Meet the ICE Lab at the University of Strathclyde, where the gap between computational intelligence and real world engineering challenges is narrowed.

 

We live in a world where we have easy and cheap access to computing power and data storage. In many ways, computers have become ubiquitous in everyday life, and in some cases are even out performing human ability in activities such as speech or visual recognition.

We have also seen computers defeating humans at our own games such as the GO game and even Poker. Yet the potential capacity of computer power has to yet to be reached, particularly in the engineering sector. Industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and construction, are faced with problems of increased complexity and growing uncertainties relating to environmental conditions, manufacturing processes, and human behavior/use.

At the same time these industries are operating in fast-moving markets, whose products are ever more competitive, increasingly efficient and with a constant demand for greater reliability. Computational intelligence techniques have become an important, and in many cases vital, tool in the engineering world to deal with these challenges and provide useful, reliable and efficient solutions.

Computational intelligence refers to the ability of computers to learn tasks, in the same way as humans can, to address complex real-world problems where mathematical and traditional solutions cannot be applied because of the presence of uncertainties, random events or lack of information.

The Intelligent Computational Engineering Laboratory (ICE Lab) in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Strathclyde acts as the bridge between novel computational intelligence techniques and real-world engineering applications. The aim is two-fold: firstly, to learn from real-life problems and develop new solutions and, secondly, to apply existing numerical techniques to explore new problem-solving strategies.

As part of Engage with Strathclyde week, ICE Lab is holding a launch event on the 2nd of May 2017. For further information and to register for this free event, check out the website.

There will be an opportunity for delegates to participate in the event by presenting an overview of their work, needs and expectations in the area of computational intelligence, with the possibility of working together on current and future projects. Delegates will also be invited to visit the Concurrent and Collaborative Design Studio, the only facility of its kind in Scotland, which enables multidisciplinary teams to take part in concurrent design optimisation studies.

 

Look-out for more posts from Engage with Strathclyde participants on the Glasgow City of Science and Innovation Blog and follow them on Twitter @EngageStrath