The Engineer articles from April 2008

The Engineer archives from April 2008

COMMENT: The grander the better.
April 7, 2008... We all have different ideas about what qualifies as a big job. Some would say running the country is the biggest challenge. Others might point to being England football manager. Heading the customer relations department at British Airways could...

THE BIG PICTURE: Attention to detail.
April 7, 2008... #100m Lockheed LEAPP contract to give soldiers a total view of threats THE Ministry of Defence aims to optimise UK soldiers' situational awareness by investing in a solution that combines data from existing land, air and sea sensors in...

THE BIG PICTURE: Boeing plots milestone flight.
April 7, 2008... Boeing claims to have made aviation history by being the first company to fly a manned aircraft powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The milestone was the result of a pan-European effort led by engineers from Boeing Research & Technology...

THE BIG PICTURE: ID card aims to cut bank fraud.
April 7, 2008... Bank accounts should be kept safe from online hackers with the development of a new internet ID card that scans a user's fingerprint before allowing them to make a transaction. The card, from Siemens, is the size of an ATM card and...

IN BRIEF: Antenna alert.(Brief article)
April 7, 2008... Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London are part of a UK consortium that has been awarded #1.9m to develop next generation avionics antennas. The Advanced Materials for Ubiquitous Leading-edge Electromagnetic Technologies project is...

IN BRIEF: Transistor breakthrough.(Brief article)
April 7, 2008... Engineers at Purdue University, West Lafayette, claim to have made the first 'active matrix' display using a new class of transparent transistors and circuits. The development could accelerate applications such as e-paper or 'heads-up'...

IN BRIEF: Conversion quest.(Brief article)
April 7, 2008... The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, ConocoPhillips and Iowa State University are to identify potential cellulosic biomass conversion technologies. The team will develop conversion technologies that will use...

NEWS: Mixed blessing.
April 7, 2008... New recyclable products can be created by a technique that processes a variety of polymers a technique that can process mixed plastics and create new recyclable products may help companies cut the high cost of sorting waste. ...

NEWS: More sense, less travel.
April 7, 2008... Project aims to engage all five senses in 'virtual cocoons' In the ultimate step toward carbon footprint reduction, families could enjoy exotic holidays in a variety of locations without leaving their homes, simply by stepping into...

NEWS: Flight plan.
April 7, 2008... Faster control technique aims to enable UAVs to fly in formation autonomously Aerospace engineers at Imperial College London hope to develop a control technique that will enable unmanned aircraft to fly in formation autonomously. It...

NEWS: Early learning centre.
April 7, 2008... 'Toddler-like' technology could lead to systems that learn as they go Adaptive systems which learn about their environment in a similar way to a toddler exploring its surroundings could form the heart of flexible robots, road traffic...

NEWS: Ripe as read.
April 7, 2008... Intelligent ink checks the ripeness of fruit by detecting ethylene levels Supermarket customers may no longer need to squeeze and unintentionally bruise fruit as labels with new intelligent ink that detects ethylene could check the...

NEWS: Measure for measures.
April 7, 2008... NPL technology claimed to improve accuracy and speed of measuring machine co-ordinates A technique commonly used to accurately locate aircraft in flight could improve the method of measuring complex precision components for military and...

VIEWPOINT: Reaction to change.
April 7, 2008... International investor confidence in the UK's nuclear renaissance will depend on how we tackle regulation, planning, sites, waste and skills, says John Hutton The revival of nuclear power in the UK has the potential to be the most...

LETTER: Keep it clean.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2008... Gordon Brown and Nicholas Sarkozy are reported as planning to export nuclear power plants around the world. But there is a good alternative to this dirty, dangerous and expensive technology. I refer to 'concentrating solar power' (CSP),...

LETTER: Driving test.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2008... Re Chris Leonard's observations on the road tax categories of 4x4s (Letters, 24 March) there is no specific vehicle excise duty band for these vehicles. it is just that most 4x4s fall into the higher CO2 emission bands. So a Panda 4x4 would...

LETTER: Terminal chaos.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2008... Our online comment article 'Terminal velocity' highlighted the baggage chaos at Heathrow's recently-opened Terminal 5. Here is a selection of your emails. There must be many of us who remember the West London Air Terminal in Buckingham...

LETTER: Hot air on emissions.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2008... Our online comment 'New dogfight rages above Atlantic' highlighted the conflict between the EU and the US over the purchase of emissions permits for airlines in Europe. Here is a selection of your emails. Like it or not, there is a high...

LETTER: Two-wheel winner.(Letter to the editor)
April 7, 2008... The response to your online leader 'The strain of the train' (Letters, 24 March) was interesting, with the consensus seeming to be in favour of improved public transport - rail in particular. I was, however, surprised to find that not...

FARM OF THE FUTURE: Growth industry.
April 7, 2008... With global food supplies under pressure, farmers are being forced to try ever more ways of maximising production using new technologies. Jon Excell reports From the pasta shortage at the local supermarket to the growing popularity of...

INSIGHT: Clear water revival.
April 7, 2008... UK-developed drinking bottle uses nanotechnology to purify disease- ridden water. Jon Excell reports Clean drinking water. As well as being essential to survival, it is also heavy, difficult to transport and in many parts of the world could...

INTERVIEW: Roving brief.(Interview)
April 7, 2008... Transport commissioner Jacques Barrot is using all his political skills in an attempt to impose harmony on Europe's eclectic transport systems. Stuart Nathan reports The transport brief at the European Commission is a particularly thorny...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Stroke of genius.
April 7, 2008... Combination two/four-stroke engine concept claimed to dramatically cut fuel costs by switching between modes nears production stage. Siobhan Wagner A combined two/four stroke car engine that could deliver major fuel economy and emissions...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SUBSEA POWER: Depth charger.
April 7, 2008... UK team develops 'world's most powerful' two-pole subsea pump motor in quest for oil and gas in high-pressure environments. Siobhan Wagner reports What is believed to be the world's most powerful subsea motor will drive seawater...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY: Ceramic art.
April 7, 2008... Next-generation iron-oxide membrane could help fuel cells operate without loss of efficiency in higher temperatures and lower humidities. Siobhan Wagner reports AN iron-oxide ceramic membrane could allow fuel cells to operate without...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Better by design.
April 7, 2008... To stay one step ahead we need a radical shift in thinking and to put something different into the creative mix, says Michael Goatman Everybody likes design. The Apple iPod, for example, is a shining example of beautiful design and...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - DRIVES: Save and prosper.
April 7, 2008... Whether you want to save power, cut component wear or keep potatoes in prime condition, highly-advanced automation is available to help keep the costs down. Colin Carter reports As more and more manufacturers look to reducing costs and...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOFTWARE: Model winner.
April 7, 2008... Autodesk takes centre stage as one of its software packages helps to bag an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Charles Clarke reports AutoCAD is probably the most recognisable global CAD 'brand' - a bit like the Coca-Cola of the CAD world....

DESIGN ENGINEERING - ET & ES 2008: Clean scene.
April 7, 2008... If you are seeking hi-tech solutions to help manage the environmental impact of your operations, then ET & ES 2008 is the show is for you. Julia Pierce reports Ever-increasing pressures for business to become more environmentally...

CAREERS: Cash to create.
April 7, 2008... A government scheme that gives smaller companies innovation vouchers that can be exchanged for #3,000 worth of expert help from universities is to be rolled out across England after successful trials in the West Midlands. According to...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Bursaries aim to attract more to nuclear industry.
April 7, 2008... The National Skills Academy for Nuclear is hoping to attract more graduates into the industry by offering bursaries of up to #4,000 for students on courses relevant to the nuclear sector. The scheme targets students on courses, such as...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: 3 universities collaborate to launch science academy.
April 7, 2008... A partnership consisting of Leeds, Sheffield and York universities will launch a #10m interdisciplinary academy to train PhD science students from September. At the graduate academy for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Conference to help young oil and gas professionals.(Conference news)
April 7, 2008... Oil & Gas UK is to stage its first event aimed at helping young professionals in the oil and gas sector to improve their working effectiveness. The Next Generation conference, will be held on April 23 at the Aberdeen Exhibition Centre....

CAREERS IN BRIEF: New commission launched to improve UK's work skills.
April 7, 2008... The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) has been launched in a bid to improve the country's employment and skills capabilities. Chief executives of companies such as AstraZeneca, Bovis Lend Lease and Serco make up the UKCES board...

CAREERS: Tasty options.
April 7, 2008... The food and drink industry has an insatiable appetite for skilled labour, so there are plenty of jobs available in one of the biggest sectors of the economy. Julia Pierce reports The food and drink sector is one of the biggest in the UK...

COMMENT: Less gloom, more vroom.
April 21, 2008... If you are after some early ideas for light summer holiday reading, why not consider The British Motor Industry 1945-1994 - A Case Study in Industrial Decline. A quick search on the internet provides details of author Timothy Whisler's...

THE BIG PICTURE: Campus fuels energy study.
April 21, 2008... Hydrogen-fuelled vehicles can be topped up at university research forecourt Motorists driving hydrogen-fuelled vehicles are in luck if they want to fill up - but only if they are driving in the West Midlands. Birmingham University has...

THE BIG PICTURE: NASA abort rocket fit to go.
April 21, 2008... A NASA project designed to take the next generation of explorers to the moon has completed full-scale tests of a rocket that will launch the craft's abort system. The Orion spacecraft will be launched by a newly designed vehicle called...

THE BIG PICTURE: All-weather survival suit.
April 21, 2008... A helicopter survival suit is claimed to keep pilots and passengers cool in the aircraft cabin while retaining heat in the unlikely event of a crash at sea. The suit has been developed by SINTEF, Scandinavia's largest independent research...

IN BRIEF: Image make-over.(Brief article)
April 21, 2008... An institute that aims to develop novel imaging technologies to solve biological problems has been launched at Nottingham University. The Institute of Biophysics, Imaging and Optical Science will house a range of optical microscopy equipment...

IN BRIEF: Human touch.(Brief article)
April 21, 2008... A project that aims for human-computer interaction is being developed by an international team that includes Imperial College, London and Queen's University Belfast.Dubbed SEMAINE, the E2.75m (#2.2m) EC-funded project aims to build a...

IN BRIEF: Waste work.(Brief article)
April 21, 2008... Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are developing biodegradable and bioavailable plastics to help reduce plastic waste. By combining and modifying bio-based, oil-based and natural polymers, the team hopes to create...

NEWS: Pressure group.
April 21, 2008... Control system could help water companies meet leakage reduction targets Water companies struggling to keep to leakage reduction targets set by industry regulators could soon be assisted by a new pressure controlling system developed in...

NEWS: On course for accuracy.
April 21, 2008... Map-matching algorithms are being developed to improve satellite location systems A UK team plans to develop more accurate satellite location technology that could improve SatNav systems and help future road charging schemes operate...

NEWS: Cereal killer.
April 21, 2008... Portable screening technology could make coeliac disease monitoring faster and easier Earlier diagnosis of coeliac disease, a potentially life-threatening autoimmune condition caused by gluten intolerance, could soon be possible with a...

NEWS: Handle with care.
April 21, 2008... UK universities seek new technique for handling nanoparticles in drug processing Pharmaceutical companies may be able to use a more environmentally friendly drug processing method if researchers in the West Midlands can successfully...

NEWS: Insulin alert.
April 21, 2008... Wireless body monitoring system aims to predict diabetics' blood glucose levels in advance Diabetics could reduce the amount of insulin they take with the help of a new wireless body monitoring system that aims to predict blood glucose...

NEWS: Early warning.
April 21, 2008... 3D measuring system aims to detect malignant melanomas without invasive treatment The detection of skin cancer could be further improved with a new technology that aims to help dermatologists find subtle changes in the shape and size of...

NEWS: Perfect performer.
April 21, 2008... Prodrive develops control technology designed to improve starting in extreme cold Motorsport and automotive technology company Prodrive has launched an electronic control unit (ECU) designed to monitor and manage hydrogen fuel cells for...

VIEWPOINT: Sell your dream.
April 21, 2008... We can use the innovation in the car industry to make our design ideas a reality, says MC1 designer David Hilton Anyone with good stylistic design talent, vision, fortitude and a PC, can create a digital rendering to get the industry and...

LETTER: Think big, save fuel.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... Regarding Richard Brown's point about 4x4s (Letters, 7 April) I concede that fact that the CO2 figure fixes the vehicle excise duty (VED). This was poorly reported by the media coverage of last year's budget and was universally hailed as a...

LETTER: Wheels of misfortune.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... In answer to 'Two-wheel winner' from Dave Gardner (Talking Point, 7 April) his scooter may be able to achieve low running costs of 100mpg- plus and the ability to sail past traffic queues, but this type of transport is not particularly safe...

LETTER: You can't be serious.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... As a magazine purporting to engage the interest of engineers and scientists, your editorial can be surprisingly unchallenging - especially your letters pages. The Greenhouse Effect, greenhouse gases, carbon footprints, climate change and...

LETTER: Monkey business.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... In the article 'More sense, less travel' on virtual cocoons (News, 7 April) the old one about the video of a gorilla in a basketball game was used to illustrate a point about perceptual trade-offs. Recently it was mentioned on the radio...

LETTER: Short view.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... Our online comment article 'The seats of change?' highlighted the government's announcement that as part of a #1.4bn investment it will provide passengers on the Thameslink rail route from Brighton to Bedford with 14,500 more seats. Here is a...

LETTER: Call me a cable car.(Letter to the editor)
April 21, 2008... Jon Hicken has a good point when he says there are no viable alternatives to the car/bus as personal transport (Letters, 10 March). As an avid skier I think it would be a good idea to link city centres to industrial/housing estates,...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Top marques.
April 21, 2008... Although many of our famous brands are now foreign-owned, the UK remains a world-leading producer, designer and innovator for the automotive industry. Stuart Nathan and Jon Excell report Ask anyone on the street about the UK automotive...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Technology test-bed.
April 21, 2008... The automotive sector has always embraced electronics, and more advanced technology is now finding its ways into cars. Telematics - the integration of electronics, and particularly telecommunications systems, into automotive technology - is...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Racing green.
April 21, 2008... While environmentally-Friendly motor racing might seem a contradiction in terms there is a groundswell of opinion that motorsport can and should use energy-efficient technologies, not just to clean up its act but to stimulate engineering...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Lotus to transform classic cop-car.
April 21, 2008... A nimble and bold approach to contract-engineering, born out of the spirit of the early days of motorsport, is at the heart of the UK automotive industry's international appeal. This quality is perhaps most neatly embodied by Norfolk sports...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Designers in demand.
April 21, 2008... When Volvo took the wraps off its XC60 SUV at the recent Geneva motor show the plaudits were laid squarely at the feet of Steve Mattin, the car-maker's young British design chief. With a respectful nod to the past, but a bold vision of...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Car maker to the world.
April 21, 2008... ALTHOUGH the UK was the first of the world's major automotive centres to lose its national champion volume manufacturer with the death of Rover, the industry is, in fact, healthier than ever. More than 1.7 million vehicles were made in...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Still wild for Triumph.
April 21, 2008... The motorbike sector is often forgotten in the UK, and perhaps with good reason. The famous makes of the 1940s to the late 1960s - BSA, Norton, Vincent -were swept away by the lower-cost Japanese Hondas, Kawasakis and Suzukis. But one name...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Diesel cleans up its act.
April 21, 2008... A consortium of UK engineers from academia and industry is about to conclude a project that could pave the way for a radical new design for diesel engines, which combines the efficiency of diesel with the cleanliness of petrol engines. The...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Music to the ears.
April 21, 2008... It is a truism in the automotive industry that the big technical breakthroughs tend to be made by those who have the least to lose. Thus, while the huge research and development budgets of the big car- makers are typically used to fund...

UK AUTO SECTOR: Hydrogen makes perky performer.
April 21, 2008... From biofuels to hybrids and fully-electric vehicles, there are many routes to greener motoring and all will appear in greater numbers over the coming years. But for true zero-emissions motoring, with vehicles capable of the performance...

UK AUTO SECTOR: The enduring power of 'brand Britain'.
April 21, 2008... With Rolls-Royce and Mini under the wing of BMW, Bentley owned by Volkswagen and the recent sales of Aston Martin to a Kuwaiti-backed consortium and Landrover Jaguar to India's Tata Motors, it might seem that all our best-known marques are...

INSIGHT: Brake expectations.
April 21, 2008... Formula One's 2009 season could see UK technology on the starting grid helping teams make use of energy recovery systems to boost acceleration. Jon Excell reports It's often hard to argue with the notion that F1 has become little more...

INTERVIEW: 'My other car's a Panda'.(Interview)
April 21, 2008... Top Gear's James May, one of the three best-known drivers in the UK, believes real engineering innovation is to be found in 'People's Cars' rather than supercars. Stuart Nathan reports Cars are for driving. It might be stating the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Inspired thinking.
April 21, 2008... Academic and industry collaboration develops injection moulding technology that could enable electronic circuits to be embedded directly into car bumpers and roofs. Siobhan Wagner reports A new kind of injection moulding process developed...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - BUILD-TO-ORDER CARS: Made to measure.(Company overview)
April 21, 2008... EU project sets out to help revitalise the car industry with an initiative to build a vehicle to order in less than a week. Siobhan Wagner reports MANUFACTURING cars quickly to order could save the European car industry billions and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - INJECTION MOULDING: Heart of glass.
April 21, 2008... UK engineers develop injection moulded, glass-fibre reinforced plastic 'electro-bike' for commuters. Siobhan Wagner reports A lightweight commuter bicycle with a difference has been developed in the UK using injection moulded,...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: In the driving seat.
April 21, 2008... The UK motor industry is thriving, but to remain a key global player we must build on our achievements by developing a more strategic approach, says Paul Everitt THE UK is the most diverse and productive manufacturing location in Europe,...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - PROCESS CONTROL: Plan ahead.
April 21, 2008... The demand for greater profits means good process control strategies are essential to manufacturers and producers in a wide range of sectors. Colin Carter reports The constant drive towards greater profits has, in the past few years,...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - CNC MACHINING: Tools for the job.
April 21, 2008... While the automotive sector favours a handful of CAD/CAM solutions, many smaller developers are successful because they appeal to subcontractors working with OEMs. Martin Oakham reports Although today's high-end automotive CAD and CAM...

TECHNOLOGY UK: Industrial evolution.
April 21, 2008... The north west of England - a powerhouse of the industrial revolution - is now home to a thriving array of technology-led businesses and boasts one of the nation's most significant engineering research clusters. The region's strengths in...

CAREERS: Flexible formula.
April 21, 2008... More companies are trying to lure retired engineers back to work and persuade staff to delay drawing their pensions in an attempt to plug skills gaps in their business, The Engineer has discovered. While efforts to recruit skilled younger...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Practical studies.
April 21, 2008... Engineering students can get practical experience while working towards a masters degree on a new course designed by INEOS Manufacturing Scotland, Heriot-Watt University and Forth Valley College. Twelve students interested in mechanical,...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Fast chartered route.
April 21, 2008... Plymouth University has launched four MEng courses for engineering students which, it claims, offers the fastest route to attaining chartered status after graduation. From September, the qualification will be offered in computer systems...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Perfect partners.
April 21, 2008... Blairs, a timber windows and doors manufacturer, and Strathclyde University's department of design, manufacture and engineering management (DMEM) have won the Best Partnership prize at the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Scotland Awards. DMEM...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Energy leaders.
April 21, 2008... Managers in the oil and gas industry will be able to learn the necessary skills to move up the career ladder with a leadership course at Dundee University. The minimum two-year executive masters programme provided by Dundee's centre for energy,...

CAREERS: Nuclear future.
April 21, 2008... With the twin problems of climate change and rising energy prices looming large, nuclear power is once again at the forefront of the UK's energy agenda. Nuclear accounts for about 20 per cent of generation and it is unclear what will be...