Facilities

We have invested in cutting-edge equipment and facilities that will support you during your degree programme or research.

Redevelopment and modernisation

We have recently undertaken a £3 million redevelopment and modernisation of our engineering and design facilities.

This includes an engineering workshop and fabrication facilities, a dedicated makerspace for innovation, collaboration and the development of practical skills, a virtual reality suite, production studio (including photography, video and green screen facilities) and a large teaching and design studio.

These changes will deliver modern and advanced teaching and research facilities supporting all Engineering, Design and Digital Arts subjects.

World-class facilities

You’ll have access to some great facilities and experienced technicians, giving you everything you need to work on exciting projects. Our facilities play a vital role in our consultancy work and research collaborations. The facilities are also available for independent hire, along with any technical support that is required.

Anechoic Chamber

The Anechoic Chamber can be used for EMC (pre-compliance testing) and antenna characterisation.

It can allow measurements from 400MHz to 110GHz, with the absorber characterised above 1GHz. Planar, cylindrical and spherical Near Field measurements can be tested up to 40GHz. EMC Radiated Emissions tests to EN61000-6- 3:2001 with Class B limit can be performed.

Biomedical Engineering

Facilities include:

Speech workstation – SNORS+ multiparameter speech workstation, measuring voicing, nasal/oral airflow, tongue/palate contact and speech outcome.
Robotics/wheelchair laboratory – test facility for assisted powered wheelchairs and general robotic platforms.
Gait analysis system – dynamic, gait analysis system, measuring vertical and shear forces.

Biometrics

Facilities include:

Biometrics research infrastructure and test facilities – testing and demonstration suite of biometric modalities (fingerprint, iris scan, signature, facial recognition, etc).

Communications

Facilities include:

Antenna test facility
Millimetre-wave network analyser – frequencies from 110 to 170 GHz; spectrum analyser to 320 GHz
Optical/optoelectronic test and measurement equipment – including sampling oscilloscope to >50 GHz, optical spectrum analysers, tuneable LASER source, power meter and fibre cleavers/splicer.

Computer Suites

You'll benefit from four air-conditioned computer suites, which are highly suited for training purposes, featuring around 150 high-end computers. We have professional software packages for both engineering and digital media.

Digital Media Hub

Facilities include:

Photographic studio equipped with backdrops, continuous lighting, studio flash and upload/editing facilities.
Production studio – 100 sq metre video studio with comprehensive lighting grid, HD cameras and large green screen facility; static and radio microphones available.
Sound studio – 3m x 2m sound booth with studio microphone and mixing/capture/edit facilities.
Digital media studios equipped with high specification multimedia PCs (ideal for CPD training).
Usability and Human Computer Interaction – investigation and testing facility including state-of the-art multimedia PCs and one way mirror for observation.

Embedded Systems

Facilities available include design tools for Xilinx, Altera and Actel FPGA technologies, Matlab for system modelling and national instruments development tools.

Engineering Laboratory

We have a 120-seat, multipurpose, air-conditioned, engineering laboratory. The Laboratory benefits from dedicated technical support which is made up of 3 key groups: IT, Teaching & Research Workshop. These groups provide a wide range of support services to all staff, students and visitors.

Instrumentation & Control

The group has a well-equipped Instrumentation Research Laboratory with a number of flow and combustion test rigs.

Mechanical Workshop

We house a well-equipped mechanical workshop, staffed with skilled mechanical engineers and technicians. Here our students design and manufacture prototypes to individual specifications using a range of materials including plastics, stainless steels, aluminium, brass and precious metals.

In addition to a full range of machine shop equipment, the Workshop also has its own printed circuit board production facility with surface mount capability.

It also provides repair and maintenance facilities for many different types of scientific apparatus. Our skilled engineers and technicians are able to design new instruments, interface existing equipment and modernise older kit for new applications.

The workshop possesses SMT inspection and reworking facilities that can be used for removing and replacing surface mount chips and PGAs.

External clients include Ancon Technologies Ltd, Naneum Ltd, Particle Measuring Systems (PMS) and Lab-Tools Ltd.. We also provide services for other schools across the University.