Meet the Team
i3D robotics has a strong team with a great diversity of experience.
Our team comes from a range of backgrounds and boast a diversity of skills. All are committed to our vision of creating a legacy we can be proud of through the application of intelligent systems.
Dr Michael Foster
Director
Dr Michael Foster is an experienced space scientist and optical instrumentation specialist with more than two decades of expertise in remote sensing, LiDAR, Raman spectroscopy and Fabry–Pérot optical systems.
After completing his PhD in cometary atmospheres in 1999, Mike moved into designing advanced optical instrumentation, contributing to several major international space missions, including EarthCARE, ADM-Aeolus and ASCOPE. He was also involved in developing the landing model used during the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission.
Mike’s focus is on strategic leadership and financial oversight. Combining his scientific and commercial experience, he helps guide the company’s long-term direction, supporting sustainable growth, investment decisions and the continued development of its innovative technologies.
Dr Jonathan Storey
Director
After completing a degree in Physics and a PhD in Space Plasma Physics at the University of Leicester, Jon entered the world of optical instrumentation. Since then, he has been responsible for designing and building every element of optical and laser-based instruments for a variety of applications, ranging from the highest specification optical filter and 3D landing LIDARs for the European Space Agency through to a gas contaminant sensor for British Gas.
His wide range of skills means he is involved in the initial design of a system, specifically the optical, mechanical and software elements, through to assembly and testing prior to delivery. Jon’s bringing his extensive knowledge of optical technologies to bear to find innovative solutions for a range of industrial and environmental challenges.
Dr Richard French
Innovation Lead
Dr Richard French has been the leader of highly successful international interdisciplinary teams since 2003. He constructed the world’s largest, most complex experiment at CERN’s LHC – ATLAS, and was the Principle Investigator of a >£16m grant portfolio for multiple EU, Innovate-UK, EPSRC & STFC collaborative R&D grants.
Whilst based at the University of Sheffield, Dr French was the group leader for an independent research team ESIM, “Enabling Sciences for Intelligent Manufacturing”. Working at an interdisciplinary fusion point, he built industry-academia collaborations, interpreting industrially relevant challenges to deliver disruptive cutting edge solutions driving growth in sectors which rely on advanced manufacturing has generated significant impact. Dr French works closely with other R & D companies including IS-Instruments to develop compact, remote sensing instrumentation and intelligent vision systems for application in Robotics, Nuclear Decommissioning, Industrial Biotech, Welding & Additive Manufacturing, and Construction & Rail sectors.
Dr KinYip Chan
Software Engineer
Yip achieved his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Kent. He then went on to achieve his MSc in Digital Signal Processing and Machine Intelligence from the University of Surrey before completing his PhD at Kingston University where his thesis title was: Control Algorithms for Optimisation of Engine Combustion Process with Continuously Changing Fuel Composition.
Yip took up an internship at The Parthenope University of Naples, Italy, where he studied the 3D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) using in Image Processing. Returning to the UK, he went on to work with a global leader in the design, develop & manufacturer drone platforms for filmmakers. His next role saw him developing a demonstrator for automated intelligence warehousing for e-commerce. Yip transferred to a specialist security consultancy company where he developed various intelligence systems for security use, IoT, robotics, etc., and researched indoor positioning system using IBeacon and WiFi radio wave. Yip joined i3Dr in November 2021 and his principal role is developing our algorithms for machine learning and building our bespoke database for industry-specific object recognition applications.
Sarah Marsh-Collings
Information Dissemination Officer
Sarah Marsh-Collings was brought on board to help raise i3D’s profile and highlight the R&D advances taking place and their significance across multiple industries.
With a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences and having worked in Communications since 2007, her knowledge of online engagement platforms coupled with her ability to communicate complex innovative technologies to a wider audience brings additional and valuable exposure to the research being conducted.
