AUTUMN 2014 ISSUE 16

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING NEWS Cambridge engineers break superconductor world record Page 3

Google Award for the Automatic Statistician Page 8

The James Dyson Foundation donates £8m to University of Cambridge Page 18 In this issue Welcome

Cambridge engineers break 3 superconductor world record From Graduation to the Crossrail project 4 Lifting the lid on silicon batteries 5 Solar powered home-lighting in India 6 Royal Academy backing for 7 Department research Google Award for the Automatic 8 Statistician Robogals 9 Professor William (Bill) Fitzgerald 9 The ‘visuomotor binding’ mechanism 10 Carbon nanotubes find real 11 world applications Professor David Cardwell takes over from Professor Dame Ann Dowling who led the Institute of Manufacturing 12-13 Design Show Department for five years. Ann is now President of the RAEng, while continuing in the Department with her research and teaching. International mobile ticketing success 14 3D printing – The shape of things 15 “Ann Dowling is a hard act to follow. She has left the Department in excellent shape on all fronts. to come? Our rankings, financial performance and growth have been outstanding,” says David. “Trojan horse” treatment 16 New Centres for Doctoral Studies 17 The Department now has over 180 academics and principal investigator status researchers, over 1200 undergraduates, over 800 graduate students, over 260 postdoctoral researchers and Backing Britain – The James Dyson 18 Foundation donates £8m a turnover exceeding GBP70m. It is one of the world’s top ranked engineering departments jockeying for leadership at the top of the board. Teaching has also stormed forward winning New James Dyson Building 19 for Engineering to be a live accolades from reviewers in the accreditation process. laboratory Young Consultant of the Year 20 David adds: “Engineering at Cambridge is an integrated department comprised of the best academics, staff and students from around the world. Not only do we top the academic rankings, Better building through design 21 but we deliver practical outcomes for society. I feel a great sense of both excitement and Designing our Tomorrow 22 responsibility in leading this institution given the influence it has on pivotal issues such as energy, Engineering the Kelpies 23 cities, transport, healthcare and manufacturing. My aim is to do everything I can to allow everyone New use for an old ‘trouble maker’ 24 here to perform at their best, engage with real issues and make a difference.

“It would be easy to get complacent given this success, but I see a tremendous opportunity Cover photo: A bulk superconductor levitated to take the Department to a new level. Engineering in most universities is split into separate by a permanent magnet departments; but we are one department. This structural advantage means we can tackle the Editor: Jacqueline Saggers really big challenges facing society. But this strength is tempered by our old and scattered building Department of Engineering stock. Uniting on one site with new purpose-built facilities and the right support will unlock the University of Cambridge full potential of our brilliant people. This is the change I wish to bring.” Trumpington Street Cambridge CB2 1PZ David is assembling his team, consulting staff and making plans for this transformation. He Telephone: +44 (0)1223 748228 notes: “I will not jump the gun by announcing plans ahead of consultation with all members Email: [email protected] of the Department, but I can promise that the plans will not only represent a leap forward for www.eng.cam.ac.uk Engineering at Cambridge, but a leap forward for engineering globally. I look forward to sharing Design: www.cantellday.co.uk more news publicly in the Spring next year.” Printing: Sudbury Print Group

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2 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Credit: ImageCredit: courtesy of Nicholas Architects Hare n A bulk superconductor levitated by a permanent magnet Cambridge engineers break superconductor world record

A new record for a trapped field to be cooled close to absolute zero (zero “This work could herald the arrival of degrees on the Kelvin scale, or –273 °C) superconductors in real-world applications. in a superconductor, beating a before they superconduct, high temperature In order to see bulk superconductors applied record that has stood for more superconductors do so above the boiling point for everyday use, we need large grains of than a decade, could herald the of liquid nitrogen (–196 °C), which makes them superconducting material with the required relatively easy to cool and cheaper to operate. properties that can be manufactured by arrival of materials in a broad Superconductors are currently used in relatively standard processes.” range of fields. scientific and medical applications, such as MRI scanners, and in the future could be used to A world record that has stood for more protect the national grid and increase energy than a decade has been broken by a team efficiency, due to the amount of electrical of engineers led by Professor David Cardwell, current they can carry without losing energy. This work “could herald the our new Head of Department, harnessing The current carried by a superconductor arrival of superconductors in the equivalent of three tonnes of force inside also generates a magnetic field, and the more real-world applications. a golf ball-sized sample of material that is field strength that can be contained within the normally as brittle as fine china. superconductor, the more current it can carry. Professor David Cardwell Professor Cardwell’s team managed to State of the art, practical superconductors can ‘trap’ a magnetic field with a strength of 17.6 carry currents that are typically 100 times greater Tesla – roughly 100 times stronger than the than copper, which gives them considerable A number of niche applications are field generated by a typical fridge magnet – in performance advantages over conventional currently being developed by the Cambridge a high temperature gadolinium barium copper conductors and permanent magnets. team and its collaborators, and it is anticipated oxide (GdBCO) superconductor, beating the The new record was achieved using that widespread commercial applications for previous record by 0.4 Tesla. The results are 25 mm diameter samples of GdBCO high superconductors could be seen within the published today in the journal Superconductor temperature superconductor fabricated in next five years. Science and Technology. the form of a large, single grain using an The research was funded by The Boeing The research demonstrates the potential established melt processing method and Company and by the UK Engineering and of high-temperature superconductors for reinforced using a relatively simple technique. Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The applications in a range of fields, including The previous record of 17.2 Tesla, set in 2003 National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, where flywheels for energy storage, ‘magnetic by a team led by Professor Masato Murakami the measurements were performed, is funded separators’, which can be used in mineral from the Shibaura Institute of Technology the National Science Foundation and the State refinement and pollution control, and in in Japan, used a highly specialised type of Florida. high-speed levitating monorail trains. of superconductor of a similar, but subtly Superconductors are materials that carry different, composition and structure. electrical current with little or no resistance “The fact that this record has stood for so R when cooled below a certain temperature. long shows just how demanding this field really Professor David Cardwell While conventional superconductors need is,” said Professor Cardwell. www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/dc135

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 3 Credit: Crossrail Ltd Crossrail Credit: n Compensation grouting at Bond Street Station From Graduation to the Crossrail project Alumnus Alan Skarda

Alumnus Alan Skarda is currently problem and communicating a solution to a the most expensive real estate in the country client or checker. (Mayfair and Soho in central London), so working as a Site Engineer for In 2013, after two years in the design compensation grouting plays an extremely the Crossrail project. He has office, I was seconded to the Bam Ferrovial important part in the project. taken time out to tell us about Kier (BFK) joint venture, which has won over I am currently a Section Engineer £700M of work on Crossrail. My first post was and Temporary Works Co-ordinator in his career path to date. in compensation grouting, a technique used the SCL team at Bond Street, managing to protect buildings and other sensitive assets the construction of the permanent headwalls located above and around the tunnels. I was in the platform tunnels. I work with everyone I studied at the Department of Engineering part of the team responsible for managing the from the Construction Manager to the from 2007 to 2011, graduating with a BA construction and operation of 13 grout shafts operatives on site. MEng specialising in Civil, Structural and located at Bond Street Station, Tottenham Working for a contractor has enabled Environmental Engineering. Court Road Station and Fisher Street Shaft. BFK me to spend time on site in addition to the After working for Mott MacDonald on are constructing a series of Sprayed Concrete design office. It is immensely beneficial for a prestressed concrete bridge decks in my Lined (SCL) tunnels for Crossrail. SCL can designer to see how a massive construction summer vacations, I joined Kier Construction create almost any shape of tunnel or shaft in project is built and managed; it helps you — Engineering, the technical services division the ground, but it tends to cause a lot more to understand the importance of proper of Kier. We carry out civil, structural and settlement than a Tunnel Boring Machine workmanship and practical construction details geotechnical design for buildings, bridges (TBM) because the ground is left unsupported in design. Cambridge naturally has a much and innovative or unusual temporary works to between excavating and spraying. more theoretical bent to the course, but the facilitate the construction process. Compensation grouting is a very importance of the practicalities of construction During my time there, I often benefited interesting technique, introduced to me was already recognised. In my third year I from the rigorous approach to design that by Professor Robert Mair at Cambridge. It took part in the Constructionarium project at I learned at Cambridge. For example, I was involves injecting a relatively weak cement the National Construction College, Bircham asked to assess the effect of building a 25m and bentonite grout mix into the ground to Newton, in which our team of students built tall shotcrete batching plant on top of an create heave and so mitigate the settlement a 1:10 scale model of the Millau Viaduct in 5 underground Victorian masonry sewer. I was caused by tunnelling. The grout is injected days. In this project I successfully co-ordinated able to go back to first principles, calculate the from a network of pipes called tubes à launching the steel deck of the bridge from the strain induced in the sewer by hand and justify manchettes (TAMs), drilled into the ground embankment to the piers. For me this was eye- that it would not be damaged by the weight from shafts positioned around the stations. It opening and stands out as one of the highlights of the batching plant. I also benefited from relies on having very good systems in place of my time in Cambridge. certain academics’ (e.g. Professor Ken Wallace) for monitoring ground movement, which I am working towards Chartership with the emphasis on drawing large clear diagrams, feed into the design of the grouting episodes. Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and hope to which are so useful in understanding a The tunnels are all located around some of take my Professional Review next year.

4 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Lifting the lid on silicon batteries

Resolving the mystery of what happens inside batteries when silicon comes into contact with lithium could accelerate the commercialisation of next-generation high capacity batteries, for use in mobile phones and other applications. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory Argonne Credit: via Flickr

Next-generation batteries based on silicon the batteries and what governs the reactions n Silicon (here shown in grey) is a promising next- have come one step closer to commercial have continued to hold silicon batteries back. generation anode material for lithium-ion batteries, reality, after the mystery surrounding what is Researchers at the University of Cambridge capable of holding 10 times as many lithium ions happening inside batteries when silicon comes have developed a new method to probe (shown in pink) as currently-used anodes. into contact with lithium has been understood silicon batteries and determined what causes in unprecedented detail. Silicon-based the expansion to take place. The results are technology would greatly expand the capacity reported in the journal Nature Communications. of the batteries used in mobile phones, electric “The most basic challenge for delivering vehicles and other applications. such high-capacity batteries is to understand Using a combination of nanotechnology the reactions going on inside them,” said lead and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) author Dr Ken Ogata of the Department techniques, researchers have developed a of Engineering’s Electrical Engineering division. Using this technique will help new probing system that gives a view into Using nanoscale wires made of silicon and “ make battery design more what is happening inside the batteries at the NMR techniques, the researchers developed a systematic, and less trial atomic level, enabling greater control over the robust model system able to accommodate the and error. properties of the materials. expansion of the silicon over multiple cycles, Silicon has been proposed as a and integrated it with short-range probing Dr Ken Ogata replacement for carbon in battery anodes techniques that reveal what is happening inside (negative electrodes) for the past 20 years, the battery at the atomic level. The team found as it has roughly ten times more storage that the reactions proceed with interactions capacity than carbon. However, difficulty in of various sizes of silicon networks and clusters, “Using this technique will help make managing silicon’s properties has prevented energetics of which partly govern the path battery design much more systematic, and less the technology from being applied at scale. of the reaction. trial and error,” said Dr Ogata. “The nanowire- The primary problem with using silicon Using these combined techniques, the based batteries coupled with the NMR system in a lithium-ion battery is that silicon atoms researchers were able to develop a ‘map’ of enabled us to follow the reaction kinetics over absorb lithium atoms, and the silicon expands how silicon transforms when it is put into multiple cycles with various cycling strategies. up to three times in volume, degrading the contact with lithium in a battery. The insights Importantly, the insights achieved by the new battery. Although controlling this expansion has opened up by the technology will boost further technology are relevant to current state-of-the- become easier over the past decade, a lack of developments of silicon batteries, as it will be art silicon-carbon composite anodes and will understanding about what is happening inside easier for engineers to control these properties. lead to further development of the anodes.”

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 5 , Demonstrating the transplanter at an agricultural show

Alumni Jonathan Bassett and Sam Cocks are working on solar powered home-lighting systems in India Sam Cocks Credit:

Over the past 20 years SELCO India, a social enterprise in Bangalore, has worked to provide solar powered home-lighting systems for people in unelectrified or under-electrified regions in India. To date, they have reached over 200,000 households through their unique model, with a heavy focus on providing servicing and maintenance, and working closely with banks to help their clients access loans. Alumni Jonathan Bassett and Sam Cocks are working for SELCO, each in a different part of India.

Sam and Jonathan are both part of the research they require to perform certain tasks and, SELCO. Eventually a volunteer contract was and development arm of the organisation, while large-scale farmers are beginning to take settled on and I moved over in January 2013. set up around three years ago to investigate advantage of new machinery on the market, Most of the Foundation’s electrical and new approaches and opportunities to help there are very few labour-saving machines electronic work is done in Bangalore. The the underserved poor. This includes looking available which are suitable for these small-scale electrical team is being developed at the at technologies, such as different solar farmers. We have been trying to identify (and moment, with only myself and two other technologies, small-scale wind turbines and design where necessary) machinery which can dedicated engineers. So most of the work we agricultural machines. The other large part of fill this gap and explore how it can be made do is new to us and there is a lot of learning! the Foundation’s work includes experimenting accessible to farmers, building on SELCO’s However the projects I’m involved with at the with different business models. extensive experience of marketing to people moment are very exciting. I’ll highlight one: The Foundation is split into two labs in at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’. our investigation into mini-grids. two locations. Sam was based in the ‘rural I’m also currently leading two other A mini-grid is a village wide power-grid, lab’ in Ujire, a town in the Western Ghats, a projects which are aiming to put solar water separate from the normal AC national grid. mountain range near India’s South-Western pumps and solar-wind hybrid systems on the The idea is to have a central power supply (solar, coast. Jonathan is in Bangalore at the ‘urban SELCO product list. They’ve both been very wind, micro-hydro) and send that power to each lab’, a large city in the south of the country. interesting and provided ample opportunities house in a village. This is different to SELCO’s Last autumn they took some time out to tell to put my mechanical degree into practice. normal model of having individual solar-systems us about their projects to date. in each home. The potential advantages are Jonathan increased scalability and security and reduced costs. SELCO has not done any work on mini- Sam [email protected] grids before, but with the current interest from [email protected] I spent the third year of my degree on an government and non-government bodies has I’ve been working for SELCO for almost two exchange programme with the National encouraged some investigation. We are trying years now and have spent most of that time as University of Singapore, where I got more to set up some pilot projects, with the aim of the only Westerner in this small town. My work interested in power electronics and the testing out technology and finance models. has largely been surrounding agriculture but applications in energy. After a short trip to Myself and a colleague have been mainly I’ve found myself involved in a diverse range India and Nepal, witnessing the real problems responsible for the technical design, including of other projects during the time, as the rural of power shortage in that area, I decided the grid layout and solar system design. This is lab has been investigating how it can have the to concentrate on energy during my final quite a jump in responsibility, and certainly feels deepest impact. year. Through Engineers Without Borders at like the deep-end of projects! But I’m personally Even with its huge and rapidly growing Cambridge I heard about SELCO and found very excited to see where the project will go. population, India is currently facing a dire Sam’s blog on what he was doing in India. The labour shortage in rural areas as more and more company stuck in my mind and during a post- people migrate to the cities in search of better graduation trip across Europe, I decided to scrap R paid work. Small-scale farmers are finding it my previous plans of moving back to Singapore www.selcofoundation.org harder and more expensive to find the labour and instead try to work for a company like www.selco-india.com

6 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Credit: Sam Cocks Credit:

Royal Academy backing for Department research

Dr Sithamparanathan Sabesan, a Research Fellow in the Department of Engineering, has been awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) Enterprise Fellowship. He has been awarded funding of up to £85,000 and will receive money-can’t-buy mentoring as part of the Academy’s Enterprise Fellowships scheme to help turn his technology into a viable business.

In collaboration with Dr Michael Crisp, universities produce some of the greatest given the best possible chance to succeed, Professor Richard Penty and Professor Ian innovations in the world, but getting them out whilst helping to bring new technologies and White of The Department of Engineering, of the lab and into the marketplace remains a services to market for the benefit of society.” Sabesan has developed a battery-less radio huge challenge. frequency identification (RFID) system that will “Business-minded academics need allow airlines, retailers and other businesses investment and support from experienced R to inexpensively track the locations of industry practitioners to exploit their research, Dr Sithamparanathan Sabesan www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/ss740 merchandise and passenger luggage over which could become the commercial success a wider area with greater reliability than stories of tomorrow, and this is exactly what conventional systems. A company, PervasID Ltd, the Academy’s Enterprise Hub provides.” has been formed to exploit this technology. Volunteer mentors supporting the The PervasID system can successfully detect Enterprise Hub include Sir Robin Saxby FREng, items with near 100% accuracy, and a single former Chief Executive and Chairman of ARM, reader can cover an area up to 400 square and Professor Neville Jackson FREng, Chief metres. It can also scale up to accommodate Technology and Innovation Officer at Ricardo. much larger deployments and has already This is the third year of the Enterprise By bridging the gap between been used successfully in several field trials. The Fellowships scheme and is the largest cohort “ industry and academia and system has the potential to save airlines millions to date. President of the Royal Academy of enabling entrepreneurship of pounds annually through allowing frequent Engineering, Sir John Parker GBE FREng, said, to thrive, the Academy’s fliers access to fully automated self-check-in, “Engineering already contributes at least £480 Enterprise Hub aims to ensure and to enable high-value goods retailers to billion to the UK economy each year, and benefit from secure self-service checkouts. the ability to create wealth from innovation that the country’s brightest Sabesan and his colleague Michael Crisp is essential in building a stronger and more entrepreneurial minds are also won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s competitive economy. By bridging the gap given the best possible chance ERA Foundation Entrepreneurship Award for between industry and academia and enabling to succeed. the system in 2011. entrepreneurship to thrive, the Academy’s Arnoud Jullens, head of Enterprise at Enterprise Hub aims to ensure that the Sir John Parker the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “UK country’s brightest entrepreneurial minds are

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 7 n Professor Zoubin Ghahramani (right) with PhD student James Lloyd Google Award for the Automatic Statistician

The Automatic Statistician, extrapolation performance evaluated over real model selection strategies to automatically time series data sets from various domains. The choose good models/ features, and to interpret a project led by Zoubin system is based on reasoning over an open- the resulting fit in easy-to-understand ways, Ghahramani, Professor of ended language of nonparametric models using in terms of human readable, automatically Information Engineering, has Bayesian inference. generated reports. This is a very promising As Zoubin says: “Making sense of data is direction for ML research, which is likely to find won a US$750,000 Google one of the great challenges of the Information many applications at Google and beyond.” Focused Research Award. Age we live in. While it’s becoming easier to The ultimate aim of the Automatic collect and store all kinds of data, from personal Statistician is to produce an artificially intelligent medical data, to scientific data, to public data, (AI) system for statistics and the data sciences. This Award consists of a no-strings attached and commercial data, there are very few people donation to support research in the Cambridge trained in the statistical and machine learning Machine Learning Group on this topic. methods required to test hypotheses, make R Automating the process of statistical predictions, and otherwise create interpretable Professor Zoubin Ghahramani modelling would have a tremendous impact on knowledge from this data. Our Automatic www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/zg201 fields that currently rely on expert statisticians, Statistician project aims to build an artificial machine learning researchers, and data intelligence system for Data Science, helping scientists. Such expertise in the data sciences people make sense of their data.” is increasingly in demand, especially with the Kevin P. Murphy, Senior Research Scientist at growth in Big Data problems in the sciences Google, says: “In recent years, Machine Learning and in industry. The Automatic Statistician has made tremendous progress in developing is a system which explores an open-ended models that can accurately predict future While it’s becoming easier to data. However, there are still several obstacles “ space of possible statistical models to discover collect and store all kinds of data, a good explanation of the data, and then in the way of its more widespread use in the there are very few people trained produces a detailed report with figures and data sciences. The first problem is that current in the statistical and machine natural-language text. The Cambridge group, Machine Learning (ML) methods still require learning methods required to test including PhD students James Lloyd and David considerable human expertise in devising hypotheses, make predictions, Duvenaud working with Roger Grosse and appropriate features and models. The second Joshua Tenenbaum at MIT, has developed an problem is that the output of current methods, and otherwise create interpretable early version of this system which not only while accurate, is often hard to understand, knowledge from this data. automatically produces a 10-15 page report which makes it hard to trust. The “Automatic Professor Zoubin Ghahramani describing patterns discovered in the data, but Statistician” project from Cambridge aims to returns a statistical model with state-of-the-art address both problems, by using Bayesian

8 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Robogals

Robogals Cambridge held of Engineering’s outreach officer, Maria Kettle, encouraging girls to consider science based they hosted 50 year nine girls from five schools careers. Robogals also benefits its volunteers, their first outreach robotics in the Cambridgeshire region for a day of robot both male and female, by allowing them to workshop at the Department building, programming, and competition. develop their leadership and presentation of Engineering. Not only did the event introduce girls skills, confidence, and professional networks. to the field of robotics and programming, but also allowed them to interact with Cambridge Robogals, a new chapter of the female engineers at levels ranging from global non-profit outreach group Robogals, undergraduate to senior fellow. This exposure is dedicated to introducing young girls in the to female role models in the engineering field R Cambridgeshire region to science, engineering, coupled with the fun, accessible way in which If you are interested in becoming involved technology, and mathematics careers through Robogals Cambridge presents engineering with Robogals Cambridge as a volunteer, robotics workshops and competitions. Earlier and technology projects makes Robogals sponsor, or school participant, please this year, in collaboration with the Department a unique and effective outreach tool for contact Jenni Sidey ([email protected]).

Professor William (Bill) Fitzgerald

It is with great sadness that we report that Professor William (Bill) Fitzgerald died on 2nd April 2014.

Bill joined the Department of Engineering in to nonlinear signal processing, image August 1990, having previously worked for restoration and medical imaging, extreme Marconi. He was a Fellow of Christ’s College value statistics, bio-informatics, data mining and became Professor of Applied Statistics and data classification. His particular interest and Signal Processing in 2002. Bill held a BSc, was in the applications of Sequential Monte MSc and PhD in Physics from the University Carlo (particle filtering) methods to signal of Birmingham. He had also held academic processing and communication problems. positions at the Institut Laue Langevin in Bill made many contributions in the Grenoble, France, and the ETH in Zurich. applications of Bayesian theory in signal He worked on Bayesian inference applied processing and this was recognised by the award to signal and data modelling in addition of the EURASIP Technical Achievement Award.

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 9 Credit: Jenny Downing Jenny Credit:

Just made coffee while chatting to a friend? Time to thank your ‘visuomotor binding’ mechanism…

Experts have identified a dedicated information highway that combines visual cues with body motion. This mechanism triggers responses to cues before the conscious brain has become aware of them.

We talk about being ‘on autopilot’ when we’re attention to focus on objects in the world when we are not paying attention to them,” describing carrying out a familiar series of around us rather than on our own movements. explained Alexandra. actions without being aware of what we’re ”The newly-discovered mechanism ”The second experiment introduced doing – now researchers have for the first time was identified when three experiments changes in brightness to demonstrate the found evidence that a dedicated information were carried out on 52 healthy adults. In attention effect on the visual perception highway or ‘visuomotor binding’ mechanism all three experiments, participants used system. In the third experiment, participants connects what we see with what we do. robotic interfaces to control cursors on two- were asked to guide one cursor to its target in This mechanism helps us to coordinate our dimensional displays, where cursor motion the presence of up to four dummy targets or movements in order to carry out all kinds of was directly linked to hand movement. cursors, acting as distractors alongside the real tasks from dunking a biscuit in your coffee, “The robotic virtual reality system allowed ones. In this experiment, responses to cursor while maintaining eye contact with someone us to instantaneously manipulate visual jumps were less affected by distractors than else, to playing basketball on a crowded court. feedback independently of the physical responses to target jumps. The research (published in the movement of the body,” said David. “These results provide further evidence of journal Current Biology) was a collaboration In the first experiment, participants a dedicated visuomotor binding mechanism between Dr David Franklin, of the Computational controlled two separate cursors with their that is less prone to distractions than standard and Biological Learning Lab at the Department right and left hands. Their goal was to guide visual processing,” said Alexandra. of Engineering, and Dr Alexandra Reichenbach, each cursor to a corresponding target at the of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience. top of the screen. Occasionally the cursor R Their research suggests that a specialised or target on each side would jump left or Dr David Franklin mechanism for spatial self-awareness links right, requiring participants to take corrective www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/dwf25 visual cues with body motion. The finding action. Each jump was cued by a flash on one could help us understand the feeling of side, but this was random and did not always disconnection reported by schizophrenia correspond to the side about to change. patients and could also explain why people Not surprisingly, people reacted faster with even the most advanced prosthetic limbs to cursor jumps when their attention was find it hard to coordinate their movements. drawn to the correct side by the cue. However, The study shows“ that our brains Standard visual processing relies on us being reactions to jumps were fast regardless of also have separate hard-wired able to ignore distractions and pay attention to cueing, suggesting that a separate mechanism systems to track our own bodies objects of interest while filtering out others. “The independent of attention is responsible for visually even when we are not study shows that our brains also have separate tracking our movements. paying attention to them. hard-wired systems to track our own bodies “The first experiment showed us that visually even when we are not paying attention we react very quickly to changes relating to Dr David Franklin to them,” explained David. “This allows visual objects directly under our own control, even

10 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Credit: Jenny Downing Jenny Credit:

Carbon nanotubes find real n Carbon nanotubes world applications

No one disputes that carbon nanotubes have the potential to be a wonder technology: their properties include a thermal conductivity higher than diamond, greater mechanical strength than steel and better electrical conductivity than copper.

But, like other ‘great technologies of the future’, properties of carbon nanotubes make them an are we over-hyping nanotubes? Are they near ideal membrane for filtering toxic chemicals, passing the real test – that of widespread dissolved salts and biological contaminants Since 2006, “worldwide carbon practical use? The answer is a qualified yes. The from water. nanotube production capacity has success of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is proved The huge surface area of carbon increased at least tenfold. by a surprising statistic: worldwide commercial nanotubes is also being exploited when they Dr Michael De Volder production capacity presently exceeds several are used as the electrodes in batteries and thousand tons per year, according to Dr Michael capacitors to provide more current and better De Volder, lecturer at the Department of electrical and mechanical stability than other ”One of the interesting things happening Engineering’s Institute for Manufacturing. But materials. The properties of carbon nanotubes is the improvement in computer simulations of it’s a level of production that has taken around make them ideal for enhancing different kinds how carbon nanotubes are synthesised, which 20 years to achieve. of structures – for example, sports equipment, will hopefully enable us to tweak the fabrication ”The beginning of widespread carbon body armour, vehicles, etc., where they are process. And electron microscopy is making nanotube research was preceded in the 1990s being widely used. it possible to look at the carbon nanotubes by the first scientific report of CNTs, although But while carbon nanotubes are being used while they are being formed, which is helping hollow carbon nanofilaments were reported as in practical applications, it doesn’t imply their improved understanding of the process.” early as the 1950s,” Dr De Volder says. “However, more widespread use will not be problem free. Dr De Volder concluded: ” I am trying to carbon nanotube related commercial activity ”There are a number of obstacles which develop techniques for bringing particles has grown most substantially during the we haven’t solved yet,” Dr De Volder says. together in more efficient ways, or looking past decade. Since 2006, worldwide carbon “Particularly in high end targets, like the search at new emerging properties of the materials nanotube production capacity has increased for better transistors, the exact morphology depending on how you bring the carbon at least tenfold.” of the nanotube and the orientation of the nanotubes together.” Dr De Volder’s science review paper graphene lattice with respect to the tube axis of commercially available carbon nanotube – referred to as its chirality – is really important. Adapted from an interview by D. Boothroyd applications gives a flavour of just how At this moment, we have little ability to for New Electronics. widespread a real impact the technology synthesise carbon nanotubes with specific is starting to make [M. De Volder et al, types of chirality and it is this that determines R Science 339, 2013]. Take water purifiers, for the semiconducting versus conducting Dr Michael De Volder example: the size, surface area and adsorption properties of the carbon nanotubes. www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/mfld2

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 11 Institute for Manufacturing Design Show 2014

The Design Show is held each year by the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) for an invited audience of local industrialists and designers. Students create displays to explain the technical and business ideas behind the products, together with design details and prototype models of the products themselves.

The show is the culmination of team- the same extrusion, and has three flexible slots Piste Pilot based projects in which the Manufacturing to connect the panels at a range of angles. They Making skiing more accessible for the blind Engineering Tripos (MET IIA) students find a are extruded in the UK then transported to the and partially sighted through use of tactile design-based solution to a problem, create a site alongside other emergency supplies such feedback in the ski poles marketing plan and present their ideas to their as food, medication and clothing. peers. The ten projects this year covered social The Piste Pilot is designed to be picked up Team: Jack Bews, Charles Holland, Sam Blackett entrepreneurship, safety, health, sport and more. by a blind skier on holiday with a sighted and Sasha Nagarajah friend using an interface that can be mastered quickly. The product will be provided as four Infinity Bakery integrated ski poles – two for the guide and The Low Cost Bed A solar bakery for equatorial countries which two for the skier with sight loss. The skier will autonomously tracks the sun and ventilates A solution to ultra-low cost sleeping to receive vibrations in their ski poles, triggered to provide a constant baking temperature ensure that everyone has access to a bed by a series of button presses from the guide on their own poles. The information given will Infinity Bakery plans to work with charities The bed is designed for use in homeless include direction, how hard to turn and when to provide ovens that allow existing bakeries shelters in the UK, particularly during winter to start/stop. This will be achieved wirelessly to switch from firewood to solar power, and when bed shortages occur, as many can be using radio communications. partner with micro-financiers to empower stored by day and placed on the floor at night. groups of entrepreneurs trained at these It is also designed for disaster relief situations Team: Christopher Owers, Elizabeth Tyler bakeries to set up satellite bakeries. The oven where the immediate needs of people have and David Elliott mimics the baking times of a fire and requires been met, providing an additional level of no additional input, as a self-tracking and comfort and tackling problems caused by temperature regulating solution. sleeping on damp or hard ground. The bed PyroCut will fold flat for transport and storage, and is Team: Leyla Sudbury, Daniel Cox, Aiming to save lives by reducing fire water resistant for damp or humid conditions. William Hatcher and Keno Marie-Ghae service response times Team: Richard Cadman, Jonathan Godden, PyroCut automatically isolates the power supply Tayo Moore and Stephanie Brown FlexiWRIST in the event of a fire. Once a fire has been detected, there is a three-minute time delay A low-cost prosthetic wrist joint before the power is isolated, ensuring sufficient MyPod FlexiWRIST Prosthetics aims to revolutionise time for the occupants of a dwelling to exit, as wrist technology. By adding a small A platform to control the physical well as allowing them sufficient time to address technological improvement to the design, large environment which acts as a portable a false alarm. Once these three minutes have improvements in functionality can be achieved, sensory room to calm children with Autism elapsed, the power is isolated and a signalling resulting in more natural movement for certain Spectrum Disorder (ASD) device is activated. This device demonstrates to the fire service that the power is off and water tasks. The FlexiWRIST is unique in that it uses MyPod’s main function is to offer relaxation can be used to tackle the fire. silicone rubber to provide certain motions techniques in the form of rocking and pressure passively and offers a simple return mechanism. application, both of which are techniques Team: James Popper, Leonidas Aristodemou, Team: Chris Goodfellow, Daniel Brackenbury, that have been validated by psychologists. Kamran Tajbakhsh and Jessica Manning Stephen Hall and Emma Clement The sensory pod can be rocked externally by a teacher or parent, which makes for easy Rota-Pill interaction during the calming period. Rocking Hive Aid can also be generated internally, by the users A pill dispenser for those starting to A shelter for refugees and those who have themselves so they can feel independent if they encounter cognitive or physical difficulties lost their homes in disaster areas want to. To facilitate its use in the classroom, with their self-administration MyPod aims to offer sensory reduction, mainly of medication It has the unique ability to tessellate with other in the form of sound cancelling and light shelters to build communities. The Hive Aid The Rota-Pill dispenses medication directly from channelling to reduce distractions. shelter centres on the provision of uniquely personalised blister packs filled for patients designed poles as a framework onto which Team: Joseph Mambwe, Sarah Tong at the pharmacist. The user must simply turn panels are slotted. Each plastic pole comes from and Bruno Sussat the dial to the current time and pills intended

12 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 % TOP LEFT: Infinity Bakery team TOP TIGHT: Piste Pilot team BOTTOM LEFT: FlexiWRIST team BOTTOM RIGHT: Rota-Pill Team to be taken then will be dispensed into a cup across the world, this lock is more than a storage space for stallholders, seating for the for easy consumption. The simple mechanical deterrent. Its robust and compact design locks public and turning the square into mostly open system combined with smart use of ergonomic the brakes on one ski to the other around a space. The benches can be fork-lifted away principles makes the Rota-Pill easy to use and uniquely compatible Snowriski rack. In addition to free the square completely. The spacing will prolong the independence of users. to these features, this lock is designed to be between the stalls can be modified to facilitate waterproof and iceproof, unlike those on the van access. Team: Jack Beattie, Tim Palmer market today. and Ciara Wheeler Team: Shakti Kumpavat, Thomas Cole, Team: Renate McKenzie-Onah, Anahita Nicholas Schulman and Stephanie MacAulay Pradhan, Guy Peters and Thomas Nesch Snowriski A ski lock which is directly integrated into True Blue Markets the ski brakes A rapidly deployable market stall for R Snowriski has designed an innovative locking Cambridge’s historic outdoor market Visit the IfM YouTube channel mechanism for a pair of skis. This new design is at the link below or scan this built within the skis themselves, relieving the It can be set up in less than 15 minutes, is code to view videos by each skier of carrying the lock around or forgetting aesthetically pleasing and made using material team describing their project. to take it along in the first place. With ski theft and labour sourced as locally to Cambridge as becoming an increasing problem in ski resorts possible. It collapses into a bench, providing www.youtube.com/ifmcambridge/playlists Alumnus Ben Whitaker discusses international mobile ticketing success

First Capital Connect have a Masabi, a company founded by Engineering Boston’s MBTA. The solution was deployed on alumnus Ben Whitaker and Computer Science the commuter rail, saving more than $70m queue-busting mobile ticketing alumnus Tom Godber, develops transport of capital expenditure that would have been app, allowing passengers to use mobile ticketing that allows customers to required to extend the existing smartcard their mobile phone or tablet download an app to their phone and instantly system. The company is also working with purchase tickets for immediate use. After success San Diego’s MTS and NICE bus in Long Island. as a train ticket for trips to in the UK and ground breaking deployments Information on all of Masabi’s customer Cambridge, so that they don’t in the US, their company was recently selected deployments can be found here: www.masabi. by New York’s Metropolitan Transportation com/about/customer-deployments have to wait in line for a ticket Authority (MTA) to provide mobile ticketing for its commuter railways. ever again. Alumnus Ben Whitaker, CEO of Masabi said: Mobile tickets appear on the phone screen in the form of an electronic ticket that can “Mobile ticketing is all about making life easier be validated visually by conductors, or as an for transport passengers. By transforming encrypted barcode that can be scanned by smartphones into vending machines, we are a conductor’s handheld device to verify that making waiting in line a thing of the past. We the barcode is valid. This turns the phone are excited to be bringing our award-winning into a personalised ticket machine. The apps and UK deployment-proven technology to New also provide real-time information on trains York’s commuters.” and timetables, saving frequent journeys and Talking about his time at the Department securely storing payment information. Users of Engineering Ben added, “The Department of therefore can make repeat purchases with just Engineering is hugely supportive of students a few taps, removing the need to enter log-in finding out more about turning ideas into details each time. business, and helped me to follow some of The engineering“ department Ben, the company’s product evangelist and the Department’s fellows into starting my was hugely supportive a classic visionary, was pivotal in the definition of own business. They provided me with my own of students finding out more the UK rail mobile ticketing standard and moving office for a period while spinning out a course about turning ideas into business, the weight of industry opinion behind it. Masabi’s project into a business, as well as providing and helped me to follow some mobile ticketing technology is now in use by lecture rooms for CUE (the Cambridge of the department’s fellows into over half of the UK’s rail operators such as Virgin, University Entrepreneurs society) to provide starting my own business. Cross Country, Chiltern Railways, First Group, as support for other students.” well as river bus service Thames Clippers, with Alumnus Ben Whitaker CEO of Masabi more cities in Europe also in the pipeline. In late 2012, the company launched its R first mobile ticketing service in the US with www.masabi.com

14 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 3D printing The shape of things to come?

In the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM) Review, Dr Simon Ford, from the IfM’s Centre for Technology Management, explains why we need to take a clear-eyed view of this much hyped technology if it is to realise its potential.

If you ask the proverbial man or woman in the street what they understand by the terms ‘stereolithography’, ‘selective laser sintering’ and ‘fused deposition modelling’, you’re likely to be met with a blank expression. Say the words ‘3D printing’, though, and you’re likely to be met with an entirely different response. Over the last couple of years, 3D printing has attracted significant media attention. Stories about 3D printed Stradivariuses, undetectable plastic guns, novel building designs, personal miniatures, medical devices and a variety of other 3D printing objects, have become an almost daily occurrence in the mainstream press. 3D printing has been heralded as a technology that will transform the world, with commentators claiming that it could be “bigger than [the] internet” (Financial Times) and “the PC all over again” (The Economist). Even Barack Obama has added his voice to the be affected by 3D printing technologies. The development of hearing aids and orthodontics. clamour, stating in his 2013 State of the Union project is jointly funded by the Engineering Later in the project the researchers will explore Address that 3D printing “has the potential to and Physical Sciences Research Council the different business models companies are revolutionise the way we make almost anything”. (EPSRC) and the Economic and Social Research using to capture value from 3D printing, and While 3D printing is now attracting Council (ESRC). The need for cross-disciplinary how 3D printing enables new business models significant attention and generating high approaches is reflected in the make-up of to be adopted in the digital economy. expectations, the process of ‘additive layer the investigating team, with Professor Ian So, while 3D printing is certainly big manufacturing’ (the academic term for 3D Hutchings from the IfM’s Inkjet Research news, there is still a long way to go. As with printing) can be traced back to technologies Centre, Dr Chander Velu, Lecturer in Economics all disruptive technologies, uncertainties that were first developed and commercialised of Industrial Systems at the IfM and Dr Finbarr abound. Bit by Bit will help both industry and in the 1980s. Two of the leading 3D printing Livesey, from the University’s Department of government better understand and benefit companies, 3D Systems and Stratasys, were Politics and International Relations, bringing from the undoubted opportunities to create founded in that decade based on innovative their knowledge of digital fabrication science, and capture value that 3D printing will provide. stereolithography (SLA) and fused deposition business models, and economic policy modelling (FDM) technologies. respectively to bear on the project. R Historically, the UK has been good at such Under their leadership, the research team www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk experimental research and development, and of Dr Letizia Mortara and Dr Simon Ford are novel technologies are expected to emerge currently engaged in the first part of the from research institutions. However, where project: investigating the industrial emergence the UK has often been less successful is in of the 3D printing industry. It is only through the commercialisation of technologies from an understanding of historical patterns and 3D printing has been heralded as these institutions. It is here that research at processes that we can hope to gain insights a technology “that will transform the Department of Engineering’s Institute for into how current events are unfolding and the world, with commentators Manufacturing comes in. how they will shape the future. claiming that it could be “bigger Led by Dr Tim Minshall of the Centre for This historical study involves analysis of Technology Management, Bit by Bit: Capturing supply and demand in the industry; supply than [the] internet” and “the PC the Value from the Digital Fabrication in the form of equipment manufacturers, all over again.” Revolution is a project that seeks to understand and demand in terms of the early users of Dr Simon Ford how value is being created and captured in 3D applications such as prototyping, in the the 3D printing industry, and how UK firms will aerospace and automotive sectors, and in the

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 15 “Trojan horse” treatment could beat brain tumours

A smart technology which Importantly, the research was carried out In an effort to beat tumours more on cell lines derived directly from glioblastoma comprehensively, scientists have been involves smuggling gold patients, enabling the team to test the researching ways in which gold nanoparticles nanoparticles into brain cancer approach on evolving, drug-resistant tumours. might be used in treatments for some time. cells has proven highly effective The study was led by Professor Sir Mark Gold is a benign material which in itself poses no Welland, Professor of Nanotechnology at the threat to the patient, and the size and shape of in lab-based tests. Department of Engineering and a Fellow of the particles can be controlled very accurately. St John’s College, University of Cambridge, When exposed to radiotherapy, the A “Trojan horse” treatment for an aggressive and Dr Colin Watts, a clinician scientist and particles emit a type of low energy electron, form of brain cancer, which involves using tiny honorary consultant neurosurgeon at the known as Auger electrons, capable of nanoparticles of gold to kill tumour cells, has Department of Clinical Neurosciences. Their damaging the diseased cell’s DNA and other been successfully tested by scientists. work is reported in the Royal Society of intracellular molecules. This low energy The ground-breaking technique could Chemistry journal, Nanoscale. emission means that they only have an impact eventually be used to treat glioblastoma “The combined therapy that we have at short range, so they do not cause any serious multiforme, which is the most common devised appears to be incredibly effective in damage to healthy cells that are nearby. and aggressive brain tumour in adults, and the live cell culture,” Professor Welland said. “This In the new study, the researchers first notoriously difficult to treat. Many sufferers die is not a cure, but it does demonstrate what wrapped gold nanoparticles inside a positively within a few months of diagnosis, and just six nanotechnology can achieve in fighting these charged polymer, polyethylenimine. This in every 100 patients with the condition are aggressive cancers. By combining this strategy interacted with proteins on the cell surface alive after five years. with cancer cell-targeting materials, we should called proteoglycans which led to the The research involved engineering be able to develop a therapy for glioblastoma nanoparticles being ingested by the cell. nanostructures containing both gold and and other challenging cancers in the future. Once there, it was possible to excite it cisplatin, a conventional chemotherapy drug. ”To date, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) using standard radiotherapy, which many GBM These were released into tumour cells that had has proven very resistant to treatments. patients undergo as a matter of course. This been taken from glioblastoma patients and One reason for this is that the tumour cells released the electrons to attack the cell’s DNA. grown in the lab. invade surrounding, healthy brain tissue, While gold nanospheres, without any Once inside, these “nanospheres” were which makes the surgical removal of the accompanying drug, were found to cause exposed to radiotherapy. This caused the tumour virtually impossible.” significant cell damage, treatment-resistant gold to release electrons which damaged Used on their own, chemotherapy drugs cell populations did eventually recover the cancer cell’s DNA and its overall structure, can cause a dip in the rate at which the several days after the radiotherapy. As a result, thereby enhancing the impact of the tumour spreads. In many cases, however, this is the researchers then engineered a second chemotherapy drug. temporary, as the cell population then recovers. nanostructure which was suffused with cisplatin. The process was so effective that 20 days “We need to be able to hit the cancer cells The chemotherapeutic effect of cisplatin later, the cell culture showed no evidence of directly with more than one treatment at the combined with the radiosensitizing effect of any revival, suggesting that the tumour cells same time” Dr Watts said. “This is important gold nanoparticles resulted in enhanced synergy had been destroyed. because some cancer cells are more resistant enabling a more effective cellular damage. While further work needs to be done before to one type of treatment than another. the same technology can be used to treat Nanotechnology provides the opportunity to R people with glioblastoma, the results offer a give the cancer cells this ‘double whammy’ and Professor Mark Welland highly promising foundation for future therapies. open up new treatment options in the future.” www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/mew10

16 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 New Centres for Doctoral Studies

The Department of Engineering is proud to announce that there are now eight Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) associated with the Department.

CDTs are a bold new approach to training working cultures, build relationships between CDT in Graphene Technology. PhD students and are widely supported by teams in universities and forge lasting links Nano Science & Technology Doctoral business and industry. Students follow a four with industry at a range of levels, from small Training Centre Cambridge (NanoDTC) is year course – 1 foundation year and 3 years of and medium-sized enterprises to large, an interdisciplinary PhD program involving research towards the PhD degree. During the multinational corporations. several departments, including Engineering, first year, students follow a course of lectures Chemistry, Materials Science and Physics. and undertake a number of mini projects. At The eight centres are: the end of the first year, students are awarded CDT in Computational Methods for an MRes degree. Successful students are CDT in Ultra Precision is a collaboration with Material Science – Department of Physics led permitted to continue to the PhD degree Cranfield University. cross-disciplinary CDT, including Chemistry, with a number of Research topics available CDT in Integrated Photonic and Electronic Physics, Materials and Engineering in the Department of Engineering, other Systems (IPES) a joint course with University CDT for Sensor Technologies and Departments in the University of Cambridge College London (UCL). Students from UCL and Applications – is an interdisciplinary and, in some cases, in other institutions. Cambridge can choose modules from both programme lead by the Department of The aim of each centre is to create a institutions in the first year. Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, community of researchers working on current CDT in Future Infrastructure and the Built involving Departments from the Schools and future challenges. The multidisciplinary Environment. of Physical Sciences, Technology, Biological centres bring together diverse areas of Sciences and Clinical Medicine. expertise to train engineers and scientists with CDT in Gas Turbine Aerodynamics – in the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle partnership with Universities of Oxford and R today’s evolving issues. They also create new Loughborough. www.cdt-civil.eng.cam.ac.uk

Graphene and related materials promise cheap, flexible printed cameras

Dr Felice Torrisi, University Lecturer in Graphene Technology, has been awarded a Young International Researchers’ Fellowship from the National Science Foundation of China to look at how graphene and two-dimensional materials could enable printed and flexible eyes.

The vision is to create a technology for cheap substantially increasing the quality of printed flexible cameras that can be printed or and flexible electronics.” stamped on plastic or paper. “For example it The current generation of flexible might eventually be possible to embed these photoactive materials, based on organic printed, flexible optoelectronic devices into polymers have a slow response time clothes, packaging, wall papers, posters, touch (few milliseconds), which is too slow for screens or even buildings. Everybody with a photodetection. This represents a strong printer at home will be able to print their own limitation for flexible electronics in a wide “artificial eye” and physically stick it to a flexible range of applications, from active matrix mobile phone” Felice said. displays to ultrafast light detectors and gas The goal of the project is to design, sensors. Moreover organic polymers suffer develop and characterize inkjet printed 2D from chemical instability at room conditions crystal-based flexible photodetectors and study (temperature and pressure), thus requiring enabling printed, flexible photodetectors and their integration with commercial electronics. extra protective layers or special handling of the possibly paving the way for printed flexible “Photodetectors are needed in cameras, printed devices, leading to an increase in cost. photo-cameras”. automotive applications, sensing and Felice and the team at the Cambridge telecommunications, medical devices and Graphene Centre have been looking to security” he says. “If these could be made formulate a set of inks based on various 2D R flexible they could be integrated in clothes, crystals. He said: “This will create an entirely Dr Felice Torrisi rolled up or printed over any irregular surface, new set of tools for printable electronics, www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/ft242

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 17 n James Dyson with a student during a visit to the Department of Engineering Backing Britain The James Dyson Foundation donates £8m to University of Cambridge to fuel invention powerhouse

The James Dyson Foundation has The James Dyson Foundation supports design, of Research at the Department of Engineering. Philip said: “The new James Dyson donated £8m to create a technology technology and engineering education from primary school to postgraduate level. To date Building for Engineering will go a long way hub at the heart of Cambridge, it has donated £35m to good causes, the most to solving the space crunch we are currently providing the University of recent of which is the £8m to the University of experiencing. This space crunch is the result Cambridge’s brightest engineers Cambridge. The donation will fund the James of a huge surge in research grants. Last year was our most successful year ever for winning with some of the world’s most Dyson Building for Engineering, providing space for Cambridge postgraduate research. grant applications.” advanced engineering laboratories. It also funds a new Dyson Engineering James Dyson said: “Developing the The donation is the largest gift Design Centre within the Department of intellectual property that will help Britain ever received by Cambridge’s Engineering. The donation expands on the succeed in the global technology race depends on applying our brightest minds to Engineering faculty, which has long existing partnership between the James Dyson Foundation and the University, which ambitious and exciting research projects. I’m been the most successful in Europe. includes funding a PhD student and a number hopeful that this new space for Britain’s best of undergraduate engineering projects. engineers at the University of Cambridge will The new four storey building, the James catalyse great technological breakthroughs Dyson Building for Engineering, due to that transform how we live.” open in 2015, will house postgraduates The Dyson Engineering Design Centre, and support world-leading research in due to open in 2015, will be created through areas including advanced materials, smart the re-modelling of an existing workshop. I’m hopeful that“ this new space infrastructure, electric vehicles, and efficient The Centre will include a Bio-inspired Robotics for Britain’s best engineers at internal combustion systems for cars. Bridge laboratory as well as flexible, open plan space the University of Cambridge links across buildings will allow easy access that will encourage the sharing of ideas and will catalyse great technological to testing laboratories housing world-class create a collaborative research environment breakthroughs that transform fluid dynamics machinery, aerodynamics whilst accommodating a variety of practical how we live. equipment and areas for aeroacoustics design and workshop-based undergraduate analysis. Specialist knowledge on research activities. The re-modelled workshop will James Dyson strategies and funding advice will be available provide the space for over 1,200 engineers on site, supported by Philip Guildford, Director to conduct their research.

18 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Credit: ImageCredit: courtesy of Nicholas Architects Hare

n Architects’ impression of the new four storey New James Dyson Building for Engineering James Dyson Building for Engineering to be a live laboratory

As construction gets underway on the new James Dyson Building for Engineering, the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) is preparing to create a live laboratory on site at the Department of Engineering.

Pioneering sensing technologies will be creature. We will be able to ask the building how installed in the infrastructure of the new four- it is feeling and the building will be able to reply.” storey James Dyson Building for Engineering, The extension project is already underway due to open in 2015. and the CSIC team will be on site from autumn Dr Mohammed Elshafie, a member of this year. Dr Elshafie said: “It’s very exciting and the CSIC team involved, said: “We have been certainly has numerous benefits. This will be the developing and installing fibre optic sensing all first time the team has been able to install our Installing“ CSIC sensing over London and the UK, throughout Europe technology without having to deploy a group technologies transforms the and in the US, but rarely had the opportunity of people at 4am in the morning. As the project building from a passive block of to showcase our work in Cambridge. This is a is happening at our own university we can work material into a living creature. chance to populate a new building in our own during office hours.” We will be able to ask the building back yard with a range of sensing technologies how it is feeling and the building so, when CSIC is working with students and will be able to reply. industry, we can demonstrate our sensing devices operating in real time. Installing CSIC R Dr Mohammed Elshafie, CSIC sensing technologies transforms the building CSIC website from a passive block of material into a living www-smartinfrastructure.eng.cam.ac.uk

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 19 Young Consultant of the Year by New Civil Engineer Alumnus Gavin White

Ramboll associate structural engineer Gavin White, New Civil Engineer’s (NCE) Young Consultant of the Year, is currently designing the tallest timber building in the world – a ten-storey residential tower in London.

It is the most recent of more than 40 timber been working for Ramboll (and its predecessor he says. “As engineers we need to be working buildings White has designed, and his passion Whitby Bird) for 12 years, starting in London, on our client’s behalf and not pushing things for the material is evident. He sees the use of and then moving to to the firm’s Cambridge just because we think it’s right.” timber in construction as one of the most simple office in order to focus on educational Given an opportunity, however, he can and effective ways that structural engineers can buildings. This in turn led to the progression be very persuasive. The new City Academy in lead the fight to combat climate change, and is towards timber, as education is one sector Norwich, which opened in 2012, was going to on a crusade to educate the wider design and that has embraced the material. Since then, be built in concrete, which was comparable construction industry about its possibilities as a he has developed his expertise to the extent in price to the alternative timber option. mainstream structural material. that in 2011 he became Ramboll’s worldwide White went back to the supply chain and “I do a lot of talks with architects, expert on timber design. But as a structural found ways to make savings in the cost of contractors and clients to explain what it is engineer, responsible for managing a team of the timber design that eventually convinced and to change perceptions,” says White. “A lot ten people, White is aware that his job is not the contractor that it would be the most cost of people think it’s more expensive, or it can simply to promote one material if it is not the effective solution. The success of this project only be used in small buildings. best solution. led to Ramboll designing another timber ”White’s interest in timber stems from an “Although I like to push timber, I don’t school in Greenford, West London, for the enthusiasm for sustainable design. He has push it blindly. You have to have a reason for it,” same contractor. An alumnus of the Department, White says he is concerned that the next generation of engineers is emerging from university with no real timber engineering knowledge and is working with both Bath and Cambridge Universities to address this by seeking out and supporting areas of timber research. “If the industry is not aware of the advantages timber can present over traditional construction – fast erection, lightweight, carbon negative, clean sites, less waste – professionals will continue to turn to traditional alternatives with which they are familiar,” he says. While White’s passion for timber is undisputed, the judges were impressed by his knowledge of the wider industry, and the articulate way in which he could discuss a wide range of topics, from the technical issues surrounding material choice to the future of the consultancy sector and the role of the structural engineer. “Structural engineers aren’t the people who make the building stand up once the architect’s designs are ready,” he says. “I want to be in there with the architect, shaping the design. ”White’s role models are pioneering engineers who are “visionary in terms of their thinking and design focus” – and in choosing him as Young Consultant of the Year, the judges acknowledged that he has definitely inherited something of that spirit.

This article originally appeared in New Civil Engineer.

20 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 w

Better building through design

The construction industry could slash its carbon emissions by as much as 50% by optimising the design of new buildings, which currently use double the amount of steel and concrete required by safety codes.

The construction industry, which uses half demand from the developing world, drastic of the 1.5 billion tonnes of steel produced action is required if a reduction in the sector’s each year, could drastically reduce its carbon carbon footprint is to be achieved. We need to see“ a more sensible footprint by optimising the design of new One option to achieve this reduction is use of materials in the buildings. Smart design could slash the by designing and building more efficiently, construction sector if we are to sector’s carbon emissions by around 50%, delivering the same performance from meet carbon reduction targets. without any impact on safety. If buildings are buildings but with less steel, but this is not also maintained for their full design life and common practice at present. Dr Julian Allwood not replaced early, the sector’s emissions could “Structural engineers do not usually design in total be cut by around 80% – the target set optimised structures because it would take in the UK’s 2008 Climate Change Act. too much time; instead they use repetition New research from the University of to decrease the cost of construction,” said Cambridge has found that the amount of Dr Julian Allwood of the Department of steel used by the construction industry, and Engineering, who led the research, which was the resulting carbon emissions, could be funded by the UK’s Engineering and Physical significantly lowered by optimising the design Science Research Council (EPSRC). “This leads of new buildings in order to use less material. to the specification of larger steel components At present, in order to keep labour costs than are required.” down, the construction industry regularly The researchers found that building uses double the material required by safety designs are exceeding Eurocode Safety codes. Analysis of more than 10,000 structural Standards by a factor of two and so are over-design and early replacement is that the steel beams in 23 buildings from across the unnecessarily using double the amount of UK could provide the same amount of built UK found that on average, the beams were steel and concrete needed. “As materials are space with just 20% of the materials – and only carrying half the load they were designed cheap and structural design time is expensive, therefore 20% of the carbon emissions – used for. The results are published in the journal it is currently cheaper to complete a design at present. Proceedings of the Royal Society A. by using safe but considerably over-specified “We need to see a more sensible use of Over one-quarter of the steel produced materials,” said Dr Allwood. materials in the construction sector if we are each year is used in the construction of Additionally, many buildings are being to meet carbon reduction targets, regardless buildings. Demand for steel is increasing designed to last for 100 years but on average of the energy mix used in manufacturing the rapidly, especially in the developing world, and are replaced after just 40. materials,” said Dr Allwood. is expected to double in the coming decades. By designing for minimum material rather The iron and steel industry contributes than minimum cost, steel use in buildings nearly 10% of total global carbon emissions, could be drastically reduced, leading to an R which climate change experts recommend equivalent reduction in carbon emissions, at Dr Julian Allwood be halved by 2050. Coupled with skyrocketing relatively low cost. The net result of avoiding www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/jma42

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 21 Designing our Tomorrow Resources to inspire the next generation of engineers

New resources designed to inspire the next generation of engineers by bringing authentic engineering challenges into the classroom have been launched by the University of Cambridge.

Designing our Tomorrow (DOT) is a joint development and engineering work can the global challenges of population ageing project of the Department of Engineering and be, and share this in the classroom,” a and environmental sustainability.” the Faculty of Education at the University of spokesman said. Bill Nichol, Lecturer in Design Education Cambridge.Working in partnership with leading at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of • Heba Bevan, PhD Researcher in Low-power engineering companies and local schools, DOT Education, said “Although 71% of 13 and Wireless Sensor Networks at the University has developed a distinctive teaching approach 14 year olds interviewed for the project of Cambridge’s Centre for Smart Infrastructure and a unique set of resources, ‘DOT in a Box’, said that engineering was ‘cool’, less than half and Construction, said: “Engaging with for teachers to use in Key Stage 3 Design and felt challenged by their lessons and only 38% students in a creative and relevant way at Technology classes. The three boxes being said they were considering a career in design the age of 13 and 14 is critically important launched currently are: Inclusive Design, Sensor and technology. to develop analytical skills and a lifelong Circuits and Picture Holders. Each box includes “By developing and delivering inspirational love of problem solving. These workshops a complete set of teaching resources, which resources for teaching design and technology create a different atmosphere for learning, would normally cover 12 design and technology at secondary level, DOT hopes that all Key encouraging teamwork, innovation, lessons. “Inclusive Design” sets the challenge Stage three students will enjoy challenging and thinking about problems in a multi- of designing more inclusive cutlery. The box lessons and be inspired to consider design dimensional way rather than in a linear input- includes a set of gloves and glasses that mimic as a real and rewarding career path.” output manner. I believe that widespread the effects of human ageing – the gloves restrict implementation of DOT will lead to an dexterity in a similar way to arthritis; while significant increase in the number the glasses mimic common effects of visual of students that pursue careers in science decline with ageing. Immersion in these and and engineering.” other creative/analytical tools contained in the These workshops“ create a box become the starting point to authentic BT, Marshalls and Chesapeake also different atmosphere for engineering design challenges. supported the development of DOT in a Box. The learning, encouraging teamwork, To help ensure that the case studies and project has been piloted in a range of schools, innovation, and thinking challenges are authentic, leading engineering including a number from Cambridgeshire, to about problems in a multi- make sure that the resources work for teachers companies helped to develop the dimensional way. teaching resources: and pupils. The most recent pilot was funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering through its Heba Bevan, PhD Researcher in Low-power • Cambridge Design Partnership contributed Ingenious grant scheme. The project is actively Wireless Sensor Networks real-world industry case studies to inspire seeking additional sponsors for the next phase. the students, including the design of Dulux Ian Hosking, Senior Research Associate PaintPod, a self-cleaning powered painter; at the University of Cambridge’s Engineering and the Waterpebble, a small device with Design Centre, said: “Everything is designed. It is complex electronics to measure water usage how we shape the world around us. Designing R in the shower. “We enjoyed the opportunity Our Tomorrow is about equipping students to For further information email: to demonstrate how interesting product design their futures and in particular address [email protected]

22 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 16 Autumn 2014 Honours, Awards and Prizes

Professor Dame Ann Dowling, former Head of the Department of Engineering, has been honoured by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). She has been awarded the Kate Gleason Award for ‘significant contributions to advance gas turbine engine technology and the engineering science of combustion and acoustics; and for outstanding leadership in industry-university co-operative research Credit: Andy Reid via Flickr Credit: and international engineering education.’

Professor Robert Mair CBE, Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering, has been Engineering the Kelpies appointed Chairman of the Department for Transport’s Science Advisory Council.

Scotland saw the opening of the Kelpies, two thirty metre high Professor Mair is also one of two new Vice Presidents to be elected to the Institution of horse head sculptures either side of a lock in a new canal extension Civil Engineers (ICE). As a world-leading expert in Falkirk. on civil and environmental engineering, Professor Mair’s appointment will bring a The sculptures are the figurehead of a braced flat frames, provides an efficient, strong combination of academic excellence and major redevelopment project called the structure, but also maintains a clear cathedral- professional expertise to the role. Helix, changing an industrial wasteland into like space internally and keeps the structural parkland and reuniting communities in Falkirk density low in key areas. This approach led to Professor Kenichi Soga, Professor and Grangemouth. The finished article is the creation of an internal structure which was of Civil Engineering at the Department visually stunning, but behind the artwork is a sculpture in itself. of Engineering, was invited by the Council eight years of work to take the Kelpies from a The result was 928 unique stainless steel of the Italian Geotechnical Association (AGI) to concept, to an artist’s vision, to an engineered panels, each one based on scanned data of deliver the twelfth Croce Lecture at the Italian reality. Alumna, Felicity Starr, works as a the artist’s maquettes and then optimised National Research Council in Rome, Italy. senior engineer at Atkins. Here she discusses using finite element analysis, first to create some of the key challenges in leading the flattened panels for the laser cutter, and then Professor Soga’s lecture was entitled: development of the engineered solution: to ensure that the panel could be pulled back ‘Understanding the real performance of from a flat plate to the required shape using geotechnical structures using innovative “The form of the structure is based on tenth the discrete support positions. Each panel has sensor technologies.’ scale maquettes, two three metre high been carefully designed to reduce pull forces, miniature models built from 9,115 individually reduce error in final positioning and to ensure Professor Norman Fleck, Professor of cut flat steel plates welded together over a wire the panel had the strength to withstand Mechanics of Materials in the Department frame by the sculptor, Andy Scott. The mosaic high and fluctuating wind loads, as well as of Engineering, and Founder/Director of effect created by the flow of the plates and to maintain the original visual impact. The the Cambridge Centre for Micromechanics, the view through the openings capture the majority of the resulting panels were site fixed received an honorary degree from the horses as if in motion. The challenge was to take onto the erected frame, the ease of assembly Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). these scale models and translate them into an is a testimony to the engineered solution. engineered solution, which had the structural Engineering the Kelpies was a real strength required, whilst being suitably detailed Dr Stephan Hofmann, Reader in privilege. The team created something which Nanotechnology, has been awarded the 2014 for manufacture and transportation, and would not only we can be proud of, but is a source stand as a monument for years to come, and Journal of Physical Chemistry C Lectureship of pride for the community and a symbol by the American Chemical Society (ACS). yet retain the sculptor’s vision. of regeneration for the area.” Working closely with the artist at every Dr Hofmann was recognised for his stage of the design was key. The internal outstanding contributions to the structure design began with discussions on understanding of the growth and device the muscle groups of a horse’s head. The R integration of novel nanomaterials, final form, with columns creating two stiff A time-lapse short film of the Kelpies including carbon nanotubes, graphene and triangular-based structures at the front and and their construction can be viewed semiconductor nanowires. back of the horse’s head interconnected by at vimeo.com/90747645

Issue 16 Autumn 2014 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 23 Credit: Dr Haider Butt Credit:

New use for an old ‘trouble maker’ n Fans of devitrite crystals

A ‘trouble maker’ from a bygone method of glass production could find a new use as an optical diffuser in medical laser treatments, communications systems and household lighting.

A form of crystal that was long considered Devitrite grown in glass consists of needle- These diffusers could be used in a range an unwanted and unloved ‘stone’ in glass like crystals, formed into fan-like shapes. The of practical applications, from medical laser making could find practical use as a cheap and tiny spacings between the needles are similar to treatments, to optical imaging, or even in efficient optical diffuser, which is used to scatter that of the wavelength of visible light, so when everyday household use. For instance, the and soften light for a range of industrial and light passes through the devitrite, it scatters the adoption of high-efficiency LED lighting household applications. light at wide angles of up to 120 degrees. has been slowed somewhat by the harsh Devitrite is a form of crystal which is Optical diffusers are typically either mass light which LEDs produce. A reproducible, produced when commercial soda-lime-silica produced by sandblasting glass, resulting in low low-cost diffuser on an ordinary LED bulb glass is heat treated for extended periods. As it cost devices which diffuse light in a relatively would help address this issue, resulting in degrades the performance of glass by making uniform manner, or more expensive engineered softer, warmer light. it opaque, it was considered a ‘trouble maker’ in holographic diffusers, which can control the “For years, the properties of this material early 20th century glass manufacture and, once shape of the beam of light. were not studied because it was considered identified, its functional properties were never The devitrite-based diffusers developed as just a trouble maker in the glass making studied. Improvements in commercial glass by researchers from the Department of process which needed to be eliminated,” manufacturing have enabled it to be removed Engineering and the Department of Materials says Dr Kevin Knowles of the Department from the final product altogether. Science and Metallurgy diffuse light more of Materials Science and Metallurgy. He However, researchers from the University broadly than the sandblasted devices, while developed the diffusers with Dr Haider of Cambridge have discovered that far from giving some control over the shape of the Butt, formerly of the Department of being fit for the bin, devitrite actually possesses beam, at lower cost than the engineered Engineering’s Photonics Department, many useful characteristics which could make it holographic devices. and now of the University of Birmingham. suitable for a range of practical applications. Devitrite can be produced on a large scale, “But by taking a closer look at it, we found Writing in the journal ACS Nano, the simply by treating ordinary window glass with that it could have a new lease of life with researchers found that the very optical heat. The devitrite crystals grow into the glass real practical applications.” characteristics which help to make devitrite itself, making the diffusers robust and resistant The inventors are currently developing unwanted in commercial glass can make it to damage. In addition, the high melting the technology for commercial use with the extremely useful as an inexpensive and point of the glass means that the diffusers can assistance of Cambridge Enterprise, efficient optical diffuser. withstand temperatures in excess of 500°C. the University’s commercialisation arm.

Department of Engineering University of Cambridge Telephone: +44 (0)1223 748228 Trumpington Street Email: [email protected] Cambridge CB2 1PZ www.eng.cam.ac.uk