Institution news
Mark will be speaking at this year's Simulation and Modelling conference, for further details please visit the event website.
Could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience related to the focus of this event?
Mark Price (MP): I am an aeronautical engineer and my main interest is in the design of airframes, and specifically how we can make them as light as possible, as cost effective as possible, and preferably with no environmental impact. I currently hold an EPSRC Fellowship in Engineering Design in which I am exploring our understanding of constraints in design systems and developing tools to enable designers to navigate design space faster and generate concepts very quickly. To do this we have foundational work in the RIED (Re-Imagining Engineering Design) programme which uses a range of AI technologies coupled with advanced simulation tools to support autonomous decision making by the design system itself. I am now building on this foundation using artificial evolution supplemented with AI tools and attempting to numerically evolve net zero airframe structures.
What, in your experience, has been the biggest roadblock for the industry over the past 2-3 years?
MP: I think the biggest roadblock has been the pace of change and the temptation of potential. The explosion of possibilities with AI tools has generated much excitement and it can seem like all problems have now been solved or can be trivially with AI. I think this pace of change and the potential of AI solving everything has led many to be either complacent, in anticipation of the coming god-like tool, or reticent, playing a waiting game for the answers to come. I think this has taken focus away from developing the tools and skills needed right now to keep enhancing our capability, understanding and productive application of these new technologies. Finding a path for a company to implement new tools into their systems and processes in a cost effective way, and crucially which adds value and is accepted by their staff, is a non-trivial problem facing us!
What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
MP: I'm presenting our latest work on concept generation in design which uses a combination of AI, artificial evolution and generative design tools to create concept models extremely fast. In this we use LLMs and ML in parts, but each is focused and performing well for a narrow task. We have found now the speed up is really impressive and this focused use of ML very effective. But this is just our view and I'm keen to see how others are tackling problems and what their approach is.
What do you consider to be the key areas of innovation in this industry, both in the UK and internationally?
MP: For me the key areas have to be in design systems as they touch on all aspects of a product, and have such leverage over the final productivity and ultimately profitability of the company. The potential of AI tools for model generation and results interpretation for verification and validation is very exciting, and the prospect of Certification by Analysis starts to become tangible with these advances.
Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
MP: I'm keen to hear from Scott Shaw on Certification by Analysis as I think this is a topic of major importance to us, in that I mean trust and belief in models. I'm also keen to hear the latest developments in digital twin and digital thread.
Why is it important for engineers to join this conference?
MP: Simulation and modelling technology is moving so rapidly now that the great ideas of today are overtaken in the blink of an eye. The Simulation and Modelling Conference brings together a community of interest to share latest progress and perspectives so that we can all learn together. How else can we progress?
This year's Simulation and Modelling conference will take place on 30 Sep - 1 Oct in Birmingham, bringing together this dedicated engineering community to share recent advances, insights from projects, best practice, and lessons learned. To view the full agenda and register your place, please visit the event website.