- Room 016, Reynolds, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 586104
- antony.robotham@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Dr Antony Robotham
Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering
School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
Final Year Project: Designed and developed a test rig to evaluate airflow through different configurations of DC motor end windings for GEC Machines Ltd.
Teaching and research in Engineering Design and Virtual Engineering technologies. Engineers Without Borders.
Leadership of the Virtual Engineering Centre accountable to the University and Partners: Airbus (UK), BAE Systems, Morson Projects, STFC Daresbury Laboratory, and Northwest Aerospace Alliance. The aim of the VEC was to demonstrate to SMEs virtual engineering practice across the product lifecycle using integrated, interactive simulation and modelling software. Industrial sectors included aerospace, automotive, defence and nuclear. Manage quality of the Technical Team/Work Package outputs. Facilitate a strong culture of research excellence, knowledge exchange and collaborative engineering.
Sep 2000–Jan 2010
Management of postgraduate taught and research programmes, knowledge transfer projects, and business support activities across the School of Engineering and the Built Environment. Project development, bidding for funding, and project leadership enabling external income streams of >£4m per annum through a range of School-wide activities. Health & Safety.
Strategic leadership and management of a university-based R&D centre providing product design and development services to engineering businesses using state-of-the art CAD, CNC, and rapid manufacturing technologies (e.g. direct metal laser sintering). Recruitment and line management of concurrent engineering delivery teams. Budget control & management of >£5m of RDA/ERDF revenue & capital income, delivery of outputs, and collation of results. Liaison with external partners, suppliers and funding bodies. Projects: Innovation Direct, West Midlands Technology Network, Polymer Cluster, Advanced Engineering Cluster, Process Innovation for Rapid Product Development, and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Principal Lecturer: Engineering Design
Section Leader for Computer-Aided Engineering Design subject group - Line management of academic staff; Teaching & Quality of Computer Aided Engineering Design and Computer Aided Product Design degrees; accreditation of programmes with IED. Development of MSc in Advanced Technology Management. Knowledge transfer projects.
Programme Leader: BEng Automotive Engineering Design – a problem based learning programme with industrially defined projects and studio learning environment. Teaching CAD and Engineering Design at PG & UG levels. DTi Automotive Initiatives to China in collaboration with Design & Business Schools. DTI/EPSRC Foresight Vehicle ZEFREDO project with Daewoo Motor Company & Mayflower Vehicle Systems. CUCID research centre for integrated design.
Teaching Engineering Design, CAD and CAE at BEng & HND level.
Implementation of BS5750 Quality Assurance procedures.
Graduate training programme. Design & test of end-winding airflow test rig.
Professional membership
AMIMechE
Research
Research
Research interests
Engineering Design
Grants & contracts
KTP Academic Supervisor – Paramount 21 (Nov 2015- Oct 2017)
Executive Director – NWDA/ERDF Virtual Engineering Centre (Feb 2010-Dec 2012) £3.680k Grant Funding
Bid Manager on behalf of West Midlands University Consortium – West Midlands Innovation Advisory Service (Nov 2009)
Director of IPDC – ERDF Project: West Midlands Technology Network with Wolverhampton University (Jul 2003 – Dec 2008) £1,423k Grant
Director of IPDC – AWM/ERDF Project: Polymer Cluster with Wolverhampton-Telford Technology Corridor (Apr 2003 – Jun 2008) £1,064k Grant
Director of IPDC – AWM/ERDF Project: Advanced Engineering Cluster with Wolverhampton-Telford Technology Corridor (Apr 2003 – Jun 2008) £900k Grant
Director of IPDC – AWM Project: Process Innovation for Rapid Product Development (Sep 2006 – Dec 2009) £650k Grant
Director of IPDC – ERDF Project: Concurrent Engineering (Innovation-Direct) with Warwick Manufacturing Group (Jul 2002 – Jun 2005) £448k Grant
TCS Lead Academic – Tansun Ltd (Apr 2002 – Mar 2004) £145k Grant
KTP Academic Supervisor – Charlton & Jenrick (Sep 2007- Sep 2008) £88k Grant
KTP Academic Supervisor – Howell Tomkins (Jan 2006 – Jan 2008) £67k Grant
Proposer & Original PI – DTI/EPSRC Foresight Vehicle Programme research contract to investigate Zero Failure Rate Electronics Design Opportunities – ZEFREDO (GR/M26183 - 1998) £65k Grant + £65k Private sector
A.J. Robotham & G.N. Blount (Exploiter: MIRA). Coventry University HEFCE research award to investigate Design for Pedestrian Impact Protection. (1997)
P.J. Griffiths, A.J. Robotham & G.E. Vanner: (Exploiter: Rover Group). Coventry University HEFCE research award to investigate The Quality Engineering of Concept Design. (1995)
P. Hills, M. Tovey, & A.J. Robotham: (Exploiter: Caradon Mira). Coventry University HEFCE research award to investigate interaction between industrial and engineering designers at concept stage. (1993)
A.J. Robotham & Ambit: (Exploiter: DTI/ETSU) DTI/ETSU part funding of a video production 'Wind Turbines in the Landscape'. Completed January 1994. (Contract: W/13/00354/40, 1993)
Expert Witness for Renewable Energy Systems Limited – Penrhys Wind Farm Public Inquiry (1992)
Principal Investigator – Wind Farm Visual Impact Studies for Renewable Energy Systems Limited, Hemel Hempstead. (1991)
A.J. Robotham & Ambit Computer Graphics: (Exploiter: DTI/ETSU). DEn/ETSU part funding of further development of videomontage technique for the depiction of wind farms. (Contract: E/5A/6068/2465/001, 1990)
A.J. Robotham & Ambit Computer Graphics: (Exploiter: DTI/ETSU). DEn/ETSU part funding of initial development of videomontage technique for the depiction of wind farms. (Contract: E/5A/6068/2553, 1990)
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
JournalsPersonal
Personal
Additional information
- Royal Academy of Engineering: Presidents Special Award for Pandemic Services Dec 2020
- AWM Lord Stafford Special Award for ‘Living for Innovation’ Nov 2004
- AWM Lord Stafford Special Award for ‘Contribution to Innovation’ Oct 2003
- SEBE ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Dec 2002