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This research group is led by Professor Burgess and Professor Quarini and is working in the areas of bioengineering, design methods and industrial applications. Funding is obtained from a wide range of sources including EPSRC, DEFRA, MOD, Nuclear Decommissioning and industry.

The group has been involved in a wide range of bioengineering projects in collaboration with other research groups including the Bristol Dental hospital, the United Bristol Hospital Trust UBHT and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. The Group has developed and tested several proof-of-concept technologies for industrial applications. The most significant of these is the patented duct cleaning technology (known as 'ice-pigging') and a spin-out company is successfully applying the technology to different industrial sectors. The Group has pioneered new mechanical drive technology for a wide range of industrial applications including micro air vehicles, spacecraft, dentistry, electro-mechanical valves and roller chains.

Key achievements:

• Development of patented duct cleaning technology (known as ‘ice-pigging’) for cleaning ducts in the process and associated industries. It has now been developed and applied to industry under license through a spin-out company.
• Five prize winning papers: one for performance factors in structural design; one for the biomimetic study of reliability in nature; one for ice-pigging technology and two for inverse design methods (indirect temperature measurement).
• Collaborations with other research groups including United Bristol Hospital Trust, Bristol Dental Hospital and the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. Professor Chris Melhuish is the Director of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and further information can be found on the BRL website.
• Industrial projects with a diverse range of industries including MOD, Renishaw, Renold Chain, Rotork Controls, Land Rover, Metso, Xerox, Panasonic, RM and Gillette.

Accurate 3-D Bio-engineered human masticatory system is used to study structural and functional interactions in dental components and the implant-supported overdenture for durability and failure analysis.