News
Theo Morris and his team were building an aircraft called Icarus, not exactly a name synonymous with successful flight. And when they decided to ditch the landing gear, Theo admits, some thought they were outright mad.
But Team Bath University not only won the Innovation Award at last year’s Institution of Mechanical Engineers Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Challenge, but Theo now works for a leading global company, helping design the next generation of helicopters..
UAS Challenge is a student competition that brings together teams from UK and international universities to design and manufacture an unmanned aircraft system. The competition is open to both UK and international teams; in 2019 there are nine international teams competing representing countries including Canada, Sweden, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Netherlands.
The 23-year-old engineer says his team removed the landing gear from their fixed-wing aircraft to boost the amount of cargo it could carry and their chances of winning the competition. Taking off, Icarus required a dolly system that detached once it was airborne. Landing involved 3D-printed rubber skids that protected its belly and could be replaced once worn through.
Fast forward a year and Theo is at his desk at Leonardo Helicopters. He’s running computer-based simulations, crunching figures and writing up reports. Some days, his team is testing new rotor systems. One of his current projects promises to reduce vibrations in the cabin by 90%, which he thinks is absolutely remarkable engineering..
“We have an active airfield on site,” says Theo. “When I’m walking to lunch, I’ll see helicopters performing manoeuvres, high ranking military figures walking around or VIPs coming to look at production lines. It’s surreal...”.
Theo was always fascinated by mechanical systems. He liked to make things or find ways to improve them. At university, he studied mechanical and electrical engineering. He believes that taking part in the UAS Challenge helped him land a job at Leonardo, which is one of this year’s sponsors.
“It showed that I am passionate and have an interest in the field,” he explains, adding that he was drawn to the company because of its involvement with young engineers.
Theo says the skills he learnt during the competition – which sees teams design, build and test their aircraft – were put to immediate use in his job. He loved the teamwork, deadlines and problem solving. As one of this year’s mentors, he can’t wait to experience the competition from the other side.
His advice to students participating this time around is to embrace innovation and to start building their aircrafts as soon as possible, to discover any faults early on. In the legends, Icarus may have been too ambitious. When it comes to the UAS Challenge, for Theo, there is no such thing.