The Engineer articles from January 2007

The Engineer archives from January 2007

Join in the energy debate.
January 15, 2007... We are only a few days into 2007 but you will have already noticed a theme running through your newspaper and TV headlines. Utility companies slated for their alleged failure to pass on decreases in wholesale gas prices to the rest of us....

THE BIG PICTURE: Knot a yacht to sniff at.
January 15, 2007... Pershing launches shaft-driven version of its model 50 vessel in the UK A shaft-drive version of Pershing's 50-knot (57mph) surface-drive motor yacht, the Pershing 50, made its UK debut at this month's London Boat Show. With two...

THE BIG PICTURE: Ever-ready laptop data in the bag.
January 15, 2007... PEOPLE ALWAYS ON the go can now check e-mails, find addresses and phone numbers without turning on their laptops, thanks to the development of a wearable display module. Eleksen Group, the inventor and manufacturer of ElekTex smart...

THE BIG PICTURE: Concept car puts on the style.
January 15, 2007... Kia Motors America launched a V8-powered, all-wheel drive crossover concept vehicle at this month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 4.7m-long Kia Kue has many SUV characteristics and capabilities but focuses more...

IN BRIEF: UK centre acts on cleaner air.(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... A new centre at the University of Hertfordshire aims to contribute to international research on air quality, pollution and climate behaviour. The Centre for Atmospheric and Instrumentation Research brings together three research areas...

IN BRIEF: Hybrid approach to nano-precision.(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York have created hybrid structures that combine the best properties of carbon nanotubes and metal nanowires. The new approach, allowing the precise attachment of carbon nanotubes to...

IN BRIEF: Drive to cut NOx emissions.(Brief article)
January 15, 2007... Energy supplier TXU Power is to fund a research project at The University of Texas at Arlington to design a technology management system for reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. The department of industrial and manufacturing systems...

NEWS: Power pack.
January 15, 2007... Researchers to use nanotech solid storage to make hydrogen fuel more efficient For hydrogen to prove itself as a versatile, practical and green fuel for vehicle and domestic use, scientists need to develop an affordable, compact and...

NEWS: Ring for a robot.
January 15, 2007... EU-funded project develops autonomous angels to revolutionise hospital healthcare Swarms of intelligent robots that can clean, tidy and even attend to patients remotely could revolutionise the provision of healthcare in hospitals. It is...

NEWS: Attention to detail.
January 15, 2007... Facial recognition technology powerful enough to show even moles and skin colour could aid Olympics security Visitors passing through security at the London Olympics in 2012 could have every mole and scar mapped in 3D with the...

NEWS: Material fitness.
January 15, 2007... Joint UK/German project seeks to develop more accurate method of testing for metal fatigue in aircraft UK researchers have begun a joint project with a German university and Rolls-Royce to develop a cheaper and more accurate means of...

NEWS: Sharper ion security.
January 15, 2007... UK research into next-generation chemical detectors may help refine the search for security threats Security forces aiming to prevent crime and terrorist attacks have a difficult job because their staff have to watch out for a wide range...

NEWS: Lip service.
January 15, 2007... UK researchers plan automated lip-reading system using algorithms linked to camera systems George Bush Snr may not have been as quotable as his son, but the now- famous soundbite, 'Read my lips: no new taxes', probably helped him win the...

VIEWPOINT: Check in for carbon trading.
January 15, 2007... A reduction in flying is not the answer to global warming, but a system of emissions trading is, argues British Airways' Martin Broughton For the last two or three years, the aviation industry has been almost under siege from...

LETTER: Fuel for thought.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2007... I read with interest your articles on the many measures being instigated to resolve the problems of road vehicles being reliant upon fossil fuels to provide the energy to generate motive power (News, 11 December, 2006). In the case of...

LETTER: Industrial waste.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2007... I agree with J White's comments in his letter, aptly headlined 'Let's talk turkey' (Talking Point, 11 December, 2006). At 44 I have 'survived' the trauma of industry decimation since moving from the north-east to the Midlands in 1986,...

LETTER: A giant leap ignored.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2007... I enjoyed reading the reproduced articles celebrating 150 years of your publication, especially the great inventions. I realise that not all landmarks can be included, but note the omission of the ejector seat, developed by Sir James...

LETTER: Limp legacy.(Letter to the editor)
January 15, 2007... Your article on the modern engineering legacy (Feature, 11 December) made interesting reading but I can't help being a bit depressed about some of the uninspiring candidates put forward. I'm not sure how much credit we can really claim...

PROBING THE PAST: Mastering the universe.
January 15, 2007... ESA's planned launch of a permanent X-ray observatory to pick up faint background radiation could help answer questions about the mysteries of deep space that have baffled scientists for years. Niall Firth reports About 15 billion years...

INSIGHT: Focus on the future.
January 15, 2007... A high-resolution digital camera developed by Swiss maker Seitz promises to shunt the medium-format panoramic industry out of the analogue age. Niall Firth reports Everyone must have tried it at some time or another. The old trick of...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Get SET for action.
January 15, 2007... The City should invest more in technology and the government must back SMEs if the UK is to achieve its potential, says Sir Peter Williams The UK economy faces a paradox. On one hand, we have been enjoying significant, real-term increases...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Taking advice on trust.
January 15, 2007... To assist low-carbon technology start-ups become 'investment-ready', the Carbon Trust's incubator programme provides essential expertise and commercialisation support. Rachael Nutter explains Two years ago, start-up company Lontra was...

INTERVIEW: Theatre director.(Interview)
January 15, 2007... As an ex-military man, DARPA's Dr David Honey is well suited to the job of developing technology that refines communications across the war zone. Jon Excell reports The US administration's chaotic and thus far disastrous struggle to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Medical sting.
January 15, 2007... The drilling ability of the humble wood wasp provided the inspiration for researchers designing a probe that could be used in brain surgery. Stuart Nathan reports A probe that can inch its way into the brain without causing any damage...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - COATINGS: Skin deep.
January 15, 2007... Researchers believe they have overcome the problem of replicating the ribbed surface of the shark's skin to improve the aerodynamics of complex surfaces. Stuart Nathan reports Sharks are among the fastest animals in the sea, partly due to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - COMMUNICATIONS: Sound system.
January 15, 2007... A new type of light modulator that uses acoustic waves rather than electrical currents promises to be a boost to the telecommunications industry. Siobhan Wagner reports A group of scientists from a German research institute have developed...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - CAD/CAM: Structural change.
January 15, 2007... The architectural world, which has flirted with solid modelling techniques to design complex prestige buildings for some time, looks set to embrace an alternative 3D revolution. Charles Clarke explains Most of us are well acquainted with...

CAREERS: Defending champion.
January 15, 2007... For those looking to work on the cutting edge of technology, the UK defence sector offers many new engineering opportunities, says Julia Pierce Over the past decade, the global defence trade has been growing apace. Deployments of...

COMMENT: Don't close the gates on innovation.
January 29, 2007... It is always interesting to find out what others think about us, so here is a snapshot of attitudes to the UK among students at a Beijing university. 'The graduate students gathered in a trendy cafe next to Tsinghua University had a very...

THE BIG PICUTRE: Suite bird takes to the air.
January 29, 2007... Modified 737 tests avionics for F-35 Lightning stealth fighter An airliner modified by BAE Systems into a flying laboratory for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter completed its maiden flight last week in California. ...

THE BIG PICUTRE: Rescue boat makes a splash.
January 29, 2007... The Spanish coastguard has added a new protection vessel with special capabilities for towing and cleaning up after oil spills to its rescue fleet. Rolls-Royce designed and provided the main equipment for the Spanish Maritime Safety...

THE BIG PICUTRE: All fired up for action.
January 29, 2007... XCOR Aerospace has successfully carried out six test firings of its new 7,500lb thrust rocket engine as part of a $3.3m subcontract the company has with Alliant Techsystems of Edina, Minnesota. The tests support NASA's advanced...

IN BRIEF: Step towards lower-cost biofuel.(Brief article)
January 29, 2007... Green Biologics of Oxfordshire is to develop a low-cost biofuel, with #250,000 funding from the DTI-led Technology Programme and #310,000 from shareholder investors and business angels. The company plans to develop a way of manufacturing...

IN BRIEF: Screen test for toxicity.(Brief article)
January 29, 2007... Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico, are developing screening devices to identify hazardous and toxic materials, even those concealed in clothing and packaging materials. Working in the under- utilised terahertz (THz)...

IN BRIEF: Temperature problems ironed out.(Brief article)
January 29, 2007... Siemens has developed a steam iron, the slider S5 automatic, with a temperature level suitable for pressing many different fabrics. The iron's auto function, which Siemens claims is the first of its kind in the world, works with an electronic...

NEWS: Sun roof.
January 29, 2007... Photovoltaic coating to turn steel warehouse and superstore roofs into solar power generators A government-funded project could see steel warehouse and superstore roofs painted with dye-sensitised photovoltaic coatings to turn them into...

NEWS: Jet engines shape up.
January 29, 2007... Anglo-Indian project aims to create shape-changing alloys that could lead to smaller, lighter engines These innovative materials, known as shape memory alloys, could replace the numerous heavy, complicated mechanical actuators used in...

NEWS: Robots blaze a trail.
January 29, 2007... Firefighters' lives may be saved if researchers succeed in developing remote-controlled detection equipment TWO FIREFIGHTERS died when they were engulfed by smoke and lost their exit route while attending a blaze in London's East End in...

NEWS: A sense of security.
January 29, 2007... In-home intelligent monitoring system aims to benefit older people at risk from falls An intelligent sensing system will use wireless technology, GPS and a suite of sensors for real-time monitoring of independent elderly people at home....

NEWS: Cold and calculated.
January 29, 2007... Cooler chips mean faster computers, so researchers are designing a micro-fridge to chill the machines According to Moore's Law, the performance of electronic chips will double every 18 months. If this prediction holds true, it is feared...

NEWS: Fighting fatigue.
January 29, 2007... UK universities hope work into the durability of electronic converters will help boost number of hybrid cars Vehicle manufacturers may release more hybrid or electric cars in the future if their safety and efficiency is improved with more...

VIEWPOINT: Cut carbon - and confusion.
January 29, 2007... How realistic is the 10 per cent biofuels target called for in this month's European Commission energy package? Christopher Macgowan responds on behalf of the motor industry Few doubt that biofuels can deliver more sustainable motoring....

LETTER: Negative sign.(Letter to the editor)
January 29, 2007... FR Grant's criticism of of the UK's modern engineering legacy (Talking Point, 15 January) was both unfair and typical of the culture of negativity that has actually dragged this country down in the past few decades. We have become so...

LETTER: Take a back seat.(Letter to the editor)
January 29, 2007... I disagree with Jonathan Scott's suggestion that the ejector seat is one of the great achievements of the modern era (Letters, 15 January). It was certainly a great technical accomplishment, but the Engineer's list was based on...

LETTER: Plane talk.(Letter to the editor)
January 29, 2007... The article by the British Airways chairman on global warming (Viewpoint, 15 January) is the type of thing we have heard a lot of from the airline industry. He said that a reduction in flying is not the answer. Well he would, wouldn't he?...

LETTER: Recipe for failure.(Letter to the editor)
January 29, 2007... In our tendency to encourage risk elimination we have lost our stomach for the bold and adventurous approach of Victorian times. Risk management prevents avoidable unsafe incidents, but when applied unwisely it does more harm than good. A...

LETTER: A lot of hot air.(Letter to the editor)
January 29, 2007... Is there a way that aircraft can spread anti-pollution? Perhaps it is naive, but they consume huge amounts of air heated to very high temperatures. Could that function could be used in a device to convert CO2 into something less harmful? On...

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT: Out of the shadows.
January 29, 2007... Taranis, an unmanned combat air vehicle being developed with #124m of MoD funding, could pave the way for a new generation of autonomous, stealthy aircraft and spell the end for bomber pilots. Jon Excell reports Just a few years ago the...

INSIGHT: Miniature masterpiece.
January 29, 2007... Portable ultrasound scanning technology capable of producing clear, 3D pictures moving in real time looks set to to change the way we receive medical care. Siobhan Wagner explains For many expectant parents, deciphering the shape of their...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Eastern promise.
January 29, 2007... Hybrid car manufacturers could clean up in China's burgeoning automotive market, says Simon Mounteney China's economy has been consistently - and somewhat hyperbolically - described as expanding 'exponentially' for what feels likes an...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Get wise on waste.
January 29, 2007... A clampdown on used electronics means producers must take more responsibility, says Stuart Ballinger One of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic products is preparing for 'full producer...

INTERVIEW: Flexible friend.(Interview)
January 29, 2007... Simon Jones is helping Plastic Logic into production with polymer electronics technology that could make the printed word a thing of the past. Niall Firth reports In the area of industrial eastern Germany affectionately known as 'Silicon...

BATTERY TECHNOLOGY: Powers to be.
January 29, 2007... US researchers attempt to perfect nuclear microbattery technology that could be used in devices to monitor the condition of structures or check air quality. Siobhan Wagner reports No matter how long-lasting a battery company says its...

TURBINE TECHNOLOGY: Spin doctor.
January 29, 2007... A newly-developed metal-based coating should offer gas turbine blades better protection from the elements as well as extending their life. Stuart Nathan reports Gas turbine blades could run hotter, for longer, and with less maintenance...

CNC: Taking control.
January 29, 2007... Today's fully-networked, multi-axis machine tool shares more in common with a high-end PC than a traditional mill. And, says Martin Oakham, there is endless potential for further development With the rapid advances in technology and the...

CNC: Comprehensive programs.
January 29, 2007... With the introduction of its TNC 320 CNC in the UK Heidenhain can now offer a mid-range control suitable for three or four-axis machining centres and retrofit applications to complement the TNC 530. By retaining analogue control the 320...

MEDICAL DEVICES: Prescription charge.
January 29, 2007... The medical device sector's list of requirements, from miniaturisation to at-home patient care, is providing designers and manufacturers with a diverse range of challenges. Julia Pierce reports The UK's medical device market is the fourth...

SPECIAL REPORT: Watching the MTEC-TIVES.
January 29, 2007... Innovation and rapid product development are the hallmarks of the sensor, measurement and instrumentation industry, so keeping abreast of developments is a must, says Mark Venables Three of the most interesting attractions at MTEC 2007 come...

SPECIAL REPORT: An eye on the future.
January 29, 2007... IPOT 2007 is a great oppportunity to preview what's new in photonics, vision and display technologies, and attend free workshops and seminars. Mark Venables takes a look around NEXT MONTH engineers with an interest in optics, photonics,...