Space Science & Astronomy
The Space Science Centre designs and constructs instrumentation for space flight missions and also investigates solar-driven phenomena. It has applied a range of computing techniques to space instruments on many missions to gain improvements in data collection efficiencies. The first direct correlation between waves and particles used a Sussex application of high-powered microprocessors. Other R&D interests include knowledge accumulation; unsupervised neural networks, data selection and compression techniques; fault-tolerance and evolutionary instruments. The Astronomy Centre has four main areas of research activity: binary stars, galaxy formation and clustering, cosmology, and space and plasma physics. The theoretical astronomers utilise massively parallel computers to run the largest ever computer simulations of galaxy formation.

Aerospace Engineering
The Thermo-Fluid Mechanics Research Centre (TFMRC) is at the heart of the University's Aerospace research and is dedicated to advancing knowledge of combustion dynamics in jet propulsion and gas turbines used for power generation. The centre continues to benefit from a long-standing relationship with Rolls Royce Aero Engines (since 1977) and comprises five purpose-built test cells. Its gas turbine driven Rolls-Royce DART compressor is the most powerful in any UK university. The centre's high speed parallel computing facility allows researchers to make complex thermodynamic predictions using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Other expertise at Sussex includes research into advanced mathematical methods for both aerospace and automotive applications, including non-linear control dynamics.

Automotive Engineering
In recent years the Automotive Research Group has played host to two international conferences entitled 'Total Vehicle Technology' focussing on adopting a more integrated approach to future vehicle design, which is strongly mirrored in the group's own research interests. Of particular interest are model-based control systems for prime movers and transmissions; diagnostic systems based on analytical and knowledge-based systems; sensor fusion and soft sensing techniques; modelling and control of fuel cell systems; software techniques in the implementation of control systems; development of the 'more electric vehicle'; emissions control; non-linear suspension dynamics; and human centred instrumentation / ergonomics.

Industrial Informatics, Image Recognition & Manufacturing Technology
The group develops innovative ideas and places them into a commercially viable environment. Active research includes: product security; biometrics; automatic face recognition; event detection; traffic monitoring; optical computing, holography and communication; digital image processing; and micro-machining. The research facilities are located in modern purpose built laboratories and include clean rooms for high power laser processes, micro-machining research, and micro-fabrication research. The group also has research laboratories for photonic materials, devices and systems research.

Optical & Atomic Physics
The Sussex Centre for Optical and Atomic Physics works in two main areas; the physics of cold atoms (ie, techniques for producing and manipulating cold atom clouds) and the development of precise tests for fundamental physics (including the search for an electron's dipole moment to find out why the universe has more matter than antimatter).