Tim Sheerman-Chase MPhys MInstP

Post-graduate Study for PhD, University of Surrey, Guildford

11th October 2007 – Summer 2012

I conducted an investigation to find effective methods for an automatic recognition of non-verbal communication. This involved finding suitable methods by reviewing the existing literature, as well as creating novel methods. The evaluation of techniques was based on my experimental design and analysis of the results. I published the results in three peer reviewed papers, as well as a thesis which has been submitted for a PhD qualification. I presented this work at workshops, at regular progress meetings with project partners and the funding body as part of the EPSRC LILiR project. The final system was able to automatically recognise non-verbal communication with a “start of the art” performance.

I implemented experiments using Python, C++, PHP, HTML and Matlab, primarily using Linux. I managed the data collection, based on video recording, crowd-sourcing from Mechanical Turk and online surveys. The methods used in the course of my research included the latest machine learning, feature tracking, model fitting and feature extraction techniques.

Separately from my postgraduate studies, I was contracted to create a GUI tool to enable prototype lip-reading algorithms for use by non-expert users, implemented by GTK+ with custom GUI widgets. This required me to produce a system design that incorporated software from our research partners, as well as to coordinate integration work to ensure the system operated correctly. Software development used the version management tools GIT and SVN. I also performed undergraduate lab supervision for C and C++, which involved explaining tasks, programming techniques and assessing the students understanding of material.

Thesis submitted: 26th June 2012, On the Automatic Recognition of Facial Non-verbal Communication Meaning in Informal, Spontaneous Conversation

Final viva exam planned: 18th September 2012 (TBC)

Systems Engineer/Senior Technologist, BAE SYSTEMS, Rochester

17th July 2001 – 21st September 2007

I was responsible for designing, implementing, integrating and testing C and C++ software in prototypes of embedded, real time avionics systems. These systems aimed to improve safety and efficiency of aircraft by applying new technology in data communications and displays. I performed:

• requirements analysis of systems and software, based on user feedback, existing procedures, research goals and available resources,

• software work package planning, including provided time estimates,

• UML software design of both high level systems that combined software from other engineers, as well as low level, self contained modules.,

• software implementation using Visual Studio on Windows and Green Hills MULTI IDE

• debugging of software running on embedded hardware (Netsilicon processor) using a logic analyser, software debuggers and other custom tools and

• designed and implemented unit test software to exercise the implementation.

I was project liaison for integration between my team and other project partners, both for on site integration and for work at multiple sites. I organised and facilitated the pilot assessment trials for a prototype navigation display in 2006. Technologies that I have successfully applied include: augmented reality, OpenGL, GIS & airport databases, maps and navigation assistance, aircraft simulators, XML, SQL (MySQL), Ethernet, human factors evaluation, custom user interface design, scripting languages, software design patterns, image editing (GIMP), multi-threaded software, OO design, Microsoft Office.

I was responsible for controlling resources and spending for the SLATS project. This involved monitoring the amount of hours worked, costs incurred and the estimate to complete cost. I also prepared and presented monthly project reviews to department managers and provided status updates using the project tracking tools.

2006-2007, The FLYSAFE Project aimed at designing a Next Generation Integrated Surveillance System (NG ISS) to provide enhanced safety, flight hazard protection and all weather operations for civil aircraft. It developed a system to enable commercial pilots to manage common types of air traffic manoeuvres without involvement of ground control.

2005-2006 The European Airport Movement Management by A-SMGCS CPDLC Project was a 24 company, Europe wide research programme into air traffic control. This project created a prototype controller pilot data link communication system for airport ground movement messages.

2002-2005 The Safer Landing, Approach and Taxi System (SLATS) was a 6 company, UK wide, research project into landing and airport safety and efficiency. It developed a prototype aircraft ground movement head up display (HUD) symbology and evaluated the system by user trials in a flight simulator.

2001-2003, The Victoria AFDX Interface Module Project was a 30+ company European research programme investigating integrated modular avionics. This project developed an embedded adaptor system to enable legacy equipment to communicate with a next generation data bus.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

(selected courses only)

2007-2012 - Attended approximately 45 seminars on computer vision research.
2009 - BMVA Summer School on computer vision (5 days), Completing Your Thesis (3 hours)
2005 - Visit to Full motion 737 simulator, Flight on A319 in the cockpit
2004 - Object Oriented Design Training (4 Days), Scuba Instructor Course (11 Days)

1997 – 2001 University of Kent at Canterbury, Physics (MPhys) – 2:1 Awarded
Final Year Project: Facial Recognition in Varying Lighting and Camera Systems.

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

• Internet based, collaborative map making as a surveyor and developer. This involves collaborating with the open data community, organising surveying events, writing custom tools to perform GIS merging, storage, rendering and validation.

• Volunteer administration of several web sites involving Wordpress, SQL (SQLite), PHP, CSS, Javascript, GIS, Feeds (Atom/RSS), Apache, HTML5, Google maps/calender and PayPal.

• Volunteer scuba instructor from 2004 to 2008, including teaching theory and manual skills to students. I am also familiar with video and audio editing (CS3, Audacity).

• I have a full clean driving licence.

Additional Info