Peter Walters

Researcher and industrial designer

Dr Peter Walters is a British researcher and industrial designer specialising in 3D printing, rapid prototyping and smart materials. He holds a PhD in Prototyping and Human-Centred Design Practice and has a professional background in industrial and product design. He was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Fine Print Research (CFPR) at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), where he investigated creative applications of digital fabrication technologies in art and design. He also worked as a visiting researcher at Bristol Robotics Laboratory, collaborating with specialists in engineering, robotics and biological systems. His research focuses on developing new materials, fabrication methods and actuators for interactive and kinetic objects.

Smart materials and novel actuators: Creative applications in art and design

This research explores how smart materials and 3D printing can be combined to create kinetic and interactive objects for art and design. These materials respond to external stimuli, such as heat or electricity, by changing their shape or physical properties, effectively acting as artificial muscles. The project presents two practical examples. The first is a tentacle-like smart puppet made from soft 3D-printed material and shape-memory alloy actuators, which produces lifelike movements controlled by a flexible wand. The second is an artificial heartbeat powered by live yeast, which generates pneumatic pressure to create a rhythmic pulsating motion. Together, these experiments demonstrate how advances in materials science, digital fabrication and bioengineering can open up new possibilities for creative practice.