Join our speakers for an interactive one hour webinar starting with speaker presentations followed by a moderated Q&A with the audience.



This webinar will include three topics:

• MachLab Rocket Test Facility - by Prof. Patrick Harkness, University of Glasgow
• Soft Robotics for Hard challenges  - by Dr Karen Donaldson, University of Edinburgh
• Ultra-compact feedhorn antennas for cubesat microwave payloads - by Prof. Duncan Robertson, University of St Andrews

Abstracts and speaker information:

MachLab Rocket Test Facility - MachLab is the largest rocket test facility in UK academia, based in Scotland. Researchers from industry and academia can use the facility to test bi-propellant liquid, hybrid and solid rockets up to 10kN of thrust. The facility supports the use of liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene (Jet-A). Professor Harkness led the creation of MachLab in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Glasgow and space technology partner Exotopic. Ensuring that researchers and students can access hotfire facilities in a safe and controlled environment, MachLab is ready to play a key role in the UK’s strategy to return to vertical launch.

• Speaker - Patrick Harkness is Professor of Exploration Technology at the James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow. His recent work includes building MachLab, the largest rocket test facility in UK academia. He also leads Rocketry Research Teaching Training (R2T2), a centre for doctoral training that produces the highest calibre of rocket propulsion engineers, supported by the UK Space Agency. He has established a partnership with the Australian Rocket Systems Training Network (ARSTN) and is collaborating with the Aerospace Systems Research Institute (ASRI) in South Africa. The University of Glasgow is building the payload for ASRI’s first launch vehicle. Professor Harkness’ wider research includes developing sampling hardware for extreme environments – both on Earth and in space – as well as advancing technologies for deployable structures in orbit.

Soft Robotics for Hard challenges - The Soft Systems Group is part of the Institute for Integrated Micro and Nano Systems and the Institute for Bioengineering in The School of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh. We use a wide range of bioinspired engineering approaches to tackle the most challenging issues faced by society. Our collaborative research group has an ever-growing range of interests including: bioinspired engineering, sensors, robotics, microfluidics, micro/nano fabrication, wearable technology, diagnostics, bioelectronics, and metamaterials. Currently we have three thematic foci: Robotics, Biomedical Engineering, and Space. 

• Speaker - Dr Karen M. Donaldson is an Elizabeth Georgeson Fellow in The School of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh. She holds degrees in physics, space related plasma physics and high-powered Radio Frequency engineering. She leads the space activity related research in the Soft Systems Group, exploring the fundamentals and application of the convergence of pure science and engineering to robotic systems.

Ultra-compact feedhorn antennas for cubesat microwave payloads

• Speaker - Professor Duncan A. Robertson holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Physics and Electronics and a Ph.D. in millimetre wave physics from the University of St Andrews, Scotland. For most of his career he has been with the Millimetre Wave Group at the University of St Andrews working on battlefield systems, passive imaging, electron spin resonance spectroscopy instrumentation, and millimetre wave radar for remote sensing and security applications. His research interests include millimetre-wave radar, radiometry, imaging, electron spin resonance instrumentation, quasi-optics, materials characterization and antennas. 

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This webinar offers an opportunity for companies across sectors to access the latest research and expertise from across the Scottish universities: University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, and the University of St Andrews.

Please register to attend this webinar below!

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To book your place, "Register as a Guest" or use a University of Edinburgh login. For assistance, please contact us on eievents@ei.ed.ac.uk