Professor John McPhee, P.Eng., studies things that move. What does that mean exactly? In McPhee’s words, his “research is devoted to the modelling, control, simulation and design of dynamic physical systems.”
McPhee, who received his degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Acadia University, the Technical University of Nova Scotia and the University of Waterloo, is currently a professor in Systems Design Engineering and the Canada Research Chair in System Dynamics at the University of Waterloo.
He is also the Director of the university’s Motion Research Group, which brings together students and professionals who develop computer models of the real world. These models are used to improve the design and control of mechanical, mechatronic and biomechatronic systems, with applications in everything from autonomous vehicles, to rehabilitation robots and sports equipment.
“Essentially, we are trying to develop new and better products for human users, whether that be automobiles, assistive devices, sports equipment or wearable technologies,” explains McPhee.
“We use advanced mathematics, physics and chemistry to develop equations that govern the dynamic response of a system. With these equations, we create computer simulations that can predict the efficiency, time response and effectiveness of a product or system. This means we know how a new product will perform before it’s even built, saving time and money for all parties involved.”
This article was originally posted on the Society Notes.