Gary Atkinson

Dr. Gary Atkinson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering, Design and Mathematics at the University of the West of England (UWE). As a member of the Bristol Robotics Laboratory's Machine Vision group, his research focuses on polarization imaging, photometric stereo, and composite materials analysis. He has extensive experience in industrial inspection, security imaging, and 3D reconstruction techniques.

Education:

• MSci in Physics, University of Nottingham (2003)
• PhD in Computer Science, University of York (2007)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, UWE

His research explores polarization properties for surface reconstruction, with applications in composite material inspection, medical imaging, and underwater vision. Recent projects include deep learning-based defect detection in carbon fibre and polarization-driven surface normal estimation for seafloor imaging.

Scientific Contributions:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Principal Investigator for £189k DETI project (2020-2022)
• Co-investigator on multiple EPSRC/InnovateUK grants
• Delivered computer vision programs in China (University of Qiqihar)
• Co-convener of Biometrics Technology Conference (2010)

As Programme Leader for BEng Robotics since 2023, he teaches computer vision, component inspection, and engineering mechanics. His work bridges academic research with industrial applications through partnerships like the National Composites Centre.