The new Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC)
With over 50 years’ experience, our teaching and research expertise covers technology, engineering and management across all modes of transport, including sustainable transport and intelligent mobility.
“The partnerships and the fact that Cranfield is very tight knit with industry separates it from the crowd.”
Mike Evans,
Senior Vice President, Customer Experience, Brand Communications, Flydubai, (Air Transport Management MSc 1997 and Executive MBA 2006)
The new Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC)
Cranfield Impact Centre
Our crash impact centre (Cranfield Impact Centre) is one of just two FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) approved test centres in the world, crash-testing Formula One cars.
First in the UK
We ran the first air transport management postgraduate degree in the UK.
(Figures from 1964)
Over three quarters of our Transport Systems learners come from outside the UK, representing over 60 countries.
(Figures from June 2022)
Research in action
Improving accessibility with our virtual airport
Passenger experience laboratory in the Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC)
Ensuring the transport network is accessible to all passengers is a key priority for Governments and transport providers.
Cranfield, in partnership with Theia Immersive, has developed a virtual airport, one of the first of its kind, that will be used to conduct research as part of the passenger experience laboratory. The virtual airport will enable researchers to study and improve the air travel experience for passengers with additional mobility needs.
The 3D environment can be configured to replicate different design layouts, ambient conditions and levels of activity within a bespoke or simulated real-world airport.
“My Cranfield degree definitely helped me find a job in the UK. The projects we did on Matlab and Simulink help me when working on control systems.
“The course was good, as it looks at new battery electric and hybrid vehicle technologies, which is important knowledge when working in the automotive industry at the moment.”
Pauline Dumont,
Development and Integration Engineer, Delta Motorsport,
(Automotive Mechatronics MSc 2015)
Facilities for research and teaching
We operate a range of unique ‘at-scale’ facilities including the:
- Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre: our award-winning flying classrooms and laboratories offer an amazing learning experience and support innovative research.
- Advanced Vehicle Engineering Centre: which includes an off-road vehicle dynamics facility; instrumented autonomous vehicle test track; vehicle workshops; and electrification, autonomy, simulation, mechatronics and control systems laboratories.
- Cranfield Impact Centre: one of just two FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) approved test centres in the world, crash testing Formula One cars.
- Accident investigation laboratory: a unique hands-on teaching facility for working with wreckage and evidence from rail, marine and aircraft accidents.
- Engineering photonics and integrated vehicle health management laboratories for the development and use of advanced sensor technologies.
Cranfield Impact Centre crash testing facility