COMPANY

Tillett and Hague Technology was formed in 2005 on the closure of Silsoe Research Institute. Since then our company has focused on innovative research and development for computer vision-based guidance and control. Our business has evolved from one based largely on contract research into a manufacturer of our own vision guidance and control products that we sell to machinery manufacturers.

We have a broad range of expertise in the field of automation covering mechanical design, electronics, real time computing and control. This allows us to develop highly integrated cost-effective in-house engineering solutions.

Sustainable farming goals cannot be achieved by engineering alone and so we collaborate widely with industrial and academic partners in a variety of disciplines in order to ensure our technology fits usefully within wider agricultural systems.

WHO WE ARE

Nick Tillett

Tony Hague

BSc, PhD, CEng, MIMechE, MIAgrE

BSc, DPhil, CEng, MIEE

Nick is a mechanical engineer who worked in manufacturing industry followed by a period of agricultural automation research at Silsoe Research Institute. The latter ranging from Robot milking to cauliflower harvesting. His most recent work has concentrated on vision guidance for applications such as mechanical weed control and precision chemical application. Nicks role includes company management, new application development and mechanical design.

Tony obtained a degree in computer systems engineering and went on to obtain his PhD in motion planning for autonomous vehicles. He has a long-standing interest in robotics and automation having worked on an autonomous container port vehicle before joining Silsoe Research Institute. His work at Silsoe concentrated on vision guidance and autonomous operation for field crop protection applications. Tony develops, designs and maintains our software and electronic control systems.

Richard Lancaster

MA, MSc, MSc

Richard obtained an undergraduate degree in Computer Science and master’s degrees in Satellite Engineering and Aircraft Flight Dynamics and Control. He has designed flight computers and real-time operating systems for a number of satellites, been technical lead of a small rapid prototyping team that converted a passenger aircraft into a UAV and been technical lead of a team that developed the autonomous guidance, navigation and control algorithms for a Mars rover. Richard works on the development of our software and electronic control systems and trains and mentors the younger members of the team.

Tim Hales

Tim’s completed an apprenticeship in electrical mechanical maintenance engineering. He joined Garford Farm Machinery in 2009 rising to become technical manager with responsibly for production, support and service of Robocrop products using Tillett and Hague vision guidance. He therefore has unparalleled practical experience of applying our technology to field machines.Tim is our applications engineer with additional responsibility for production.

Kevin King

BEng (Hons)

Kevin has a family farming background and went onto study Integrated Engineering (a fusion of electrical and mechanical engineering) at Anglia Ruskin University where he graduated in 2017. This mix of skills is particularly well suited to our work. He spent the early part of his career at Garford Farm Machinery where he became technical manager. Kevin’s current role is applications engineer to which he brings a vast amount of experience and expertise.

Isaac Anstee

Isaac has a degree in product design and is highly proficient in computer aided design. His role includes mechanical product design and graphics for documentation. More recently he has developed graphical simulation environments which are now an important tool in our product development process. He is also very proficient on the production side, building many of our products from implement modules to electric rotors.

Peter Lai

Peter has been building and testing many of our products since joining us as a student placement in 2019. Since then, he has successfully completed both a BTEC and HND in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Peter also has a key role in the development of the dynamic modelling aspects within our simulation environment and continues to be involved in other development work.

Ruth Lawrence

MSc

Ruth is our operations manager responsible for the smooth running of our production operation. She has an HNC in computer science and gained considerable experience in electronic production prior to completing a masters in management from Cranfield University in 2021.

Aaron Gregory

Aaron joined us at the start of 2023 one day a week for his T-Level industrial placement. He is quickly becoming a valued member of our production team.

Company