# Dr Stuart Grey > Senior Lecturer in Engineering Systems Design at the University of Glasgow and founder of Student Voice AI. Research focuses on spacecraft orbit determination, space debris modelling, and applying machine learning to enhance teaching practices. Based in Glasgow, UK. Dr Stuart Grey is an academic, researcher, and entrepreneur. He teaches across mechanical and aerospace engineering disciplines with a focus on systems engineering and the future of engineering skills. He also serves as an external examiner at King's College London (formerly University of Manchester). Through Student Voice AI (https://www.studentvoice.ai), he supports UK Higher Education by delivering AI-powered text analysis of student feedback, providing multi-dimensional categorisation, sentence-level analysis, sentiment evaluation, and sector benchmarking to universities and sector bodies across the UK. At the University of Glasgow, he works across the mechanical and aerospace engineering disciplines with a focus on systems engineering and the future of engineering skills, with all work in support of his aim to systematically improve teaching, learning and the student experience. Student Voice AI transforms university feedback through AI-powered text analysis, multi-dimensional categorisation, sentence-level analysis, and precise sentiment evaluation. Trusted by sector bodies and leading universities from across the UK, the platform provides institutions with detailed demographic and historical insights, robust sector benchmarking, and tailored reports that empower decision-makers to enhance teaching quality and student experiences. His research focuses on precise orbit determination and force modelling of spacecraft and space debris, alongside applying machine learning techniques to enhance teaching practices. ## Teaching Awards Seven teaching award nominations across three universities (2014-2026): - 2026: University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards — Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering (Nominee) - 2025: University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards — Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering (Nominee) - 2024: University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards — Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering (Nominee) - 2019: University of Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards — Most Innovative (Nominee) - 2018: University of Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards (Nominee) - 2015: UCL Student Choice Teaching Awards — Outstanding Researcher Development (Nominee) - 2014: UCL Student Choice Teaching Awards — Outstanding Teaching (Nominee) ## Publications ### Angles-only navigation in the proximity of a binary asteroid system (2020) Authors: Francesco Torre, Stuart Grey and Massimiliano Vasile Journal: Journal of Guidance, Control and Dynamics URL: https://stugrey.com/2020/09/02/angles-only-navigation-in-the-proximity-of-a-binary-asteroid-system/ This paper investigates the possibility to navigate one or more spacecraft in the proximity of an asteroid binary system using only optical measurements. The approach proposed in this paper assumes only limited prior knowledge of the shape and orbital parameters of the two asteroids. In particular it is shown that the knowledge of the semi-major axis of the orbit of the secondary with respect to the primary is critical to guarantee a sufficient level of navigation accuracy. A method is proposed to allow for the inclusion of the orbital parameters of the secondary asteroid in the estimation process. It is shown that the inclusion of the estimation of the orbital parameters of the secondary provides the required information to allow navigating in the proximity of the binary system at the Lagrange point L4. The paper then demonstrates that the same method can be used to navigate a small formation of two spacecraft at L4 provided that intersatellite position and velocity vectors can be measured with sufficient accuracy. ### Demonstrating developments in high-fidelity analytical radiation force modelling for spacecraft with a new model for GPS IIR/IIR-M (2019) Authors: Santosh Bhattarai, Marek Ziebart, Shawn Allgeier, Stuart Grey, Tim Springer, David Harrison, Zhen Li Journal: Journal of Geodesy URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/09/30/demonstrating-developments-in-high-fidelity-analytical-radiation-force-modelling/ This paper presents recently developed strategies for high-fidelity, analytical radiation force modelling for spacecraft. The performance of these modelling strategies is assessed using a new model for the Global Positioning System Block IIR and IIR-M spacecraft. Over the full year of 2016, considering all Block IIR and IIR-M satellites on orbit, introducing University College London's grid-based model into the orbit determination process reduces mean 3-d orbit overlap values by 9% and the noise about the mean orbit overlap value by 4%, when comparing against orbits estimated using a simpler box-wing model of the spacecraft. ### Deep Space and the Impact of Space Debris on Communication Networks (2019) Authors: Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/12/03/deep-space-and-the-impact-of-space-debris-on-communication-networks/ Written to accompany a talk given at the University of Pennsylvania in March 2019. One of the defining moments of the last century was the live broadcast of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. In popular media to this day the assumption is that communication from and through deep space is instant and direct when this has never been the case. The infrastructure needed to broadcast the Apollo 11 landing to the world was complex and was one of the first examples of using space-based infrastructure to broadcast to the world. ### SpOCChain Whitepaper - Validated & Trustworthy Distributed Space Object Catalog Generation Using Blockchains (2018) Authors: Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/08/30/spocchain_whitepaper/ A purely peer to peer version of the space object catalogue would allow the rapid determination and dissemination of space objects without relying on a single controlling entity. The use of a distributed ledger, recording observations and associated orbits in a cryptographically verified blockchain is proposed. An entirely open ledger must operate in a trustless environment and a system of orbit determination as proof of work and digital signatures offer a solution to this problem while also ensuring that the computational work required to verify the blockchain offers real utility to the community relying on it. ### Fast solar radiation pressure modelling with ray tracing and multiple reflections (2018) Authors: Zhen Li, Marek Ziebart, Santosh Bhattarai, David Harrison, Stuart Grey Journal: Advances in Space Research URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/05/01/fast-solar-radiation-pressure-modelling-with-ray-tracing-and-multiple-reflections/ Physics based SRP models using ray tracing methods are powerful tools when modelling the forces on complex real world space vehicles. This study introduces the BVH (Bounding Volume Hierarchy) into the ray tracing approach for physics based SRP modelling and makes it possible to run high resolution analysis on personal computers. Test results on GPS IIR and Galileo IOV satellites show that the BVH can make the force model computation 30-50 times faster. This paper presents the first systematic and quantitative study of the secondary and higher order intersection effects. ### Autonomous orbit determination for formations of CubeSats beyond LEO (2018) Authors: Massimiliano Vasile, Francesco Torre, Romain Serra, Stuart Grey Journal: Acta Astronautica URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/01/01/autonomous-orbit-determination-for-formations-of-cubesats-beyond-leo/ This paper investigates the use of the Time Of Arrival (TOA) and Doppler shift to allow a small formation of CubeSats to navigate beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). The idea is to use a one way communication, from one or more ground stations to two or more CubeSats, to reconstruct an estimation of the position and velocity of the formation with respect to Earth. ### Angles-only navigation of a formation in the proximity of a binary system (2018) Authors: Francesco Torre, Romain Serra, Stuart Grey, Massimiliano Vasile URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/01/01/angles-only-navigation-of-a-formation-in-the-proximity-of-a-binary-system/ The paper focuses on the navigation and station keeping of one or more spacecraft around the dynamic equivalent of the Lagrange points L4 and L5 of a binary asteroid system. Two scenarios are considered: one in which one single spacecraft uses only information from the camera on both the primary and the secondary asteroid, the other in which a small formation of spacecraft autonomously navigates with cameras and inter-satellite link only. ### Uncertainty treatment in the GOCE re-entry (2017) Authors: Edmondo Minisci, Romain Serra, Massimiliano Vasile, Annalisa Riccardi, Stuart Grey, Stijn Lemmens URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/11/01/uncertainty-treatment-in-the-goce-re-entry/ This paper presents the work to characterize and propagate the uncertainties on the atmospheric re-entry time of the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite. Non-intrusive techniques based on Chebyshev polynomial approximation have been used to perform uncertainty propagation and multivariate sensitivity analyses when both 3 and 6 degrees-of-freedom models were considered. ### Sunlight illumination models for spacecraft surface charging (2017) Authors: Stuart Grey, Richard Marchand, Marek Ziebart, Roghaiya Omar Journal: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/05/01/sunlight-illumination-models-for-spacecraft-surface-charging/ A model is developed to compute solar illumination of satellite components while accounting for multiple reflections, variable surface properties and illumination source size. This model is implemented in OpenCL and integrated with the particle in cell (PIC) satellite-environment simulation code, PTetra. Results for the Solar Orbiter spacecraft show a small change to the overall charging and a significant change to the charge distribution around the Solar Wind Analyzer instrument. ### Autonomous navigation of a formation of spacecraft in the proximity of a binary asteroid (2017) Authors: Francesco Torre, Massimiliano Vasile, Romain Serra, Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/06/01/autonomous-navigation-of-a-formation-of-spacecraft-in-the-proximity-of-a-binary-asteroid/ The paper presents a study on the navigation of a formation of spacecraft in the proximity of a binary asteroid. A specific scenario is considered in which the spacecraft are orbiting at one of the triangular libration points under the assumption of a quasi circular orbit of the secondary with respect to the primary. ### Autonomous orbit determination and navigation for formations of CubeSats beyond LEO (2017) Authors: Massimiliano Vasile, Francesco Torre, Romain Serra, Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/06/01/autonomous-orbit-determination-and-navigation-for-formations-of-cubesats-beyond-leo/ This paper investigates the use of the Time Of Arrival (TOA) and Doppler shift to allow a small formation of CubeSats to navigate beyond low Earth orbit (LEO). The reference case for these analyses will be a mission to the Moon. ### Deformation of space debris and subsequent changes in orbit during eclipse due to solar and earth radiation fluxes (2017) Authors: Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/04/01/deformation-of-space-debris-and-subsequent-changes-in-orbit-during-eclipse-due-to-solar-and-earth-radiation-fluxes/ Both solar radiation pressure and Earth radiation pressure can dramatically influence the orbit of space debris, particularly objects with a high area-to-mass ratio. This work models a flexible piece of debris as a lattice of interconnected particles, with internal and external forces modeled on a particle by particle basis allowing for complex deformations to occur. ### Modelling spacecraft illumination and the effect of specular, diffuse and multiple reflection on photoelectron emission (2016) Authors: Stuart Grey, Richard Marchand URL: https://stugrey.com/2016/04/01/modelling-spacecraft-illumination-and-the-effect-of-specular,-diffuse-and-multiple-reflection-on-photoelectron-emission/ An approach is presented that can be used to accurately model the illumination of the spacecraft and thus the photoelectric effect and its effect on the total charging of the spacecraft, accounting for direct illumination and multiple reflections. ### NT12-230 Discrimination via Extremely High Accuracy Trajectory Modelling (2015) Authors: Stuart Grey, Marek Ziebart URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/03/01/nt12%E2%80%93230-discrimination-via-extremely-high-accuracy-trajectory-modelling/ ### Developments in high fidelity surface force models and their relative effects on orbit prediction (2014) Authors: Stuart Grey, Marek Ziebart URL: https://stugrey.com/2014/08/01/developments-in-high-fidelity-surface-force-models-and-their-relative-effects-on-orbit-prediction/ This paper presents developments to a set of high fidelity spacecraft surface force models addressing the problem of errors in orbital prediction and orbital determination due to un-modeled and under-modeled surface forces on spacecraft. The models cover Solar Radiation Pressure (SRP), Thermal Re-Radiation (TRR), Earth Radiation Pressure (ERP), and Antenna Thrust (AT). Validation on a GPS IIR satellite shows a total error after 12 hours of less than 10cm along track when all surface models are applied. ### Geomagnetic Lorentz force modeling for orbit prediction - methods and initial results (2014) Authors: Santosh Bhattarai, Hira Virdee, Stuart Grey, Marek Ziebart URL: https://stugrey.com/2014/08/01/geomagnetic-lorentz-force-modeling-for-orbit-prediction--methods-and-initial-results/ ### Non-conservative torque and attitude modelling for enhanced space situational awareness (2014) Authors: Virdee Hira S., Santosh Bhattarai, Stuart Grey, Marek Ziebart URL: https://stugrey.com/2014/08/01/non-conservative-torque-and-attitude-modelling-for-enhanced-space-situational-awareness/ The tumbling of space debris is an important problem, as the evolving attitude of debris directly influences the forces on it and therefore perturbs its orbit. This paper investigates the torque induced by solar radiation pressure on Envisat and the resulting changes in attitude. ### My PhD Thesis - Distributed Agents for Autonomous Spacecraft (2012) Authors: Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2013/01/08/my-phd-thesis/ The research was carried out at the University of Glasgow in the Department of Aerospace Engineering from 2008-2011. Space missions have evolved considerably in the last fifty years in both complexity and ambition. In order to enable this continued improvement in the scientific and commercial return of space missions new control systems are needed that can manage complex combinations of state of the art hardware with a minimum of human interaction. ### Scoping study on ballistic missile and countermeasures trajectory evolution modeling and tracking (2012) Authors: Marek Ziebart, Stuart Grey URL: https://stugrey.com/2012/08/01/scoping-study-on-ballistic-missile-and-countermeasures-trajectory-evolution-modeling-and-tracking/ ## Articles ### 2026 University of Glasgow Student Teaching Award Nomination (2026) URL: https://stugrey.com/2026/03/29/university-of-glasgow-teaching-awards-2026/ Third consecutive year nominated for Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering at the 16th annual University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards 2025-26. The ceremony took place on 27 March 2026. ### 2025 University of Glasgow Student Teaching Award Nomination (2025) URL: https://stugrey.com/2025/04/14/university-of-glasgow-teaching-awards-2025/ Nominated for the Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering category at the 15th annual University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards 2024-25. ### 2024 University of Glasgow Student Teaching Award Nomination (2024) URL: https://stugrey.com/2024/05/15/university-of-glasgow-teaching-awards-2024/ Nominated for the Best College Teacher in Science & Engineering at the University of Glasgow Student Teaching Awards 2023-24. ### Peer Evaluation of Student-Generated Content (2021) URL: https://stugrey.com/2021/12/22/peer-evaluation-of-student-generated-content/ Review of research by George Gyamfi, Barbara Hanna & Hassan Khosravi (2021) on supporting peer evaluation of student-generated content, examining three approaches to assessment and evaluation in higher education. ### Thoughts on Engineering Education Research (2021) URL: https://stugrey.com/2021/12/15/thoughts-on-eer/ Review of research by Sarah Dart, Sloan Trad & Kim Blackmore (2021) on navigating the path from technical engineering to engineering education research. The barriers to the transition process for engineering educators into engineering education research are significant and multifaceted, including competing demands, lack of training and networks, perceptions of lack of academic credibility, and limited impact on students. ### Video and Audio Feedback at Scale for HE (2021) URL: https://stugrey.com/2021/09/18/video-and-audio-feedback-at-scale-for-he/ An approach to creating personalised video feedback for all 350 first year Engineering Mechanics students. Combines audio, video and text feedback on students' work using screen recording. The piece of work itself is a solution to a mechanics problem that involves interleaved sketches, equations, descriptive text and Free-Body Diagrams. ### Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards 2020 (2020) URL: https://stugrey.com/2020/06/29/strathclyde-teaching-excellence-awards-2020/ Shortlisted for Best in Engineering Faculty and Most Innovative across the Institution. The department had 9 nominations and were shortlisted 6 times. ### MSc Project: Development of an Open-Source Computer-Vision Based Orientation System for CubeSats (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/08/20/development-of-a-computer-vision-based/ Work carried out by Daniel Hingston. An experimental open source computer vision orientation system for CubeSats using the OpenCV library for cascade classifier training with HAAR and LBP feature types. ### Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards 2019 (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/05/24/strathclyde-teaching-excellence-awards-2019/ Nominated in the category of "Most Innovative" at the Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards. ### Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Awards 2018 (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/05/11/strathclyde-teaching-excellence-awards-2018/ Nominated for a Strathclyde Teaching Excellence Award along with colleagues in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. ### Reflecting Space Symposium (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/02/02/reflecting-space-symposium/ Invited to attend and speak at the first ever Reflecting Space symposium, bringing together government, commercial, academic and military stakeholders to develop a new think tank with a remit to inform policy and inspire society in the area of Space. ### 2,000,000 YouTube Views (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/08/05/2million_youtube_views/ Milestone of over 2,000,000 views of space debris related videos on YouTube. Most viewed video: The History of Space Debris 1957-2016. ### Deformation of Space Debris - 7th European Conference on Space Debris 2017 Presentation (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/04/17/7th-european-conference-on-space-debris-presentation/ Conference presentation on deformation of space debris due to solar and earth radiation fluxes. ## Public Engagement ### Podcast: Evaluating AI Model Performance - Rogue Startups (2025) URL: https://stugrey.com/2025/01/22/podcast-evaluating-ai-model-performance/ Discussion on the Rogue Startups podcast about using AI in both academic teaching of engineering students and running Student Voice AI. Key topics: teaching AI to engineering students with focus on critical thinking, systematic model evaluation comparing ChatGPT/Claude/Gemini, and local vs cloud AI models for data privacy. ### Video: An Introduction to the Principles of Design (2023) URL: https://stugrey.com/2023/08/29/video-an-instroduction-to-the-principles-of-design/ University of Glasgow STEM in 10 talk on engineering design, advocating for a cyclical, iterative approach. Covers error correction, blending theoretical and experiential knowledge, and the need for diverse teams and effective communication in solving global challenges. Highlights the Wright Brothers' rigorous design process. ### Video: A History of Space Debris - University of Glasgow Taster Lecture (2022) URL: https://stugrey.com/2022/05/13/video-a-history-of-space-debris/ Overview of the history of space debris answering: What is space debris? Where is space debris? How can we remove space debris? ### Podcast: AI Powered Text Analysis - Scotland's AI Strategy (2022) URL: https://stugrey.com/2022/02/23/podcast-ai-powered-text-analysis/ Episode of Scotland's AI Strategy podcast (Turings Triple Helix) discussing the technology behind Student Voice and how AI-powered text analysis can help universities digest and respond to feedback from students. ### Summer 2020 Outreach Resources (2020) URL: https://stugrey.com/2020/06/01/summer-2020-outreach-resources/ Free outreach resources on space debris made available during COVID-19 when in-person events were not possible. Includes recorded talk and downloadable worksheet. ### Young Weir-Wise 2020 (2020) URL: https://stugrey.com/2020/01/26/young_weir-wise_2020/ Discovering Engineering with S2 Girls. Sessions as part of the Young Weir-WISE outreach activity at Strathclyde. ### Engineering the Future for Girls 2019 (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/06/18/engineering_the_future_for_girls/ Sessions for the Engineering the Future for Girls summer school with undergraduate student helpers. ### Scottish Space School 2019 (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/06/11/scottish-space-school-2019/ Building VR headsets to see the debris around Earth and coming up with ideas of how to clean it all up. ### A History of Space Debris - University of Pennsylvania (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/03/27/space-debris-penn/ Public lecture at the Wolf Humanities Center at the University of Pennsylvania. "The space race and more recent commercial space activities have led to a proliferation of objects in Earth's orbit. What exactly are these objects? How do they behave? Who are we leaving them for? Is it junk or can it be reclaimed?" ### Young Weir-Wise 2019 (2019) URL: https://stugrey.com/2019/01/29/young_weir-wise_2019/ Discovering Engineering with S2 Girls. Sessions focusing on 3 key areas in the future use of space: global space based internet, orbital/sub-orbital transport, and global real-time satellite video. ### Strathclyde Headstart 2018 (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/06/27/strathclyde_headstart_2018/ 40 students from the Headstart scheme run by the Engineering Development Trust. Over 240 young people engaged in engineering outreach over the summer. ### Engineering the Future for Girls 2018 (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/06/18/engineering_the_future_for_girls/ Day spent with 100 S3 girls exploring Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and tackling engineering challenges involved with preventing and removing space debris. ### VR Space Debris for the Scottish Space School 2018 (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/06/12/vr-space-debris-for-the-scottish-space-school-2018/ Session on space debris for 100 students from schools across Scotland. Each student received a Google Cardboard VR headset to fly through a VR simulation of all debris in Earth's orbit. Special visit from NASA flight surgeon Dr Richard Scheuring. ### Young Weir-Wise 2018 (2018) URL: https://stugrey.com/2018/01/29/young-weir-wise/ Building VR headsets to see the debris around Earth and coming up with ideas of how to clean it all up. ### The Naked Scientists - Question of the Week (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/12/12/the-naked-scientists-question-of-the-week/ Answering the question: "Would a rocket launched from a tube, like a bullet from a rifle barrel, be assisted or hindered by that?" ### Scottish Space School VR Space Debris Workshops (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/06/14/scottish-space-school/ Workshop for 100 S5 students from across Scotland. Each got their own Google Cardboard VR headset and used it to fly through a VR simulation of all debris currently in orbit around Earth. ### Glasgow Science Festival: My Favourite Doomsday Talk (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/06/14/glasgow-science-festival/ Sellout event at the Dram pub as part of the Glasgow Science Festival 2017. Talk about why a massive asteroid strike is a favourite doomsday scenario, alongside colleagues from the University of Glasgow and Glasgow Caledonian University. ### Space Debris Workshops for P6/7 Students at SmartSTEMs (2017) URL: https://stugrey.com/2017/06/07/smartstems-outreach-event/ Three workshops for groups of primary 6/7 girls about space debris, including testing of the SpaceJunkGame for iPad. ### Contributing to Nature's Weirdest Events, BBC2 (2016) URL: https://stugrey.com/2016/09/29/natures-weirdest-events/ Appearance on BBC2 programme discussing mysterious objects landing in Spain. Full resolution Space Debris 1957-2016 video was also featured. ### Talking Space Debris with BBC Radio Bristol (2016) URL: https://stugrey.com/2016/06/01/bbc-radio-bristol/ Discussion on BBC Radio Bristol about space debris - what it is, where it is and what might happen to it. ### Space Debris Talk at the Royal Institution (2016) URL: https://stugrey.com/2016/03/11/royal-institution/ Talk about space debris at the Royal Institution, London. ### Future London 2015 (2015) URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/11/05/future-london-2015/ Public engagement event in London. ### Spark Festival 2015 (2015) URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/08/31/spark%20festival%202015/ Public engagement at the Spark Festival. ### St Pauls Way Science Summer School 2015 (2015) URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/08/26/science-summer-school/ Summer school engagement with students. ### Aviation Xtended Podcast Interview (2015) URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/03/06/podcast-aviation-xtended-138/ Interview about space debris research and the new aerospace course at UCL. ### Keeping it Civil Podcast - UCL (2015) URL: https://stugrey.com/2015/02/11/podcast/ Appearance on episode 1 of "Keeping it Civil", the podcast from CEGE at UCL. ## Contact - Email: stu@stugrey.com - University profile: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/staff/stuartgrey/ - Student Voice AI: https://www.studentvoice.ai - Speaking & workshops: stu@stugrey.com (subject: Speaking and workshops enquiry)