Paul Newman and Oxford RobotCar
Paul Newman and Oxford RobotCar
Photo: John Cairns

Oxford researcher elected to Royal Academy of Engineering

An Oxford University researcher has been elected to the Royal Academy of Engineering. Professor Paul Newman was among 59 new Fellows announced at the organisation's annual general meeting this week.

Professor Newman is BP Professor of Information Engineering, Fellow of Keble College, and is co-leader of the Mobile Robotics Group, part of Oxford's Department of Engineering Science.

After obtaining an M Eng in Engineering Science from Balliol College, Oxford, Professor Newman went on to work at the University of Sydney and MIT before returning to Oxford in 2003. At Oxford he has led research into mobile autonomy, developing machines which map, navigate through, and understand their environment. His research includes the Oxford RobotCar project which has showcased robotic technology from Oxford University, that enables a car to 'drive itself' for stretches of a route, driving a Nissan Leaf electric car.

Professor Newman said: 'It is very pleasing to be recognised in this way and I think it is also a mark of the excellent research in robotics and associated disciplines being carried out by members of my team and colleagues around the university. Engineers at Oxford are proving that the UK can be a driving force in the development of robotic technologies.'

Professor Dame Ann Dowling DBE FREng FRS, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: 'Our newly elected Fellows bring an enormous breadth of expertise to the Academy, widening our collective scope and knowledge. I know that they will all make significant contributions to the Academy's activities in their time as Fellows and we look forward to working with them to create benefit for society through engineering.'