Tranche 3 projects

Near-beta-titanium alloys present a compelling substitute for traditional medium-strength steels to achieve weight-reduction goals, while paving the ways for a greener aviation which are aligned with the Net-zero targets. Near-beta-titanium alloys provide excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature stability, low-thermal expansion, resilience, and durability. However, these alloys, while promising, face a challenge of sporadic failure stemming from insufficient local fracture toughness. This susceptibility is believed to be intricately tied to the microstructure, processing defects, and material aging. There exists notable gap in research, particularly in robust materials modelling and prediction, leaving the responsible phase or feature for these sporadic failures largely unexplored. This work will be focused on understanding the sporadic failure in near-beta-titanium alloys, viz. Ti5553, using sophisticated microstructure-based modelling techniques developed in-house. Aim of the work would be to fine-tune our models using NMIS experimental data and then use it to uncover the influence of microstructural and other intricacies on sporadic fracture, paving the way for enhanced materials performance. In addition, these computational models offer several environmental benefits, such as reduced carbon-footprint through reduced number of physical experiments; minimising resource consumption and waste generation; reduction in energy consumption, while contributing towards sustainability efforts and accelerating innovation and development process.

HARBORSS aims to revolutionize waste management by repurposing food biomass, including seaweed, cocoa, and coffee pod husks, for the synthesis of advanced
biomaterials. Aligned with the NET zero principle, the initiative seeks to utilise organic waste to create biomaterials with a significantly lower carbon footprint than traditional counterparts. Through a circular economy approach, the proposed revalorization process will involve sequential extraction processes to obtain various types of biopolymers (e.g., alginate and pectin) and antioxidants (e.g., polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids), as well as carbon dots, without generating residues from the food biomass. In collaboration with CPI, the applicant will focus on formulating the biomaterials and designing scalable processes using safety and sustainability-driven approaches e.g. planetary boundaries framework. Additionally, CPI will support the technology translation for the optimised natural-based formulations, targeting various applications, such as lab- grown meat and diagnostics for drug discovery. This interdisciplinary endeavour bridges environmental sustainability with cutting-edge biomaterial science, showcasing the potential for a harmonious synergy between waste reduction, resource efficiency, and the global pursuit of sustainable development.

Swiss Air have begun operating its first Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with an “AeroSHARK” riblet film. Riblets are streamwise grooves aligned with the flow direction with a typical depth of 20-100 μm that reduce skin friction drag. The technology was proven in the 1980’s on aircraft as well as marine applications. However riblet adhesive plastic films have not until now been used in regular commercial aircraft service since the films are difficult to manufacture, add significant weight, affect the aesthetics and hamper maintenance and inspection.
This research proposal would allow a collaboration with the MTC to investigate laser surface texturing (LST) of a paint layer as a potential alternative method of ingraining microscale riblet-like structures, avoiding the weight and maintenance/inspection issues of riblet films and providing better durability. The research will thus contribute to Net Zero by reducing the fuel volumes of Hydrogen (and hydrocarbon) fuelled aircraft, particularly important when cryogenic storage will significantly increase external surface area. This research will use LES CFD to model LST sample profiles that have been manufactured by the MTC to evaluate their performance. It would also explore whether more complex textured patterns are more effective than the longitudinal grooves currently used in riblet films process.

Decarbonisation of reinforced concrete constructions is one of the primary objectives of any route maps developed for achieving net-zero industrial emission goals. The excellent properties and the significant volume of concrete used worldwide indicate that its large-scale replacement is not feasible. There is, therefore, a need for the development of solutions that allow for significant reduction of the embodied carbon of concrete constructions using existing technologies. The application of emerging non-metallic textile grids to the reinforcement of concrete, the so-called Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) is one of the most effective strategies for achieving this urgent need. TRCs are several times lighter and stronger than reinforced concrete. The non-metallic nature of textiles eliminates the corrosion problem and allows for reducing the concrete cover thickness to nearly zero. These combinations allow the development of ultra-low-carbon light-weight concrete components. However, the lack of awareness and of design/practice guidelines for the use of TRCs, have hindered their application and uptake in the UK construction sector. The proposed project will address these gaps and will develop the required guides/publications and disseminate them across the sector through a joint collaboration between University of Birmingham, NCC and an industrial advisory panel.

With the ambitious target of 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030, it is expected that half will come from ‘blue’ hydrogen using methane reforming and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. Three projects selected as part of the track-1 Cluster Sequencing process are hydrogen projects involving retrofitting and new plants integrated with CCS. Recent regulator’s guidance has established a design carbon capture rate of at least 95%. Thus, this project examines the impacts for hydrogen projects t achieve higher carbon capture rates. The approach will include a combination of techno-economic assessment and whole system models available at the Energy Systems Catapult which will enable the expansion of hydrogen projects and support the development of the hydrogen economy. The project aims are to research three main areas:

1. Selection of reforming technologies such as steam methane reforming and auto-thermal reforming and their potential configurations for carbon capture, e.g. post-combustion, pre-
combustion, oxy-combustion.
2. Emissions and effects of carbon capture rates beyond 95%, including transient operation.
3. Assessing plant configurations against hydrogen quality requirements based on end-users.

In-field assessment of biodiversity is becoming increasingly technified, for example, through terrestrial remote sensing; simultaneously, earth observation data is increasingly available at finer scale resolution globally. Methods to produce robust relationships between species level metrics from on-the-ground biodiversity monitoring and earth observation data will play a key role in scaling up natural resource assessments to regional or country levels. This project will investigate how these relationships can be developed and scaled up, using audio data, species occurrence data and suites of earth observation variables related to topography, vegetation indices, habitat connectivity and disturbance.
This research fits within the government’s Net Zero strategy, for example, within commitments in the natural resources sector, with potential impacts in monitoring policies related to afforestation and habitat restoration (e.g. Nature for Climate fund). Further, it responds to an increasing demand within industry to be able to monitor its impact on biodiversity, or the impact of changing biodiversity on industry, within voluntary frameworks, and forthcoming legislation (e.g. UK Biodiversity Metric, Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures). Several companies already offer earth observation products with the above purposes (mainly based on earth observation or vegetation indices) with the potential for improvement from the above linkages to biodiversity metrics.

There would be two parallel projects: The first project would focus on further developing outcomes from an existing Future Manufacturing Composites Hub Project with University of Nottingham (Harper, Parsons) examining liquid thermoplastic moulding featuring a caprolactam injection system and a double-diaphragm tooling concept to produce compelling ‘tea-tray’ type parts. The project would involve a partnership between the applicant and the above collaborators at AMRC to take the process to increased TRL on a commercial scale press. The second project would be a partnership between the applicant, a splicing technology company (AirbondUK), an intermediates fabric weaver/braider (e.g. Sigmatex), and a first tier supplier to characterize the property knock- downs due to distributed arrays of fibre splices in commercial panels. This would draw a boundary around the property space for these spliced fabric-based panel products,
improve understanding of the splice mechanics, increase confidence in the spliced technique in the sector, and highlight the potential of the splicing technique to facilitate a new market of intermediate property composite products at an intermediate price point between prepreg and chopped strand mat. The applicant is looking at the potential to additionally subsidise the second project or expand its scope using a Smart Grant route.

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers design flexibility and reduces the cost and environmental impact of manufacturing metal structures. Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) is a direct energy deposition-based AM technique capable of fabricating large parts from various metals. Combined with a milling process, WAAM can be used to repair localised damages on components, extending their service life, or add features to conventional metal parts. WAAM and milling should be conducted in the same machine with both milling and deposition heads attached to a 6-axis robot to not compromise WAAM flexibility and scale capabilities. Conventional cutting lubricants cannot be used to avoid contamination during WAAM. Cranfield University, a pioneer in WAAM, has implemented this hybrid manufacturing approach and validated its benefits on aluminium alloys. Next, Cranfield University seeks to collaborate with the Nuclear AMRC to demonstrate the feasibility of processing more challenging materials, such as high-temperature alloys critical to nuclear applications, in an industrial-scale facility. The Nuclear AMRC‘s machining experts and their state-of-the-art knowledge of innovative cutting lubricants and tools will support the Cranfield researchers in advancing the technology readiness of this manufacturing approach and generating experimental evidence to accelerate future industrial deployment.

New engineering devices being developed in various industrial sectors including transport, energy, automotive, and biomedical implants, frequently require lightweight materials with high strength and toughness. The recent advancements in computational capabilities and topology optimisation methods, invention of precise manufacturing methods such as metal additive manufacturing (AM), as well as significant developments in in-situ experimental techniques, created a major opportunity for inventions of novel lattice materials. AM’ed metal lattices are exploited in a wide range of multifunctional applications, such as vibration and sound control devices, heat exchangers, lightweight structural panels, and biomedical implants. From a strength perspective, lattice structures with hollow struts provide a higher load carrying capacity per unit density in comparison to conventional lattices. However, developing and optimising the design of micro-lattices with tubular struts and high energy absorption continues to be a need. In this proposed research, the challenges toward creation and optimisation of multimaterial lattices with tubular struts will be addressed by making use of my multidisciplinary knowledge in computational techniques, machine learning (ML), mechanics, design, as well as materials science and metallurgy.

Strategic oil reserves are a necessary component of many countries’ energy systems to help mitigate the risks of oil supply disruptions on security of supply. However, with the increasing electrification of transport and a corresponding decrease in demand for oil there are open research questions around the scale and type of strategic stores of energy that may be needed for net-zero energy systems. What might count as a strategic store of energy, e.g., strategic demand management? Are strategic stores of energy within country boundaries as necessary in future? How much energy might be required, and why, and how might this be incentivised through various policies? This Researcher in Residence proposal will focus on these questions to provide evidence and international thought leadership by working with policy, international engagement, and modelling groups within the Energy Systems Catapult. Furthermore, to deliver greater impact from the research, the aim is to use the project to build closer relationships between Dr Grant Wilson, the Energy Systems Catapult, DESNZ and the International Energy Agency (who mandate strategic oil stores for their members). The aim here is for the project to both be influenced by and to influence thinking and policy in this crucially important area.

Net Zero and Sustainability is recognised as a National Challenge and the HVMC has incorporated it as a key strategic focus. A cornerstone area of sustainability is comprised of the challenges associated with material manufacture and usage throughout their lifecycle. To ensure their sustainability, it is crucial to go beyond the production phase and focus on efficient utilisation, product durability, reuse/ re-manufacture and responsible recycling. Due to the complexity of material systems, significant obstacles exist when developing sustainability strategies using traditional methods. These approaches necessitate extensive data collection, analysis, and assessment at each lifecycle stage, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. To overcome these challenges, computational methods for simulating complex behavior of materials are essential. Reliable prediction requires reducing reliance on empirical descriptions and embracing physics-based modelling approaches. The proposed project aims to develop a physics-based materials & informatics framework for the sustainable use of engineering materials. In particular, to assess the impact of end-of-life compositions on microstructure and mechanical properties, through application of MTC machine learning algorithms and physics-based material models developed by M2i2 at the University of Sheffield. Digital threading will link simulation tools to the physical environment, thus unlocking the full potential of predictive capabilities to higher
TRLs.

Digitalisation and process monitoring such as sensor, digital signal processing, and machine learning in the form of advanced NDT are increasingly deployed for optimal process performance in manufacturing. There is a need to have favorable microstructures to induce suitable mechanical properties to operate in demanding environments and this is achieved with laser shock peening which is a complex, multi-facet process, that cannot be monitored/evaluated visually and or without the use of not only destructive, but also timely measurements. Safety-critical parts working in harsh environments need to have favorable compressive stresses. With that said, adopting non-destructive methodologies, namely acoustic emission (both airborne and contact sensors) will be deployed to elucidate the mechanism of material interaction between the part and the laser shock peening process parameters. This will enable live process monitoring to provide closed-
loop capability whilst changing process parameters as well as the detection and monitoring of residual compressive stresses exerted by the laser shock peening process. All this provides in-situ process evaluation and quality control where implants, for example, are more wear-resistant and less prone to debris, which often leads to a second operation. Taking this further, aircraft parts working with longer life at continued hot temperatures address Net Zero/Resilience.

Both surface and internal damage in safety-critical components, such as turbine discs, fan blades, and landing gear, can lead to catastrophic failures, posing serious threats to reliability and performance of these components. Detecting and mitigating damage is equally vital for industries like aerospace, power and energy, automotive and medical industry to ensure safety. A major challenge in identifying machining-induced surface damage lies in the absence of non-destructive and in-situ methods. Conventional X-ray diffraction methods are destructive, wasteful in terms of time and energy. A similar challenge arises when inspecting complex damage in composite components, like matrix and delaminate cracking, which begins at the microstructural level, rendering it hard to detect with traditional inspection techniques. This project’s objective is to pioneer advanced ultrasonic array technology and data analysis techniques for the detection and characterisation of damage within safety-critical components, both internally and on their surfaces. By integrating these technologies with inverse modeling methods, the project aims to furnish precise information about the size, location, and extent of damage in its early stages, providing early warnings for necessary actions and enhancing component integrity assessment. The project’s outcomes will contribute to progress toward achieving Net Zero by preventing component destruction and failure.

The objective is to produce a logic chain of business support for health-tech start-ups encouraging them to implement carbon-neutral practices at an early stage of their venture. This would enhance the catapult’s innovation support (e.g. Climate Innovation Incubator) towards businesses within Life Sciences (contributing to around 5% of the UKs carbon emission), and businesses where Clean Growth considerations are not a primary focus. To ensure clear awareness of challenges for start-ups within this specific sector, yet not being too restrictive as to stifle innovation, I will utilise my expertise developed in five years of business start-up research, the evaluation of West Midlands Health Tech Innovation Accelerators, and during my secondment at the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership where Life Sciences was one of five priority areas. A one-year project would start with the development of a database of interventions (audit phase), followed by an in-depth case study, both feeding into the development of the logic model. I will look at incubation, acceleration, and financial support interventions within the Energy Catapult and how business support can consolidate two potentially conflicting goals within health-tech start-ups: the production of a commercially viable product and being carbon-neutral.

A successful development of low-cost hydrogen storage tanks made using a lightweight carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) is essential for realising green transportation. Hydrogen has a high calorific value, but it occupies a lot of space, making it uneconomical for transport and other applications. Currently available CFRP tank stores hydrogen at high pressure allowing for more energy to be stored in a smaller volume. Increasing storage density enable a driving range of >300 miles for all automotives but overall temperature can fluctuate between −40°C and +85°C causing thermal stress induced microcracks in plastic lining acting as hydrogen barrier. PEEK plastic with low hydrogen solubility and fire resistance as well as excellent mechanical properties, and thermal stability can be used to make a light weight CFRP tank to storage hydrogen at high pressure. However, the potential of PEEK has not yet realised due to lack of optimisation efforts for easy processing, low hydrogen permeability as well as thermal stability and endurance. To address these challenges, the project will modify the PEEK polymer and mix with hollow carbon fibres to make plastic liner capable of withstanding higher hydrogen pressure without developing microcracks at large temperature fluctuations. This project aims to increase the storage density by 1% leading to reduction in cost by $2.5 per unit power developed using hydrogen fuel. A successful completion of project will make hydrogen fuelled vehicles similar if not as practical as the fossil fuel vehicles and hence, help achieve major milestone in journey to Net Zero carbon emission.

This project addresses the urgent need to improve the reliability and cost-effectiveness of floating wind turbines (FWTs) as a crucial element in achieving net-zero emissions. With the global shift towards a sustainable energy future, FWTs in deep waters are becoming increasingly significant. The FWT support structures are subject to a harsh marine environment, with substantial uncertainties from wind, wave, and current loads. The current generic design standards, with their suggested partial safety factors, are inadequate in accurately accommodating these uncertainties. This often results in structures that are either over-engineered or under-engineered, leading to escalated costs and environmental impacts.
To address these challenges, this project proposes the development of an innovative reliability-based design and optimisation framework. This framework will integrate a stochastic structural model, advanced reliability assessment techniques, and optimisation methods. By integrating these methodologies, we aim to create FWT support structures that not only perform reliably but also contribute to the broader goal of achieving Net Zero emissions. The proposed framework will revolutionise the way FWT support structures are designed, ensuring they are both reliable and cost effective. This project represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and economically viable offshore wind energy industry.

This research project aims to develop an energy mapping Digital Twin technology that contributes towards net zero in wind turbine energy, encompassing various stages from mining to storage and utilisation in Northern Ireland (NI). This project is a collaboration between a researcher from Ulster University and major Catapults such as Digital, Energy Systems, and Offshore Renewable Energy. This project will first investigate the latest mathematical models of wind turbines to gauge energy retraction and harvesting capabilities. Then, energy production and efficiency will be measured and analysed for output optimisation through design analysis and smart grid integration. The project will also study current storage systems of excess energy being used to evaluate storage efficiencies and cost-benefit analyses. Then, detailed studies in the utilisation of stored energy will be explored. Through the extensive networks of the Catapults, the researcher aims to work with established R&D and industries in NI, such as Renewables (SSE), Maritime (Artemis) and Aerospace (Spirit AeroSystems), developing Digital Twins capable of control analysis, fault diagnosis and predictive maintenance, thus enabling lifecycle assessment (LCA) and exploration of sustainable practices. Outcomes from this research can be used to inform stakeholders and the public about the benefits of wind energy through various

A number of solid-state processing routes have been developed by my research group over the last few years (largely through EPSRC funding) to tackle the growing global challenge of aerospace metal waste (e.g. machining swarf/chips and unusable AM powder). At the lower TRL levels, we have demonstrated that near-net shapes can be produced with excellent mechanical properties from a range of alloys, including steels, Al alloys, Ti alloys, Zr alloys and Ni-based superalloys. Such NNS parts can be functionally graded from different alloy waste powders and incorporated with ceramic particulates to create metal matrix composites. Such processing routes developed by my team in Sheffield include the exploitation of field-assisted sintering technology (FAST) and include FAST-forge, FAST-DB and FAST-roll. The aim of the RiR opportunity would be to work with the AFRC/NMIS to scale up these emerging solid-state processing routes for a range of future aerospace and non-aerospace parts. As a RiR I will work with HVMC and their industry members to help provide an understanding of the metallurgy and processing requirements, in order for
them to industrialise these routes, become part of a future supply chain and train their staff in the reuse, repurpose and recycling of aerospace waste.

The recent announcement of the UK government’s funding for the development of a High- Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) demonstrator indicates the necessity for new high temperature alloys that are more cost-effective and easier to manufacture in thick-walled shape compared to the extensively researched nickel alloys in the aerospace industry. Nickel alloy 800H has been proposed by EDF Energy as a potential candidate; however, this alloy lacks widespread characterisation. In this project, cutting-edge welding and machining technologies at the Nuclear AMRC will be applied for the first time to alloy 800H. Laser and electron beam welded components will be produced, then cut and characterised using electron microscopy facilities and mechanical testing devices at the University of Bristol. Aluminium-based claddings will be produced at the Nuclear AMRC to understand the effect of oxidation and carburization at high temperatures, which is a crucial aspect in impure helium environments. The final aim of this project is to demonstrate an optimal manufacturing process for an intermediate heat exchanger that will be essential for enduring the pressure load at high temperatures, up to 950C, in the helium gas used as a coolant.

The UK is an island nation relying heavily on maritime transport sector for the movement of goods. Understanding and highlighting the sector’s strategic importance for UK society by increasing the knowledge exchange amongst academia, industry, and policy is crucial for its development. The transition to green maritime will support the creation of new jobs across coastal communities and help them unlock their potential to become the epicentre for green economic growth. That will attract skilled people to design, manufacture and operate clean maritime technology, while the UK will position itself as a global leader in maritime decarbonisation. Understanding the energy needs and patterns of green vessels operating in the UK will provide an informed base view for the future vessel design serving the UK, as they will operate based on different business models than current fossil-fuelled vessels. Ports’ role as a natural refuelling hub needs a tailor-made approach to identify the energy needs of such vessels. This project will provide a holistic overview of the green vessels and port operations, which will provide the exact investments required to supply the alternative fuel and power needed for the system to operate.

Project ZEGO (Zero Emissions Ground Operations) will support airports in decarbonisation of ground -based emissions and support their transition to zero emissions ground operations, via;
-Assessment of ground operation emission inventories and identification of ‘win-win’ opportunities to decarbonise and support ZEF (for example, upgrades to electrical power network, H2 GSE).
– Considerations arising from the interaction of new infrastructure and operations with incumbent equipment and vehicles at the airport.
– Analysis of new operations and infrastructure requirements for transportation of hydrogen on the airfield and delivery to aircraft and GSE.
– Investigation of aircraft stand (re)configuration and design considerations, accounting for exclusion zones, new infrastructure and adjacent stand operations by traditional aircraft types (i.e. the “stand of the future”).
Outcomes from the project will inform airports to assist in establishing pathways for zero emissions ground operations, including the frameworks for conducting tests and trials of novel technologies and processes. Outcomes from the projects will also assist in wider standards development, as well as identification of relevant changes needed in regulation and standards (for example, updates required to IATAs Ground Operations Manual reflecting handling of H2).

National ambitions for 2035 Net Zero energy system and regional provision of ancillary services highlight the importance of decarbonising heat and transport sectors and understanding their interplay with low-voltage electricity distribution networks, which typically lack extensive monitoring. In collaboration with Energy Systems Catapult, the project delineates research including:
(i) Developing deep generative models of current distribution networks, incorporating technical, socio-economic, and demographic data at postcode level. These models will anticipate annual network configuration, reinforcements, and the integration of new technologies up to 2035.
(ii) Using agent-based model to analyse decision making and interactions of stakeholders, including distribution network owners’ reinforcement or reconfiguration, reginal system planners’ incentives on flexibility/low-carbon technologies, distributed resource owners’ investment and technological portfolio, and demand response of consumers.
(iii) Running power flow and contingency analysis to examine real-time network operations being subject to thermal and voltage constraints under various scenarios.
(iv) Crafting a visually explainable tool to make research findings accessible, transparent, and engaging for all stakeholders.
The outcomes of this project will empower stakeholders to make informed decisions on infrastructure investment, flexibility potential, system planning and operational control, paving the way towards a resilient, intelligent, and efficient energy infrastructure poised to successfully navigate the path to Net Zero.

Porous coating over solid structures have shown remarkable delay in flow separation when such structures are placed in high-speed flow. This motivates us to employ such porous coating on wind turbine blades to reduce massive flow separation commonly incurred by the blades. Massive flow separation on wind turbine blades leads to high frequency blade vibrations and high aerodynamic drag for wind turbines. To mitigate such problems wind turbines are forced to operate less efficiently at sub-optimal blade rotation speeds and pitch angles. With carefully designed wind turbine blade-coating porosity we can mitigate wind turbine operational challenges associated with massive flow separation. The project proposed here will first undertake high-fidelity fluid dynamic simulations of blade coating with varying levels of porosity to develop a broad physical understanding. Subsequently adata-driven porosity optimisation strategy using AI/ML-based techniques will be developed and connected to NMIS’s data-driven manufacturing and precise machining facilities, for 3D printing of porous-coated wind turbine blades. Such innovative wind turbine blade concepts can be tested in wind-tunnels and scaled up via other projects to develop highly efficient wind turbines towards UK’s Net Zero strategy.

Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), such as drones, offer a promising solution for inspecting offshore wind turbines. However, inspection occurs when the turbines are non-operational
due to the strong aerodynamic influences (air turbulence) of the blades interacting with the smaller multi-rotor UAVs. As such, downtime is needed, and energy generation is lost. To counteract, this project will develop a state-of-the-art solution to improve the feasibility of UAVs inspecting operating wind turbines. During these inspections, it is critical to maintain a constant distance from the turbine blade, implying the UAV must rotate at the same speed as the turbine whilst being exposed to its turbulence. However, this turbulence causes vibrations in the UAV and adversely affects the quality of data produced from its on-board sensors and cameras. As such, this project will:
1) Develop a modelling method for the aerodynamic turbulence of wind turbines and UAVs to quantify their interaction during inspections.
2) Develop a solution to resist the vibration of UAV flight (considerate of aerodynamic interactions) by integrating the proposed model with our existing multi-timestep inverse simulation method.
3) Evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed methods using the rotorcraft testbed (Swansea University) and the 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine (ORE Catapult).

Telemetry and communication between CubeSats and ground stations is still limited to traditional low-gain antennas. Such antennas are suitable to communicate with large aperture ground stations, however, to establish links with small mobile receivers such as vehicles, the traditional communication system on a satellite needs to be complemented with highly directional beam-steering antennas offering wide bandwidth and fast data-rates. Antennas such as reflectors, patch arrays, and horns and being explored for satellites, but they require physical deployment, adding to the mechanical complexity of satellite design and launch. They tend to be heavy and can be impacted by solar winds. The currently used sub-3 GHz band tends to have a narrow bandwidth which limits its capabilities.

This proposal is not so much a ‘project’, as an idea that aligns with the RiR Tranche 3 CPC theme of “Overcoming barriers to innovation-friendly procurement in the rail sector”. I believe my personal research interests and professional experience would allow me to add value to this initiative. The scope of my contribution will be developed in collaboration with CP Catapult between EOI and final submission. My professional experience is in both project management and procurement related to capital projects. My current research focus is on why seemingly innovative techniques are slow to be adopted in this field. I feel I could make a useful contribution to the CPC project, though I have not yet discussed this in detail with CP Catapult. I understand some $44Bof capital spend is planned by Network Rail during CP7 (2024-9), and procurement-related improvements are expected to bring significant efficiency benefits over previous practice. There is a perception that public sector procurement is reluctant to use project procurement approaches that have been demonstrated to deliver improved project performance and value, and that facilitate process and technical innovation and improvement. It would be great to contribute in some way to this important initiative.

The UK Government has placed considerable emphasis on strengthening space satellite communication as a key strategic priority. Recognizing the critical nature of enhanced satellite communication capabilities, the government aims to achieve faster data transmission and efficient delivery of large volumes information to support various applications. CubeSats have brought a new approach to low-earth-orbit (LEO) exploration, and they offer a resilience and communication in great potential in various space mission. The aim of this project is to design and implement a circularly-polarised aperture-coupled ReflectArray (CPACR) CubeSat antenna to enhance the reliability and robustness of communication systems for CubeSats operating in challenging space environments. The CPACR CubeSat antenna will be utilised metamaterial artificial structures, which are highly innovative and potentially valuable for CubeSat space communication. Additionally, the solar-cells integration for self-harvesting energy would make the antenna highly efficient performance. The artificial unit-cell structure, multilayer, beam-steering, and phase control mechanism will boost performance with enhance gain, bandwidth, and efficiency, and potentially enabling more reliable long-distance communication critical for space technologies. The outcome of the project is to develop a cost-effective prototype to reduce interference in long-distance communication, ensuring a rapid-reliable, and uninterrupted resilience communication that will strengthen the country’s position in space technologies.

In composite material inspection, accurate defect detection is crucial for ensuring material integrity. Our project seeks to enhance this process by integrating machine vision with ultrasonic inspection techniques. We aim to utilise RGB-D cameras and machine vision technology for identifying surface damages, obstacles during scanning, and geometric features of composite materials, as well as correlating part geometry with ultrasonic indications. The fusion of visual data with ultrasonic feedback, already in progress at the National Composite Centre (NCC) using ML and AI for ultrasonic data analysis, forms the cornerstone of this project. By analysing both modalities, our AI-driven system will adeptly differentiate true defects from surface anomalies. This dual-modality approach is set to significantly boost the accuracy of defect detection and classification while reducing false positives andenhancing the reliability of inspections. One key component of our project is the use of a state-of-the-art robotic platform available in the NCC. This platform enables automation, ensuring comprehensive coverage and consistent data acquisition. The robotic system, equipped with both ultrasonic sensors and RGB-D cameras, will navigate complex composite structures, seamlessly integrating visual and ultrasonic data. This real-time data fusion, processed through advanced algorithms, will provide a more detailed understanding of material integrity.

This project is about understanding what works in securing alternative, non-public investment to grow our towns and cities. Challenging existing and cyclical patterns of public investment and municipal growth, this project begins to look at alternative investment as an alternative economic space. Specifically, the project will look at: (i) municipal bonds; and (ii) smart commons. Whilst municipal bonds are now in many respects tried and tested, there is outstanding work on their potential for scale-up, the appetite and capacity to mainstream investors, and their transposability to corporate and private lending. Whilst there have been several recent UK schemes (e.g., Aberdeen, Warrington) aimed at post-covid recovery and green capital growth, these remain largely ad hoc. The focus here will be on identifying good practice, and identifying barriers to scale-up. By contrast, smart commons – the dual or transferred ownership of urban assets such as land for financial gain – remains underexplored. In the North American context, smart commons provides a theoretical way for communities to extract finance from accelerating land values in urban renewal schemes for alternative urban investment. The focus here will be on how this can be implemented in the UK to generate further investment potential.

As societies push for Net Zero carbon emissions and sustainable energy solutions, the focus on developing Net Zero energy systems is growing. However, there’s a crucial oversight in ensuring the
resilience of these systems amid the transition. While efforts concentrate on energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints, the risks introduced by new energy systems and emerging technologies, like green hydrogen, often go unnoticed. The escalating impacts of climate change, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events, further amplify these risks. Resilience engineering is pivotal in ensuring the adaptability and robustness of complex systems during disruptions. Yet, existing studies mostly address resilience at the operational level, leaving a significant gap in early design phases. For Net Zero energy systems, decisions made during early design significantly influence a system’s ability to withstand challenges. This research proposal aims to fill this critical gap by creating a quantitative resilience assessment framework for Net Zero energy systems, focusing on early-stage design. The framework will identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities, especially considering the risks associated with achieving net zero energy goals and the dangerous nature of certain technologies as well as those of the interdependencies of complex engineering systems. By integrating resilience principles early on, the research seeks to empower engineers and stakeholders, providing the necessary tools and knowledge to develop net zero energy systems that not only prioritise efficiency but also possess inherent resilience. This approach ensures energy systems can navigate emerging challenges, contributing to a
sustainable and resilient future.

We propose a collaborative initiative with CPI to undertake an exhaustive assessment of our mass spectrometry-based diagnostic tool that combines novel laser desorption technology with ambient mass spectrometry to diagnose cancer. Our device shows promise for revolutionising cervical screening through high-throughput population testing yet requires detailed technical evaluation and alignment with regulatory standards to progress towards manufacturing a market-ready, safe, and effective tool. Currently at TRL3, the project requires a well-defined regulatory and safety framework, along which the development is aligned for successful product launch. CPI has infrastructural and expertise capacities that could support the engineering/technical challenges that our project currently faces. Combining our platform and technical knowledge with CPIs capacities in product development and manufacturing would enable the advancement of the system from its current prototype phase to intended environment testing phase. The resulting report on regulatory alignment will also underpin our efforts to secure additional funding for subsequent phases, ultimately leading to the full-scale development and deployment of the device. Our collaboration with CPI will be crucial in navigating the path to regulatory approval and achieving a significant leap from TRL3 to a stage where our innovation can attract the investment necessary for final product realisation.

This project aims to develop the imaging of a 3D subcutaneous (S.C.) model, using exemplar nanoparticles to explore particle distribution and subsequently immune cell activation. This is particularly important due to previous issues seen in vivo during the development of other therapeutics delivered via the S.C. route. The project would start with a commercially available hydrogel and nanoparticles exposed either via application to the top of the gel or injection. Imaging modalities would then be used to try and determine particle distribution in the gels. Following this, single cell lines will be incorporated into the commercially available hydrogel and cellular activation explored within the gel. Particular interest is to determine whether distance from the site of exposure alters the activation. Immune cells that are relevant to the administration site such as dendritic cells, macrophages and mast cells would be used to incorporate into the gels to start with. The hope would be that this simple model could be used to determine potential immune reactions at the site of insertion or injection. These immune reactions could then be used to help predict whether the particles would be compatible for S.C. delivery and determine factors affecting nanoparticle residence time and bio distribution.

Medicine is the most common treatment for controlling ADHD symptoms. However, pre- existing conditions and prescribed medication can severely affect treatment. For instance, patients with substance abuse disorders might develop addictions when prescribed with stimulants or certain blood pressure medication may interact with stimulants reducing their effectiveness while increasing their side effects. The aim of this project is to showcase the benefits of Hybrid Artificial Intelligence to discover adverse drug effects caused by drug interactions and pre-existing conditions. Valuable information about drug interactions, pharmacological actions, adverse effects and bio-chemical composition exists in various formats that are stored in numerous (often heterogeneous) data sources. Leveraging this information, this project will focus on: a) building a Knowledge Graph to enable a formal description of ADHD-treatment by combining knowledge representation and advanced natural language processing models to formulate and integrate existing knowledge from disparate sources; b) proposing a deductive system to discover drug interactions using fine-grained rules based on the pharmacological action of drugs and c) updating the proposed knowledge graph by employing predictive analysis on sources that document non deductible drug interactions. This product will benefit mental healthcare providers by reducing the risk of adverse effects and ineffective treatment of ADHD drug interventions.

Current pre-clinical standards in orthopaedics manufacturing dictate acceptable limits for mechanical wear and roughness of the contacting interfaces, to ensure devices meet these criteria experimental testing is undertaken using joint simulators and gait kinematics over millions of cycles. This process is costly and time consuming, computational modelling of the mixed lubrication which occurs at the contacting interfaces has the capacity to enhance such strategies and move toward in-silico trials. To deliver this a multiscale modelling approach to mixed lubrication is required, this must incorporate both the device geometry and surface asperities which act together to determine the mechanical wear in operation. Current trends in manufacturing have shifted toward laser surface texturing using highly precise and controllable subtractive techniques. This provides an opportunity to explore novel parameterised surface definitions from which wear can be characterised and aligned with standards for orthopaedics. This project will deliver a multiscale mixed lubrication model applied to laser textured surfaces using hip replacements as an example to accurately predict wear during their deployment in pre-clinical trials. Validation will be performed concurrently using tribometers and gravimetric analysis. The MTC will support laser texture parameterisation, manufacturing of samples for experimentation, and industrial uptake of the software tools developed.

Nrf2 regulates the expression of several hundred cell defence genes and is a novel therapeutic target of interest within the pharmaceutical industry. Whilst methods for determining Nrf2 activation in tissue samples are well established, these samples are difficult to access clinically. Instead, there is a need to develop a robust method for monitoring Nrf2 activity non-invasively (e.g. in blood), but little work has been done in this area. This limits our ability to demonstrate that drugs can activate Nrf2 in humans, and to correlate this with therapeutic responses. In this RiR project, the Catapult’s blood transcriptomics capabilities will be used to analyse existing samples (whole blood RNA, peripheral blood mononuclear cell RNA, serum) collected in completed and ongoing trials of Nrf2 activating drugs. In addition to identifying an optimal combination of blood sample type and gene signature for monitoring Nrf2 modulation, the RiR project will also support longer term collaboration. Indeed, the Catapult will help to establish relationships with other pharmaceutical companies nearing/at the clinical stages of development of Nrf2 activators (in order to access additional blood samples) and help to roadmap how the findings of the RiR project can be translated into a robust biomarker assay for clinical application.

Dengue, the world’s most prevalent arbovirus infection with an annual incidence of 390 million, presents a formidable healthcare challenge. Its clinical manifestations vary widely,
ranging from mild illness to severe, potentially fatal complications, with mortality rates of 1- 4% that can skyrocket in cases of organ failure. The absence of specific antiviral treatments and vaccines makes continuous monitoring essential for effective dengue management. However, this is often impractical in resource-limited settings due to the invasive nature of conventional blood tests and the prohibitive cost of intensive care monitoring equipment. The next step involves the design and validation of a non-invasive wearable device capable of real-time, continuous monitoring of key health parameters like blood pressure and haematocrit, without the need for clinician intervention. This device can also serve as a cost- effective alternative to conventional bedside monitors, with potential applications extending beyond dengue, e.g. cardiovascular and renal diseases. Such development is essential for progressing the technology through the TRLs, from a proof-of-concept stage to a market-ready application. Partnering with CPI will be instrumental in this progression. CPI‘s extensive expertise in wearable technology, combined with their advanced flex PCB manufacturing capabilities, will be pivotal in refining the device’s usability and manufacturability for practical use.