TTPi appoints Chief Engineer to bring cutting-edge power electronics to market

University of Nottingham spin out, The Thinking Pod innovations, has appointed an experienced Chief Engineer to accelerate the development of market-ready power electronics for electric vehicles, green aerospace and industry.

Andy Dargle was previously Vice President of Product Sustainment and Engineering Director at Ultra Electronics – PCS, which designs advanced aerospace control systems for civil and military aircraft.

At Ultra Electronics, Andy managed multi-million-pound projects. He ensured compliance with industry standards, delivered innovative solutions under challenging timescales and worked with customers to deliver continuous improvement to bring products from initial concepts into service.

“Andy is the perfect appointment for TTPi,” said Professor Lee Empringham, director and co-founder of TTPi. “He will be a huge asset.

“We have proven technology, ready to be tested in prototypes with customers.

“Andy is the right person to lead our team of engineers to quickly deliver those prototypes and then oversee the development of high-performance, market-leading products.”

TTPi, which was incorporated in 2017 and spun out of the University of Nottingham in 2020, has developed innovative technologies, which have been applied in high power, yet small, light ultra efficient motor drive systems and power converters.

These proven technologies will be vital in the transition to NetZero carbon emissions.

Unlike traditional systems, where all the functional components are separate, the TTPi system embeds them into one product to include, electromagnetic interference filtering, control electronics, power electronics, and thermal management in a single unit. The components use multiple semi-conductors, including Si, GaN or SiC Die.

Currently, motor drives and power converters can be bulky and heavy, but using TTPi’s technology they can be packaged into lightweight, compact units that will produce major savings in terms of precious raw material use, energy and cost, and deliver a better performance compared to anything currently available.

“Our focus is to develop TTPi’s cutting edge technology and designs into working prototypes and put them in the hands of the customers as soon as possible,” said Andy, who is also working towards a PhD in Power Electronics at the University of Nottingham alongside his role at TTPi.

“Once our customers are working with the prototypes, they will tell us what their additional requirements are and from that we will produce finished products”.

“TTPi is an exciting place to work,” he added. “They are such a bright bunch of people and we get to work on state-of-the-art power-electronic systems. I know there is a lot more excitement ahead as we build our relationships with customers and bring the products to the market.”

Andy’s recruitment follows the appointment of Riona Armesmith to TTPi’s Advisory Board.

Riona is the Chief Technology Officer at magniX, a pioneering electric propulsion system manufacturer for electrified aircraft.

Like Andy, she has a wealth of experience in the commercialisation of pioneering technology, taking products from research and development to certification, further strengthening TTPi’s ability to harness its technological innovations in groundbreaking products.

TTPi has been funded through grants from Innovate UK, UKRI, and Driving the Electric Revolution; investment from the University of Nottingham and income generated through commercial development agreements.

The company is already working with electric vehicle and aerospace manufacturers, as well as industry, to improve their systems and products.

In 2024, TTPi sought external investment for the first time, securing £340,000 to commercialise its pioneering power electronics technology through the recruitment of new engineers and a Chief Engineer – a role that has now been filled by Andy Dargle.