Marine researchers secure two EPRSC funding wins

UCL MechEng marine researchers recently won two grants through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The new funding will support cutting-edge research in the fields of AI and sustainable maritime technologies respectively. These projects are poised to advance key areas of engineering research and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

UK Open Multimodal AI Network (UKOMAIN)

The first success comes from the EPSRC’s Tackling Tomorrow’s Engineering Research Challenges funding stream. The project, titled UK Open Multimodal AI Network (UKOMAIN), is led by Dr Yao Zhang from UCL Mechanical Engineering.

Multimodal AI integrates diverse data types such as text, images, and sound to drive innovation across various scientific domains. The UKOMAIN project will leverage this technology to address engineering challenges in critical sectors, including health, transportation, robotics, and global engineering solutions.

Project Summary:
“Multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to transform scientific discovery and improve human interaction with technology. It plays an essential role in addressing engineering challenges across sectors such as health and wellbeing, transportation systems, robotics, materials discovery, and space research. The UK Open Multimodal AI Network aims to create a collaborative framework connecting stakeholders and solutions across disciplines to drive sustainable impact and growth.”

This funding will facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and the development of AI solutions capable of addressing tomorrow’s most pressing engineering challenges.

Maximising the Efficiency of Air Lubrication Systems

The second funding award is a project focused on Maximising the Energy Efficiency and Underwater Noise Reduction of Air Lubrication Systems (ALS), supported through the EPSRC-funded Clean Maritime Hub. This project is led by Dr Tom Smith in collaboration with Silverstream Technologies.

Air Lubrication Systems are a promising technology for reducing drag and improving fuel efficiency in maritime vessels. These systems, which inject air along a ship’s keel to reduce friction, also have the potential to significantly decrease carbon emissions and underwater noise pollution. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of bubble dynamics in these systems has hindered their full potential.

Project Summary:
“Air Lubrication Systems (ALS) reduce drag by injecting air along a ship’s keel, offering a promising solution for reducing fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and underwater noise. However, current limitations in understanding bubble dynamics prevent ALS from reaching its full potential. This research will integrate new experimental findings with advanced computational models to resolve the bubble carpet produced by ALS, providing critical insights into drag reduction and noise reduction mechanisms. Ultimately, this work will enable the optimisation of ALS efficiency and performance.”

This project aims to address the knowledge gaps surrounding ALS technology, with the potential to revolutionise the maritime sector’s approach to sustainability and noise reduction.

Looking Forward

These two projects represent significant advances in the Marine Research Group's efforts to contribute to global challenges through interdisciplinary research and technological innovation. The funding provided by EPSRC will enable further development of AI-driven solutions and sustainable maritime technologies, supporting UCL Mechanical Engineering’s broader mission to advance knowledge and drive positive change across industries.

The Marine Research Group is excited to continue working with esteemed collaborators and to explore the transformative potential of these research initiatives.

Further links

• Dr Yao Zhang's profile
• Dr Tom Smith's profile
• Dr Yao Zhang's project