Newcastle University

Introduction

A Research Associate since 2001 and the principal engineer in the design and construction of electric drives for a variety of applications, including numerous industrially-driven prototype aerospace actuators:

- DEAWS and NEFS - distributed electric flap actuators

- ELGEAR - electric nose wheel steering actuator

Also contributed motor control software and hardware for the propulsion drive of the QinetiQ Zephyr solar powered aircraft.

An engineer of all aspects of electric drive design, including: simulation, control circuitry, power electronic devices, embedded control software (C/asm) and serial diagnostics interfaces.

Background

1st class MEng (Hons), Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Newcastle University

PhD, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Newcastle University (in the area of fault tolerant actuators for aircraft)

Other interests

Restoration, maintenance and modification of performance automobiles.

Internships

Please do not contact regarding internships there is no availability at this time.

Research Interests

Design, manufacture and programming of electric drives. 

Fault tolerant electric drives.

Power electronics.

Mentor: Prof. B.C.Mecrow

Projects

• Solar Aircraft Drive
  Project Leader(s): Prof B. Mecrow

With a focus purely on research and design, there is no participation in teaching, although guidance is provided to postgraduate students in the Power Electronics, Drives and Machines group.

Assistance has also been provided in the design of software/hardware for student laboratory projects and coursework.

• Bennett JW, Mecrow BC, Atkinson DJ, Maxwell C, Benarous M. A fault tolerant electric drive for an aircraft nose wheel steering actuator. IET Electrical Systems and Transportation 2011. In Press.
• Cao W, Mecrow BC, Atkinson GJ, Bennett JW, Atkinson DJ. Overview of Electric Motor Technologies Used for More Electric Aircraft (MEA). 2011. In Press.
• Bennett J, Mecrow B, Atkinson D, Atkinson G. Failure mechanisms and design considerations for fault tolerant aerospace drives. In: 19th International Conference on Electrical Machines (ICEM). 2010, Rome, Italy: IEEE.
• Bennett JW, Mecrow BC, Jack AG, Atkinson DJ, Sewell C, Mason G, Sheldon S, Cooper B. Choice of drive topologies for electrical actuation of aircraft flaps and slats. In: Second IEE International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives. 2004, Edinburgh, UK: IEE.
• Bennett JW, Jack AG, Mecrow BC, Atkinson DJ, Sewell C, Mason G. Fault-tolerant control architecture for an electrical actuator. In: 35th Annual Power Electronics Specialists Conference (PESC 04). 2004, Aachen, Germany: IEEE.
• Bennett JW, Mecrow BC, Atkinson DJ, Maxwell C, Benarous M. A Fault Tolerant Electric Drive for an Aircraft Nose Wheel Steering Actuator. In: 5th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD). 2010, Brighton, UK: IEEE.
• Bennett JW, Mecrow BC, Jack AG, Atkinson DJ. A Prototype Electrical Actuator for Aircraft Flaps. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications 2010, 46(3), 915-921.
• Bennett J, Mecrow BC, Atkinson DJ, Atkinson GJ. Safety-Critical Design of Electromechanical Actuation Systems in Commercial Aircraft. IET Electric Power Applications 2011, 5(1), 37-47.