The Third Angle

What if you could build a yacht that combined the speed and efficiency of a racing craft with the grandeur of a floating villa? That was the vision founder Peter Johnstone brought to life when he launched Gunboat in 2002, creating an entirely new category of high-performance cruising catamaran. Gunboat's twin-hull design provides remarkable stability compared to traditional monohulls, allowing the deck to stay flat and maintain pace even in challenging sea conditions. Carbon fiber is used to construct the catamarans for extreme lightness and exceptional durability that lasts forever. The lightweight design isn’t just about speed, but also sustainability. Lighter boats sail more and motor less. With solar integration, electric systems, and ongoing research into recycled composites and bio-resilient materials, these vessels represent responsible seamanship for the future. We traveled to Gunboat’s purpose-built shipyard in La Grande-Motte in southern France to meet Rodolphe Cadoret, Marketing Director at Gunboat. Rodolphe walks us through every stage of the building process, from the composite workshop through to assembly, carpentry, and the meticulous painting rooms where flawless metallic finishes emerge. He gives us a full picture of how, supported by PTC partner 4CAD, Gunboat uses digital precision to transform physical performance on the water. PTC's Brian Thompson then joins us to explain how Creo's model-based approach and integrated surfacing capabilities enable Gunboat to accelerate time to market dramatically. Find out more about Gunboat here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Mat Eric Hart. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Space is becoming dangerously crowded. With Goldman Sachs predicting 70,000 low Earth orbit satellites could launch in just the next five years, the risk of catastrophic collisions is escalating rapidly. Unlike cars or planes, satellites have no drivers on board to react in real-time, making precise orbital tracking absolutely essential. Enter ARCA Dynamics, who provide crucial space-based surveillance of orbiting objects.Discover how ARCA Dynamics uses satellites equipped with advanced cameras to observe other satellites and debris from space, providing crucial "state vectors". These state vectors are mathematical snapshots that pinpoint exactly where objects are and how fast they're moving in space. Unlike ground-based observations that can only track satellites when they pass directly overhead, ARCA's space-based approach offers continuous monitoring with multiple observation opportunities. This helps operators prevent collisions, reduce unnecessary fuel-burning maneuvers, and keep vital services online.We traveled to ARCA Dynamics' headquarters in Rome, Italy, where co-founder Marco Moriani and his team showed us how they are revolutionizing how we monitor space. They also told us about their groundbreaking plans to integrate AI directly into satellites in the future, eliminating transmission delays and dramatically increasing detection capabilities.  Find out more about ARCA Dynamics here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Danny Mitzman. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Picture a farm where robots work through the night, eliminating disease without a single drop of chemicals. It sounds like science fiction, but it's already happening on strawberry farms across Britain and vineyards throughout California, thanks to a remarkable robot called Thorvald. Thorvald is an autonomous robot that uses UVC light as a preventative treatment for crop diseases.Thorvald's unique horseshoe design allows it to glide autonomously through polytunnels and vineyards at night, emitting precisely calibrated UVC light that damages mildew spores while leaving crops unharmed. The modular platform not only eliminates chemical use but also collects valuable crop data through onboard cameras and machine learning, giving farmers unprecedented insights for harvest planning and yield optimization. Saga Robotics treated roughly 20% of the British strawberry harvest this year, and is expanding to 30% next season. We traveled to Lincoln, the UK headquarters of Saga Robotics, to meet Chief Product Officer Damian Flynn and his engineering team. Discover how cutting-edge robotics and digital technology are reshaping the future of sustainable agriculture.Find out more about Saga Robotics here.Find out more about Onshape here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Helen Lennard. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if the thrill of Formula One racing could inspire tomorrow's engineers? That's exactly what's happening with Scalextric4Schools, a nationwide initiative that's transforming how students engage with STEM subjects across the UK.The iconic slot car racing brand Scalextric is challenging secondary school students to design, build, and race their own cars. From aerodynamics to weight distribution analysis, students learn real-world engineering principles and experience the same technical challenges faced by professional Formula One teams. The program includes over 30 UK schools, with growing international interest from the US and Australia. Students use the same tools and techniques used by major engineering companies, including professional CAD software, 3D printing and laser cutting. Our host Paul Haimes travelled to Hornby Hobbies in Margate, UK, to speak with Simon Owen (Head of Brand at Scalextric), Simon Hooker (Project Lead for Scalextric4Schools), Anthony (a dedicated teacher from Bishop's Blue Coat School), and Izzy, a student whose engineering journey was sparked by the competition. He discovered how the program is bridging the engineering skills gap, inspiring students who might never have considered STEM careers, and connecting classroom learning with real industry practices. Find out more about Scalextric4Schools here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Hannah Dean. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if your motorcycle wasn’t just electric, but designed to evolve with you? That’s the question Ryvid, a California-based electric vehicle startup, is answering with their bold new approach to urban mobility. Their modular, lightweight motorcycles are built not only for performance and style, but for sustainability across the full product lifecycle. The electric battery at the heart of the vehicle is swappable and can be easily detached to use as an off-grid power source.  We traveled to Ryvid’s headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, to meet CEO and co-founder Dong Tran. Dong shares how Ryvid is reimagining the entire lifecycle of electric transport. We also learn how their bikes are connecting with a passionate community of tech-savvy commuters and lifestyle riders, including celebrity fans like Lana Del Rey and Chris Hemsworth, and PTC’s own VP of Sustainability Dave Duncan. Find out more about Ryvid here.Find out more about Creo here.Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates.This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Susan Valot. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.