A prototype of the ExoMars rover will be on display at this year’s Advanced Engineering show which is taking place on 3 and 4 November at the NEC, Birmingham. The Airbus Defence and Space UK prototype, known as ‘Bruno’, is semi-autonomous and equipped with all the same technology as the final rover, including the sensors, actuators and cameras that allow the rover to see in 3-D while navigating the Red Planet.

The final flight rover will be equipped with a drill that can bore two metres deep, and metal wheels that have the same flexibility as rubber, without risking contamination to any life that it finds.

The ExoMars rover will be the first rover used to directly search for life on Mars as part of a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia. The rover is just one example of how the UK’s engineering industry is leading the way in space and satellite innovation.

Aleiya Londsale, head of marketing at Easyfairs, said: “Having Bruno at Advanced Engineering will be an extremely important moment for our engineering and manufacturing industry. This year’s Advanced Engineering gives our close-knit industry the chance to re-unite and do business again and I cannot think of a better place to showcase Bruno’s technology and features. With exhibitor space almost full, and so many exciting speakers and features confirmed, people really can’t afford to miss this year’s show.”

This year, Advanced Engineering introduces a new show zone dedicated entirely to space and satellite innovation. The zone, which will be Bruno’s landing site for the show, will be part of Advanced Engineering’s existing Aero Engineering floor and will be supported by two of the show’s longstanding partners, the UK Space Agency and ADS Group.

It will bring together the UK’s space and satellite manufacturers, research and development partners and supply chain businesses spanning R&D, design, test, production, manufacturing and advanced materials, showcasing the UK’s incredible achievements in this sector.

Bhavin Vyas, head of space at ADS, said: “ADS has always supported Advanced Engineering as it is one of the leading manufacturing and engineering shows covering multiple sectors. The UK’s involvement in space and satellite technology is constantly growing, so the dedicated area on the show floor this year provides a brilliant opportunity for this sector to showcase its innovative space capabilities.

“We are looking forward to being at the show more than ever and we are excited to support our space sector members who will also be present at the show. The recent release of the ‘Size and Health of the Space Industry report’ by the UK Space Agency is a perfect example of how the UK is prospering from this growing sector and it will be great to see so many innovative companies showcasing the technologies that are key to the UK’s growth in the sector.”

Advanced Engineering already has several speakers lined up as part of its space and satellite programme, including Tony Forsythe, deputy head of technology and head of standards at the UK Space Agency; Stefan Siarov, systems engineer at Valispace and Dr Chris Brunskill, head of UK Space Programmes at D-Orbit. Each speaker will take to the stage to cover topics including in-orbit manufacturing and orbital transportation.

A new partner of the show, and speaking at the event, is Satellite Applications Catapult. One of ten catapults established to transform the UK’s capability for innovation and help drive economic growth, the technology and innovation company boosts UK productivity by helping organisations harness the power of satellite-based services.

The company has been working on projects in the space sector throughout the UK, such as IFSAC, a collaboration with the agricultural sector to educate and demonstrate how satellite technologies can help optimise the production of rice, soybean, and table grapes.

Mike Curtis-Rose, head of manufacturing for Space at Satellite Applications Catapult, said: “We are hugely excited to be partnered with Advanced Engineering this year. Space manufacturing is growing exponentially and anyone in manufacturing who isn’t involved in space currently will need to be involved in it in the next 10 to 15 years.”

“As an event bringing together the entire manufacturing and engineering community across multiple sectors, Advanced Engineering is a brilliant place for us for to discuss the opportunities in space for manufacturing, servicing, inspection and repair, and ensure that those in these sectors and others, see the benefits of participating including economic growth, new skills and better technological capabilities.”

Manufacturers, suppliers and partners will be able to network and explore new innovations and technologies, not just within the space sector, but across less familiar parallel sectors in Advanced Engineering’s co-located zones.

These zones focus on aerospace, automotive, advanced materials, med-tech, civil engineering, rail, marine, renewables and more. Exhibitor space in the Space & Satellite Zone is quickly filling up, with ND Precision Products, Toray, the Global Manufacturing Trade Association (GTMA), DTE, Camberley Rubber Mouldings, MIT Publishing and 2KM UK Ltd already signed up.

Paul Meacham, ExoMars engineering manager at Airbus Defence and Space, Stevenage, said: “After attending Advanced Engineering for many years, we chose to partner with the show to display the ExoMars Rover prototype, Bruno, in 2021.

“We are aware that Advanced Engineering is the leading engineering and manufacturing show in the UK and being there this year will provide us with the perfect platform to showcase Airbus Defence and Space’s expertise in creating this pioneering technology.

“We are very much looking forward to being at the show this November as it will be the first time the manufacturing community is re-united, making it the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the very latest innovations.”

With so many exhibitors already registered and speaker slots filling up, Advanced Engineering 2021 is guaranteed to be the perfect welcome back for the manufacturing and engineering industry.

Visitor registrations will launch in July 2021, when more information on speakers and features will be available. For more information, visit www.advancedengineeringuk.com.