Team Hawk - Our Team

Samy Hirani

Team Principal and Flight Control Surfaces Lead

Samy Hirani

Age: 26

From: London
Course: MEng Mechanical Engineering
Experience: Compiled a thesis on an aerodynamic study of an articulated truck. Have experience in industry with a Fortune 500 company. Led previous successful group projects during my first three years at university.

Team Ambitions: To successfully design and manufacture the first working fixed-wing drone Team Hawk will have entered into the IMechE UAS Challenge. I aim to drive Team Hawk to success this year!

Three Interesting Facts:
1) I am a Fulham fan.
2) I still talk about The Wire being the greatest TV show of all time, about 10 years after it stopped being a cliché.
3) I have played tennis for over 15 years and have been described as “above average at best”.

Matt Savage

Technical Director and Electrical Systems Lead

Matt Savage

Age: 23

From: Timberland, Lincolnshire
Course: MEng Electrical Engineering
Experience: I did a 12-month placement at Rolls-Royce in the Civil Aerospace department, giving me an appreciation for how products are designed, tested and manufactured in the aerospace industry. I worked in the systems engineering department which ensured that the processes used to design individual sub-systems were not only lean in their own right, but also worked well when integrating with other sub-systems to optimise the overall product. These ideologies can be used when designing the best aircraft we can make.

Team Ambitions: We intend to design a simple style aircraft that includes a lot of innovation within individual sub-systems to optimise weight and performance. I am hoping to keep communication between the electrical and mechanical team members at a maximum to ensure that any integration issues between the two are avoided.

Three Interesting Facts:
1) I have designed and built a Robot Wars style combat robot and am currently designing a new antweight robot that I hope to one day take to a national competition.
2) I lived in the Falklands for over a year as a child.
3) I profited 13$ in Las Vegas casinos.

Connor Dennison

Production Manager and Landing Gear Lead

Connor Dennison

Age: 22

From: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Course: MEng Automotive Engineering
Experience: For the past six years I have worked in a workshop making lightweight components for racing cars so I have a vast knowledge of how things can be manufactured. My dissertation last year also looked at the strength advantages of 3D printing components with embedded carbon fibre to make 3D printed components that are as strong as aluminium. This knowledge of the 3D printing will help when printing components for the drone.

Team Ambitions: As a team we want to improve on last years design to make a lighter and more rigid fixed wing plane that we will enter in the IMechE UAS Challenge. I aim to ensure that all components of the drone are prototyped and tested before final designs are made.

Three Interesting Facts:
1) I have designed and manufactured lightweight wheels that are currently on a variety of racing cars.
2) I have a great interest in 3D printing and the capability of different materials when printed.
3) I enjoy driving and modifying my car to improve the performance and its looks.

Mike Williams

Finance Manager and Propulsion Team Lead

Mike Williams

Age: 22

From: Sychdyn, North Wales e
Course: MEng Energy Engineering
Experience: I have previous experience as an enablement intern with Airbus UK. One of my key jobs was to liaise with suppliers from around the world and oversee the ordering and delivery of over £5million worth of equipment needed for a new production line. Where possible, it was also my responsibility to reallocate unused resources from other parts of the business to avoid unneeded costs.

Three Interesting Facts:
1) I am very much a fitness and nutrition fanatic working out at the gym at least five times a week.
2) I have played Hockey since the age of six.
3) I work part-time at the university gym around my studies.

Silas Turner

Marketing Manager and Payload Lead

Silias Turner

Age: 23

From: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Course: MEng Mechanical Engineering
Experience: I have previously undertaken a 12-month placement in the automotive industry working for Nissan in their Cockpit and Interior Trim Design Department. This provided me with real-world design experience particularly regarding how subsystems interact with each other.

Team Ambitions: We intend to produce a simple reliable aircraft to compete within the IMechE UAS Challenge that will achieve a higher place finish than last year’s team. I aim to create a payload deployment system that can accurately and reliably deliver the payload to the landing zone.

Three Interesting Facts:
1) I have performed Car Airbag testing in France.
2) I was once the youngest registered Beekeeper in the UK
3) I have taken part in a month long expedition to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with Outlook Expeditions.

Team Hawk 2020

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