Dr Robert Ward

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Senior Industrial Research Fellow

Rob Ward
Profile picture of Rob Ward
r.a.ward@sheffield.ac.uk
Amy Johnson Building

Full contact details

Dr Robert Ward
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Amy Johnson Building
Portobello Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

Dr Rob Ward is the Director of the Robotics and Autonomous Manufacturing Systems Lab and CEO of the EEE/AMRC spin-out company DigitalCNC.

Previously Rob held a joint academic position between the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the ±¬ÁÏTV Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) where he developed, led and supervised research programmes in self-optimising autonomous manufacturing. Rob is a Chartered Engineer and he brings a wealth of project and operational management experience to support the undergraduate and postgraduate supervision in the school.

Rob has an MEng(Hons) degree in Avionics and Aerospace Systems from the University of Manchester and an Engineering Doctorate in Machining Science and Control Engineering from the ±¬ÁÏTV. Prior to joining the ±¬ÁÏTV and the AMRC in 2017, Rob served as an Engineering Officer in the UK Military.

Rob welcomes applications from potential undergraduate, masters and PhD students to join the team and undertake industry focused projects. 

Research interests
  • Digital Machining
  • Machine Tool Control
  • CNC Trajectory Generation & Interpolation
  • Precision Motion Control Systems
  • Robotic Machining
  • Digital Twins
  • Industry 4.0/5.0 Technologies
  • AI/ML in Manufacturing
Publications

Journal articles

  • Ajraou H, Ward R, Farbiz F, Graf E, Yuan M, Yan S & Oyekan J (2026) . Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 101, 103277-103277.
  • Wilkinson D, Sencer B & Ward R (2025) . MM Science Journal, 2025(5).
  • Bonnell R, Carroll R, Green C, Brown A & Ward R (2025) . MM Science Journal, 2025(5).
  • Wilkinson D, Sencer B & Ward R (2025) . The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 137(11-12), 5625-5647.
  • Duro JA, Ward R, Rooke J, Pickford E, Bonnell R, Brown A, Purshouse RC & Curtis D (2024) . Procedia CIRP, 130, 1358-1363.
  • Chien S-H, Sencer B & Ward R (2024) . CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, 48, 28-41.
  • Chien S-H, Sencer B & Ward R (2023) . Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 68, 680-686.
Teaching interests
  • ACS336/ACS61015  Rapid Control Prototyping
Professional activities and memberships

Professional Accreditation

  • Chartered Engineer (CEng)
  • Member of Institute of Engineering and Technology (MIET)
  • Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (MIEEE)

Journal Reviewer

  • International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture
  • ASME Journal of Manufacturing Science and Engineering
  • International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing

Conference Reviewer

  • CIRP Conference of Manufacturing Systems
  • CIRP Conference on High Performance Cutting
  • CIRP Conference of Modelling of Machining Operations

Links

Robotics and Autonomous Systems Group