Helen McGloin

Email: h.mcgloin@bristol.ac.uk

PhD supervisors: Matthew Studley, Richard Mawle, Alan Winfield

PhD title: Repurposing robots – improving sustainability in the robotics industry

Biography

Helen is a Chartered Engineer who has 8 years of industrial engineering experience gained after the completion of her Mechanical Engineering MEng degree at Cardiff University.  Helen worked for 7 years at Rolls-Royce Plc, focusing on the development of new and novel processes within Automation and Additive Manufacturing processes.  Most recently Helen worked as a senior manager at a SME in the food industry, leading projects on manufacturing improvements to reduce waste and increase production limits.

Automation and Robotics projects included automated applications for welding, assembly and machining, as well as interrogating the capabilities of automated vehicles and collaborative robots for use in production facilities.  Helen also developed an interest for education, skills and training within Automation and the processes to develop new technologies, having led activities in this area at Rolls-Royce Plc.

Helen will be studying the possibilities and limitations of repurposing robots at the end of their primary life to help reduce the amount of electronic waste that will be produced in industrial, professional and domestic settings as the numbers of robots continues to increase

Outside of work and studies, Helen is a keen cricket coach and player, currently representing her local side at Monmouth Cricket Club. For the 2022 season Helen has become the first female captain in the South East Wales League, leading Monmouth 4XI.