April 6, 2017 – Next month, Coventry University in the UK will launch a state-of-the-art postgraduate design facility which is intended to contribute to the long-term competitiveness of the UK’s aerospace industry. The National Transport Design Centre (NTDC) will provide a unique environment in which businesses and designers can co-operate to create design solutions that will shape the future of the aerospace sector.
David Wright, director of strategic initiatives at Coventry University, explained, “Our aim with the NTDC is to meet demand for specialized skills, building on Coventry University’s existing expertise in transport design with a range of new courses and research programs. Not only that, but we’ll be ensuring the centre is ‘open for business’ for companies in the wider transport sector – including automotive, rail, marine and aerospace – to work with us to help them grow.”
The NTDC will be fully equipped with technology that will allow businesses, researchers and students to create and refine new solutions. This technology includes:
• A 6m interactive power wall which allows users to explore detailed design and engineering concepts in virtual reality
• Advanced clay-milling facilities for creating physical models of vehicles
• A projection mapping system which can cast digital images onto 3D objects below, helping designers to assess how multiple options would appear on full-scale models
• Wearable devices for creating virtual, augmented and mixed reality environments
• Precision CNC milling machines for scale model creation and a range of 3D printing technologies
In addition to providing access to the very latest technology and giving students the freedom to explore their creativity when it comes to developing new technology, Coventry University will also be able to provide access to experts from across the various disciplines to feed into the NTDC.
