Inaugural lectures
Wednesday 20th June, 2012 at 5pm – Lecture Theatre T.0.003 (Wolfson Building)
Please note - due to enhanced security measures as part of the Team GB preparation camp, all those wishing to attend this lecture must book in advance before the 18th June 2012.
Intelligent and Integrated Systems: why I love engineering and sport and physics and …
Professor Andy West School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
Research and development into manufacturing and sport are often focused on trying to create “products” that are “better, faster and cheaper” than the competition.
Considering the worldwide competitive environment, reduced time to market and lower lifecycle cost are critical advantages for manufacturing enterprises. However, these advantages cannot be achieved at the expense of better products, otherwise the discerning consumer may purchase alternatives.
Producing athletes and sporting goods that are better than the global competition is the main goal of elite sports research and development. Nevertheless benefits must be evaluated in terms of the associated costs. This is less of an issue for the wealthy few (i.e. the football premiership elite, global sporting brands) but for the less affluent it is essential that interventions produce improvements, not only in performance, but also in resource utilisation.
In this lecture Professor West will evaluate research activities targeted at improving the performance of the UK’s manufacturing and sporting elite, centred on the application of “intelligent and integrated systems” concepts. These concepts are defined as the application of software, controls, sensors, networks and other information technologies to achieve: (i) rapid, cost predictive development of innovative products and processes and (ii) highly productive, safe and secure machines and systems that are easy adapted and reconfigured in response to changing conditions and new opportunities.
Professor West will also highlight research contributions via discussion of: (i) a range of industrial applications in the automotive, electronics, pharmaceutical and bioscience domains and (ii) sports-based systems in elite cricket, rugby, swimming, cycling and strength and conditioning.