Contact Professor Phil Webb
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 758219
- Email: p.f.webb@cranfield.ac.uk
- ORCID
Areas of expertise
- Aerospace Manufacturing
- Industrial Automation
Background
Phil moved to Cranfield in 2009 and holds the Royal Academy of Engineering and Airbus Chair in Aero-structure Design. He was previously an Associate Professor and the head of the Robotics Research Group at the University of Nottingham.
For the last 13 years Phil has been conducting research into the application of automation to aircraft and aero-engine structural assembly. During this time he has worked with most of the world's leading aerospace companies. He has completed many research projects including fuselage assembly, robotic riveting, engine structural assembly, wing and pylon systems installation and robotic plasma welding and has obtained significant research funding from Industry, EPSRC and the European Framework programmes. His other research interests are the application and optimisation of Parallel Kinematic Machines within aerospace manufacturing and mobile robotics.
Phil is a member of the Council of the British Automation and Robotics Association and represents the UK on the General Assembly of the International Federation of Robotics. He is also a member of the SAE Automated Assembly and Fastening Committee.
Current activities
Phil is the head of the Integrated Systems Department and leads the Aero-structure Assembly and Systems Installation Research Group and is currently leading a number of projects on aero-structure assembly and aircraft systems installation. As the Deputy Director of the EPSRC Centre in Intelligent Automation is involved in a significant number of projects on advanced automation and especially human collaborative automation and robotics.
Clients
- Airbus SE
- Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC
- BAE Systems PLC
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Asif S, Bueno M, Ferreira P, Anandan P, Zhang Z, .... (2025). Rapid and automated configuration of robot manufacturing cells. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 92
- Asif S & Webb P. (2023). Managing delays for realtime error correction and compensation of an industrial robot in an open network. Machines, 11(9)
- Story M, Webb P, Fletcher SR, Tang G, Jaksic C, .... (2022). Do speed and proximity affect human-robot collaboration with an industrial robot arm?. International Journal of Social Robotics, 14(4)
- Qin Q, Dayyani I & Webb P. (2022). Structural mechanics of cylindrical fish-cell zero Poisson’s ratio metamaterials. Composite Structures, 289(June)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2022). Realtime calibration of an industrial robot. Applied System Innovation, 5(5)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2021). Kinematics analysis of 6-DoF articulated robot with spherical wrist. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2021(1)
- Ramji A, Xu Y, Grasso M, Yasaee M & Webb P. (2021). Effect of interfacial fibre orientation and PPS veil density on delamination resistance of 5HS woven CFRP laminates under mode II loading. Composites Science and Technology, 207(May)
- Ramji A, Xu Y, Yasaee M, Grasso M & Webb P. (2021). Influence of veil interleave distribution on the delamination resistance of cross-ply CFRP laminates under low velocity impact. International Journal of Impact Engineering, 157(November)
- You C, Yasaee M, He S, Yang D, Xu Y, .... (2021). Identification of the key design inputs for the FEM-based preliminary sizing and mass estimation of a civil aircraft wing box structure. Aerospace Science and Technology, 121(February)
- Story M, Jaksic C, Fletcher SR, Webb P, Tang G, .... (2021). Evaluating the use of human aware navigation in industrial robot arms. Paladyn, Journal of Behavioral Robotics, 12(1)
- Ramji A, Xu Y, Yasaee M, Grasso M & Webb P. (2020). Delamination migration in CFRP laminates under mode I loading. Composites Science and Technology, 190
- Mato PC, Webb P, Xu Y, Graham D, Portsmore A, .... (2019). Enhanced bondline thickness analysis for non-rigid airframe structural assemblies. Aerospace Science and Technology, 91
- Rai V, Ghasemnejad H, Watson JW, Gonzalez-Domingo JA & Webb P. (2019). Developed trigger mechanisms to improve crush force efficiency of aluminium tubes. Engineering Structures, 199
- Sonmez MB, Ghasemnejad H, Kamran H & Webb P. (2019). Transverse impact response analysis of graphene panels: Impact limits. Open Journal of Composite Materials, 9(2)
- Tang G, Webb P & Thrower J. (2018). The development and evaluation of Robot Light Skin: A novel robot signalling system to improve communication in industrial human–robot collaboration. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 56
- Tang G & Webb P. (2018). The design and evaluation of an ergonomic contactless gesture control system for industrial robots. Journal of Robotics, 2018(1)
- Tiwari A, Webb P & Prabhu VA. (2017). Editorial for the special issue on manufacturing informatics for intelligent automation. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 232(1)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher SR & Webb P. (2017). The development of a Human Factors Readiness Level tool for implementing industrial human-robot collaboration. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 91(5-8)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2016). The Development of a Scale to Evaluate Trust in Industrial Human-robot Collaboration. International Journal of Social Robotics, 8(2)
- Judt DM, Forster K, Lockett HL, Lawson CP & Webb P. (2016). Aircraft wing build philosophy change through system pre-equipping of major components. SAE International Journal of Aerospace, 9(1)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2016). Contactless medium scale industrial robot collaboration. Advances in Robotics & Automation, 05(01)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2016). Enhanced cell controller for aerospace manufacturing. Advances in Robotics & Automation, 05(02)
- Prabhu VA, Song B, Thrower J, Tiwari A & Webb P. (2015). Digitisation of a moving assembly operation using multiple depth imaging sensors. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 85(1-4)
- Tang G, Asif S & Webb P. (2015). The integration of contactless static pose recognition and dynamic hand motion tracking control system for industrial human and robot collaboration. Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 42(5)
- Webb P, Asif S, Hogger S, Kosche T & Kiernan P. (2015). Advanced flexible automation cell control for aerospace manufacturing. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, 87(2)
- Jones MB, Webb PF, Summers MD, Baguley P & Valerdi R. (2015). A cost–benefit framework for assessing advanced manufacturing technology development: A case study. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 229(9)
- Charalambous G, Fletcher S & Webb P. (2015). Identifying the key organisational human factors for introducing human-robot collaboration in industry: an exploratory study. The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 81(9-12)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2015). Networked control system – an overview. International Journal of Computer Applications, 115(6)
- Asif S & Webb P. (2015). Software system integration - Middleware - an overview. International Journal of Computer Applications, 121(5)
- To M & Webb P. (2012). An improved kinematic model for calibration of serial robots having closed-chain mechanisms. Robotica, 30(6)
- Evans L, Lohse N, Tan KH, Webb P & Summers M. (2012). Justification for the selection of manufacturing technologies: a fuzzy-decision-tree-based approach. International Journal of Production Research, 50(23)
- McKeown C & Webb P. (2011). A reactive reconfigurable tool for aerospace structures. Assembly Automation, 31(4)
- Jayaweera N & Webb P. (2011). Robotic edge profiling of complex components. Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 38(1)
- Short AB, McCartney DG, Webb P & Preston E. (2011). Influence of nozzle orifice diameter in keyhole plasma arc welding. Science and Technology of Welding and Joining, 16(5)
- Jayaweera N & Webb P. (2010). Metrology-assisted robotic processing of aerospace applications. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing, 23(3)
- Jayaweera N, Webb P & Johnson C. (2010). Measurement assisted robotic assembly of fabricated aero‐engine components. Assembly Automation, 30(1)
- Jayaweera N & Webb P. (2010). Measurement assisted robotic edge deburring of aero engine components. Wseas Transactions on Systems and Control, 5(3)
- Eastwood SJ & Webb P. (2010). A gravitational deflection compensation strategy for HPKMs. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 26(6)
- Ye C & Webb P. (2009). A sub goal seeking approach for reactive navigation in complex unknown environments. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 57(9)
- Mirhosseyni SHL & Webb P. (2009). A Hybrid Fuzzy Knowledge-Based Expert System and Genetic Algorithm for efficient selection and assignment of Material Handling Equipment. Expert Systems with Applications, 36(9)
- Eastwood S & Webb P. (2009). Error significance analysis and compensation for HPKMs. Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 36(1)
- Eastwood S & Webb P. (2009). Compensation of thermal deformation of a hybrid parallel kinematic machine. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 25(1)
- Jayaweera N & Webb P. (2007). Adaptive robotic assembly of compliant aero-structure components. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 23(2)
- Jayaweera N & Webb P. (2007). Automated assembly of fuselage skin panels. Assembly Automation, 27(4)
- Khalili K & Webb P. (2007). The development and application of a multiple wavelength illumination technique for the vision-based process monitoring of aero-structure riveting. Machine Vision and Applications, 18(2)
- Fayad C & Webb P. (2006). Development of a hybrid crisp-fuzzy logic algorithm optimised by genetic algorithms for path-planning of an autonomous mobile robot. Journal of Intelligent and Fuzzy Systems, 17(1)
- Gao J, Webb P & Gindy N. (2005). Research on an inertial positioning system for a parallel kinematic machine. Mechatronics, 15(1)
- Webb P, Eastwood S, Jayaweera N & Chen Y. (2005). Automated aerostructure assembly. Industrial Robot: An International Journal, 32(5)
- Gao J, Webb P & Gindy N. (2004). Investigation of an inertial-sensor-based dynamic position measurement system for a parallel kinematic machine. Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, 26(4)
- Webb P & Eastwood SJ. (2004). An evaluation of the TI2 manufacturing system for the machining of airframe subassemblies. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 218(7)
- Eastwood SJ, Webb P & McKeown C. (2003). The use of the TI2 manufacturing system on a double-curvature aerospace panel. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture, 217(6)
- Gao J, Webb P & Gindy N. (2003). Error reduction for an inertial-sensor-based dynamic parallel kinematic machine positioning system. Measurement Science and Technology, 14(5)
- Geldart M, Webb P, Larsson H, Backstrom M, Gindy N, .... (2003). A direct comparison of the machining performance of a variax 5 axis parallel kinetic machining centre with conventional 3 and 5 axis machine tools. International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture, 43(11)
- Webb P & Wykes C. (2001). Analysis of fast accurate low ambiguity beam forming for non λ/2 ultrasonic arrays. Ultrasonics, 39(1)
- Webb P. (1998). An integrated system for the sensor processing and control of robot systems. Microprocessors and Microsystems, 21(6)
- Davies A, Knight JAG, Parkin RM, Turner C & Webb P. (1996). Soft products manipulation and control with air jets. IEE Colloquium Digest
- Webb P & Wykes C. (1996). High-resolution beam forming for ultrasonic arrays. IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, 12(1)
- Webb P & Wykes C. (1995). Suppression of second-time-around echoes in high firing rate ultrasonic transducers. NDT & E International, 28(2)
- Webb P, Gibson I & Wykes C. (1994). Robot guidance using ultrasonic arrays. Journal of Robotic Systems, 11(8)
