Team Member Status: Current Team Members

Andy Pickering is an Experimental Officer in the creation of embedded systems for small inspection robots. He is currently investigating ways to miniaturise and integrate the electronic systems required to realise autonomous pipe dwelling robots. Andy has been involved in mechatronics and robotics for over 25 years where he has worked on the design and fabrication of electronic circuits and the development of firmware, device drivers and control software. He also has experience assisting students with project work and practical labs as well as the deployment of robots in the real world. Andy has an HND in electronics and a first class B.Sc. and M.Sc. in computer science.

Muhammad Azam Mohd Sharif is a PhD student at the University of Leeds. Azam studied his undergraduate and finished his MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University in 2018. After a year in M&E industry, Azam return to undertake his PhD in 2019 and currently working on research and development of amphibious miniature robotics solution for investigating pipe networks, in conjunction with the Pipebots project.

Andy has been writing software for over 40 years and has 25 years commercial software development experience. He has a first class B.Sc. (hons) and an M.Sc. from The University of Hertfordshire. He has worked a wide range of products including: aircraft instrumentation, audio equipment, automotive engine control units, and a large number of set top boxes and televisions. Robotics software is closely related to the embedded software that he has worked on for many years. He is enjoying the challenge of sharing his knowledge and experience with the team at Real Robotics.

Briony Thomas is a Lecturer in Design Science at the University of Leeds, with a joint appointment between the School of Mechanical Engineering and the School of Design. She is deputy director of the Institute of Design Robotics and Optimisation and leads the STE(A)M research group, focusing on creativity and innovation in STEM. Her interdisciplinary research combines approaches from the arts and sciences, with a particular focus on geometric structures and design processes. Recent projects have related to paper folding for robotics, digital prototyping and new technologies in the product development process.