EW BrightSparks 2023 profile: Norbert Sieczkiewicz, Dyson/Lancaster University

Now in its sixth year of awards, EW BrightSparks sees Electronics Weekly highlight and celebrate some of the brightest and most talented young engineers in the UK today.

Here, in our series on the latest EW BrightSparks of 2023, we profile Dr. Norbert Sieczkiewicz, a science and research engineer at Dyson, and before that a student at Lancaster University.

Achievements

Having completed his studies at Lancaster University and getting his Doctorate, Norbert is working for Dyson, on its Malmesbury site, as a Science and Research Engineer in the Floorcare section.

Before then, for his PhD thesis, his project aimed to achieve higher weld integrity in electron beam welding, better process monitoring, reduced failure rates in service and zero defects manufacturing.

Specifically, he was developing the backscattered electron detector plate to be used in an electron beam welding machine. It is coupled with a welding camera and PLC data (a multi-sensor fusion approach, he told us), to correlate the weld defects with the electrical signal collected, which is supported by the help of deep learning libraries. First trials, he shared, show that it can be used for humping detection (a type of weld defect).

His many achievements and awards include the following:

In 2020, for example, Norbert won the Armourers and Brasiers’ Travel Award, cited as “Researcher with LRF and Lancaster University, working on approaches to Industry 4.0 implementation for electron beam quality assurance using BeamAssure”. Part of the work was presented during a DVS (German Welding Society) conference and he also contributed to beam characterisation and data analysis.

In 2021 he was runner up for an NSIRC award (National Structural Integrity Research Centre), for Third Year Academic Oral Presentations.

Besides Dyson and his PhD work, Norbert got a patent involving switching sound between headphones and a loudspeaker. You can read about the circuit here.

Note that he made prototype of this device using a custom made PCB, CircuitPython, Python and some 3D printing. You can read more on Reddit.

Finally, Norbert has also presented at the FST Annual Conference and Lloyd’s Register Foundation International Conference.

Community

In terms of community or STEM work, Norbert has helped mentor graduate engineers in Dyson.

Also, he has been volunteering for the James Dyson Foundation and helped with the Cheltenham Science Festival and The Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford by presenting STEM activities for kids.

Norbert has also created challenge cards for the James Dyson Foundation. These involved the eyecatching task of welding with chocolate.

Finally, he has also taken part with volunteering for the St Gilgen International School in Austria – presenting STEM activities for kids and presentation about being an engineer.