Dr French develops advanced technologies for robotics & autonomous systems with Industry 4.0 applications. Use case applications are found within the nuclear (decommissioning, new build, fusion R&D), high value manufacturing, glass, steel and ceramics production. As an apprentice trained, precision mechanical engineer his PhD is in Applied Physics supported with 25+ years experience in hands-on Engineering (Mechanical, Micro-Electronic, Electrical, Control & Automation). His interdisciplinary portfolio supports industry growth in the nuclear, aerospace, automotive & advanced metals production sectors developing advanced robotic instrumentation. He holds a significant publication record across a wide portfolio of activity, such as; R&D, design and production of large scale underground scientific detectors for CERN: Aerospace Remanufacturing; Nuclear Decommissioning; Additive Manufacturing including TIG welding. Previously awarded multiple Innovate-UK (Game Changer & ATi R&T Growth), EPSRC, STFC, EU & CERN collaborative research project awards totalling >£25m since 2011. He has over 80 publications with >17,500 citations and a H-index of 27 since 2012. He has worked in many different roles at the University of Sheffield UK as Director of Research for Sheffield Robotics, leader of the independent Enabling Sciences for Intelligent Manufacturing research group, with visiting positions at CERN (Switzerland), DESY (Germany), LBNL (USA) & Liverpool University (UK).