IfM Research
Design management
Improving the ways in which design can be managed and exploited at product, firm and national levels.
Distributed information and automation
Intelligent automation technologies to support flexible manufacturing operations and supply networks; technologies and systems enabling automatic identification of manufactured
objects throughout the supply chain.
Industrial photonics
Pioneering industrial laser systems for a range of novel applications, including high performance and high-efficiency laser sources, advanced fabrication technologies and
process modelling of new manufacturing processes.
Industry & government
Economic, technology and political trends likely to influence the business environment; understanding industrial policy and appropriate intervention mechanisms to support innovation and economic growth.
International manufacturing
Manufacturing in a global context, including international manufacturing and supply networks, supplier selection and management, global alliances and relocation of production
facilities.
Production processes
Innovative production technologies with an emphasis on commercial priorities and the
transfer of technology into industry.
Strategy and performance
Understanding and improving the way strategic choices are made, plans are developed and implemented, and performance is measured and achieved.
Technology management
Technology-related decisions across the spectrum of business activities; providing comprehensive support to managers, based on an integrated understanding of science,
engineering and business management.
|
 |
|
|
Engineering Design and Manufacturing Projects
Colony picking robot
In the field of molecular biology, one of the
most tedious laboratory tasks is manual colony picking.
This involves transferring tiny colonies ( 0.3mm in
diameter) of yeasts, E - coli and phages from agar to
small test tubes, in the form of microtitre plates. For
example, in the Human Genome Program, a typical library
would require 100,000 colony picks. In a joint programme
between the departments of Engineering and Pathology, an
instrument consisting of a specially designed robotic arm
and a leading edge vision system has been designed to
accomplish this task and is now available commercially.
Functional Modelling
To support generation and development of conceptual
designs using a functional modelling theory. A program for
automated synthesis of Conceptual solutions to mechanical
design problems has already been developed; this is being
extended to support on-line temporal reasoning and design
modification.
To develop a concurrent approach to an integrated CAD
method for sailing yacht and ship design.
To develop a support tool for designers to minimise the
risk of inconsistent designs, and to improve the chances of
good designs.
- Mobile Arm Support System
To develop a mobile arm support system that increases the
independence of those with reduced arm muscle function.
- Solar Furnace for Hydrogen Production and Glass
Melting
To conduct a feasibility study of a large solar furnace
for hydrogen production and glass melting in Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia.
Sponsors
- EPSRC
- British High Commissioner's Chevening Awards
- Nehru Trust for Cambridge University in India
Collaborators
Researchers
Publications
- Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P., and Holden, T.,
"Towards a Decision-Support Framework for the Embodiment
Phase of Mechanical Design". International Journal for
Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, 7, pp21-36,
1992.
- Affara, N., Bligh, T.P., Vince, J., "Development and
applications of a robotic colony picker", Nature, June
1993.
- Chakrabarti A. and Bligh T.P. "Functional Synthesis
of Solution-Concepts in Mechanical Conceptual Design.
Part I: Knowledge Representation". Accepted for The
International Journal for Resarch in Engineering Design,
1994.
- Chakrabarti, A. and Bligh, T.P. "Functional Synthesis
of Solution-Concepts in Mechanical Conceptual Design.
Part II: Synthesis." Submitted for review to The
International Journal for Research in Engineering Design,
1994.
- Chakrabarti, A. and Bligh, T.P. "Functional Synthesis
of Solution-Concepts in Mechanical Conceptual Design.
Part III: Spatial Configuration." Submitted for review to
The International Journal for Research in Engineering
Design, 1994.
- Chakrabarti, A. and Bligh, T.P. "A Scheme for
Functional Reasoning in Mechanical Conceptual Design."
Submitted for review to the The International Journal for
Engineering Design, 1994.
- Chakrabarti, A. and Bligh, T.P. "Exploring Basicness
of Building Blocks for Supporting Innovative Design of
Mechanical Systems using the Building Blocks Metaphor."
Submitted for review to The International Journal for
Engineering Design, 1994.
- Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. "Towards a Decision
Support Framework for Mechanical Conceptual Design"
Proceedings of the International Conference in
Engineering Design, Vol. 1., pp.384-389, Zurich, August
1991.
- Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P. "A Knowledge-based
System for Synthesis of Single Input Single Output
Systems in Mechanical Conceptual Design." Proceedings of
the Fourth Joint Europe-USA Conference on AI and Expert
Systems Applications. (EXPERSYS-92), Houston, USA.
October 1992.
- Chakrabarti, A., Bligh, T.P., "A Two-step Approach to
Conceptual Design of Mechanical Devices", accepted for
presentation and publication in the Proceedings of the
A.I. in Design Conference, August 1994.
- Bligh, T.P., "Economic and Technological Feasibility
Study of the Controlled Explosive Rock Breaker (CERB)".
U.S. Bureau of Mines CERB Report No. 1, pp 1-29,
1975.
- Bligh, T.P., and O'Brian, R.E., "CADCAT, A Computer
Aided Design Tool for Multihulls, Monohulls and
Commercial Vessels". MIT Design Division Report, pp.
1-127, 1984.
- Firth, A.C. and Bligh, T.P., "A Computer-based
Approach to Systematic Hull Design Analysis, and Shape
Characterisation and Comparison". Manufacturing
Engineering Report, Department of Engineering, Cambridge
University, 1992.
- Bligh, T.P., and Frankman, J.T., "Furnace efficiency
increases through the use of an automatic flue damper".
Report to Flair Manufacturing Corp., Long Island, NY,
pp.1-56, June 1980.
- Bligh, T.P., "Tank designs for thermal storage
(Natural ICE air conditioning - NICE/ACII)". Report to
the Minnesota Energy Agency, pp. 1-17, June 1980.
- Bligh, T.P., and Smith, G.F., "Natural ICE air
conditioning; Direct Heat Transfer Method" (NICE/AC IV).
Report to the Minnesota Energy Agency, pp. 1-45, June
1980.
- Bligh, T.P., and Benjamin, M., "Daylighting large
buildings with a tracking solar concentrator", EBS
Report, pp. 1-112 May 1981 (on hold during M.I.T. patent
negotiations).
- Bligh, T.P., and Abou-Ezzi, M.A., "Optimization of
Solar Absorption Cooling Systems", EEBS Report, pp.
1-252, 1981.
- Bligh, T.P., Bailey, J., and Greenwood, T.,
"Economics and Policy for Energy Conservation in new
Buildings", EEBS Report, pp. 1-297, 1981.
- Bligh, T.P., and Zaderej, V.V., "Energy Flux Through
Windows with and without timer controlled and energy flux
controlled thermal shutters", Report to Weathershield
Window Company, Wisconsin, pp. 1-92, 1982.
- Bligh, T.P., and Replogle, K.K., "A Method for
Performing an Energy Balance on a Residence", U.S., DOE
Solar Passive Division Report DOE/DE-AC03-80F11508, pp.
1-47, June 1982.
- Bligh, T.P., and Roslansky, W.F., "Building Heat Gain
Reduction from Plants Such as grass, sod cover and ivy",
U.S. DOE Solar Passive Division Report
DOE/DE-AC03-80SF11508, pp. 1-47, June 1982.
- Bligh, T.P., and Champion, S.B., "A tracking solar
lighting system for daylighting large buildings: model
testing", EEBS Report, pp. 1-142, September 1982 (on hold
during M.I.T. patent negotiations).
- Bligh, T.P., and Magnusson, J.H., "Sources of heat
flux meter errors", U.S., DOE Solar Passive Division
Report, DOE/DE-AC03-80SF11508, pp. 1-69, December
1982.
- Bligh, T.P., and Knoth, B.H., "A thermal study of an
earthsheltered residence: instrumentation, data
processing techniques, soil temperature and heat flux
data", U.S., DOE Solar Passive Division Report,
DOE/DE-AC03-80SF11508, pp. 1-395, December 1982.
- Bligh, T.P., Knoth, B., Smith, E., Cole, S., and
Meixel, G., "An experimental procedure for monitoring
earth contact systems: techniques for monitoring soil
temperature, building heat flux, soil thermal properties
and soil moisture content". DOE Solar Passive Report on
contract no. DE-AC03-80SF11508, pp. 1-109, 1982.
- Bligh, T.P., and Graid, E.W., "A complete energy
balance of an earth-sheltered house", U.S. DOE Solar
Passive Division Report, DPE/DEL-AC03-80SF11508, pp.
1-73, June 1983.
- Bligh, T.P., and Apthorp, D.M., "Heat flux meters:
calibration, heat flux distortion and installation", U.S.
DOE Solar Passive Division Report, DOE/DE-AC03-80SF11508,
pp. 1-268, June 1983.
- Bligh, T.P., and Willard, T., "A finite element model
with phase change for predicting heat transfer from
earth-contact buildings", Report to Consolidated Edison
Co., NY, pp. 1-55, Sept 1983.
- Bligh, T.P., Glicksman, L.R., and Newberger, J.J., "A
Strategy for Liquid Cooling Computer Systems", pp. 1-211,
September 1984.
- Bligh, T.P., and Rafuse, L.J., "Energy flows at the
Carlisle House, an all-electric, solar photovoltaic
house", pp. 1-93, January 1985.
- Bligh, T.P., Glicksman, L.R., and Newberger, J.J., "A
strategy for localised cooling of dispersed computer
systems", pp. 1-256, 1985.
- Bligh, T.P., and Najm, H.M., "M.I.T. Solar VI,
instrumentation, monitoring, and performance, pp. 1-279,
1986.
- Bligh, T.P., and Yared, W., "M.I.T. Solar VI, digital
simulation, evaluation, and optimization of control
strategies", pp. 1-141, 1986.
- Bligh, T.P., Kraynak, G.A., "An induced heat flux
device to measure R-value", pp. 1-36, 1985.
Links
|
