Engine house

The unveiling of an English Heritage Blue Plaque in London’s Bloomsbury seems an unlikely time and place to discuss the latest advances in engineering technology.

But as the plaque is for Sir Harry Ricardo, founder of automotive consultants Ricardo and pioneer of the internal combustion engine, it is in fact highly appropriate. Sir Harry developed the single-cylinder variable compression engine and the concept of toluene (later octane) numbers for rating fuels. During World War II he also helped Sir Frank Whittle with the design of the combustion chambers and fuel control system for his jet engine, and developed an oxygen enrichment system for the Merlin engines of the RAF’s Mosquito night fighters, which transformed their ability to intercept incoming bombers.

So Ricardo the company was founded on cutting-edge engine R&D and this work continues today, according to its chief executive-in-waiting and managing director of international operations, David Shemmans. The company carries out what it describes as ‘technology roadmapping’ in an attempt to forecast future trends in the automotive industry and decide where to focus its R&D, he said.