The Engineer articles from February 2008

The Engineer archives from February 2008

COMMENT: Challenge is a grand idea.
February 11, 2008... PERIMETER FENCES patrolled by unsmiling security staff. Windowless buildings and classified projects. Secret trials and multi-million pound deals. If asked to convey their impressions of the defence industry, many people unacquainted with...

THE BIG PICTURE: Crisis support.
February 11, 2008... EU-funded risk management scheme to provide early alert and response for disaster planning An electronic crisis system has been designed to provide timely and accurate support to government agencies and rescue organisations involved in...

THE BIG PICTURE: Corgi cars join fuel-cell generation.
February 11, 2008... Corgi International recently took the wraps off what could well become the next 'must-have' toy for children and adults alike. Called the H2GO, it made its debut at the recent Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany, and is thought to...

THE BIG PICTURE: Book more seats on the high-speed train.
February 11, 2008... ALSTOM has launched a high-speed train designed to reach speeds of up to 220mph. Dubbed AGV, the single-deck, prototype is claimed to be the first in the world to feature an articulated architecture with bogies located between the...

IN BRIEF: Wind power when it's wanted.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... US wind energy specialist General Compression has chosen Ricardo to act as product developer for its Dispatchable Wind system. The technology uses Mechanology's high-energy density Dragonfly compressor so that power from wind energy can be...

IN BRIEF: Capturing the imagination.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Engineers, mathematicians, bioscientists, geographers and geologists will join forces at Nottingham University's newly-opened #1m Centre for Innovation in Carbon Capture and Storage (CICCS). The centre, dedicated to reducing atmospheric CO2,...

IN BRIEF: At the hub of innovation.(Brief article)
February 11, 2008... Hertfordshire University, along with the Cambridge Network, is to become the regional hub for the Eastern Region of the Electronics Knowledge Transfer Network (EKTN). This aims to establish a network of electronics companies interested in...

NEWS: Thin film role.
February 11, 2008... UK project aiming to develop more efficient, cheaper solar cells gets #6m government boost A government agency has injected over #6m into UK research which aims to halve the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. The funding renews...

NEWS: Looks familiar.
February 11, 2008... New software is refining face-recognition techniques to make 3D reconstructions faster and more accurate The 3D reconstruction of a face from a single 2D image could be made faster and more accurate with new software being developed by...

NEWS: Fast-track diagnosis.
February 11, 2008... New software for analysing blood tests could speed up detection of cancer cells Diagnosis of cancer could be speeded up with software that uses all a computer's processors to analyse the results of cell testing with flow cytometry. ...

NEWS: Dirty business.
February 11, 2008... Academia/industry collaboration hopes single system will aid brownfield site reclamation Cambridge University's Department of Engineering is taking part in a project to develop equipment that could help reclaim contaminated brownfield...

NEWS: Graphic illustration.
February 11, 2008... Faster MRI technology could make systems easier to use and add to patient comfort Philips Medical Systems is supporting a joint project between two London universities to further develop faster magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques....

NEWS: Light switch.
February 11, 2008... By adding light-sensing capabilities researchers hope to expand the applications of OFETs Although inorganic ambipolar transistors have been around for more than two decades, their organic counterparts, available only in recent years,...

NEWS: Roving eyes.
February 11, 2008... UK team develops software that could make space rovers fully autonomous and more efficient Surrey Space Centre scientists are working on an ambitious two-year project to make space rovers fully autonomous and more efficient by developing...

NEWS: Hazard tracker.
February 11, 2008... A new metamaterial could help to detect dangerous substances such as explosives Coupling a uniquely structured copper material and terahertz radiation (T-rays) could lead to the development of sensors that might revolutionise security...

VIEWPOINT: Perfect partners.
February 11, 2008... Electronics has become an essential ally to the auto industry, with recent innovations such as GPS systems and advanced transponders adding to road safety, says GM's Rick Wagoner THE AUTOMOTIVE and electronics industries have travelled...

LETTER: Depth charges.(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... The observations in Peter French's article 'Sea change' (Viewpoint, January 14) provide some hope of directly lessening port pollutants and indirectly those from other transportation venues. Yet ports cause serious environmental damage...

LETTER: Wise view.(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... I am surprised that you have any doubts about the view of Chris Wise that engineers are primarily artists rather than scientists (Interview, January 14). Your pages are always full of current examples of engineering innovations, such as...

LETTER: Economics of nuclear.(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... P Field proposes replacing our old nuclear reactors with new ones on existing sites (Letters, 28 January) and asks 'Surely the green lobby would allow that?' The answer is probably an emphatic 'no'. The nuclear safety, security,...

LETTER: Fuel cell furore.(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... It was with dismay that I read the closing comment of your article 'Liquid asset' on the potential for hydrazine as a fuel cell energy resource (News, 14 January). Acta chief executive Toby Woolrych claimed: 'So it really is zero-...

LETTER: Local makes sense.(Letter to the editor)
February 11, 2008... With diminishing oil reserves and global warming there is much talk of alternative fuels to power road and air transport. We are all aware of the pollution problems caused by traffic, but building new highways is not the answer. They...

MoD GRAND CHALLENGE: Robot wars.
February 11, 2008... Fourteen teams of engineers will go head to head in a bid to meet some of the military's toughest challenges. Max Glaskin reports This summer 14 teams of engineers drawn from UK industry and academia will load their vans, travel to a...

INSIGHT: All done with mirrors.
February 11, 2008... A desktop videophone that offers real-time eye contact and broadcast- quality pictures may put an end to the frustrations of videoconferences, reports Jon Excell Videoconferencing, touted for years as a time-efficient and planet- friendly...

INTERVIEW: Moving story.(Interview)
February 11, 2008... Biomechanics specialist Julian Morris has seen his company, Oxford Metrics Group, grow from small medical firm to major player in the film industry. Jon Excell reports From The Lord of The Rings to Beowulf, film-goers have grown used to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Steam cleaner.
February 11, 2008... A newly developed hybrid steam and petrol system re-uses waste energy in a bid to reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Siobhan Wagner reports A UK company has developed a hybrid steam and petrol system that re- uses fuel energy...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - AEROSPACE: Another twist.
February 11, 2008... New rotor blades have been fitted to a long-serving Royal Navy helicopter so it can fly faster and higher, giving it new military capabilities. Siobhan Wagner reports Royal Navy helicopters that have been used to back-up amphibious assault...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOLAR ENERGY: Catch the sun.
February 11, 2008... Pioneering photovoltaic inverter with a silicon-carbide-based field- effect transistor could improve efficiency. Siobhan Wagner reports German researchers believe they have created a photovoltaic inverter that will make better use of the...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Gender mix.(Reprint)
February 11, 2008... If women have a greater input in the design of products such as cars it will lead to new and better ideas and applications for technology, says Isolde Rotzer Experts expect the proportion of women car owners to rise from 30 to 50 per...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - FASTENERS: Swell performers.
February 11, 2008... Fasteners used in powerboats and luxury yachts need to look good and withstand heavy seas, so companies are adapting technologies used in motorsport. Julia Pierce reports The marine environment places great demands on adhesives and...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - DRIVES: Gunning for perfection.
February 11, 2008... Automated motor and drive systems are fast becoming the norm for a host of applications, from Arsenal's under-pitch aeration system to super- cranes. Colin Carter reports IT IS WIDELY accepted that more automated plant is fast becoming an...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MAINTEC SHOW PREVIEW: Such an asset.
February 11, 2008... Next month the NEC plays host to Maintec, which will showcase established and new technologies for the Maintenance and Asset Management Industry. Samuel Tulip reports For the 33rd year Maintec, the only UK exhibition for the Maintenance...

CAREERS: Military options.
February 11, 2008... The defence industry, one the UK's largest sectors, is actively recruiting engineers to help produce new technologies to maintain its competitive edge, reports Julia Pierce The UK's defence market is highly competitive. Data from the...

COMMENT: At least we've got the brains to drain.
February 25, 2008... If you have ever thought about packing your bags and heading for foreign shores to start a new life, it seems you are not alone. A report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), widely reported in the...

THE BIG PICTURE: Fired up for launch.
February 25, 2008... An unmanned ground vehicle and a mobile cannon are being tested by BAE Systems Significant developments have been brewing in BAE Systems' ground vehicles division, from the Supacat unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) in Australia to a mobile...

THE BIG PICTURE: Cool camera with a focus on space.
February 25, 2008... A giant camera is on its way from the UK to the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) on a mountain in Hawaii, where it will help seek out origins of galaxies, stars and planets. The Royal Observatory Edinburgh led the seven-year project to...

THE BIG PICTURE: Virtual sight.
February 25, 2008... Engineers at the University of Washington, Seattle, claim to have fabricated the first 'biologically safe' contact lens inlaid with an electronic circuit and lights using microscale-manufacturing techniques. They could be used to help the...

IN BRIEF: Biofuel partners sought.(Brief article)
February 25, 2008... The Carbon Trust is looking for partners to collaborate in the development of a world-class, commercially viable pyrolysis oil upgrading process. The trust says it will invest up to #5m in commercially focused research projects in this area of...

IN BRIEF: Hydrogen fuel hopes.(Brief article)
February 25, 2008... Engineers at Purdue University, Indiana, US have developed an aluminium- rich alloy that produces hydrogen by splitting water. They claim it is economically competitive with conventional fuels for transportation and power generation. The new...

IN BRIEF: Green conversion.(Brief article)
February 25, 2008... Cardiff University researchers are exploring how thermocouples could convert waste heat from car exhausts into green electric power for vehicles. The conversion technology is already used to control central heating systems and the...

NEWS: Crystal crunch.
February 25, 2008... Nonlinear crystals to speed telecommunications by processing data in optical form Experts at Southampton University are investigating the properties of a nonlinear crystal to develop an all-optical signal-processing device to cope with...

NEWS: Glide for gold.
February 25, 2008... Poolside analysis technology aims to streamline UK swimmers' performance in time for Olympics As coaches and athletes begin to turn their eyes to the 2012 Olympics, an Edinburgh University team is hoping to give the UK's swimmers a head...

NEWS: Breathe easier.
February 25, 2008... Equipment to monitor lung gases to replace invasive ventilation methods for intensive care patients AN intrusive method for monitoring the ventilation of patients in intensive care units could soon be replaced by a non-invasive technique...

NEWS: All in the mind.
February 25, 2008... Novel approach to brain computer interfaces could make PC mouse and keyboard redundant Essex University researchers are developing a system that could give people complete freedom to move a cursor around a screen using thought alone. ...

NEWS: Six sense.
February 25, 2008... Insect-like robots with cameras and tactile sensors may be used to search for disaster survivors Swarms of beetle-like robots using advanced sensory motor control technology could one day be used to crawl over the rubble of disaster areas...

NEWS: Search for ignition key.
February 25, 2008... Explosion data could help UK university project make hydrogen fuel use and storage safer Technical data from BP explosion experiments is being used by a UK university as part of its research on the safety implications surrounding the...

NEWS: Fast fashion.
February 25, 2008... Dutch-French digital collaboration claims to give European textiles industry the edge over Asia A continuous inkjet printing process, developed jointly by the Netherlands and France, claims to help make Europe's textiles industry more...

VIEWPOINT: Clean up our act.
February 25, 2008... The development of carbon capture and storage technology is vital if we want to continue using fossil fuels to generate cleaner energy, says Malcolm Wicks In his independent review of the economics of climate change the former chief...

LETTER: Plain message.(Letter to the editor)
February 25, 2008... I have enjoyed the Engineer for some time now but felt compelled to write after reading James Raby's article 'Communicate to Accumulate' (Careers Focus, January 28). The essence of Mr Raby's article was communication between engineers...

LETTER: Three into one will go.(Letter to the editor)
February 25, 2008... I almost wrote following the article 'Creation theory' about the new head of the Royal Designers for Industry, Chris Wise (Interview, 14 January) but resisted. However, after Prof Harrison's observations (Letters, 11 February) feel I must...

LETTER: Bridge too far?(Letter to the editor)
February 25, 2008... according to your article 'Creation theory' (Interview, 14 January) Chris Wise was the designer of the Millennium Bridge. It wasn't fit for purpose. Designer or engineer? I know which I prefer. Case closed. Roger Lewis Needham...

LETTER: First behind many.(Letter to the editor)
February 25, 2008... Your article on the AGV (The Big Picture, 11 February) contains the claim that it is '...the first in the world to feature an articulated architecture with bogies located between the carriages...' APT in 1981, APT-E in 1972, the Spanish...

LETTER: Go with the flow.(Letter to the editor)
February 25, 2008... Regarding your leader (Engineer Online, 20 February). While I agree with your thoughts about Porsche, I applaud anyone willing to make a stand against TfL. It appears that the only way it sees fit to tackle the emissions issue is by charging...

CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE: Burning question.
February 25, 2008... The government wants engineers to catch and trap CO2 emissions from power stations. What are the options and why have ministers backed just one of them? Stuart Nathan reports Amid all the debates about alternative energy technologies,...

INSIGHT: Design for life.
February 25, 2008... A former industrial design student has notched up commercial success with a sophisticated version of a life-saving instrument used to resuscitate patients. Stuart Nathan reports It is a scene familiar from hundreds of episodes of ER and...

INTERVIEW: Standard bearer.(Interview)
February 25, 2008... The new chief scientist at the UK's National Physical Laboratory says cutting-edge research will help it maintain its position as the final arbiter on standards. Max Glaskin reports John Pethica was packing his bags. The recently...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Touch of glass.
February 25, 2008... UK university team develops new production process for hollow-core optical fibres, which could lead to faster IT solutions. Siobhan Wagner reports Researchers from Bath University have developed next-generation optical fibres that they...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MAINTENANCE: Forward move.
February 25, 2008... JCB trials its adapted telescopic boom Teletruk for quick, efficient removal of robots from car plant production lines. Siobhan Wagner reports When a robot breaks down on a car production line, manufacturers look for the quickest and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MEASUREMENT: Image profiler.
February 25, 2008... A new method of measuring surface roughness of car body parts in 3D could lead to lower tooling costs for metalworking industries. Siobhan Wagner reports US researchers have developed a technique for measuring the surface roughness of...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Conquer the crunch.
February 25, 2008... Things may get tougher for UK manufacturing, but you can survive if you keep your eye on the ball and focus on five key principles, says Tom Lawton Recent surveys indicate that UK manufacturing expects the credit crunch to weaken...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - AUTOMATION: The last drop.
February 25, 2008... With SURGING global demand for oil and gas, the industry is one of the fastest growing markets for process automation. The need for high levels of safety and low operational costs, especially where reserves are becoming exhausted and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - CONDITION MONITORING: Early warning.
February 25, 2008... Today's sophisticated sensory monitoring equipment can examine in intricate detail vibration and sound patterns to provide advance warning of costly breakdowns. Colin Carter reports In industry we would rather know when something is about...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - PDM SHOW PREVIEW: The pull of plastic.
February 25, 2008... Everything that can help a business will be under one roof at the Plastics Design and Moulding exhibition to be held in Telford in April. Charles Clarke reports With moulded products inhabiting most areas of our lives, the pressure to...

CAREERS: Jobs prescription.
February 25, 2008... A nationwide training plan has been launched by the bioscience and pharmaceutical industries to plug a growing skills gap, reports Andrew Lee The bioscience and pharmaceutical industries have launched a national skills development plan in...

CAREER WATCH: Marine studies.
February 25, 2008... A marine academy on the river Dart in Devon could eventually provide state-of-the-art facilities for almost 800 students. The proposed academy at Noss would be part of South Devon College and would offer training in skills ranging from...

CAREER WATCH: York on track.
February 25, 2008... The National Railway Museum in York has opened a training facility for the rail industry. A track and signalling simulator is designed to replicate operational and engineering problems encountered on the rail network. It has been built by the...

CAREER WATCH: Learning to innovate.
February 25, 2008... London design college Central Saint Martins has launched an MA course in innovation management. The course aims to give students the ability to plan and manage the innovation process from end-user and industrial perspectives, leading to...

CAREER WATCH: Manufacturing skills.
February 25, 2008... The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing has launched two partnerships. The first is with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and will recognise the academy's training programmes, meaning they can be counted towards qualification for...

TECHNOLOGY UK: Flight path.
February 25, 2008... The south-west is using its century of aerospace expertise to research lightweight materials, UAVs and microelectronics that could prove key to the UK's global success. Berenice Baker reports The south-west has a 100-year history in the...

CAREERS: Timetable for change.
February 25, 2008... With all parts of the rail industry, both at home and abroad, requiring a wide range of engineering specialists, it's an exciting time for career prospects. Julia Pierce reports The UK's rail network carries 25,000 trains every day,...