National Engineering Day - Introducing UWTSD’s Raoul, Simon, and Jordan
By Lucy Beddall, SMART Digital Accelerator
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
To celebrateNational Engineering Day, we thought we would introduce you to three of our research experts who work on the SMART Digital Accelerator project at University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
National Engineering Day is a day to celebrate and make visible how engineers and engineering impacts and shape our future. This year’s theme is based around how engineering is improving lives.
We asked each of them what impact their work has.
Raoul Chappell, a BEng Extreme Sports Engineering and MS Mechanical Engineering graduate.
Speciality:
- Collaborative and industrial robotics
- Advanced manufacturing process simulation
- Advanced materials manufacturing
- Product development and structural analysis
'In contrast to the view that automation replaces jobs, I find it is the opposite. Industrial robots can often be used for repetitive tasks providing the operator with new opportunities to upskill and manage the technology. When productivity increases, employment increases and new jobs are created.'
Raoul Chappell.
Simon Thomas, a BSc Computer Networks and Cybersecurity and MSc Computer Networks and Security graduate UWTSD.
Speciality:
- Cybersecurity
- Internet of Things
- Connected Intelligence
'Industry 4.0 has brought new technologies that can make an organisation vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. All it takes is a single weakness to compromise the integrity of a business. Often small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are particularly prone to this as they don’t always have the strategies and systems in place. I enjoy helping SMEs in Wales protect themselves and ensure they are future-proof.'Simon Thomas.
Jordan Jenkins, a BEng Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and MSc Mechanical Engineering graduate
Speciality:
- Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) for manufacturing systems
- Development of low-cost automation solutions
- Machine & computer vision (vision-guided robotics)
- Process simulation & digital twins
'In addition to supporting manufacturers with their automation journeys, I also enjoy the knowledge transfer that happens between my research and the organisations I work with. I know it is mutually beneficial. In addition, I also disseminate this knowledge to the students I teach. The relationships UWTSD has with industry make brilliant case studies for the students and I know it helps to show them how exciting engineering is as a career choice.'Jordan Jenkins.
SMART Digital Accelerator is a team of industry expert advisers who work with manufacturers in Wales to help them identify the right technology to boost their bottom line.
SMART Digital Accelerator is funded by Welsh Government, delivered by University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), and supported by the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Cymru (AMRC Cymru). There is no financial cost to the participating business.
