Dr Chris Couldrick
Lecturer
Location: Shrivenham
E: c.a.couldrick@cranfield.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1793 785729
Department of Engineering and Applied Science
Current activities
Chris is a lecturer and research supervisor in systems engineering for defence. His regular teaching covers systems thinking, systems theory, soft and hard systems methodologies and dependable systems.
Current research interests include General Systems Theory, dependability and creativity in systems engineering.
He holds memberships of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) and Institute of Mechanical Engineering (IMechE).
Chris is also Cranfield University’s lead academic in a trilateral collaboration on systems engineering with the University of South Australia (UniSA), Adelaide and Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California.
Background
Chris has been a visiting academic at the UniSA; PhD supervisor on work related to the UK’s Future Integrated Soldier Technology (FIST) programme; consultant on personal armour and regular presenter at the international Personal Armour Systems Symposia. He has consulted to Lockheed Martin on the UK’s Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) architecture.
Chris spent six years working directly with the MOD to research and develop personal armour. In particular, he has contributed to the two most recent UK Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) suits for his doctorate – the Lightweight Combat EOD Suit and Mk 5 EOD Suit.
Prior to starting at Cranfield University in 1998, Chris was a research assistant at the University of Western Australia under Professor James Trevelyan. His work focussed on designing humanitarian de-mining equipment for use and construction in developing countries.
Selected publications
Couldrick, CA, Sparks, ES and Maidwell, JSJ (2006). Personal Protection for the Soldier – Size Matters? Proceedings of Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS2006). Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, UK. 18th-22nd September 2006.
Couldrick, CA. (2005). Personal Protection: Taking Technology to the Limit. Asymmetric Warfare. Defence IQ Symposium. Selfridge Hotel, London. 14th-15th November 2005.
Couldrick, CA. (2004). A Systems Approach to the Design of Personal Armour for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. http://hdl.handle.net/1826/828. EngD thesis, Cranfield University.
Couldrick, CA. (2004), Ringrose TJ, Gotts PL and Iremonger MJ. Assessment of Secondary Fragments from Buried AP Blast Mines. Proceedings of Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS2004). 191-200. Atlantic Hotel, The Hague, The Netherlands. 6th-10th September 2004.
Couldrick, CA. (2002), Gotts, PL and Iremonger, MJ. Optimisation of Personal Armour for Protection: Personal Armour Systems Symposium (PASS2002). Atlantic Hotel, The Hague, The Netherlands. 18th-22nd November 2002.
Couldrick, CA. (2001) and Iremonger. Armour Trade-offs in Humanitarian Mine Clearance Vehicle Design. Proceedings of Lightweight Armour Systems Symposium (LASS2001), Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, UK. 3rd-5th October 2001.
Couldrick, CA. (2000) and Gotts, PL. Assessment of Protection Limits for the Lightweight Combat EOD Suit. Proceedings of Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2000 (PASS2000). 43-56. DCTA, Colchester, UK. 5th-8th September 2000.
Couldrick, CA. (2000) and Iremonger, MJ. Body Armour - Ergonomic and Human Factors Considerations. Proceedings of Personal Armour Systems Symposium 2000 (PASS2000). 83-92. DCTA, Colchester, UK. 5th-8th September 2000.
Student Supervision
Manning, D (2007) Systems Engineering Analysis of Collaborative Eurofighter Typhoon / UAV Systems to Fulfil the Suppression of Enemy Air Defence Capability. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Sparks, E (2006) From Capability to Concept: Fusion of System Analysis Techniques for Derivation of Future Soldier Systems. PhD thesis, Cranfield University.
Niclason, T (2006) An Exploratory Approach to Management of the Swedish Armed Forces Acquisition in order to Achieve Interoperable Capability. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Barriga, P (2006) A Systems Engineering Approach to conduct Second Hand Defence Equipment Acquisition with focus on the Chilean Army. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Aljasim, A. (2005). The Importance of Considering Maintenance & Logistics for the Whole Lifecycle of a System: Bahrain Defence Force. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Mursell, P. (2004). Humans as a System Component: Availability, Reliability, Maintainability. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Westwood, E. (2003). A Systems Approach to the Infantry Soldier. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
Valasis, A. (2003). Evaluation of Human Injuries due to Close-in Secondary Fragments. MSc thesis, Cranfield University.
