Visions

ISSUE N o 1

FEBRUARY 2014

VISIONS In-Progress Student Projects

Research Insights

Creative Innovation

Made in Brunel Exhibition

ONLY THE BEGINNING Established in 2006, Made in Brunel is the student led showcase of creativity from Brunel’s designers, engineers and innovators. A series of industry evenings, events and workshops develop strong links between students and professionals, creating a gateway for graduates into the workplace.

Our annual exhibition in June, located in central London, coincides with launch of the Made in Brunel book; a record of the work from Brunel University’s most inspiring thinkers.

This year our focus is on how our learning experience at Brunel has prepared us for our future endeavours. Being taught by professionals and working with clients has given us a foundation to build our careers upon, providing us with the necessary skills and knowledge to make our mark. This theme reflects our belief that graduating from Brunel is not the end of our journey, it is Only the Beginning.

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Jo Barnard

Rob Bye

Managing Director

Managing Director

Rebecca Ash

Rhian Bache

Publications Manager

Events Manager

Rob Millar

Charlotte Hickey

Marketing Manager

Communications Manager

George Smart

Mario Vassiliades

Brand Manager

Web Manager

Contents

0% Medical Education Inclusive Lifestyle Sport/Active Lighting Industrial Sustainability

20%

Calming Autism using Audio

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Renewable Wave Power

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An Exoskeleton for the Elderly

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Achieving the Improbable

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Amphibious Prosthetic Fin

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The Schistosomiasis Parasite

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Early Social Interaction

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Accessible Entomophagy

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Brunel Racing Team

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Passive Speech Transmission

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10%

30%

30% 30% 30%

30%

30%

30%

Sketching

30%

CAD

Mechanics

Prototyping

Manufacture

Graphics

Business

Ergonomics

Design Placements & Major Projects

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Transit of Specialist Freight

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Velok Sprint Shoe

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Visibility of Urban Cyclists

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Brunel Facilities

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Calming Autism using Audio Robert Mafrici

Working with the EU-led material science consortium LTM and the UK based design consultancy Minima, my project set out to explore applications for a new piezo electric smart material within the field of autism. Using the Japanese ‘5 Whys’ questioning method I explored the causal relationships underlying this problem. I concluded that the heart of the issue stemmed from the mind, with other symptoms all being manifestations of this root cause. I therefore began researching Layman’s model of the mind.

The current model of the brain sees it compartmentalised into disparate sections, each dealing with specific functions such as language or visual processing. The way in which these brain regions reciprocate creates our conscious thought and the distinct behavioral patterns which we call ‘normal’. In autistic minds the efficiency of this reciprocation is stunted as the connections between brain regions are altered. This can create repetitive behavioral patterns, difficulties in processing sensory input and a whole plethora of other cognitive, social and sensory issues. As this is a spectrum disorder, no two patients have the same neuronal connection patterns.

Each manifests their own unique symptomology to varying degrees of severity. From this I concluded that if the reciprocation between brain regions was improved the patient’s overall symptoms would be reduced.

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From further research I found that by stimulating certain areas of the inner ear using speakers and bone conduction, it is possible to trigger specific cognitive states more conducive to learning, concentration and socialisation. This technique is currently being used in autism therapy, but I hope to create a product which can apply these techniques outside of this environment.

During my research I also found other audio techniques such as hemi-sync and brain generated music that can help normalise resting brainwave frequencies keeping the child calm, combating panic attacks and inducing restful sleep.

During my investigation into these technologies I studied early brain development in children. I found that the brain’s main neuronal structure is created within the first two years of a child’s development making it one of the most important times to address an autistic child’s issues.

This led me to my second concept of creating a product to aid earlier detection of autism.

I now plan to develop and test both concepts through first hand data, to understand how they could be applied to everyday life and which is the most viable for further development.

Renewable Wave Power Samuel Etherington

Brunel University graduate, Samuel Etherington, won the UK 2013 round of The James Dyson Foundation Award through the investigation of achievable power gains using hydraulics in a semi-submersible structure. Having won this award Sam was given £2,000 scholarship to develop his project further and undergo tests to prove its effectiveness.

Realising that the west coast of Scotland has the potential energy of 40-70kWh, only 1% of which is currently used, gave Sam the idea to devise a solution harvesting the sheer power from these waves.

Renewable Wave Power (RWP), a multi-axis wave power generator, can harvest energy from the peaks and troughs of waves and convert these movements into hydraulic pressure. By utilising the buoyancy of the cylinders and harnessing the energy stored in the height difference between each peak and trough, the unit is able to create hydraulic pressure.

“Oceans create the harshest environments for designs to work in. It is therefore best to work with the forces in the oceans than to repel them,” Sam said. “The design therefore utilises a multi-axis structure capable of replicating any three dimensional shape a wave may make, to fully utilise all of the forces acting upon it.”

Sam’s proximity to Lancaster University enabled extensive testing by replicating these forces in water tanks, from data recieved by buoys moored in the Orkney Islands. Results showed the way for a proving prototype that clearly reflected how these generators could accumulate power in such conditions.

Commenting on the award, Dr David Forehand, from the Institute for Energy Systems at Edinburgh University, further added that the dominant wave directions encountered in seas allowed him to believe that this multi-axis device would work in such situations. “The real test for this device is its cost of energy,” Dr. Forehand said. The primary challenge with tidal power generation is the competition of other renewable energy sources that have shown a substantial price drop in recent years.

RWP is now moving towards realisation as a fully functioning product. The next stage centers around results from the hydraulic test rig. According to Sam; “The structure itself only requires minimal investment for the sensors, but the next area of further investigation is the hydraulic configuration.”

Article by Alejandro Sanchez Lopez

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An Exoskeleton for the Elderly Rory Southworth

Look through the window of a mobility aid shop, or even venture into one; you will be amazed by the many shades of depressing greys and beige to choose from. We are humans and even when we age we like to have a choice in what we wear and use every day. But as you grow older you may find you have no choice; the only way you can get about and remain independent is to use a mobility aid. Currently most mobility aids are designed with a functional medical approach; not fully considering what people want and like, or the emotional impact of losing one’s mobility.

As human beings we categorise to make accurate judgments. In social situations this is called stereotyping.

Stereotyping can be very beneficial, it speeds up and simplifies our mental processing, however it does not take into account individual differences. This often causes uninformed false generalisations resulting in social stigma.

Many of the current mobility aids are rejected even before use, because of their stigmatising effect, with the instant label of being “disabled” or “old”. Therefore even if the highest functioning device is created, there is no guarantee it would be accepted and used by people who truly need it.

Research into exoskeletons is nothing new. An exoskeleton is an active mechanical device that attaches to the outside of the body and assists the wearer with movement. They have been used to help wheelchair users walk again; patients recover faster and allow people to perform as they did when there were younger. My project investigates what the wearers really need and want from an exoskeleton by looking at how this device would integrate into their lifestyle to make it a truly accepted product that people want to wear, rather than have to.

By taking a human centered design approach, I have used observations, interviews, focus groups and co-design sessions. Meeting with experts and involving my focus

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groups in the design process has helped me understand the needs of the target market. However it is the way the focus group is run; the questions asked and how the information is interpreted, that really makes focus groups a beneficial tool. In fact, focus groups could as accurately be describes as ‘unfocus’ groups. It is really important to personally get to know the people involved, to understand what makes them tick, and be able to dig deep into the reasons behind their thoughts and feelings. The best insights that have driven this project have stemmed from friendly conversation rather than structured questionnaires.

I am a big believer in quick and dirty models to communicate ideas. Physical models have definitely helped me to communicate to the focus group what the concept is and encourage their participation in the design process. Making small models of the product and putting them on mannequins has helped to communicate the size, shape, how the product is put on and how it would work. A full size model has also allowed me to define the areas I wish to focus more on in the development stage.

The findings of my work have further confirmed that the current designs of mobility aids are just not acceptable and that the way to change this is not just to design more “styled” products but to change the current process used to design them in the first place.

My project will provide the requirements for designing such a device that is driven by the users’ needs and functions to assist with a healthy lifestyle, not just a device to actuate the legs to help them with walking.

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Achieving the Improbable Daniel Emmons

In light of modern society’s fears of recession, I personally feel that throughout our academic lives we are consistently pressured to be pessimistic, realistic and study a route that will lead to immediately securing a job.

I think it is a shame that we are questioned for dreaming big and that we are labelled ‘naïve’ to try and achieve the improbable. This is what prompted my final year project and as a Broadcast Media Student, my aim is to create a short film that acts as a starting point for a career against this mindset. This is due to the passion I have for fictional form media and not wanting to create merely an experimental piece going forward.

Researching into the ways filmmakers break into the industry it appears there are two distinct routes - the music video and the short film. From this, I decided the most appropriate route for me would be to generate a short film. The initial challenges were the vital need for innovation and the saturated market. Due to the YouTube revolution, it will take a project with larger ambition to stand out.

Beginning my research through cinema trends, various magazine and journal articles, as well as box office statistics, allowed me to secure the content for my short film and enable me to construct a script based on what would be most accessible and successful to audiences 8

today. After whittling down my ideas I settled on the idea to construct a short film shot 100% on Green Screen, in the same vein as Sin City, Alice in Wonderland or Sky Captain. My environment, after much deliberation, is a NASA Space Shuttle cockpit; helping the suspension of belief while taking the audience somewhere foreign and exciting.

So far I have completed principal photography, filming and processing and have now begun my post-production process. This was a three day shoot with two professional actors and a crew, shot entirely on the Green Screen infinity cove and RED Epic camera.

The next stages include completing the modelling of my NASA Space Shuttle cockpit and combining the footage and 3D elements together. Finally I shall add some atmospheric elements (Sparks, Dust, Optical flares) and construct some beauty shots of the exterior of the ship.

Once I have completed the project I hope to create a ‘promotional pack’ that will market the project and aid its distribution and exposure.

Amphibious Prosthetic Fin Undergraduate Mechanical Engineers Imagine the difficulties of trying to swim with only one leg. Now imagine trying to do it fully loaded with diving gear in tidal open water. That is the problem a group of undergraduate mechanical engineers are trying to solve. Each student is working on a different aspect of the project including; the product’s human interface and mechanical design, its functionality in mimicking human movements and analysing its impact on swimming techniques. Although similar products have been developed for below knee amputees, like the design pictured in the photo opposite, the nature of their client’s amputation makes it more complex as an artificial knee joint is needed, as well as a lower leg and fin.

The group hopes to develop a prosthetic fin that is suitable for swimming and walking short distances; allowing the user to move from poolside into water or from car to boat more easily. This group aims to provide their client with a working prototype by the end of the year and possibly carry this on during their Master’s year.

Article by Sophie Kell

The Schistosomiasis Parasite Dr Edwin Routledge & Research Team An artificial snail being developed at Brunel University may be the answer to the world’s second largest health problem, Schistosomiasis. This parasitic disease affects 240 million peoples’ organs worldwide and can harm children’s growth. Larvae of fresh water snails are infected after the parasite enters their bodies, which can then penetrate human skin travelling through open water; where it goes on to affect organs and other body parts. Currently prevention methods destroy these snails with chemicals or predators such as crayfish in an unsustainable way upsetting the ecosystems.

Recently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded Brunel University £100,000 to develop a solution to reduce the human transmission rate of this disease. This artificial snail solution being developed, by Dr Edwin Routledge and a team of researchers, aims to identify the chemicals snails excrete that attract the parasites. Once identified, these chemicals will be housed inside a snail shaped unit that the parasite will enter and die. This project will be submitted in 18 months for review.

Article by Jack Waring

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Early Social Interaction Andrew Binnie

The needs of the first world’s pre-adolescent population are changing. With the increased capabilities of online interaction offered in the digital age, it can be argued that there is a migration from constructing the physical and social communication models necessary for adult expression. The National Literacy Trust published a report in which growing concerns over declining language and communication is prevalent. In addition, an increasing body of professional opinion suggests online social interaction is to blame.

As a shift towards the digital is also on the horizon for the toy industry, there is a growing need to encourage real-world social interaction at an early age now more than ever. A report by Leon Feinstein on early cognitive development states: “Speech, language and communication skills are the first literacy skills, and children who do not develop these skills suffer disadvantages that are compounded throughout their lives.�

Using popular toys of the past as inspiration, this project proposes a solution to this new dilemma, whereby feedback mechanisms between the digital and physical are used to employ an intelligent game dynamic that spans both platforms therefore embracing the new digital landscape.

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Play patterns and contemporary craze properties were studied to determine common characteristics that contribute to a popular experience. These elements were then used in combination with demographic and market insights to engineer a sound framework for the development of new concepts. Continuous feedback has been received from experts and stakeholders throughout this process. These discussions, with the use of prototypes and existing products, have helped develop many insights. To create strong potential for enhancing many of the important aspects of childhood social interaction, such as communication, competition and skill building, the digital physical platform concept has been solidified as the main design direction.

The focus of development will explore interaction and play experience, applying physical and cognitive ergonomic tools to design an experience that is immediately accessible and satisfying for the user. The foremost concern thereafter will be identifying a clear game dynamic, appropriate interfaces and feedback mechanisms, together with an engaging narrative for the play. Finally, technical proposals can be made, physical prototypes and representations that fully support and articulate the proposed concept.

Accessible Entomophagy Joshua Hancock

It is estimated that by the year 2050 Earth will be the home to around 9.6 billion people, that is a 20% increase to today’s population. This rise in population will create a great increase in demand for food, especially meat.

This will need an increase in production of 50%, as the average wealth of developing countries also rises. Now consider that 70% of all our available agricultural land is already devoted to the feeding and farming of livestock: traditional livestock appears increasingly unsustainable.

There are many potential solutions to our future food security issues working to ensure a more sustainable future. However, the solution that I feel is the most rewarding in terms of sustainability is entomophagy.

Entomophagy is the human consumption of insects.

This practice has been around for millennia and is still practiced regularly by over 2 billion people across 80% of the world’s countries, predominantly in Asia, Africa and the Americas. There are over 1900 edible species of insects around the world and many of them can rival beef in terms of protein content. However where insects truly excel is in their feed conversion ratios, their low space requirements and their faster growth, compared to traditional livestock. I feel that suitable exploration into the possibilities of sustainable insect farming can provide real solutions to a very real problem.

My focus so far has been on the small-scale personal farming of insects and the examination of people’s perceptions of insects as a food. My aim is not only to introduce insects into people’s diets, but also to give them the tools to efficiently and sustainably farm their own insects; to become self-sufficient.

I have conducted detailed observations of insect interaction against many variables, which have helped develop the function of my micro-farm, improving the manageability for the end user and also increasing the livestock yields. I also feel it essential to explore the culinary possibilities that insects present. Once properly prepared and cooked many edible insects can be added to most recipes as a substitute for traditional meat, but more interestingly can also be ground up to form burgers and flour-like supplement for pastry and pasta.

I now plan to test and develop solutions to increase the reproduction and growth acceleration of the insects along with further exploration into cooking opportunities. This will help bridge my testing and observational research to engineer an initial prototype farm to develop further.

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Brunel Racing Team Ollie Hickman, Team Principal

Brunel Racing has a long history within the Formula Student event, consistently being a top competitor since the introduction to the UK in 1998. The Formula Student event requires a single seat race vehicle to be designed, built, tested and raced solely by students and all within one year. Several different methods of design have been used in the history of Brunel Racing with some being successful, and some less so.

The aim for the 2014 vehicle (BR-XV) is to produce a reliable, powerful and lightweight Formula Student car, building on the experience gained from the previous years. The vehicle design/build process began in September 2013 and will be completed by June 2014 when testing will begin ready for Formula Student UK at Silverstone followed by Formula Student Germany at Hockenheim. We hope you will support us and that we will see you at the competition!

Side Pods Richard Tomkins The sidepods are a key aerodynamic device that controls the airflow around the side of the car to aid the cooling of the engine. The sidepods are made using a single mould, precisely machined for simple carbon fibre lay-up to ensure rigidity under the large static pressures experienced internally at high competition speeds. The 2014 design will include wing profiles to utilise the wasted air running underneath the sidepods to generate downforce.

Headwork Peter Pokoradi The head is a modified Yamaha R6 unit with customised port sizes maximising the amount of air able to travel through the restricter. Custom camshaft profiles are designed to provide the desired levels of valve overlap and support in delivering the required performance targets.

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Uprights Lazar Pipkov Uprights are precisely designed to support the suspension geometry of the 2014 Brunel Racing Formula Student Car. They have to endure up to 2.5g lateral acceleration during cornering. Furthermore the 2014 design will also allow Ackerman steering geometry which will benefit the slow speed cornering of the racing vehicle. They will be precisely CNC manufactured in-house from Aluminium 7075 increasing rigidity and allowing for a light weight design.

Engine Peter Pokoradi The engine is a Yamaha R6 with bespoke intake manifold, to incorporate a mandatory Formula Student 20mm air restrictor, increased compression ratio and a custom equal length 4-1 exhaust system. The goal is to develop a reliable, powerful engine while providing good control and driveability.

Wings Duncan Burton

Steering System Andy Jennings

For the first time, Brunel Racing will run a full aerodynamic package at competitions in 2014. The largest components of this are the front and rear wings, which improve the cornering speed and handling of the car by generating downforce at high speed. The 2014 design will involve triple element carbon fibre wings at both the front and rear that will allow all of the power from the engine to be put down on the track for superior speed.

The steering system includes the mounts, column and steering rack. This year is the first time Brunel Racing aim to use a fully bespoke set up, with a steering rack designed and manufactured in-house from state-of-the-art materials. The design accommodates for different steering geometry which will provide the car with accurate and precise handling.

Body

Steering Wheel

John Sharp The bodywork design is the public image of the Brunel Racing brand; its shape and livery is distinctive and recognisable to all and a representation of the team. It requires a keen eye for aesthetics and aerodynamic consideration during the design phase. It will be manufactured in-house from carbon fibre in as few parts as necessary.

Eddie Day The steering wheel is a unique in-house ABS vacuum-formed design. The design accommodates 50% of the electrical switches and driver indicators.

The main features include launch and traction control actuation as well as display and engine map selection through the use of a rotary switch.

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Passive Speech Transmission Samuel Whyman

In collaboration with Avon Protection, my major project aims to optimise passive speech transmission through air purifying respirators. Air purifying respirators (APRs) are widely used around the world in applications such as military, law enforcement, escape and industrial situations.

The common theme amongst these respirators is that when using them, there is often a strong need to communicate amongst a team of people. However, due to the way they are worn, respirators muffle speech. This problem has been identified as one of the most negative aspects of respirator wear in a survey of hazardous waste workers and has been highlighted as a main concern in a report by the US Army Research, Development and Engineering command.

Currently, electronic amplification is a method used to overcome these acoustic losses, though due to their cost, weight and size, they are sometimes not ideal for low cost industrial respirators or ultra-compact escape respirators such as Avon’s NH15. For this reason, the project focuses on a technology to optimise passive speech transmission by altering the base technology to suit a range of air purifying respirators in the future.

To understand how respirators are affecting speech on a detailed level, I set about designing and building a test rig that would allow me to rapidly analyse a specific frequency band, which relates to speech while ranking a range of masks based on the test. My test, based upon the Speech Transmission Index method, allows me to put a respirator on a head form, play a known signal through it, record the ‘output’ and analyse these signals against one another. From this, using the raw data, each graph is analysed and scored based on the losses observed in testing. As this is not limited to noise files; recorded voices and phrases can also be analysed to arrive at a similar weighted score. Using skills learned during my placement year, with Avon Protection, and help from workshop technicians at Brunel, the test rig is repeatable and reliable across a range of respirator types. Having

researched the human factors of hearing loss and speech perception with the aid of Dr Marco Ajovalasit, the graphical analysis of the recorded outputs are translated into a prediction of how the speech is marred, giving a strong basis for future development.

A range of technologies are present in the respirators tested. Through both my testing and research, I have been able to show when each works well and find the scenarios where they begin to fail. From here, research into flattening out the frequency response of the speech optimisation device is quickly being made using the test method described previously. This will allow iterative prototype testing before moving on to more time intensive testing with a range of test participants.

Once I have created a technical demonstrator of this technology that is rapid prototyped into an existing respirator, I will develop this further by exploring how it could be optimised for a future concept full-face respirator. With this additional phase of the project, I will be able to use skills picked up from other course modules to visualise how the technology can be implemented into first a military/law enforcement environment and extending this into escape and industrial respirators.

Working with Avon on similar tasks in my placement year has helped me to tackle this initially daunting project. As I was working on technical design engineering tasks I have developed a particular way of viewing these problems, along with experience in how to correct these within the timeframe given by using the tools available.

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Design Placements & Major Projects Luke Firth

23% 17%

16%

15%

13%

9% 7%

Product Design

121

54 38 29

83%

100+ 9

16

Graphic Design

Lighting

Consultancy

Digital Agency

Industrial / Engineering

Other

Placement Sectors Every year a large proportion of our design students undertake work placements, lasting up to a year, across all sectors of the design industry.

These companies include Panasonic UK, Coca Cola, Pentagram, DCA Design Consultants, Rolls-Royce, Audi, Motorola (Singapore), Sony and Philips. Our students also have the option to take part in an exchange with universities such as TU Delft, San Francisco State University and Politecnico di Milano.

0% Medical Education Inclusive Lifestyle Sport/Active Lighting Industrial Sustainability

Major Project Sectors There are a wide range of major projects undertaken by this year’s final design students as shown in this diagram.

20%

10%

18%

7% 19% 11%

Skills Brunel designers develop a diverse range of practical skills and hone these through hands on industrial experience.

15%

14%

8%

9%

Sketching

CAD

Mechanics

Prototyping

Manufacture

Graphics

Business

Ergonomics

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Transit of Specialist Freight David Walker

With the growth of internet shopping and international purchases, delivery services across the globe are reporting significant growth in freight movement. Most people will have experienced lost or damaged items due to the delivery and postal systems; a problem that is only set to increase. Although these issues may lead to economic damage, the effects of loss and damage to the individual customer are minimal. This is not the case, however, with specialist freight, where loss or damage may result in more serious repercussions.

Specialist freight is a term which describes a wide range of items that require additional care and attention when transporting them. From high value to high tolerance, hazardous to politically sensitive, or simply fragile, these items of freight will often be irreplaceable. It is therefore imperative that senders and recipients can guarantee the condition of their freight during transit as well as at the point of receipt.

With initial research complete, it is obvious that there is a clear and open market for a product system of this nature. I will therefore be developing a product service system that improves the transit of specialist freight through the accurate tracking and monitoring of items within this infrastructure.

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From an early stage in the project it was evident that there are many stakeholders who would be affected by this addition, therefore developing a successful solution will require strong links and correspondence with these parties. Having formed connections with relevant industries, I made it a priority to make contact with the people who would be most affected by the proposed design. Shadowing delivery drivers gave me the insights needed to develop the project further, with specific requirements and needs becoming clearly evident. With this in mind, the functional requirements for the system are now distinct and coherent, while the form that this project will physically take is now able to develop.

From humble beginnings, this project has become broad and complex. With such a large amount of users affected by the project, the design considerations in this project are vast. In the next four months I shall be developing the project based not only on market requirements and human factors, but also giving strong consideration to manufacture (with my collaborator in China). Furthermore, with the project necessitating not just a physical product, I shall be working on the system interface, infrastructure and architecture in order to ensure a holistic and thorough final outcome.

Velok Sprint Shoe James Eaton

2013 has been quite a busy year for James Eaton and his adjustable sprint shoe, winning numerous awards including: 1st place in the Innovation Hothouse JC Gammon award for Innovation, the Graham Hawkes Prize for the best final year design project and the Sports and Medical Design Award at Made in Brunel.

From the very outset, his project appealed to many and gained him one of six places for the James Dyson Foundation (JDF) scholarship scheme. His idea stemmed from an innate passion for athletics and the frequent personal encounter with equipment such as sprint shoes.

James believed the high cost of sprint shoes, coupled with the frequent need to replace them due to rapid foot growth among aspiring young athletes was impractical and put a lot of financial strain on parents.

Inspired by the impracticality of having to replace sprint shoes approximately every six months, James set out to find a more efficient solution. “I wanted to come up with a design that would last a lot longer, and had adjustable length”, James said. “I was sat there with my headphones on and you could adjust the sides, and I thought wouldn’t that be great if I could put that into a shoe”.

would help facilitate longer use. Today, sprint shoes are manufactured in a range of sizes for the different stages of the user development and foot size. This means most shoes are left redundant or discarded when the user has outgrown them, even when they are in usable condition.

Velok on the other hand is designed to be easily adjusted to accommodate multiple foot sizes allowing young and aspiring athletes to simply adjust the length of the sprint shoe to fit their constantly growing feet.

During this project James worked closely with experienced shoe manufacturers and professional athletes, looking at appropriate lightweight materials and user posture to provide a product which delivers on performance.

The Velok sprint shoe owes all its current success to the exemplary hard work and dedication of James Eaton.

Having started his career working with Lamb IndustriesDesign Consultancy as an Industrial Designer, James has now started his internship in the footwear design department at Nike’s European headquarters in Holland.

Article by Faisal Anabah

One of the goals of this project was to design a smart and affordable sprint shoe for junior athletes, which 19

Visibility of Urban Cyclists Andrew Mason

Choosing something cycling related for my major project had always been my plan. To identify a specific area to focus on, a ‘cycle diary’ was undertaken. Through this I was able to gather initial feedback about people’s routines, how they use their bikes, what they use on their bikes as well as a general feel for potential improvements.

One to one interviews were also undertaken to explore the details and unearth the real problems. What I found was really interesting and apt at the moment.

Not surprisingly a lot of people were concerned about their safety, and rightly so. There are over 19,000 serious injuries and deaths on the roads in the UK each year and this number is rising.

bigger means oncoming traffic will give them more space. This improves the detection phase of a driver in a collision sequence; if it is easier to see a cyclist there is less chance of a collision occurring.

Once receiving this information I explored the most common collision scenarios. These include; a motorist turning across the path of a cyclist and, a motorist emerging into the path of a cyclist. The common problems across these are the visibility of the cyclist and potential blind spots of the motorist.

I will develop this further to include five projection lines covering the front and back of the bike expanding as they get further away from the bike. Other aspects will need considering such as the existing lighting in urban environments and how the product will be perceived as this is not a conventional application and may confuse motorists.

After a few concepts were made, one was generated that ticked all the boxes. This increases the visible footprint of a cyclist. Using projections on the road that enclose the cyclist in a virtual bubble makes the cyclist a more prominent figure on the road. Not only extending their visibility outside blind spots, the perception of being 20

The first step to make this concept a reality is prototyping and testing, to see if the design works. To make a quick prototype I shone small red 5mW laser diodes through a ‘diffraction grating’ to disperse the light in a line. The angle of grooves within the diffraction grating can then be altered to create different effects. A lens which has the grooves aligned vertically and is at 45º to the beam produces a line which curves around the bike.

Made in Brunel Exhibition 12-15 June 2014 Open Daily, Admission Free

Join us and meet the people behind the projects, view their work and discover their process.

Each year the Made in Brunel exhibition features projects undertaken by Design, Engineering and Digital Media students at Brunel University. These range from human-centred designs to innovations in transport, alongside projects focusing on sustainability and behaviour change. In addition to this, we also present our thinking on the future directions of well-known brands, based on predicted contextual issues in society over the next 15 years.

Throughout the week of the exhibition numerous events and talks will be held including “Pecha Kucha� presentations (20 slides, 20 seconds) from renowned speakers in Design, Engineering and Digital Media. Previous speakers include the founders of Joseph Joseph, Dame Ellen MacArthur and the Manager for Future Business Innovation at Sony.

For more information visit us at www.madeinbrunel.com or follow us on twitter @madeinbrunel

Bargehouse is owned and managed by Coin Street Community Builders: www.coinstreet.org 21

Brunel Facilities Workshops and Studios

From the very beginning all students within the School of Engineering and Design are trained to use the vast number of facilities we have. These facilities are utilised to great extent throughout our time at Brunel. From creating quick foam models to fully finished products, everything is possible.

There are workshops in specialist areas such as model making, woodworking, plastic, metal fabrication and metal machining.

There is also great expert advice at hand from our specialist technicians. In addition to these, research tools are used to gain further insight into specific areas. These include wind tunnels to recognise the effects of aerodynamics, computational fluid dynamics to understand fluid behaviour and electronics to discover the feasibility of our generated concepts.

We also have a plethora of media facilities to allow broadcast and multimedia students to focus their skills and implement their projects through film, TV and animation. These facilities enable all students, across the School, to constantly develop their subject knowledge; to gain an understanding of the form, function and feasibility of a project that can then be presented to live clients.

Through this, all students have a clear understanding of how ideas can be implemented which in turn will support our future careers.

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ONLY THE BEGINNING

The Design & Engineering Exhibition 12-15 June 2014 More information on page 21

@madeinbrunel www.madeinbrunel.com