W.P. Robins

W.P. Robins has had a consuming interest in the subject of radio and electronics since the age of 12.

While working for EMI Engineering Development Ltd, shortly after the war, he was responsible for the development of a numbr of mass produced all-wave broadcast receivers.

At GEC Stanmore, later renamed Marconi Space and Defence Systems Ltd, Robins was responsible for the design of the microwave local oscillator and AFC system for an airborne pulse radar (AI18). He was also project manager of development programs for two different coherent radar systems.

While divisional manager of the Military Products Division of G&E Bradley Ltd, he advised on the design of highly successful low phase noise microwave signal sources.

On returning to Stanmore in 1967 Robins was in charge of the development of transportable satellite earth stations Type III and IV for use in the British Skynet defence communications system. He was responsible for the proposal and all the technical concepts for the communication payload of the Skynet II satellite.

As communications manager of the 'Cosmos' consortium of European companies he was responsible for a number of studies of satellite communication and TV systems for Estec and the European Space Agency. Most of the concepts now internationally accepted for Europena Satellite TV are based on these recommendations.

Robins is a member of the Institution of Electrical Engineers and also holds the London University Certificate of Proficiency in Radio Physics.