Barney Townsend

Barney Townsend is an accomplished engineering designer and educator with a diverse range of experiences and interests. He is currently associated with London South Bank University, where he has held several positions over the years.

Academic Career

Barney Townsend serves as a Senior Lecturer at London South Bank University.15 He has also held roles such as:

• Associate Professor
• Course Leader for Design
• Deputy Head of Division - Mechanical Engineering and Design
• Course Director for BSc Engineering Product Design56

His academic focus appears to be on engineering design, consumer design, and innovation.3

Research and Projects

Townsend has been involved in various innovative projects throughout his career:

1. Human Powered Vehicle (HPV) Design: He leads the Aim93 project, which aims to create the world's fastest bike. The project's goal is to achieve a speed of 93 mph using human power.4

2. Paramotor Championships: Townsend has been instrumental in developing the Endurance Paramotor format and organizing the 1st FAI World Paramotor Endurance Championship.2

3. Academic Research: He has published research papers in areas related to design, consumer design, and innovation.3

Engineering Experience

Outside of academia, Townsend has extensive experience in engineering design, prototyping, and manufacturing techniques.4 He has worked on diverse projects, including:

• Kitesurfing equipment
• Medical devices
• Land speed record attempts1

Competitive Background

Townsend has personal experience in competitive paramotoring, having competed in the World Paramotor Championships in 2012, 2014, and 2016.2

Current Focus

As of 2024, Barney Townsend continues to balance his academic responsibilities with his passion for pushing the boundaries of human-powered transportation and flight. His work on the Aim93 project and the development of the Endurance Paramotor format demonstrates his commitment to innovation in engineering and sports.124