Mobile innovation truck

Titan 2 replaces the Titan 1 truck, signifying RS’ continued commitment to bringing the latest innovations to its wide base of customers, whilst educating and inspiring the next generation of engineers through visiting schools, colleges and universities. These objectives support the company’s for the inspired campaign that kicks off with the truck’s UK and Ireland tour.

The new 35-tonne truck continues to offer the themes of Titan 1, showcasing technologies such as Raspberry Pi, 3D printing, robotics, the Internet of Things and thermal imaging, but is now packed with even more of the latest technology including demonstrations of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) to really bring innovation to life.

The launch, held at MediaCityUK in Salford, Manchester, saw Gravity Industries founder and the first world speed record setter for "flying a body-controlled jet engine power suit", Richard Browning, is set to ‘fly’ in his human flightsuit, ‘Daedalus’.

Browning supports the work RS is doing in the education and STEM area, and was on hand at the launch event to share his experience of founding tech start-up Gravity, which plans to successfully complete the world’s first human propulsion flight in the near future.
 
The DesignSpark Mechanical 3D modelling software tool from RS was used in the development of the ‘Daedalus’ jet-engine flight suit. The Daedalus design team, which included experienced CAD operators, used complex 3D design software to create the initial CAD renditions for the first suit prototype. However, Browning wanted to make changes to the design and shape 3D models himself.

This would have meant at least one week of intensive training on the CAD tools, which was simply not possible given Browning’s busy schedule and the timescales for the project. The answer was the free-to-download DesignSpark Mechanical 3D design software from RS, which uses direct modelling technology rather than the parametric methods used by traditional CAD software.

James Howarth, director of product management for RS in Northern Europe, said: “Our first truck was a great success, visiting more than 100 customer sites and welcoming over 7,000 customers on board. We also had over 1,000 students experience the truck, who interacted with technologies supporting the STEM curriculum. With the new technologies available on Titan 2, such as AR and VR, we are fulfilling our commitment to keeping our finger on the pulse of the latest technology used in industry today."

Titan 2 will be touring the UK and Ireland throughout the rest of 2017 and 2018, visiting customers and educational establishments. RS will also be supporting exhibitions and events, taking Titan 2 to the Bett education show in January 2018 at the Excel, London.