Complex Systems Toolkit: ACE-Box and agentic engineering workflows (CPD-certificated webinar)

Online event free 

Description:

As part of the Complex Systems Toolkit, supported by Quanser, we will be exploring the ACE-Box and agentic engineering workflows.

This free webinar introduces practical engineering workflows, from requirements capture through to verification and validation. These concepts will be demonstrated using the ACE-Box, a low-cost, hands-on engineering learning platform, alongside MATLAB and Simulink to illustrate key stages of the workflow.

The webinar will also explore the emerging role of agents in engineering workflows. Through practical examples and demonstrations, it will show how agent-enabled approaches can support engineers in solving problems more effectively.

Dr. James Pickering (Harper Adams University), who will be delivering the webinar along with Dr. George Amarantidis (MathWorks), explains what to expect:

“Most of us have used Large Language Models (LLMs) to solve an engineering problem by copying code back and forth, fixing issues manually, and with a hope that AI understands.

Using MATLAB and Simulink, this talk will explore the use of agentic AI and LLMs in engineering workflows. By connecting LLMs to MATLAB and Simulink through the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and emerging agentic toolkits, engineers can begin to develop AI-supported workflows that do more than generate suggestions, they can help write code, build models, run simulations, analyse results, respond to feedback, and support iterative refinement as part of a wider human-led engineering process.

Alongside George Amarantidis from MathWorks, I am pleased to be speaking at the upcoming Engineering Professors’ Council CPD-certificated webinar, where I will share how this work is being applied in the classroom at Harper Adams University.

We will demonstrate typical engineering workflows, from requirements capture through to validation, using a low-cost hardware platform I have developed, known as the ACE-Lab (www.ace-lab.co.uk). We will explore how we can leverage AI agents to support solving engineering problems.

From an educational perspective, this raises new and important questions about how we assess engineering students in the classroom. If AI can support modelling, analysis, testing, and refinement, then future assessment must place greater emphasis on process, judgement, and validation.

If future engineers are expected to use AI tools, then greater emphasis needs to be placed on their ability to capture requirements clearly, evaluate outputs critically, justify design decisions, and validate results.”

You can find a teaching activity from Dr. Pickering and Dr. Amarantidis – “Practical control engineering education through the ACE-Model” – in the Complex Systems Toolkit.

During this webinar we will also be launching a new call providing you with an opportunity for your content to be featured in the Complex Systems Toolkit.

 

Attendees will gain:

  • An understanding of practical engineering workflows, from requirements capture through to verification and validation.
  • Insight into how the ACE-Box, MATLAB, and Simulink can support each stage of the engineering workflow.
  • An introduction to the emerging role of agents in supporting engineering practice.
  • Perspectives on future directions in digital engineering, workflows, and engineering education.

 

CPD certification:

Attendees will be eligible for certification for 1.5 CPD hours. Please tick the box to request certification when you register.

 

Registration:

Registration will close at 11.59pm on 28th June. If you have missed this registration window, please contact Wendy Attwell.

 

This webinar is part of the Complex Systems Toolkit, supported by Quanser.

 

 

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely that of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the Engineering Professors’ Council or the Toolkit sponsors and supporters.  

Teaching activity: Practical control engineering education through the ACE-Model
James E. Pickering is a Senior Lecturer of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, and Course Leader, Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics (RAM) BEng at Harper Adams University in the UK. James has a strong passion for applied control theory and enjoys tackling industrial challenges. He is a particularly keen advocate for bridging the knowledge gap between control theory and industrial control systems in practice.
Teaching activity: Practical control engineering education through the ACE-Model
Dr. George Amarantidis is a Senior Community Developer Advocate at MathWorks UK, working at the intersection of model-based design, applied control systems, AI, and digital twins. With a PhD in Control Systems & Artificial Intelligence from the University of Birmingham and an MEng in Electronic Engineering from Loughborough University. He collaborates closely with universities, researchers, and industry partners across the UK to accelerate innovation using MATLAB and Simulink, supporting applications ranging from autonomous systems and predictive maintenance to biomedical engineering and data-driven modelling. A passionate advocate for reproducible research and effective engineering communication, he regularly leads workshops, delivers invited talks, and helps shape the next generation of engineers. George is also deeply involved in the UK control and engineering education ecosystem, supporting initiatives such as Special Interest Groups, academic–industry partnerships, and national research networks, while actively contributing to conversations around the future of engineering skills, AI in safety-critical systems, and digital transformation.
Dr. Nikita Hari is the Head of the Teaching and Research Design Support Group at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, where she oversees practical engineering education for the department. A multi-award-winning engineer, she was inducted into the UK Young Academy in 2024, listed in Engineers Making a Difference book by Imperial College London, recognised among the Top 50 Women in Engineering (WES UK, 2017), and named a Clinton Global Changemaker (2018). She holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cambridge and the Faculty for Future Postdoctoral Fellowship at Oxford. As co-chair of the Complex Systems Toolkit Working Group, Dr. Hari brings her experience in systems thinking and interdisciplinary research to advance educational strategies that address complex, socio-technical engineering challenges. She has co-founded two Edtech companies and served in key leadership roles, including CTO and COO, to drive innovation and inclusivity at the intersection of engineering, education, and entrepreneurship. A TEDx speaker and STEM advocate, Dr. Hari is dedicated to uplifting marginalised voices, especially women in STEM, and inspiring future change-makers to engineer a sustainable future. Dr. Hari is also co-chair of the Complex Systems Toolkit Working Group.
Peter Martin is a robotics and engineering education specialist who has been a member of the Quanser R&D team for over thirteen years. As Director of R&D, Peter is responsible for ensuring that Quanser’s vision and strategy continues a legacy of world-leading innovative and academically aligned products and services. Before taking on the role of director, Peter was responsible for managing the Academic Applications team, and the development of several notable ground-breaking products focused on diverse markets from robotics and mechatronics, to educational platforms and tools. Peter is also co-chair of the Complex Systems Toolkit Working Group.
Aiyush Gupta is an undergraduate Materials Science student at the University of Oxford, based at St Anne’s College. His interests sit at the intersection of materials science, robotics and simulating physical systems. He’s co-founding the Oxford Robotics Club, a student-led initiative aiming to make robotics more accessible by bringing together students across disciplines. Aiyush has explored these themes through hackathons, technical outreach, and work on simulation-led approaches to engineering. He is particularly interested in how emerging tools such as digital twins, intelligent robotics, and Physical AI can help students move from textbook understanding into practical engineering. He is keen to contribute a student perspective on how engineering education can better prepare students for increasingly complex, AI-enabled systems.
As well as his role with the EPC, Johnny Rich is well known across the higher education sector as a high-profile commentator on policy issues as well as the chief executive of student advice and outreach organisation Push, as a consultant working in education and careers, and as an author. Before joining the EPC, Johnny has already worked on many issues of concern to our members. Over the past 25 years, he led Push’s research – such as on drop-out rates and student debt – which has had direct impacts on policy. Johnny’s thought leadership, such as his papers for a graduate levy and a national access fund (2018) and on employability (2015) for the Higher Education Policy Institute, have been influential throughout the sector. Policy issues are also a significant part of his consultancy work, along with communications. His clients have included the European Commission, HEFCE, U-Multirank, as well as many universities, recruiters and charities. He’s a regular speaker at conferences, awards and in schools. In 2013, his novel A Human Script was published.

Attendees will be eligible for certification for 1.5 Continuing Professional Development hours.

This certification will cover:

  • Practical engineering workflows
  • Insight into ACE-Box, MATLAB, and Simulink
  • Role of agents in supporting engineering practice
  • Future directions in digital engineering, workflows, and engineering education

Please ensure that you tick the box to request certification when you register.

A Zoom invitation link will be sent to you prior to the event. Please ensure you check your junk/spam mail if you can’t locate the email in your inbox.

The event will be held on Zoom and you will be able to join up to five minutes before the scheduled start time.

If you have any issues, please contact Wendy and she will send another link.

Please note: If you are a speaker or panellist you must join via the link in your personal Zoom invitation.

Email and confirm email are not same.
Email and confirm email are not same.
Email and Confirm email are not same.
Email and Confirm email are not same.
You are already registered to attend this event.

Topics

Artificial IntelligenceComplex SystemsComplex Systems ToolkitEPC EventsProfessional deveopmentTeaching & learning
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Related articles

Blog: Intercultural and interdisciplinary student-led solutions for sustainability challenges

Reflections on the outcomes of a sustainability hackathon. 

Toolkits
#Sustainability #Sustainability toolkit #Teaching & learning
Header image with logos from EPC, Quanser, Harper Adams University, and MathWorks

Have you registered? ACE-Box and agentic engineering workflows: CPD-certificated webinar

Register now for the Complex Systems Toolkit ACE-Box and agentic engineering workflows: CPD-certificated webinar.

Toolkits
#Artificial Intelligence #Professional deveopment #Teaching & learning #EPC Events #Complex Systems #Complex Systems Toolkit

Committee update: Shaping the future of engineering and how to get involved

The Engineering Professors’ Council’s (EPC) Education, Employability & Skills (EES) Committee met on 18th May 2026 (p. 1). We discussed...

Campaigns
#Employability and skills #EPC Events #Community event

Spotlight on complex systems: Teaching complex systems in advanced manufacturing

A systems approach to digital manufacturing.

Toolkits
#Teaching & learning #Complex Systems Toolkit #Complex Systems
Let us know what you think of our website