Rubber Soil Mixtures: from Cycle Paths to Seismic Maths – John McDougall, SEBE
Used vehicle tyre arisings in EU in 2016 was about 3.5 M tonnes of which about 95% is treated (reused or recycled). Researchers in the School of Engineering and the Built Environment were investigating this resource as a means of improving the durability of off-road cycle paths but the elasticity of rubber-soil mixtures, compared to conventional soils, drew their attention to its beneficial use in the management of seismic disturbances. Earthquakes can be devastating events, often in countries least able to protect themselves. Can rubber soil mixtures be at the centre of a low-cost, accessible technology, able to be installed in the ground to protect existing structures?
Psychogeography Participation and Primary Schools – Tom Flint, SoC
This touch sensitive map was created in partnership with pupils from Clovenstone Primary School. This is the first stage of a project with WHALE arts based in Wester Hailes. Using creative technology activities we are aiming to gain a sense of local feelings toward living in this area of Edinburgh. The next step of this project will attempt to create long term community engagement with creative technology practices to embed digital interventions in the physical environment.
Light-emitting Lace: A cross-sector collaboration – Sarah Taylor, SACI
In the making: light-emitting lace is a promotional film which captures the unique cross-sector collaboration with world leading lace manufacturers, MYB Textiles and design-led lighting specialists, Mike Stoane Lighting. It gives a snapshot of the people, the processes, the production and the product which made the woven optical fibre and specially designed textile illuminators a reality.
The combined cloth and lighting system marks a significant departure from existing commercial products and opens up new market opportunities as Scotland’s first commercial manufacture of smart textiles within a heritage textile infrastructure.
The research was twice funded by the Textile Future Forum Challenge Fund as part of a Scottish Funding Council initiative to accelerate collaboration between industry and academia and fast-track sector innovation (University of Dundee 2016 and Edinburgh Napier University 2017). The film was funded by the industry partners and was made by Colin Andrews from School of Arts and Creative Industries.
Robotic Landing Gear for landing on uneven terrain – Daniel Melia Boix and Keng Goh, SEBE
In this exhibition I will demonstrate a system to allow helicopters to land on uneven terrains by means of using a robotic landing gear. The system uses a model helicopter and replaces conventional landing gear with four articulated legs that adapt to the geometry of the ground. The landing gear system uses different sensors to recognise when the helicopter is landing and a control system that coordinates the movement of eight joint motors to maintain the fuselage level.
Off-site roof systems – Wojciech Plowas, SEBE
The presentation will cover a drone video footage with site trials of an offsite roof systems researched and developed at Edinburgh Napier University in collaboration with UK’s largest roof truss manufacturer.
The first video footage will cover a factory demonstrations of a ‘sliding roof’, a roof truss installation method which includes a pre-prepared system created under factory conditions. The system is delivered to the construction site where it is lifted onto one end of the structure. After the system is in placed it is opened the length of the roof.
Second video footage will outline the site trials of modular roof system – complete with structure, membrane and tiles, designed and developed at Edinburgh Napier university.
Join the dots – Kate Botterill and Kathy Velander
This showcase explores an on-going public engagement project with partner organisations in the Broomhouse area of Edinburgh.
Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland – Lesley Ingram, SAS
This project is a partnership between Edinburgh Napier University, Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Cycling. The Centre is based at the Trail Head of Glentress Forest in the Scottish Borders, with a remit to develop products and services associated with the mountain bike economy. This is done through knowledge transfer activities from within Scottish Academia linking with relevant commercial partners.