James P. Trevelyan (born 1948) is an Australian engineer, researcher, educator, and entrepreneur. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Western Australia and a Fellow of Engineers Australia. Trevelyan is recognized for his pioneering work in robotics, the Internet of Things, landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance, engineering practice research, and energy-efficient air conditioning technology.
Career Trevelyan spent 41 years at the University of Western Australia, where he taught engineering design, sustainability, engineering practice, and project management. His most recent research focused on engineering practice, providing insights into the nature of professional engineering work and engineering education.
Research and contributions
Robotics Trevelyan led the development of the first sheep-shearing robot between 1975 and 1993, a milestone in industrial robotics. In 1994, he and his students created the first industrial robot that could be remotely operated via the internet. For his contributions to robotics, he received the 1993 Engelberger Science and Technology Award, one of the highest honors in the field, and twice won the Japan Industrial Robot Association award for best research papers at International Society for Intelligence Research conferences.
Landmine clearance Between 1996 and 2002, Trevelyan researched landmine clearance methods. His work became an authoritative reference on the topic, leading to his honorary membership in the Society of Counter Ordnance Technology in 2002.
Entrepreneurial work Since 2016, Trevelyan has focused on developing energy-efficient cooling solutions. He founded Close Comfort Pty Ltd, where he invented the Coolzy, an award-winning portable air conditioner designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Publications Trevelyan has authored books and research papers on engineering practice, including The Making of an Expert Engineer (2014) and Learning Engineering Practice (2021). His 1992 book Robots for Shearing Sheep: Shear Magic explained how his team built robots that could shear the entire fleece off an Australian Merino sheep, keeping the fleece in one intact piece.
Research Impact Trevelyan’s robotics research was showcased through a movie presenting their first robot shearing a sheep at the 1982 International Symposium on Industrial Robots in Paris. In the following years, robotics technology was applied in various fields, including container handling at major Australian East Coast ports and the operation of autonomous mining vehicles across the country, both above and underground. Trevelyan’s most recent research focus the critical importance of social interactions in engineering practice. His studies have examined the challenges faced by engineers in low-income countries and proposed strategies to improve engineering education and infrastructure development. Trevelyan serves on the Western Australian Engineering Heritage Committee and has been involved in humanitarian initiatives, including his volunteer work with the Red Cross International Humanitarian Law Advisory Committee (1995–2018).
Awards and recognition
Western Australian of the Year (Professions Category), 2018 Engelberger Science and Technology Award, 1993 Fellow of Engineers Australia Australian Good Design Awards, 2024 University and national awards for engineering education
Family Trevelyan is the son of John Trevelyan, former secretary of the British Board for Film Censorship, and Joan Trevelyan. He was married first to Jolin Edmondson and secondly to Samina Yasmeen, a political scientist. He has two sons and a daughter.
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