Energy research

Advanced Airship Research Project at the University of Lincoln

Paul Stewart
MAAT Multi-body Advanced Airship for Transportation project logo

Lincoln School of Engineering is part of a global consortium which will be kicking off an EU Framework 7 Programme Collaborative Project in September 2011.

The project is MAAT Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport, and is led by Professor Antonio Dumas at the University of Modena, Italy.

Principal Investigator at the University of Lincoln is Prof. Paul Stewart, and Co-Investigator is Prof. Chris Bingham, both of the School of Engineering.

Project Members

  • Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
  • Universidade da Beria Interior, Portugal
  • Logistics Network Consultants GmbH, Germany
  • University of Hertfordshire, UK
  • Southern Federal University, Russian Federation
  • ENGSYS Ltd., UK
  • University of Lincoln, UK
  • Universita di Bologna, Italy
  • Universite di Torino, Italy
  • Esponential Design Lab, Uruguay
Proton Energy and Sanswire High Altitude Commercial Rigid Airships

The MAAT project overcomes structural and physical limits of airplanes in cruiser/feeder operation. It aims to investigate an airship cruiser-feeder global transport system for medium and long range transports.

The MAAT system is composed by three modules.

  1. PTAH (Photovoltaic Transport Airship for High-altitudes) is a heavy payload cruiser which remains airborne on stable routes;
  2. ATEN (Air Transport Efficient Network feeder) is aVTOL feeder airship by gas buoyancy linking the cruiser to the ground;
  3. AHA (Airship Hub Airport) is a new concept of low cost vertical airport hub joinable by ATEN, easy to build both in towns and in logistic centres.

The strengths of the MAAT concept are:

  • standardized and modular global air transport system;
  • operative altitudes higher than traditional civil routes;
  • heavy payload, low cost of transportation and non-stop flight;
  • possibility to act as a flying integrated logistics centre;
  • self sufficient by photovoltaic propelling system;
  • increased safety to prevent crashes and long evacuation times;
  • hovering ability to simplify cruiser/feeder engagement;
  • cruiser/feeder transfers in motion;
  • VTOL ground operations;
  • silent landing and take-off operations;
  • cost effective, light and easy to deploy structures on the ground;
  • reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions

The MAAT Project aims to study the system and its components in a full structured systemic approach and to define:

  1. the general design of cruiser and feeder, to optimize aerodynamics and photovoltaic energy;
  2. the preliminary structural draft of cruiser, feeder and hub;
  3. control systems, procedures and codes for stability and flying attitude control;
  4. electrical propulsion systems able to overcome the problems related to the low air density;
  5. operative procedures for rendezvous and joining operations;
  6. internal design of cabins and cargo;
  7. study and design of cruiser/feeder connections;
  8. passive and active safety systems.

 

 

successful seminar – ‘Using lasers to modulate biological cell response’

Paul Stewart
Dr David Waugh giving an open seminar

Summary
Wed 6th April 2011 @ 2:00p.m. – 3:00p.m. Lincoln School of Engineering Open Seminar Series. Dr. David Waugh gave an open seminar about ‘Using lasers to modulate biological cell response’ in one of Lincoln:Engineering’s seminar rooms.

Abstract

With an aging population there is an ever growing demand on medical facilities, especially with regard to biological implant technology. Laser surface treatment offers a unique way of tailoring surfaces to manipulate cell response in order to reduce and predict clinical failure. This open seminar will give you an insight into the multidisciplinary research carried out by Dr. Waugh, a Research Fellow in the Lincoln School of Engineering. The seminar will discuss work in the field of laser-modified wettability characteristics and how they can be employed to determine the biofunctionality of a given material. Furthermore, the future for this research will be discussed including potential use of this technology in stem cell growth and manipulation.

Dr. David Waugh Ph.D., MSc. MPhys, MIET, AMInstP is currently a Research Fellow at the Lincoln School of Engineering. He is currently undertaking a feasibility study modelling and simulating a number of techniques to harness the kinetic energy from landing aircraft, under the supervision of Prof. Paul Stewart.

In addition, Dr. Waugh is furthering his Ph.D. research into the application of lasers in life sciences. This involves the laser surface treatment of biomaterials, specifically polymers, to modify the surface topography and surface chemistry to enhance biological cell growth. This is carried out in the endeavour to counter the failure rates of biological implants so that the need for unnecessary corrective surgery is considerably reduced.

Dr. Waugh has also carried out significant studies into the modification of wettability characteristics of laser surface-modified polymeric materials. With this in mind, he endeavours to quantitatively link the wettability characteristics of a material to its bioactive nature in the hope to give clinicians a platform from which tailored biomaterials can be produced. This would allow clinicians to have the ability to confidently predict cell response to a specific material.

His Ph.D. entitled “Laser surface treatment of nylon 6,6 for the modification of wettability characteristics and subsequent enhancement of osteoblast cell response” was carried out in the Wolfson School of Engineering at Loughborough University, under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Lawrence. His MPhys. and MSc. in Physics with lasers and optics was carried out at the University of Hull.

Dr. Waugh actively publishes his work through books and international journals. In addition, he has attended and presented at a number of national and international conferences such as the International Congress on the Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics (ICALEO). Furthermore, he has been a reviewer for a number of academic journals such as Lasers in Engineering, Surface and Coatings Technology and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C; Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science.

Modifications to Lotus Free-Piston engine complete

Paul Stewart
The free-piston engine at Lotus waiting for collection

Our free piston engine has had it’s major modifications completed by Lotus and is now ready for one of us to go over to Norwich and pick it up. The engine has had a new 25kW linear motor/generator fitted. When we get it back to our labs in Lincoln, Control Techniques will be coming over to re-commission the electrical system and load dynamometer. After this we will be continuing our research into novel combustion strategies and power plants for hybrid electric vehicles.