Introducing our new starter Matt Dumbrill, who has recently joined as a Creative Technologies Associate for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with True to Nature Ltd and UWE Bristol.
True to Nature is a Bristol-based, independent production company specialising in innovative, world-class natural history content & TV production.
The focus of this KTP will be on enhancing existing camera drone stock whilst also creating new devices through 3D printing, software, radio communication and electronic technology. This will enable close-up footage of wildlife to be captured and will provide new, immersive perspectives. The project will also establish an in-house research and development capability.
Matt is a UWE Bristol graduate with a first-class BEng in Aerospace Engineering. He is President of the UWE Aero Society which is primarily progressing development of the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Drone and is due to compete at UAS 2023. Matt can fly winged drones and quadcopter type drones and has a growing interest in drone communication standards. He will soon be attending a GVC multirotor training course to learn how to operate larger drones. During his studies and as co-team lead, he designed the aerodynamic components of a race car for the university Formula Student Team, which positioned third at Formula Student UK.
His experience ranges from training nights at HMS Flying Fox as an officer cadet, to keeping the world’s oldest operating railway running, and then to design engineering for a global aerospace company.
Matt has had a keen interest in nature from a young age and recalls always watching the cuts at the end of nature documentaries to find out more about how the animals were filmed, and the kits that were used. He has been an amateur photographer for many years and enjoys learning about camera technology.
We asked Matt what attracted him to the position, and he replied:
“The nature of the project is what attracted me to the KTP, the project is novel and quite a challenge. I always want to push myself because that’s when you learn and progress the most. Also, there was a point in time where I wanted to be a marine biologist, and that interest in nature never left.
Being able to work with a company like True to Nature gives me access to work with and learn from people with a passion for nature and film making, there’s nothing better than working with a great team.”
We also asked what he is most looking forward to during the project and he told us:
“I’ve been part of this KTP for a number of weeks now, and it’s everything I thought it would be, I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me. My favourite part of development is when the first working prototype is produced, but I can’t rush to that point, there’s lots of tests and learning to do beforehand, and that progression feels great.”
KTPs consist of a unique three-way collaboration between a business, a university and a graduate (known as the associate). The KTP scheme is a UK-wide programme helping businesses to improve competitiveness and productivity.
There are two types of KTP:
- Classic KTPs focus on expanding the capabilities of a business’s products and services, often using cutting edge technologies. They allow you to embed expertise and generate new knowledge.
- Management KTPs are people-focused, designed to foster culture change, enable transformational improvements – applying a broad range of management practices and processes to create robust businesses.
A KTP is a cost-effective way to access academic expertise and recruit a highly skilled graduate.