Prototwinning
In all engineering disciplines a combination of digital and physical models is necessary to support the progression of the design process, with each model and iteration thereof generating new understanding and knowledge to inform decision-making.
A huge amount of work goes into managing these models, transferring between the physical and digital worlds, updating designs, and trying to align the information that each model and prototype provides.
But imagine instead that all models were intelligently linked across the digital and physical worlds. Where design changes in any model automatically update the others. Where test results are automatically shared and integrated wherever they are most useful. Where the physical world and digital world in engineering grow together and take the best of both, with no need for systems or work to bridge the gap between.
Prototwinning is a 5-year program in which we are seeking to develop the next generation of fully integrated digital / physical models and systems, facilitating seamless transition between them.
Prototwinning Projects
Recent Prototwinning Posts
Smart Human Centred Design
The DMF lab are excited to be embarking on research in the new application area of Smart human-centred design. Work in this area seeks to couple physiological and neuroscientific measures with monitoring of designers in order to enable optimisation of the performance of individual designers and design teams. Engineering projects are complex, often time […]
DMF lab hosts Dr Tripp Shealy for invited talk on Design Cognition
In November the DMF lab hosted Dr Tripp Shealy – an associate Professor from Virginia Tech currently undertaking a visiting position at the University of Strathclyde. The visit gave us the opportunity to hear an invited talk by Tripp and also discuss potential collaboration opportunities, especially around the design cognition work that the DMF lab […]
Visit to University of Strathclyde to present the Physical Digital Affordance Index
In late November I travelled up to the University of Strathclyde to give a talk on the Physical Digital Affordance Index – a project I’m currently working on in collaboration with the Digital Catapult. In addition to giving the talk, the purpose of the visit was to connect up with other design researchers at the […]
Unlocking Design Potential: The Power of Mixed Fidelity, Mixed Reality Prototypes
Mixed Reality (MR) technologies have emerged as potential game-changers in the design landscape, offering a dynamic blend of physical and virtual elements. Designers are increasingly drawn to MR for its potential to elevate, enrich, and expedite prototyping endeavors. One intriguing aspect is MR’s ability to deceive our senses, bridging the gap between the virtual and […]
The physical-digital affordance index @ cross-catapult design event
In Spring 2023 I found out that I was successful in my application to the Researcher in Residence programme to develop the Physical-Digital Affordance Index (PDAI) in collaboration with the Digital Catapult (DC). As technology develops, we are increasing moving many aspects of our lives, both design specifically and more generally, into the digital realm […]
UK-Colombia collaboration and WUN bid submission
I returned to visit la Universidad de Los Andes (Uniandes) in August this year after a pandemic induced hiatus. Prior to 2020, we had been working with Uniandes to develop proposals to do with agritech and transdisciplinary engineering. During the pandemic we were able to manage some collaboration through project clean access (leading to a […]
Tracking 3D prototypes in real-time
Written by Michael Wyrley-Birch, one of our excellent summer interns. Over the past few weeks, I have been experimenting with different methods of real time 6D pose estimation for generic objects to allow for realistic digital versions of products to be mapped onto low fidelity prototypes. The different methods include: Using ArUco markers Using a […]
What are Haptics? How do they work?
Written by Mike Wharton, one of our excellent summer interns. I’m now about a third of the way through my project, having dived head-first into the world of haptics. There were a number of interesting tangents and discoveries along the way, and unexpected links to psychology and audio equipment. Haptic or tactile means “related to […]
The DMF at ICED 2023: Papers, papers, and more papers!
The DMF lab had their usual strong showing at the major conference for the research field last week, presenting 9 papers across topics ranging from prototyping to machine learning to neurocognition! This year the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED) was held in beautiful Bordeaux, which blessed us with excellent weather, warm evenings, and one […]