Self employed computer programmer - Lancashire (01/1990-01/1992)

I developed software for double-glazing manufacturers.  I did customer research, marketed myself, and translated specifications into a tailor made software product.  I wrote a user manual for the software and provided support for a year. I sold each program for around £400 and sold two versions.

Research Assistant, Keele and Staffordshire Universities,Graduate Robot Programmer at the company ‘Rehab Robotics’ (09/1996-09/1997)

I designed and wrote the controlling software for the embedded PC within the robot ‘Handy-1’.  This is a very successful rehabilitation robot on the market that allows people with no arms, or lost their use to feed to wash and shave themselves and sells for around £4000 per unit.  Around one hundred of these units are in use around the UK and attract a lot of research attention from other universities and companies. I collaborated with Lund University in Sweden and presented my work there. I also collaborated with Mercedes Benz and Forschungsinstitut Technologie-Behindertenhilfe (FTB). The company base moved from Keele to Staffordshire University whilst I was working with them.

 Embedded Programmer, Celestica, Staffordshire (09/1997-03/1998)

I was responsible for developing the embedded software within an extremely successful anti-theft vehicle location device utilising GPS (Global Positioning System) and sending its location using SMS (Short Message Service). I also modified the address book software on a Palm handheld device so it could communicate with and use the GPRS(General Racket Radio Service) card within the unit to make voice calls.

 Robot Developer, McVities Biscuits, Carlisle (04/1998-04/2000)

I was in charge of robotic installations for the United Biscuits Company throughout Europe. I specified, programmed, and was in charge of installation of robot systems replacing human labour on the shop floor. My main project was a £100 000 robotic installation to feed collated biscuits into a wrapping machine. I also designed my own lightweight grippers to be manufactured to emulate human operation.

 Lecturer in Robotics, Carlisle College, Carlisle (09/1999-04/2000)

I worked part-time as an evening lecturer to part-time HNC Mechanical Engineers, I did this whilst still working at McVities.  My skills acquired in my full time job were shared with the students.

 Senior Lecturer, Staffordshire University (05/2000-current)

I am the award tutor for the degree in Design Technology for Robotics.  In this role I am responsible for monitoring the cohesion of all of the modules (eight in each of the three years), the students taking this degree, specifying and purchasing new equipment, development of the robot laboratories, and teaching the robotics element of the course. I am also in charge of teaching a new course in Animatronics.

My other responsibilities include:

Final year project tutor:- I average ten final year project students each year mainly studying electronic engineering and mechatronic degrees.

Principle control lecturer:- I am responsible for all of the teaching of control, creating lecture material and exams to engineers in the second and third years. 

MSc supervisor:- I have supervised two MSc electronic engineering students through to completion, am currently supervising another two and have second supervised four MSc students.

PhD second supervisor:- I have acted as the second supervisor for a PhD student in Virtual Reality through to completion.

Part time PhD:- I am working towards a PhD in conjunction with the Mobile Networks Group, my research is involved with tele-operated robotics and network delay compensation.

Yearlong sabbatical leave (04/2004-04/2005)

I took leave from my post to travel around the world in one year. I arranged cover for my lectures and projects and kept in contact with my colleagues through my website. I took the opportunity to visit Universities around the world, past students in their home countries, and offered my engineering help with a community in India. Many of my proposed projects have ideas taken from what the community in India needs.