Dr Adam Rushworth is an Associate Professor in Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering at UNNC, where he has taught since 2016 and earned multiple teaching awards, including a National First-Class Module. He specialises in robotics, 3D printing and advanced manufacturing, and his hands-on teaching style encourages students to design, build and test real engineering systems — including an autonomous delivery vehicle developed with his students. Adam has delivered talks at events such as TEDxUNNC and the Ningbo Science Café, regularly works with local industry, and frequently runs outreach sessions for high-school students on engineering, robotics and design.

His recent research and publications focus on mobile robotics, advanced laser processing, additive manufacturing, and intelligent machine kinematics. Recent published topics include omnidirectional AGV dynamics, slip-induced instability analysis, and LiDAR-Inertial SLAM systems with active gaze stabilization. In manufacturing, his work covers high-power laser ablation for precision profiling of superabrasive grinding wheels, microstructural evolution during laser surface melting, and metal droplet-on-demand 3D printing. He also researches machine kinematics, incorporating physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for real-time forward kinematics solutions on parallel mechanisms like Stewart platforms.

He obtained his MEng in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics in 2011 from the University of Nottingham (UK), where he subsequently completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2015. He conducted research as a Research Fellow as part of the Rolls-Royce University Technology Centre in On-platform Repair and Manufacturing Technology, focusing on topics such as robotics for in-situ inspection, manufacture and repair, mechatronics and machining.

Adam specializes in the simulation, mechanical design, dynamic modeling, fabrication, and closed-loop control of advanced mechatronic systems and robotics. His research spans field robotics for in-situ inspection and repair in extreme environments, parallel kinematic machine tools, soft robotic systems, laser material processing, and novel metal additive manufacturing techniques. He has spearheaded the development of multiple custom machinery platforms, including pioneering high-resolution metal 3D printers based on proprietary Metal Droplet Extrusion (MDE) technology, alongside hybrid AI digital twins for industrial automation and laser ablation systems for precision tool conditioning and surface cleaning.

Core Research Pillars

• Advanced & Metal Additive Manufacturing: Proprietary Metal Droplet Extrusion (MDE) technology, high-frequency eddy current induction heating, multi-material bimetallic structures (e.g., GRCop-84 / Alloy 718), and process control for high-resolution metal printing.

• Laser Ablation & Precision Material Processing: Precision profiling, sharpening, and conditioning of superabrasive tools (such as diamond and CBN grinding wheels) via fiber and CO₂ laser ablation, physics-guided deep learning for underwater laser paint removal/cleaning, acoustic monitoring, and laser-material thermal interaction modeling.

• In-Situ Inspection, Maintenance & Field Robotics: Subsea Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), continuum manipulators, hybrid legged-walking machine tools, and aero-engine inspection platforms designed for constrained or hazardous environments.

• Digital Twins, AI & Waste Sorting Automation: VR-teleoperated Physical World Models, hybrid digital twins for physical manipulation of non-standard material streams, and non-invasive IoT sensor overlays for legacy recycling facilities.

• Aerial Manipulation & Soft Robotics: Parallel aerial manipulators for energy infrastructure maintenance, soft-body airbag UAV platforms with impact resilience, indoor positioning integration, and system identification.

• Surgical & Parallel Kinematic Systems: High-precision parallel kinematic manipulators (PKMs), adaptive kinematic structures, and orthopedic surgical assistance systems.

Key Research Projects

Metal Additive Manufacturing & Process Innovation

• A Novel Low-Cost 3D Printer for Stainless Steel and Aluminum Alloy

  Role: Principal Investigator (PI) | Funding: CNY 500,000

  Overview: Developed a scalable, low-cost metal printing framework utilizing proprietary Metal Droplet Extrusion (MDE) and high-frequency eddy current induction to maintain wire feed stock in a semi-molten state. High-frequency physical excitation extrudes controlled droplets with diameters smaller than the nozzle orifice, enabling high-resolution additive manufacturing without hazardous metal powders, high equipment footprints, or frequent nozzle clogging.

• A Printhead for GRCop-84/Alloy 718 Bimetallic Structures via Metal Droplet Extrusion

  Role: Principal Investigator (PI) | Funding: CNY 60,000

  Overview: Investigates custom printhead mechanics and thermal management for multi-material Metal Droplet Extrusion (MDE), specifically targeting high-conductivity copper alloys (GRCop-84) and high-temperature nickel superalloys (Inconel 718) for aerospace thermal management applications.

Laser Ablation & Subsea Robotics

• Precision Laser Profiling & Conditioning of Superabrasive Tools

  Role: Lead Researcher

  Overview: Investigates high-power fiber and $\text{CO}_2$ laser ablation mechanisms for precision profiling, sharpening, and grain burial suppression in diamond and cubic boron nitride (CBN) grinding wheels. Focuses on multi-mode active compensation, temperature field thermal modeling, and physics-guided deep learning to optimize material removal rates, cutting depth, and wheel surface topology.

• Development of a Compressed-Air Assisted Underwater Laser Cleaning Drone for Maritime Applications

  Role: Principal Investigator (PI) | Funding: CNY 345,000

  Overview: Developed an eco-friendly subsea maintenance platform integrating a fiber laser ablation head onto a 6-DOF Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) via a custom 3-DOF positioning linkage (expanding the system to a 3+6 DOF operational envelope). The platform uses a coaxial compressed-air jet to clear water along the optical path, significantly reducing beam scattering and optical attenuation. Integrates physics-guided deep learning and acoustic-induced noise recognition to optimize paint removal and biofouling removal while rejecting hydrodynamic disturbances (~1.5 N at 0.1 MPa).

Digital Twins, Infrastructure & Industrial AI

• AI & Digital Twin Collaborative Platform for Automated Waste Sorting

  Role: Lead Researcher / Principal Investigator

  Overview: Developing an AI-driven digital twin framework for non-standard waste sorting using Virtual Reality (VR) human teleoperation to train a Physical World Model. The platform allows robotic arms to learn complex manipulation behaviors (e.g., variable force application, complex grasping angles) for irregular waste streams. Designed as a modular, non-invasive IoT overlay, the system retrofits existing legacy recycling infrastructure without requiring costly facility overhauls.

• A Novel Parallel Aerial Manipulator for Inspection and Maintenance of Energy Infrastructure

  Role: Co-Investigator (Co-I) | Funding: CNY 320,000

  Overview: Focuses on advancing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with an integrated parallel robotic arm and end-effector sensor suite for physical interaction with power grids and energy infrastructure. Advances technology readiness from TRL 3 to TRL 6 through robust force control, aerial stabilization, and industrial partner collaboration.

• RoboBIM: Robotic Building Information Modeling

  Role: Co-Principal Investigator (CoPI) | Funding: CNY 100,000

  Overview: Developed an autonomous mobile robotic platform for real-time digital twin acquisition and spatial mapping on active construction sites, improving construction tolerances, safety, and quality assurance in civil structures.

Soft & Aerial Systems

• Low-Cost Soft Drone Robotic Platform

  Role: Co-Principal Investigator (CoPI) | Funding: CNY 383,000

  Overview: Combined soft robotics with unmanned aerial systems by investigating inflatable soft-body airbag structures for impact safety and aerial compliance. Work encompassed four core streams: soft airbag manufacturing techniques, platform dynamic modeling and flight control optimization, ultra-wideband/optical indoor positioning integration, and total platform miniaturization and system integration.

In-Situ Inspection, Maintenance & Surgical Systems

• Project MiRoR (Miniaturized Robotic Systems for Holistic In-Situ Repair and Maintenance Works in Restrained and Hazardous Environments)

  Sponsor: European Union (FP7)

  Overview: Focused on the conceptual design, gait dynamics, and kinematics of the WalkingHex—a hybrid walking robotic machine tool designed for in-situ power generation plant repair. Designed specialized modular end-effectors for the SeRArm slender continuum snake robot.

• Project REINER

  Sponsor: Rolls-Royce plc

  Overview: Developed miniature mechatronic tools and flexible inspection devices for internal borescope access and in-situ repair inside commercial aircraft gas turbine engines.

• SpineBot: Parallel Kinematic Surgical Assistant

  Overview: Adapted the FreeHex parallel kinematic machine tool into a high-precision, stiff surgical assistant aimed at bone alignment and trajectory guidance during corrective spinal surgeries for scoliosis.

Undergraduate

Mechanical Engineering

Design, Manufacture and Project

Product Design and Manufacture

Engineering Design and Design Project

Materials and Manufacturing 3

MRes and PhD opportunities

There are opportunities for MRes and PhD studentship at The University of Nottingham (Ningbo and UK campuses). Interested applicants in the below research areas are welcome to contact Dr Rushworth for more information:

• Metal Additive Manufacturing
• Robotics
• Laser Processing