105294f6c579a975710a65/ |
| Description | Provided comments to Invest 2035: the UK's modern industrial strategy review |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Provided comments to the DSIT's Technology Adoption Review |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Senior Fellow of The Conference Board advisory role to member companies of The Confernece Board on digital technology adoption and business model transformation |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | The advice provides insights to senior management in the large multinational companies on adopting and transforming business models to improve efficiency and effectiveness and to ultimately contribute to productivity improvement at the economy level. |
| Description | Steering Board of AI Institute, Czech Technical University (DM) |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Manufacturing in the metaverse |
| Amount | £62,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Oracle Cloud Credits Donated to Project |
| Amount | £46,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Oracle Corporation |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| Description | Project 1 |
| Amount | £213,294 (GBP) |
| Organisation | SPIRIT Aerosystems |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 11/2024 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | Project 1 |
| Amount | £126,165 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2022 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Project 2 |
| Amount | £170,722 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Description | Project 3 |
| Amount | £142,649 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Description | Project 4 |
| Amount | £17,252 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 04/2024 |
| Description | Project 5 |
| Amount | £68,377 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2024 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | Project 6 |
| Amount | £25,276 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 09/2024 |
| Description | Project 7 |
| Amount | £59,767 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2024 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Project 8 |
| Amount | £53,712 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2024 |
| End | 04/2025 |
| Description | Project 9 |
| Amount | £44,103 (GBP) |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2024 |
| End | 10/2025 |
| Description | SPF |
| Amount | £97,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2023 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Title | Omnifactory Integrated Methodology |
| Description | University of Nottingham delivered the Future Automated Aerospace Assembly Demonstrator Phase 2 (FA3D2) though an ISCF-funded project. This FA3D2 provided the initial physical and digital infrastructure to support the EPSRC Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories (MSIRCCF) and EPSRC Elastic Manufacturing Systems (EMS) projects. Research activity as part of the MSIRCCF and EMS projects has contributed a number of transformational capabilities that have jointly delivered an integrated methodology for the use of this infrastructure in pursuit of industrial and academic impact. This new capability is now known as Omnifactory®. Significant contributions to this methodology include (but are not limited to): - Omnifactory's "digital manufacturing approach", derived from the MSIRCCF Morphing Factory Behaviour Model, provides the structured holistic methodology for designing a flexible and resilient production system specifically targeted to the industrial end user's requirements. Model-based systems engineering enables integration throughout the production lifecycle using a "digital thread" originating with the product or factory requirements. - A practical implementation of Type 2 Asset Administration Shells, developed in the EMS project, allows for ubiquitous data capture and shop floor communication and control. The current functionality (which allows communication to be automatically initiated based on triggers, in turn sending requests to other assets) is a step towards the vision of autonomous production. The Omnifactory® integrated methodology is currently supporting a number of academic and industrial projects. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Multiple discussions with industry concerning the future of manufacturing. Omnifactory® has: - Supported and enabled a number of projects, including EPSRC MSIRCCF and EMS, as well as various Innovate UK, EU, and directly funded industrial projects (e.g., Innovate UK ELCAT, Innovate UK Flexcelle, EU CS2 VADIS, and EU H2020-MSCA-ITN DiManD). - Provided a demonstrator testbed for digital and physical solutions developed in MSIRCCF, EMS, and other projects. This demonstration in turn has allowed the potential impact of these solutions to be evaluated by industry for potential uptake. - Directly delivered solutions to industry, particularly in terms of how new complex product could be delivered in a cost-effective and resilient manner despite low and variable or uncertain production volumes (see Further Funding section). - Provided a blueprint for how industrial facilities can accommodate changes in product design, mix, and scheduling priorities. - Demonstrated concrete steps to dramatically reduce time-to-market and support rapid production scale-up. - Supported the creation of follow-on funding applications, based on new research avenues uncovered through development and application of the methodology. |
| URL | https://www.omnifactory.com/ |
| Title | Variable Operation and Organisation Management (VOOM) Demonstrator |
| Description | At the University of Cambridge, we have upgraded existing research facilities and labs (3D printing, workshops, robotic assembly lines) to act as independent factories. The demonstrator enables a coordinated flow of production across multiple connected locations, with the ability to change volume, mix, and reallocate production to different resources. MEasurments of quality delivery time and production information can be shared between sites, facilitating research into inter-factory operations. This is the first multi-site smart factory demonstrator available for research. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The demonstrator has: 1. Enabled us to test out new low-cost digital solutions and their impact on production before deploying them in SMEs. 2. Provided data for cost experiments on increasing and decreasing production volume. 3. Provided a test-bed to demonstrate technologies and new research to industry 4. A platform to test our Machine Learning and Augmented Reality research in a replicated industry production environment |
| Title | Data set for "Generalisable 3D printing error detection and correction via multi-head neural networks" |
| Description | The dataset contains 1,272,273 labelled images of the the extrusion 3D printing process. A camera mounted next to the nozzle of the printer was used to capture images of material deposition for 192 different printed parts covering a range of geometries, material colours, and lighting conditions. Each image is labelled with: flow rate, lateral speed, Z offset, hotend temperature, hotend target temperature, bed temperature, timestamp, and nozzle tip x and y coordinates. To collect the data an automated pipeline was created to acquire and automatically label images from a fleet of 8 extrusion printers and to sample different combinations of printing parameters. The dataset provides a CSV of 948,396 pre-filtered images where complete failures, parameter outliers, dark images, and images just after parameter changes are removed. A raw CSV is also included labelling all images in the dataset. This dataset can be used for numerous applications such as real-time error detection, closed-loop control, and parameter prediction. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | One of the largest data sets of its type publicly available. Has supported the development of a spin out company from the initial research. |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/339869 |
| Description | Amtico Smart Factory Impact Study |
| Organisation | Amtico Flooring |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are analysing data and interviews from their production operations to identify the impact of the technology introduced and their future direction. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided data on shop floor operation and time for their staff to take part in interviews. |
| Impact | Papers and reports will be published when available |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Beckhoff Project Collaboration |
| Organisation | Beckhoff Automation |
| Department | Beckhoff Automation UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Our team has adapted one of their robotic demonstrators and added functionality to connect an AR system. The AR system converted a robotic inspection demo controlled by a skilled user into an AR-controlled demo, which non-skilled users can use. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Beckhoff provided the following contributions (with cost breakdowns): 1. Use of and delivery of their demonstration robot for robotic inspection (~£50 per day for 40 days = £2000). 2. Development aid throughout the project from their engineers (~ £100 x 10 hours = £1000) 3. Free training of the student who would use the machine (~£750 per day for 3 days = £2250) |
| Impact | There is a publication under review currently. Beckhoff have received an upgrade to their robotic system, which can aid them in future trade show demos. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Elastic Manufacturing and Connected Factories |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration with University of Nottingham (EMS and Connected Factories), University of Sheffield (Connected Factories) and Imperial College London (EMS) to explore the challenges in business model design issues to cater for changing product volume and mix. The project also aims to explore the concept of connected factories to deliver the products and services in a cost effective manner. The issues are examined across the operational factory, firm, supply chain ad ecosystem levels. My research team works closely with research teams across domains including engineering and mathematics by bringing an economic and management perspective. We conducted a workshop to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing the manufacturing system when there are major fluctuations in product volume and mix in January 2024. A set of summary notes were distributed to partner firms identifying the key issues in digital technology adoption and business model innovation. The workshop included 20 participants including executives from Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN and Airbus among others. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research programme includes an advisory board members from various manufacturing firms. These firms including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN, Airbus, SMC have been involved in shaping the research study as well as providing insights and working collaboratively with the research team. The collaborations include the research on the design of business models for elastic manufacturing systems with the following organisations: (1) Airbus and GKN - the design of supply chain that are resilient and elastics (2) Amtico - the design of hybrid make-to-order and make-to-stock business models (3) SMC - the design of inter-factory balancing to reduce costs or manufacture (4) Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) - the design of distributed open architecture business models for electronic commerce in India In addition, research teams from engineering and maths work closely to develop prototype engineering solutions which provides the basis for my research team to engage on develop the business and economic implications. |
| Impact | There is a journal publication based on the research: Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). Robot Adoption and Profitability: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 52(6), 8-14. Rama Murthy, S., Sousa-Zomer, T.T., Minshall, T., Velu, C., Kazantsev, N. and McFarlane, D., (2024). Elastic manufacturing: provisioning and deprovisioning production capacity to vary product volume and mix. International Journal of Operations & Production Management., 44(11), 1893-1917 Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). The Effect of Robot Adoption on Profit Margins. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 8951-8963. Velu, C. and F. H. Putra. (2023). How to introduce quantum computers without slowing economic growth, Nature, 619 (7970), 461-464. Shareable version Pattinson, S., J. Nicholson, M. Ehret, C. Velu and P. Ryan. (2023). Innovation Ecosystems in B2B contexts: Owning the Space, Industrial Marketing Management, 108, A1-A9. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Elastic Manufacturing and Connected Factories |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration with University of Nottingham (EMS and Connected Factories), University of Sheffield (Connected Factories) and Imperial College London (EMS) to explore the challenges in business model design issues to cater for changing product volume and mix. The project also aims to explore the concept of connected factories to deliver the products and services in a cost effective manner. The issues are examined across the operational factory, firm, supply chain ad ecosystem levels. My research team works closely with research teams across domains including engineering and mathematics by bringing an economic and management perspective. We conducted a workshop to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing the manufacturing system when there are major fluctuations in product volume and mix in January 2024. A set of summary notes were distributed to partner firms identifying the key issues in digital technology adoption and business model innovation. The workshop included 20 participants including executives from Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN and Airbus among others. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research programme includes an advisory board members from various manufacturing firms. These firms including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN, Airbus, SMC have been involved in shaping the research study as well as providing insights and working collaboratively with the research team. The collaborations include the research on the design of business models for elastic manufacturing systems with the following organisations: (1) Airbus and GKN - the design of supply chain that are resilient and elastics (2) Amtico - the design of hybrid make-to-order and make-to-stock business models (3) SMC - the design of inter-factory balancing to reduce costs or manufacture (4) Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) - the design of distributed open architecture business models for electronic commerce in India In addition, research teams from engineering and maths work closely to develop prototype engineering solutions which provides the basis for my research team to engage on develop the business and economic implications. |
| Impact | There is a journal publication based on the research: Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). Robot Adoption and Profitability: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 52(6), 8-14. Rama Murthy, S., Sousa-Zomer, T.T., Minshall, T., Velu, C., Kazantsev, N. and McFarlane, D., (2024). Elastic manufacturing: provisioning and deprovisioning production capacity to vary product volume and mix. International Journal of Operations & Production Management., 44(11), 1893-1917 Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). The Effect of Robot Adoption on Profit Margins. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 8951-8963. Velu, C. and F. H. Putra. (2023). How to introduce quantum computers without slowing economic growth, Nature, 619 (7970), 461-464. Shareable version Pattinson, S., J. Nicholson, M. Ehret, C. Velu and P. Ryan. (2023). Innovation Ecosystems in B2B contexts: Owning the Space, Industrial Marketing Management, 108, A1-A9. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Elastic Manufacturing and Connected Factories |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration with University of Nottingham (EMS and Connected Factories), University of Sheffield (Connected Factories) and Imperial College London (EMS) to explore the challenges in business model design issues to cater for changing product volume and mix. The project also aims to explore the concept of connected factories to deliver the products and services in a cost effective manner. The issues are examined across the operational factory, firm, supply chain ad ecosystem levels. My research team works closely with research teams across domains including engineering and mathematics by bringing an economic and management perspective. We conducted a workshop to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing the manufacturing system when there are major fluctuations in product volume and mix in January 2024. A set of summary notes were distributed to partner firms identifying the key issues in digital technology adoption and business model innovation. The workshop included 20 participants including executives from Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN and Airbus among others. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The research programme includes an advisory board members from various manufacturing firms. These firms including Rolls Royce, BAE Systems, GKN, Airbus, SMC have been involved in shaping the research study as well as providing insights and working collaboratively with the research team. The collaborations include the research on the design of business models for elastic manufacturing systems with the following organisations: (1) Airbus and GKN - the design of supply chain that are resilient and elastics (2) Amtico - the design of hybrid make-to-order and make-to-stock business models (3) SMC - the design of inter-factory balancing to reduce costs or manufacture (4) Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) - the design of distributed open architecture business models for electronic commerce in India In addition, research teams from engineering and maths work closely to develop prototype engineering solutions which provides the basis for my research team to engage on develop the business and economic implications. |
| Impact | There is a journal publication based on the research: Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). Robot Adoption and Profitability: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 52(6), 8-14. Rama Murthy, S., Sousa-Zomer, T.T., Minshall, T., Velu, C., Kazantsev, N. and McFarlane, D., (2024). Elastic manufacturing: provisioning and deprovisioning production capacity to vary product volume and mix. International Journal of Operations & Production Management., 44(11), 1893-1917 Chen,Y.P., Velu, C. and McFarlane, D (2024). The Effect of Robot Adoption on Profit Margins. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 8951-8963. Velu, C. and F. H. Putra. (2023). How to introduce quantum computers without slowing economic growth, Nature, 619 (7970), 461-464. Shareable version Pattinson, S., J. Nicholson, M. Ehret, C. Velu and P. Ryan. (2023). Innovation Ecosystems in B2B contexts: Owning the Space, Industrial Marketing Management, 108, A1-A9. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Research Collaboration with GKN |
| Organisation | GKN |
| Department | GKN Aerospace |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have contributed our knowledge and outputs from research, such as providing low-cost digital solutions for them to deploy (such as the PLC monitoring solution). We have also provided training and insight into one of their engineer's projects who is working with us on a PhD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | GKN engineers have provided contacts and set up meetings with key people within GKN to facilitate future partnerships and work. GKN has also directly funded a PhD student who is also a full-time GKN engineer at the University of Cambridge. |
| Impact | Meetings have directly influenced or impacted our research publications. Future collaboration on publications and research. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | SMC study |
| Organisation | SMC Pnuematics (UK) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are processing their production data from multiple factories to identify strategies for how they could improve production operations to deal with demand changes or product mix fluctuations. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided ERP and production data from multiple sites and interviews with SMC staff. They have also provided equipment for the the robotics lab which is equivalent to £5000 |
| Impact | Papers and reports are being compiled for this |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Strategic Partnership with BAE SYSTEMS |
| Organisation | BAE Systems |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Knowledge |
| Collaborator Contribution | Knowledge and setting of industrial challenges |
| Impact | No outputs or outcomes to date. This formal partnership is still new. We are now identifying areas of common interest within both MSI Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects to which BAE Systems can contribute. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | METHOD, APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR CLOSED-LOOP CONTROL OF A MANUFACTURING PROCESS |
| Description | Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide a method, apparatus and system for automatically detecting and correcting errors in manufacturing parameters of a manufacturing process using closed-loop control. Advantageously, the present techniques not only monitor manufacturing parameters but also provide instructions to enable any unacceptable variation in a manufacturing parameter to be corrected during the manufacturing process. |
| IP Reference | WO2023180731 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Title | AGV Autonomy Upgrade |
| Description | Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are becoming established for transporting materials and equipment in manufacturing environments, without the need for an operator, but with more flexibility than path-following Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Typically, AMRs are used for carrying or towing smaller loads, but there is an opportunity to transport large industrial robots within a facility to maximise versatility and productivity. Integration of such equipment with the Manufacturing Execution Systems and safety systems is particularly challenging. As part of the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories, the Omnifactory Research Centre is upgrading an existing manually controlled mobile platform with autonomous capabilities, integrating it with the Siemens Digital Enterprise portfolio to connect the virtual and real world, and maximise efficiency and flexibility. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The ability to integrate hardware and software of varying vendors represents a barrier to technology adoption in the manufacturing sector. The technical solution created here as part of the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project enables manufacturers to integrate hardware, under a connected factory umbrella, which maximises efficiency and flexibility of manufacturing systems. |
| Title | Augmented Reality-Guided Manual Assembly |
| Description | In a typical manual assembly guidance context, the AR system actively updates the displayed visual cues to align with the current stage of the process or any identified issues. A wide range of visualisation options are available for AR-based manual task guidance. Drawing upon existing research, we categorized these visualizations into four primary groups and conducted a crowdsourcing experiment to evaluate their effectiveness in a pilot study. Initially, we examined assembly rework tasks that receive AR guidance upon identification of an assembly error. Given the diversity of potential visual guide types that can be utilized in AR guidance, this particular use case scenario is well-suited for the crowdsourcing approach, as the traditional in-lab experimental approach could be a lengthy and resource-demanding process. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | we conducted field studies with manufacturing apprentices tasked with performing manual assembly of engineering components in distinguished controlled and uncontrolled environments. To achieve that, we designed, developed, and deployed tailored AR-guided manual assembly systems that were adaptable to different levels of asset complexity. Our results suggest a substantial increase in task performance within the industrial workshop, characterized by faster turnaround times, reduced error rates, and a subjective improvement in the overall work experience. Publications: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10670074 https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/10765137 |
| Title | Automated PLC Code Generation |
| Description | The PLC Code Generation (PLCG) app allows a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) to effectively orchestrate a rapidly reconfigurable manufacturing environment. This is accomplished by generating SCL source code to configure the shop floor PLC responsible for orchestrating equipment during an assembly process. In the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project, this is an enabler for the application study "AS3 - Automated Assembly of Aerostructures", where the demonstrator is required to change both its physical and control configuration in response to new products entering the system. Specifically, the PLCG is a software application that can generate orchestration code tailored to the specific product requirements. To do this, the PLCG takes the Bill of Equipment (BoE) and the Bill of Process (BoP) and generates a set of SCL source code files. This SCL code can be executed on a PLC to orchestrate the defined processes on the defined equipment. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | This approach not only allows an assembly system to rapidly respond to product, process, or equipment changes without costly manual (re)programming of the PLC, but also minimises the complexity of the code running on the PLC compared to other possible approaches to flexibility and reconfiguration. |
| Title | Automating 3D Printing Quality Assurance: A Deep Reinforcement Learning Approach |
| Description | We have developed a novel on-the-fly closed-loop setpoint adjustment system for 3D printing that integrates a vision transformer-based computer vision (CV) module with a deep Q-learning reinforcement learning (RL) controller. This combination effectively addresses the dynamic challenges of the 3D printing process. Both components undergo separate training before being integrated for real-time deployment in actual 3D printing environments without further tuning. The CV module extracts crucial features related to extrusion, providing reliable feedback on extrusion conditions while minimizing the impact of uncertainties and variability in the printing environment. With ample domain randomization, the ViT model is trained to deliver high accuracy and strong generalization capabilities. On the RL side, synthetic data is generated from a distribution of classification results and simulated temperature tracking, enabling flexible adjustments to the policy network's architecture and hyperparameters while narrowing the gap between simulated and real-world conditions. The four-phase reward shaping strategy, which uses progressively refined elliptical reward functions and accounts for classification inaccuracies, guides the policy network toward stable convergence despite environmental randomness. Setpoint adjustments, such as flow rate and temperature, are executed asynchronously to accommodate their differing response times. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | By utilizing offline training and a zero-shot deployment approach, the agent can make real-time decisions during live 3D printing operations to correct errors. One example to adjust setpoints starting from an over-extrusion error (300% flow rate and 230? nozzle temperature) is shown as figure 1. The system is scalable, allowing additional process parameters to be integrated by expanding the reward function and modifying action execution schemes. Moreover, the flexibility of this method allows for application to other additive manufacturing processes. |
| Title | CNN-Based Vision Model for Optimizing Vacuum Forming Process Parameters |
| Description | We have successfully tested the performance of our CNN-based vision model, which suggests optimal process parameter adjustments for the vacuum forming process by analysing images of the material. The model has proven effective in improving forming quality by providing accurate suggestions. To assess the model's generalizability, we conducted experimental validations across various conditions. These experiments included forming a hemisphere with sheets of different colours but the same thickness (1 mm), forming hemispheres with varying thicknesses (1.5 mm and 2 mm) and colours, and forming different geometrical shapes, such as a tapered box and a circular frustum, using 1 mm thick sheets. The results showed that the model performs well across different colours, accurately recommending process parameter changes. For varying material thicknesses, the model correctly suggested the direction of adjustments, although the precision decreased slightly, which is expected since thicker materials require more heat or time. A scaling factor based on material thickness may be necessary. Additionally, the model provided reliable suggestions for parameter changes when forming different geometrical shapes, demonstrating its versatility and robustness across a range of forming scenarios. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Applied to process in our lab, which has been presented to up to 40 industry practitioners |
| Title | Decision Model for Factory Design |
| Description | The behaviour model developed in the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project defines the overall decision flow for reconfiguration of a production system, beginning with the introduction of a disruption or change in requirements, through to deployment on the shop floor. It represents the expectations, interactions and information flow in the system in such a way as to guide the decisions and system state transitions. The intention is to provide a semi-formal framework around which the processes for both manual and autonomous reconfiguration can be built. The focus of the model is on the tasks, decision, inputs and outputs associated with the system response to a change. It has been developed as a generic modular process flow and modules of it have been implemented in the Omnifactory® at University of Nottingham. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The model has been used directly and indirectly through the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and for privately funded industry R&D to accelerate the time taken to design factory layouts. |
| Title | Decision Support Tool for AR Deployment in Industrial Setting |
| Description | To bridge this knowledge gap, we developed a decision support tool (see Figure) tailored to craft customized deployment strategies for AR-based assistance systems, primarily focusing on manual assembly tasks. The tool was developed based on a rigorous process involving exhaustive systematic analysis of existing literature and the expertise of sixteen domain experts. Thanks to this, we were able to identify factors such as asset and task complexity and the effort required to acquire data for assistance systems to be crucial when deciding on AR deployment in the first place. All this captured expert knowledge was utilised to develop a decision support tool to help decision-makers when considering AR deployment in their industrial use case scenarios. In consequence, we have developed a user-friendly expert system that provides a practical framework for designing and implementing effective AR-based assistance solutions. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | This empowers decision-makers to optimise the worker experience and maximise the performance of AR systems. Additionally, our solution serves as a valuable checklist for AR system deployment, offering guidance on the available criteria and modalities to consider when developing such immersive interfaces. |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-024-19861-x |
| Title | Digital-to-physical Twin Alignment Methodology |
| Description | Rigid manufacturing systems, are limiting investment in digital technologies due to high cost, and variable volume manufacture, with leads to inefficiencies 3D digital twin layout planning and optimisation can help manufacturers to improve production efficiency and flexibility. Our multi-functional design space integrates closely robot path planning, control synthesis, design validation and metrology simulation, bringing together process-level and system-level objectives. Unlike the traditional design process, 3D digital twin allows us to simulate production scenarios and estimate KPIs, allowing early error detection and a shortened development cycle. These KPIs can guide machine learning models and optimisation algorithms to find the most suitable layout plan. Combining shopfloor data and advanced analytics, our approach supports data-driven decision making for resource allocation and process planning. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Manufacturers can more effectively simulate production environments, ensure they are first to market and first to volume. |
| Title | Inter-site Tracking solution applcation |
| Description | An Android app has been built that can run on any low-cost Android device (we use Samsung Galaxy tablets, which cost less than £100). Phones and tablets have excellent localisation software that uses GPS and cell phone data. Location data outside is collected via GPS or phone signal; however, cell phone data provides triangulation of location as it moves inside. The challenge is getting this data from the device to the start or end partner and database. Many commercial systems provide no automatic access (such as APIs) to data. The app created collects localisation data from the tracked device and sends it to the sender and receiver using a cloud MQTT Broker (run on AWS). The data is not stored on AWS; it is just forwarded to the goods' final receiver or sender. The application allows tracking to be turned off and on during the journey, providing privacy when needed. Data is recorded by the start and the receiving location; time of arrival is calculated based on the data using an app run locally on any computer with internet access. All data is securely passed using TLS security. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The low-cost solution which has been used in our factory demonstrator |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2024.3524 |
| Title | Low-Cost Metrology-Driven Robot Calibration |
| Description | The automation of modern manufacturing tasks depends on the seamless integration of feedback sensors, and there is a growing demand for computer vision to enable informed decision-making. While image-based solutions offer a cost-effective approach, they face limitations in accuracy/precision critical applications. Photogrammetry is an effective way to improve the accuracy of automated assembly in flexible production environments. We have developed a multi-camera system to automate this photogrammetry in a robotic cell. The system uses three high-resolution cameras strategically placed around the assembly cell to capture images of a target artefact on the robot's end-effector. These images are used to calibrate the cameras and triangulate from 2D images to accurately reconstruct the robot's tool centre point position. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The technology solution is cost-effective, scalable and adaptable in improving robot positioning accuracy in complex assembly tasks. Additionally, it enables the future development of multifunctional machine vision systems when integrating capabilities like object detection and defect identification. |
| Title | Robot Machining Cell with Rigid Contouring End-Effector |
| Description | We have developed a robotic machining cell to enhance our capabilities in the manufacture of representative aerospace components and allow deeper investigation into how the versatile machining equipment can be utilised in a flexible, digitally connected manufacturing environment. The existing FANUC R-2000iC/190S heavy payload, short arm robot has been installed in a new machining cell in the Aerospace Technology Centre (ATC), geographically separate from the existing Omnifactory® facility. This will allow research into real-time monitoring, control and optimisation of equipment in disparate facilities, enabled by connecting the two factories into the same Omnifactory digital infrastructure. Options for off-line programming and integration with the digital technology stack will be investigated and tested. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | The robot cell will allow trimming of aircraft panels up to 4m x 2m, and allow creation of complex mould tools. A low-cost off-the-shelf spindle will be rigidly mounted to the robot flange, with options for swarf and dust extraction to be investigated. Data will be obtained from onboard sensors, to be stored in the product DNA and enable future machine learning research opportunities. |
| Title | Smart Factory Layout Optimisation |
| Description | Factory utilisation is key to economic competitiveness. Traditional fixed production layouts cannot easily scale dynamically to mitigate demand or product variation. Although a flexible factory can help with this, additional challenges emerge when trying to optimise for assembly zone areas, production assets and time. Quantifying the tradeoffs inherent in build philosophy and choice of process technology is also a significant challenge to modern industry. We have identified, developed and demonstrated a methodology to optimise the facility utilisation and layout for a given product family, based on expected demand curves, and taking into account predicted learning curves and failure rates. Non-recurring infrastructure costs and recurring costs, in terms of energy consumption and people time, can be estimated. |
| Type Of Technology | New/Improved Technique/Technology |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Applying this technology will enable businesses to select the correct production process and system for a given product and more easily identify required change triggers during production. This in turn leads to higher utilisation and efficiencies, increasing the cost-effectiveness of the programme. |
| Company Name | Matta |
| Description | Matta develops AI and deep learning software for additive manufacturing. |
| Year Established | 2021 |
| Impact | Raised venture funding. Deployed product in operational manufacturing sites. |
| Website | https://www.matta.ai/ |
| Description | 1-2-1 meetings around Omnifactory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 60+ unique business have engaged with Omnifactory in 1-2-1 meetings since the facility opened on 1st March 2023. These 1-2-1 meetings include describing the capabilities, research themes and expertise available at the University of Nottingham. Some of these businesses have attended Omnifactory Open Day and wanted to follow up with 1-2-1 meetings with the team to discuss collaboration opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | 1st Workshop on Low-Cost Digital Solutions for Industrial Automation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an academic workshop organisaed at the Insitute for Manufacturing at the Unviersity of Cambrigde. There were over 50 academic participants from institutions in the USA, Asia and Europe. The main objectives of the workshop are to foster innovation in low-cost digitalisation and digital transformation and to promote the research and development of concepts, methods, and technologies to be used for developing low-cost digital solutions for Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in various sectors such as manufacturing, construction, logistics and healthcare. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://conferences.digitalshoestring.net/shoestring-conference/ |
| Description | 2x School Visits (Bluecoats Aspley) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit from Bluecoats Aspley School, Year 8, circa 60 children. Interactive session on engineering, aerospace, manufacturing and technology, with a tour round the omnifactory facility. Children enjoyed the interactive session and seeing the robots in the facility, reporting that it made them more interested in engineering. Arranged via the widening participation team, with reports that the school would like to come back. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | AI + Engineering Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The University hosted a workshop to discuss amongst industry the challenges, opportunities and scope for collaborative research for the implementation of AI technology in manufacturing and engineering environments. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Apprentice training for low-cost solutions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Training with a local college for apprentices in how to deploy and build a low-cost digital solution. The training involved approximately 20 apprentices and involved several hours focused on improving their digital skills and knowledge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Artificial Intelligence Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A workshop to present and identify different areas of AI across the university with the aim of fostering collaboration. The team presented the Omnifactory vision and machine learning and AI developments needed in such environment to support flexibility and reconfigurability. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Business Model Innovation and Platform Strategies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Executive education to ATOS and Eviden executives on the challenges in adopting business model innovation and platform strategies |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Business Model Innovation and Strategic Productivity |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a podcast series by the The Productivity Institute: Productivity Puzzles Podcast Series (with Sir Charlie Mayfield and Professor Bart van Ark) based on my book 'Business Model Innovation: A Blueprint for Strategic Change' by Cambridge University Press. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.productivity.ac.uk/news/business-model-innovation-and-strategic-productivity/ |
| Description | Business Model Innovation and Strategic Productivity The Productivity Institute: |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Business Model Innovation and Strategic Productivity The Productivity Institute: Productivity Puzzles Podcast Series (with Sir Charlie Mayfield and Professor Bart van Ark) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.productivity.ac.uk/news/business-model-innovation-and-strategic-productivity/ |
| Description | Business Model Innovation: Changing the Game |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Executive education to executives studying the Executive MBA programme at NTNU, Norway on the challenges in adopting business model innovation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Business Process and Productivity of AI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was a talk to the audience attending the Be the Business AI Conference in Manchester. The session was on business application of AI and its implications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://bethebusiness.com/newsroom/expert-led-ai-event-aims-to-boost-business-productivity |
| Description | Cambridge Demonstrator Working Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A formal working group has been set up for Application Study 2 with interested business partners. The group meet regularly to agree use cases and direction of the research as well as discuss and present the research outcomes. The impact of the group is to ensure that the demonstrator continues to deliver on current industrial problems and that new technologies can be adopted quicker into industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Cambridge Society for the Application of Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a presentation and demonstration to the Cambridge Society for the application of research with the general public invited to watch approximately 50-55 participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Department for Business & Trade Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The University of Nottingham welcomed a delegation from the Department for Business & Trade, including Chief Scientific Advisor Julia Sutcliffe. As part of the visit, the delegation was given a tour of Omnifactory and engaged in discussion on the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects, to understand how the UK can exploit this research across its manufacturing sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Digital Manufacturing Week 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We hosted a stand in Innovation Alley at the Smart Factory Expo as part of Digital Manufacturing week with the wider Made Smarter Team. The PI for the project, Svetan Ratchev, also gave a talk at in the Made Smarter Theatre to introduce the research so far. The expo was an opportunity to engage with business and the other Made Smarter Research Centres with a view to widening participation at all levels of the project engagement strategy; disseminating findings so far and promoting the benefits of the research. We also exhibited in 2024 on the UKRI pavilion, in another "Innovation Alley" format/style exhibition showcase. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2024 |
| URL | https://digital-manufacturing-week.com/ |
| Description | Duncan McFarlane Hong Kong talk on research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk organised with Prof G Huang, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Took place June 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Dynamic task planning work dissemination with BMW |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Based on the work being done by the AMRC with dynamic task planning as part of the Made Smarter Connected Factories award, multiple visits (to BMW and to our own facilities), workshops and discussions happened between 2022 and 2023 with BMW. The intended purpose was to create some quick wins for the project, the impact of it was strengthening relationship with BMW and increased awareness of the work being done by the AMRC. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | EPSRC Circular Economy Theme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Gave a presentation to the EPSRC Manufacturing & Circular Economy Theme to provide more information about a particular use case and follow up after the Industrial Advisory Board. Widened knowledge of the project within the EPSRC Delegation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | East Midlands Mayoral Candidates Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We welcomed the candidates for the 2024 East Midlands Mayoral elections to the University of Nottingham for a site tour, discussion around the importance of manufacturing in the East Midlands, and how the University of Nottingham is supporting the sector through its Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Engenuity Skills Awards |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the Enguinity Skills Awards 2024 to showcase the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Exhibited at East Midlands Manufacturing Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the East Midlands Manufacturing Summit and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Exhibited at Innovate UK Reimaging Materials & Manufacturing Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the Innovate UK Reimaging Materials & Manufacturing Event and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Exhibited at MTC Robotics & Automation Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We exhibited at the MTC Robotics and Automation Event and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. David Sanderson also gave a talk at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Exhibited at Midlands Energy Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the Midlands Energy Summit and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Exhibited at Nottingham City Council UKSPF Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the Nottingham City Council UKSPF Launch Event and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Exhibited at UoN Power of Partnerships Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the UoN Power of Partnerships Event and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Exhibited at the ATI Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Exhibited at the ATI Conference and disseminated information on Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Farnborough Airshow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We participated in both the University of Nottingham Institute for Aerospace Technology and BAE Systems stands, promoting a selected sample of our research activities. Opportunity to present key research findings and capabilities developed to businesses and other research organisations within an Aerospace context, with a view to developing future partnerships. In 2024 we exhibited independently and showcased our fundamental research projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2024 |
| URL | https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/ |
| Description | Huntingdonshire Manufacturing Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | 50+ local manufacturers attended a regional manufacturing event detailing innovation facilities and capabilities in the Midlands and East of England. University of Nottingham provided a presentation and exhibited at the event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | ITT Indore Talk (Prof. Duncan McFarlane) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk at IIT Indore organised by Duncan and Prof Bhupesh Lad. The talk focused on research in centre, including low-cost solutions developed and data sharing It took place in May 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | IfAM Breakfast Event (Digitalisation) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Hosted a workshop for local Manufacturing business leaders about the benefits of digitalisation. Presented current capabilities and projects and how these could apply in (mostly) SME settings including quick wins and implementation as well as long term vision for companies on their digitalisation journey. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Industrial Advisory Board Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Industrial advisory board meeting and workshop with industrial partners from advisory board to discuss use cases and ensure industrial relevance of the application studies and research direction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Invited speaker for RAS Chapter 2024 conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The activity included participation with a 15 minutes presentation on robotics, data and AI in the manufacturing sector followed by expert panel discussion including people from industry and academia. The event sparked further connections and questions around the work we are doing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sheffieldrobotics/7th-ieee-uk-ireland-ras-conference-ras-2024 |
| Description | Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Wroclaw University of Technology, and IDEAS NCBR |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk about research activities in the centre to students and staff at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Wroclaw University of Technology, and IDEAS NCBR |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Letter in the Financial Times 'Small really is beautiful in University science research' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A letter in the Financial Times 'Small really is beautiful in University science research' (With Luka Gebel and Toni Vidal-Puig) on 16 September 2024 based on the insights from an article published in Nature (Gebel, L., Velu, C. and Vidal-Puig, A. (2024). The strategy behind one of the most successful labs in the world, Nature, 630 (8018), 813-816) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/uploads/Small%20really%20is%20beautifual_Letter%20FT_160924.pdf |
| Description | Low-cost Solution Hackathon with Defence Companies (Lincoln) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Day hackathon workshop designed and delivered focusing on designing low-cost solutions for defence companies in Lincolnshire. Multiple researchers designed and ran the day. There was extensive engagement with companies and discussion about future technologies and problems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.digitalshoestring.net/event/shoestring-strategic-hackathon-greater-lincolnshire-defence-... |
| Description | Low-cost supply chain and awareness workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A workshop designed to help companies identify and think about data sharing within their supply chain. Digital solutions they could use were demonstrated and companies networked with each other. Lots of contacts were gained, which aided our research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.digitalshoestring.net/event/supply-chain-and-awareness-workshop/ |
| Description | Low Cost Sensor development (DM) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Low Cost Sensor development, organised by Prof B Rolfe, Deakin University, Australia, 7/24 took place in July 2024, the audience was academics and researchers at the university. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Low Cost Sensor development (Prof. Duncan McFarlane) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Low-Cost Sensor development, Prof M Doohan, University of NSW, Australia, 7/24 The talk was given at a university, so the audience was mostly students and researchers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Low Cost Sensor development for Logistics (DM) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Low Cost Sensor development for Logistics, organised by Prof Y Sheffi, MIT, Boston, USA, Presentation happened on 10/24 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | M and E week Smart Factory Expo display |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We exhibited our technology at the Smart Factory Expo in Birmingham over two days at two separate stands. This was conducted with the support of IfM Engage. We gained new contacts and potential leads. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.mandeweek.co.uk/ |
| Description | MACH 22 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Attended as part of Made Smarter Research Organisations, MACH 22 in April 22, an exhibition for engineering manufacturing. Spoke to businesses and other research organisations about the research project and discussed ways to get involved and shape future research. 4 researchers attended over 4 days. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.machexhibition.com/ |
| Description | Machine learning to improve robot accuracy in drilling applications discussions/visit with AIRBUS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The AMRC team from Made Smarter and DELTA research programmes visited AIRBUS Broughton facilities to discuss progress and potential collaborations with the department of actuators and end effectors. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Made Smarter Innovation Webinar Series: September - November 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The seminar focussed on describing the industrial application studies ranging from factory level digital design and integration to advanced control techniques for individual processes such as adaptive accurate machining and 3D printing. In it we described the problems that such technologies and techniques are trying to solve; how they could be applied across multiple sectors, products and processes and how businesses can get involved throughout the programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://iuk.ktn-uk.org/news/made-smarter-innovation-webinar-series-september-november-2022/ |
| Description | Make UK / Made Smarter Adoption East Midlands Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Event hosted at University of Nottingham and jointly delivered with Make UK and Made Smarter Adoption East Midlands. The event gave the university the opportunity to present on the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Manufacturing & Engineering Week Expo 22 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We had a stand at Manufacturing and Engineering week, June22. During the event we were able to engage with business about our projects with the aim of demonstrating our capabilities, disseminating our research to wider number of businesses, discuss how businesses to engage with us on current and future programmes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.mandeweek.co.uk/ |
| Description | Manufacturing Technical Masterclass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Hosted a series of events over the year to engage industry in some technical aspects of automation and digitalisation. The aims of the series was to explore a specific topic and demonstrate the capabilities developed within the projects. Participants reported feeling that they had learnt about topics previously they hadn't known that much about and would be more confident in implementing some of the techniques in their own businesses. • 27th April 2022 - Manufacturing Technical Masterclass - A quality improvement focus on digital solutions implementation - 9 attendees • 11th May 2022 - Measurement assisted determinate assembly of an aircraft wingbox - 8 attendees • 18th May 2022 - Affordable, auto-reconfigurable, multi-product manufacturing cells - 25 attendees • 25th May 2022 - Designing products & reconfigurable facilities for variable rate production - 10 attendees • 1st June 2022 - Cost estimation framework using MATLAB/Simulink - 28 attendees • 8th June 2022 - Automatic Assembly Work Instructions - 20 attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meeting with NDT expert from an aerospace company |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to an NDT expert from GKN Aerospace, which led to the identification of a potential new use case for one of the Application Studies investigated in this project. The expert also suggests that the team further engage with the National Physical Laboratory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Midlands Net Zero Hub Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Tour of Omnifactory provided and an overview of the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Mitigating Conduct Risk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chander Velu delivered a talk for Executive education to Eviden executives and Barclays executives on how the design of business models affects conduct risk. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | National Manufacturing Day 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Approx 150 school children visited the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing, touring various research labs. The purpose was to promote STEM. Many of the teachers specifically asked for future invites if we repeat the activity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | OMNIFACTORY Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The event was the official launch of the OMNIFACTORY, a 2 day event which showcased the new facility, the current projects which were using the new facility, and previous projects which have informed the development of the facility. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/news/world-first-multi-million-manufacturing-facility-opens-at-the-univ... |
| Description | Presenter at SGAI International Conference on AI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Dr Giovanna Martinez provided a presentation about the use of AI in Omnifactory at this conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Prospective Labour MPs Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The University hosted a number of regional Labour candidates for the 2024 General Election. The event disseminated information to the candidates on the regional importance of manufacturing, the cutting-edge digital manufacturing research being undertaken at the University of Nottingham, and how projects like Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems are enhancing the sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Quantum computers 'to hit GDP before uplift' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Quoted in The Times Article on 'Quantum computers 'to hit GDP before uplift'' dated 24 July 2023 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Seminar at Medial Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited Talk: Cyber-Human Technologies: Using Immersive Technologies to Aid Manufacturing Processes The talk was to staff and students at MIT in the US and focused on research conducted in the AR research group as part of the Cambridge team for the centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Research Talk Western Australia (Prof. Duncan McFarlane) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Low-Cost Actuator development, Prof Andrew Guzzomi, Univ of Western Australia, Australia 6/24, work presented included work on done in MSCF Event in June 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Responsible AI Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Our researchers participated in and contributed to a Responsible AI Conference, which included networking with attendees and discussing how AI is being utilised within digital manufacturing environments, the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and the Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Robotics, data and AI in manufacturing workshop - ERF2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The European Robotics Forum (ERF) is a workshop based conference taking place every year in different location around Europe. It attracts over 1000 delegates each year. In 2024, I organised and led a workshop on Robotics, data and AI in manufacturing during which I talked about the Made Smarter programme as a whole and about the Connected Morphing Factories project specifically. The workshop had an expert panel from various institutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://erf2024.eu/ |
| Description | Robotics, data and AI work dissemination to AIRBUS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented the work being done as part of the application study 1.1 of Made Smarter Connected Factories to the automation division of AIRBUS. This was followed up by planning a visit to see the production line and their activities. The intended purpose is future collaborations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Robotics, data and AI work dissemination to AIRBUS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Held a presentation, followed by a debate with AIRBUS on the work being conducted by the AMRC within the Made Smarter Connected Factories award. AIRBUS showed interest and further directed the work to enable higher industrial impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Robotics, data and AI work dissemination to GKN Aerospace |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Held a presentation followed by a debate with a team from GKN Aerospace on the use of robotics and AI in manufacturing. The discussion was within the context of the Made Smarter Connected Factories award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Rolls Royce Manufacturing & Materials Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | An event for Rolls Royce personnel, where the external universities and RTOs exhibited to showcase the latest R&D and innovations within the manufacturing and engineering sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | School Visit (Alderman White) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Alderman White School brought 64 Year 9 pupils to visit the Advanced Manufacturing building. They had a tour of the Omnifactory and were introduced to ideas from the Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. The objective was to inspire them to get them interested in Engineering, and also give them a little bit of guidance that if they wanted a career in Engineering. For example we presented which GCSC subjects would help them achieve that. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School Visit (Huntingdon Academy) for School Science Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit from Huntingdon Academy Year 5 (circa 30 children), interactive session on engineering, aerospace, manufacturing and technology with a tour around the Omnifactory facility. There were questions during the day and children were more interested in STEM subjects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Seminar at Bath University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk/seminar at the University of Bath relating to research in the centre |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Steering Board of AI Institute, Czech Technical University, Czech Republic |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Steering Board of AI Institute, Czech Technical University, Czech Republic Multiple partners from around the world meeting to help direct the work of the smart manufacturing Czech Technical University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Steering Board of Sensor Institute |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Steering Board of Sensor Institute / Establish PhD programme, Prof P Leitao, Institute Polytechnic Braganza, Portugal, 7/24 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Strategies for digitalisation with SMEs talk, Australia (Prof. Duncan McFarlane) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Strategies for digitalisation with SMEs talk, organised by Prof Roy Green, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia, 7/24 Academics and research were the main audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | System architectures talk (DM) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Organised by Prof R Brennan, Univ of Calgary, Canada for October 2024 The main audience was researchers and academics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Systems Integration Forum Workshop in Quantum Computing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chander Velu participated in a roundtable discussion forum to explore the key issues from a systems integrator's perspective on the development and adoption of quantum computing to enable productivity improvements and economic growth (including application to various industries from manufacturing to services). The attendees were executives from various Systems Integration firms involved with quantum technologies. The attendees developed a deeper understanding of the issues for system integrations to help in the adoption and scaling up of quantum computing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Systems Integration Forum in Quantum Computing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chander Velu participated in a roundtable discussion to explore the key issues from a systems integrator's perspective on the development and adoption of quantum computing to enable productivity improvements and economic growth (including application to various industries from manufacturing to services). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at Advanced Engineering Expo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Svetan Ratchev gave a presentation on UoN manufacturing research activity including disseminating information on the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk at FANUC Open House Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof. Svetan Ratchev gave a presentation on UoN manufacturing research activity including disseminating information on the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories project and Elastic Manufacturing Systems project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Talk on Physical Internet Ecole des Mines (Prof. D. McFarlane) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk on Physical Internet organised with Pr Eric Baillot, Ecole des Mines, Paris, France, 4/24 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Business of Economics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This is a letter in The Economist on 20 April 2023 in response to an article titled 'Why economics does not understand business' (April 8th) highlighting the reasons economist typically do not focus their attention to studying innovation and firms. The letter calls for economist to work with cognate disciplines such approaches are well developed in cognate disciplines such as management, sociology and politics, among others to do so. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.economist.com/letters/2023/04/20/letters-to-the-editor |
| Description | UK Space Universities Network Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Tours of Omnifactory, plus presentations and discussions on the Made Smarter Innovation Research Centre for Connected Factories and Elastic Manufacturing Systems projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Universal Robots (UR) Boston HQ |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | ST (Cambridge) was invited to give a talk about the research conducted at the centre to staff at Universal Robotics HQ in Boston. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Visit by engineers from aerospace company |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Two manufacturing automation engineers from Airbus attended a visit to the University of Sheffield, which led to the identification of potential work on in-process monitoring of manufacturing processes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Women in Engineering Day STEM Tours of Omnifactory |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | As part of Women in Engineering Day, the University of Nottingham welcomed 90 x Year 9 and Year 10 women from local schools and gave them a tour of the Omnifactory facility to inspire future careers in the manufacturing sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshop on Digital Manufacturing and Business Strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A one-day workshop exploring the challenge of digitalisation and business models. Aproximatly 15 participants from industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshop on Elastic Manufacturing and Connected Factories: Digital Technologeis and Business Strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to discuss the challenges and opportunities of managing the manufacturing system when there are major fluctuations in product volume and mix |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | World Hearing Center in Kajetany, Warsaw |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a talk about AR research currently being compleated |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Year 8/9 Student Group Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A visit by local schoolchildren to the University of Nottingham, saw them undertake a tour of the manufacturing facilities at the University as part of our STEM engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Zhejiang University Summer School in Cambridge invited lecture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Invited to give a talk/lecture on research to 30 students on a summer school programm from the Zhejiang University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | talk on Low Cost Sensor development, Prof Xun Xu, Univ of Auckland, New Zealand 7/24 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk on Low-Cost Sensor development, Prof Xun Xu, Univ of Auckland, New Zealand 7/24 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |