Category: Engineering

Staff and students representing the Gell-P and DEPLOY! projects sitting with five at the back and three people in the front

Last minute checks for research teams as countdown for weightless flights begins

Researchers practice for zero gravity flight to put ground-breaking experimental devices through their paces

The University of Brighton teams, including Aerospace Engineering MEng student Erin Saltmarsh, will have just 20 seconds at a time to run tasks in weightless conditions.

During each flight the plane will climb to an altitude of 7,500m before the aircraft goes into a 3000m high roller coaster climb and fall during which weightlessness will be experienced for about 20 seconds. This will happen 30 times in each of the three planned flights. Not surprisingly teams will be given anti-nausea jabs prior to the flights. Staff and students from the Schools of Architecture,Technology and Engineering, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices and Advanced Engineering Centre representing the Gell-P and DEPLOY! Projects gathered to go through a series of tightly choreographed tasks in preparation for the flights at the end of the month.

The Gell P team working on the project
Lecturer and student with VC showing her the project
Student Erin standing in room with project equipment
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Laura RubyLeave a comment
Headshot of Dr Idil Aydin engineering lecturer

Meet Dr Idil Fenercioglu Aydin

Idil Aydin is course leader for the Aerospace Engineering courses at the University of Brighton. Her area of expertise is in experimental aerodynamics, and she loves teaching students about the physics of flight, flight dynamics and aircraft design.

My subject and my experience
I’ve been fascinated by aviation and space since I was young. I studied Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University and started workings as a research assistant during my post graduate studies. This role involved actively supporting teaching in the supersonic wind tunnel and low-speed fluid dynamics facilities.

Subsequently, I earned my Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering and embarked on a research role in a DLR project at the RWTH-Aachen Shock Wave Laboratory before I returned to ITU to pursue my Aerospace Engineering PhD in experimental aerodynamics.

Following my Post-Doc position at the University of Bath, I had the privilege of teaching orbital mechanics at the Turkish Air Force Postgraduate Academy, while also holding a regular teaching position at ITU, where I conveyed my practice-based knowledge in compressible aerodynamics and experimental methods in fluid dynamics to my students.

What I love about teaching and about Brighton
Teaching and mentoring have always been integral parts to my role, and I derive immense satisfaction from these aspects of my career.

My journey led me to the University of Brighton, where I was captivated by the vibrant engineering research culture and the opportunity to continue my passion for teaching and research.

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Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
TEF silver 2023 logo

Brighton secures national Silver Award for teaching excellence

The University of Brighton has been recognised for the quality of its teaching and student outcomes in a UK-wide evaluation of higher education institutions.

The university has today secured a Silver award in the national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). The award confirms that the student experience and student outcomes across all of the university’s undergraduate provision including apprenticeships are “typically very high quality”, delivering excellence above the rigorous standards set for the UK’s higher education providers. The rating lasts for four years, until September 2027.

The TEF is a national scheme run by the Office for Students (OfS). It aims to encourage universities to improve and deliver excellence in the areas that students care about the most: teaching, learning and achieving positive outcomes from their studies.

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Male student sitting down with a dog and smiling at the camera

Mindful thought processes, science and a world of possibilities

In this blog, automotive engineering student and course representative James Allan, reflects on a recent module, and how it has further enhanced his knowledge and skills as a ‘graduate of the future’.

I have been actively engaged in the Energy Systems modules for 12 weeks and I can honestly say it has been a very interesting subject. With regard to the modern world, there are a vast array of everyday items that rely on productive and efficient energy systems. This module has primarily focused on the transportation sector, whilst also covering fluid dynamics, thermal storage systems, heat exchangers and refrigeration systems.

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Close of female student in engineering lab wearing a white lab coat and safety glasses looking at the camera

Focusing on solutions and sustainability in engineering

Mechanical engineering student Isabel Paglinawan tells us about the Energy Systems modules and reflects on how it has enhanced her knowledge and skills as a ‘graduate of the future’.

Critical Thinker
The ‘Energy Systems’ module, gives us the opportunity to undertake learning in a much more practical approach. Our lecturers have first-hand experience working in relevant industries that made it really engaging. They gave us problems similar to ones they have faced in the industry and walked us through their way of finding a solution. As students, we had to think critically about each possible solution and its possible effects.

Aside from many real-life relevant problems, we engaged with many visuals during lectures which kept our learning experience engaging and easier to visibly understand the function of systems such as Turbofan or Gasoline engines.

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Kay Hendriksen

£1,000 sponsorship for my final year project!

Kay Hendriksen, is in his final year Electronic and Communication Engineering BEng(Hons) with integrated foundation year. He has secured sponsorship from StepperOnline, a company that provides a platform for industrial automation procurement for his final year project.

I approached several companies to explore potential sponsorship opportunities for my final year project, as recommended by Dr Ian Watts. I am delighted that StepperOnline have agreed to generously sponsor my project – I am developing a desktop size industrial multi-axis robot arm. StepperOnline will be providing me with essential components worth around £1000, including stepper motors, precision reducers, drivers, and a power supply.

The primary objective of this project is to construct an affordable robotic arm capable of performing practical tasks in various real-world scenarios, including applications such as automation procedures and medical tasks. The existing professional-grade robotic arms are prohibitively expensive, while the lower-cost alternatives available in the market lack the necessary functionality for meaningful real-world usage.

My aim is to integrate both software and hardware expertise to create a comprehensive solution. This entails not only designing the mechanical aspects of the entire robot arm, but also handling all aspects of electronics including electrical components and electronic systems. I will also be developing the software required to effectively control the robot arm’s movements and operations.

By combining my skills in mechanical design, electronics, and software development, I aspire to produce an accessible and practical multi-axis robot arm that bridges the gap between high-cost professional systems and limited-functionality lower-cost alternatives.

I am really looking forward to starting work on my project and am very grateful to StepperOnline for this opportunity!

Laura RubyLeave a comment
Students Max,James and Alex pictured in company building of Paxon Access

Brighton students land scholarships with global technology firm

Students from Brighton have been awarded two of three annual scholarships offered by a leading Brighton-based global technology company, Paxton Access.

This is the sixth year that Paxton has offered engineering scholarships to students studying STEM courses at University of Brighton and University of Sussex. Successful applicants receive £10,000 each towards their final year university fees, and a three-month paid work placement within Paxton’s experienced Development department.

This year, the scholarships are awarded to Alex Moreton and Max Lewandowski from University of Brighton, and James Napp from University of Sussex. The scholars have been working at Paxton for more than a month and have found the placement beneficial for building new skill sets that will be useful in their future career.

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Laura RubyLeave a comment
Engineering lecturer working on robot project with primary school pupils

Engineering students mentor primary pupils in school STEM week robot tournament

A team of our first- and second-year engineering students, along with engineering lecturer Ian Watts, have been out and about encouraging pupils from a local primary school to discover the possibilities within STEM by taking part in robot tournament as part of the school’s STEM week.

Under the mentorship of our engineering students, 120 pupils from years three to six constructed ‘Antweight’ robots, which were tested in various competitions including football, sumo, and an assault course. The sumo competition was a particular hit.

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Stephanie ThomsonLeave a comment
Belong title graphic with images of the campus

Starting at uni with us in 2023?

We know you’re going to have a brilliant time here and to get your student life off to the best possible start find out all the information you’ll need by visiting the dedicated Starting at Uni pages on the University of Brighton website.

Come along to one of our online events, details of the next one below 👇

Get ready for your course: School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering

Friday 14 July 2023 – 11am -12pm online
Hear about how you can prepare for your subject, and ask any questions, to get your studies off to the best start. For students studying: architecture, interior architecture, civil engineering, computing, construction and building, engineering, and product design.

Click here to join the event on Microsoft Teams at 11am on 14 July

Online enrolment

You can enrol from August 21 and we’ll send you an email to remind you.  Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll be able to access My Studies where you’ll find all the information you need to prepare for your course.

Still have questions? Chat to a current student online.

Laura RubyLeave a comment
Rachel Forss with Marco Bernagozzi

Brighton researchers take to zero gravity to improve lower limb wound treatment in space

Brighton researchers will analyse pioneering lower limb test kit in zero gravity to learn more about wound healing in space and improve diagnosis here on Earth.

Led by Rachel Forss from the School of Sport and Health Sciences and the Centre for Regenerative Medicines and Devices, the research team will conduct experiments on a parabolic flight in April 2024 from the Novespace centre in Bordeaux to assess how weightlessness impacts the circulation to the lower leg. 

Continue reading “Brighton researchers take to zero gravity to improve lower limb wound treatment in space” →

Laura RubyLeave a comment