Aidan uses skills to organise first event that tasks students to make real-life Iron Man style suits
An engineering graduate has set his sights on working at the forefront of exo technology by helping to organise the first ever Exo Games whilst a student at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
Aidan Waite, who this week graduated from UCLan with a masters degree in mechanical engineering, is passionate about working in this sector and it’s this drive that has led him to the Exo Games, which UCLan will host next month.
Exo technology, essentially wearable devices designed to make humans stronger and have more endurance, is what most people would associate with the superhero Iron Man. Increasingly though, this technology is becoming science fact and is used in medical devices and by the military.
The 21-year-old, who lives in Londonderry but grew up in the Scottish Highlands town of Nairn, has teamed up with US company ASTM International’s Exo Technology Center of Excellence (ET CoE) to run the Exo Games, with help from his tutor Dr Matthew Dickinson.
"My passion for this sector led to helping to organise the first ever Exo Games, where students from Brazil, Belgium, India and the US will travel to Preston to test their exo designs against each other through a range of tests."
— Engineering graduate and Exo Games organiser Aidan Waite
Aidan said: “My university projects focused on exo technology and I developed a medical device that would help healthcare workers to move and handle patients more efficiently. My passion for this sector led to helping to organise the first ever Exo Games, where students from Brazil, Belgium, India and the US will travel to Preston to test their exo designs against each other through a range of tests.
“I’ll lead the UK team, represented by fellow UCLan engineering students, and it will provide a great opportunity to showcase what we can do in front of industry experts.”
Aidan, a self-described “hands-on learner”, didn’t have an easy journey getting to University after struggling to complete his English GCSE but knew that maths and engineering were his strong points.
"I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and feel sad that it’s almost over because loved every second of my journey to get here."
— Engineering graduate and Exo Games organiser Aidan Waite
“I was always striving to build and create since I was little playing with Lego”, Aidan said. “I struggle heavily with English, but I’m very capable when it comes to the mechanical and maths side of engineering. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my four years at UCLan and my writing skills have vastly improved during this time.”
He added: “I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and feel sad that it’s almost over because loved every second of my journey to get here.
“My long-term goals are to work in the exo technology industry to design and test exo skeletons. I’m already thinking of applying for a PhD.”
