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Dr Ian Spark

Honorary Research Associate


 
Located at: Room 3W-227, Gippsland Campus

Postal address: School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Monash University Gippsland Campus, Churchill, Victoria, 3842, Australia

Phone: +61 3 512 26170 or +61 3 990 26170

Fax: +61 3 512 26738 or +61 3 990 26738

Email: Ian.Spark@sci.monash.edu.au

Background

Ian retired from Monash University in 1997. Prior to retirement he held the positions of Associate Professor, Deputy Head of the Gippsland School of Engineering and leader of the Mechanical Engineering Discipline.

In 2006 Ian joined GRACe as an Honorary Research Fellow.

Research Interests

Although Ian has a broad Science and Engineering background he is currently focusing on the development of his patented Computer Integrated Steering/Drive System (CRSDS) for wheeled vehicles. The performance of this system in difficult terrain, as predicted by computer modelling, promises to exceed the safety benefits of skid steer vehicles and the environmental benefits of traditional tractors. The safety benefits are increased traction, stability and manoeuvrability on hills. The environmental benefits are reduced ground damage, tyre wear and fuel wastage on turning. The CRSDS represents the pinnacle of 'steer and drive by wire' technology where an on board computer ensures that the steering effect of the wheel angles is identical to the steering effect of the speeds of the driven wheels.

Ian is the recipient of three current patents (two in Australia and one in the US) and four expired patents (Australia, US, UK and Canada)

Professional Affiliations

Ian is a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia (FIEAust).

Selected Publications

Those publications asterisked are relevant to current research:

  1. I J Spark & M Y Ibrahim, Cooperative redundant steering/drive system: Mechatronics correction for slip angles and longitudinal slip, In Proceedings of IEEE Intermational Conference on Mechatronics, volume 1, pages 451 - 456, Budapest, Hungary, IEEE, ISBN: 1-4244-9713-4, July 2006.

  2. I J Spark & M Y Ibrahim, Cooperative redundant steering/drive system: Mechatronics correction for slip angles and longitudinal slip, In Proceedings of IEEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics, Montreal, Canada, IEEE/USA (USA), ISBN 1-4244-0497-5, July 2006.

  3. * I J Spark & M Y Ibrahim, 'Integrated Mechatronic Solution to Maximise Tractability and Efficiency of Wheeled Vehicles', 2001 IEEE/ASME International Conference on Advanced Intelligent Mechatronics, Como, Italy, p320, July 2001.

  4. * I J Spark, M Y Ibrahim & K R Spriggs, 'Maximising the Tractive Effort, Drive Efficiency and Manoeuvrability of Wheeled Mobile Robots' (ROVPIA 96), International Conference on Robotics, Vision and Parallel Processing for Industrial Automation, Ipoh, Malaysia, pp843-852, Nov 1996.

  5. * D B Blair & I J Spark, 'Computer Controlled Integrated Steering/Drive System for Vehicles', (96-DETC/CE-1435), Computers in Engineering Conference, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Irvine, USA, 1996.

  6. I J Spark & B C Besselink, 'Zero Turn Radius Vehicle Incorporating Computer Controlled Intelligent Castors', 14th Annual ASME, Computers in Engineering Conference, Minneapolis, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Minnesota, USA, 2, 825-827, 1994.

  7. I J Spark, 'The Orbital Displacer: Implications and Applications,' 49th ATI National Congress, Perugia, Italy, SG Editoriali, Padova, 3, 2399-2411, 1994.

  8. I J Spark, R A Noble & K R Spriggs, 'Bucket Wheel Excavator Metal Discriminator.' Final Report to National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Program, 1993.

  9. I J Spark, 'Integrated Internal Combustion Engine/Water Gas Generator System – A Feasibility Study', Second National Energy Conference, Melbourne, May 1982.

  10. I J Spark, 'A Model of Intergranular Cavitation,' Scripta Met., 3, 1969.

Patents Granted

The following patents have been granted (with grant date in parentheses). Those asterisked are relevant to current research:

  1. * I J Spark, 'Off Road Vehicle', USA Patent 7,191,865 B2, 20/3/2007.

  2. * I J Spark, 'Vehicle with Integrated Control of Steering and Wheel Speed', Australian Patent Number 2003 201 206, 15/1/2003.

  3. * I J Spark, 'Off-road Vehicle'; Australian Patent Number 2001 293 507, 3/10/2000.

  4. I J Spark, J M Rossin & R Sincich, 'Orbital Displacers', Canadian Patent Number 104 32 67, 28/11/1978.

  5. I J Spark, J M Rossin & R Sincich, 'Orbital Displacer', US Patent Number 3 977 369, 31/8/1976.

  6. I J Spark, J M Rossin & R Sincich, 'Improvements in Rotary Positive Displacement Machines', UK Patent Number 148 0137.

  7. I J Spark, J M Rossin & R Sincich, 'Improved Orbital Displacer', Australian Patent Number 487 540.