The Engineer articles from January 2009

The Engineer archives from January 2009

COMMENT: Kick-start the engines of growth.
January 12, 2009... As The Engineer went to press Gordon Brown was in the early stages of an energetic tour of the UK, taking his Cabinet with him in what must be one of the most intense blizzards of senior politicians to hit the nation's regions outside of a...

NEWS: Safety first.
January 12, 2009... UK SME develops 'unique' bomb disposal robot with spatial awareness A highly versatile remote- controlled bomb disposal robot with inbuilt spatial awareness is due to enter service with a NATO country later this year. The Guardian...

NEWS: Brain power.
January 12, 2009... A model of the human brain could lead to massively parallel computing with faster, more reliable processors THE WAY in which systems of neurons in the brain interact as a network could become the inspiration for million-processor parallel...

NEWS: Echo security.
January 12, 2009... Millimetre-wave scanner promises more detailed imaging for better detection Smiths Detection has launched a millimetre-wave security scanner that can display real-time moving images of a person being scanned and detect small, non-metallic...

NEWS: Safety track.
January 12, 2009... Computer simulation to detect rail contact fatigue may help prevent train accidents A computer modelling program that may help prevent rail accidents by more accurately predicting vehicle behaviour is being developed by Manchester...

NEWS: Infrared sensor joins race.
January 12, 2009... Motor sport engineering specialist BERU f1systems has developed an infrared sensor claimed to obtain accurate tyre temperature and pressure data unaffected by heat soak. The company, based in Diss, Norfolk, said this is the first time a...

NEWS: Single-step solar.
January 12, 2009... Technique used in the glass industry may help produce cheaper, more durable, thin-film solar cells More efficient, cost-effective and durable thin-film solar cells could be made by adapting the sputtering technique used to create anti-...

NEWS: Cash boost for nanotechnology.
January 12, 2009... Surrey University's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) has received a E1m (#0.9m) grant from energy giant E.ON to help commercialise better- quality and more cost-effective solar cells. The funding has been provided as part of the...

NEWS: Power platform.
January 12, 2009... Flexible tidal energy developer promises lighter, cheaper alternative to competing systems Italian renewable energy company Fri-El Green Power is developing flexible tidal energy technology that it claims is simpler, cheaper and lower...

NEWS: Constant pressure.
January 12, 2009... People who suffer from high blood pressure can now be monitored without discomfort with an implanted pressure sensor being developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. The device, 1mm in diameter, is implanted into the...

VIEWPOINT: Zero tolerance.
January 12, 2009... Carmakers are responding to the growing demand for vehicles and to environmental concerns by developing zero-emission vehicles, says Carlos Ghosn This is a critical time for the global car industry as a result of economic volatility and...

LETTER: Not such a breeze.(Letter to the editor)
January 12, 2009... Our online leader article 'Sea Breeze', argued that UK offshore wind projects such as Npower's Gwynt y Mor wind farm need more support if we are to meet the 2020 targets requiring 33GW. Here is a selection of your emails. This...

LETTER: Hydrogen hopes.(Letter to the editor)
January 12, 2009... Our online leader article 'The Nuclear Car' argued that there could be a link between the hydrogen economy and the new build of nuclear power stations. Here is a selection of your emails. 'As James May said, the hydrogen economy is going...

LETTER: What's the deal?(Letter to the editor)
January 12, 2009... Our online leader article 'Deal or New Deal' suggested Gordon Brown's pledge to create 100,000 jobs with #10bn of pubic spending was grounds for optimism. Here is a selection of your emails. Wait a minute - didn't this government just...

SUCCESSOR PROJECT: Nuclear options.
January 12, 2009... Engineers hope the Astute project will provide valuable lessons for the sub that will carry the UK's Trident deterrent. Stuart Nathan reports The Devonshire Dock Hall, cavernous centrepiece of BAE Systems' Barrow- in-Furness shipyard, is...

INSIGHT: Room with a 3D view.
January 12, 2009... Technical advances are making immersive 3D visualisation, once the preserve of the wealthiest corporations, accessible to a wider range of engineers. Berenice Baker reports ENGINEERS WORKING in companies without millions to spend on the...

LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY: Brighter idea.
January 12, 2009... A UK initiative to advance materials and production technology for light-emitting polymers aims to replace the conventional light bulb and cut energy bills. Jon Excell reports THE LIGHT BULB is the globally recognised symbol of innovation,...

INTERVIEW: Carbon cutter.(Interview)
January 12, 2009... Prof Nigel Brandon, head of Imperial College's Energy Futures Lab, is seeking new technologies so the UK can switch to a low-carbon, all- electric economy. Berenice Baker reports Engineers and scientists tend to respond to government...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Eye on the road.
January 12, 2009... Technology that scans the road surface for signs of metal corrosion below may make improvements cheaper and more efficient, claims its maker. Siobhan Wagner reports Rusted metal in concrete structures can be detected through new technology...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MATERIALS RECOVERY: Spin cycle.
January 12, 2009... Project aims to save raw materials and production costs by incorporating waste from fridges into electrical goods such as washing machines. Siobhan Wagner reports Electrical goods could one day be made largely of recycled materials with...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - RESIDUAL STRESS TESTING: Image conscious.
January 12, 2009... Researchers claim optical technology is an easier, more accurate way of testing the strength of welded components. Siobhan Wagner reports The structural integrity of welded components could potentially be calculated more easily and...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Patent truth.
January 12, 2009... To avoid losing patent rights to their developments, engineers should work closely with advisers throughout the research process, says Karl Barnfather Patent advisers can help innovation-led businesses work more efficiently and deliver...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - LINEAR MOTION: Tough take-off.
January 12, 2009... ESA's new Vega satellite launcher needs the toughest linear technology around to fulfil its mission in the face of harsh conditions Engineers designing Europe's next generation of satellite launchers are relying on advanced linear motion...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - CAM/CAM/PLM: Planning for change.
January 12, 2009... The big PLM software suppliers want to help users face 'green regulations' and tougher business conditions. Charles Clarke reports NEW EU environmental regulations and toughening economic conditions are changing the way manufacturers use...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOUTHERN MANUFACTURING SHOW: Pace setters.
January 12, 2009... The Southern Manufacturing and Electronics exhibition is set to showcase thousands of technology products and services. Siobhan Wagner reports Engineers can get a first-hand look at the manufacturing technology and services that will be...

CAREERS: The doom defiers.
January 12, 2009... Despite the dire economic outlook not all companies are pulling down the shutters on new employees and, as Julia Pierce discovers, some are still expanding In a rare display of unity, economists, politicians and observers of the...

COMMENT: Prescription for growth.
January 26, 2009... When your house is hit by a hurricane, the priority is stopping the roof from coming off rather than planning an extension. Understandably, the minds of many engineering and technology companies are now focused on staying in business...

NEWS: Snap judgement.
January 26, 2009... Biosensor with magnetic nanoparticles could speed drug detection in blood and saliva Philips has developed a novel biosensor that uses nanomagnetic particles and optical technology to detect disease, diagnose clinical conditions and test...

NEWS: Duck and dive.
January 26, 2009... Warning system helps helicopters evade fire A new acoustic-based detection system could help helicopter pilots evade small arms fire when flying low into war zones. The hostile fire indicator (HFI) technology, being developed by BAE...

NEWS: Deep-sea ambition.
January 26, 2009... Floating deep-sea wind turbine consortium aims to help UK meet its renewable energy targets A consortium led by Netherland's-based Blue H Technologies has been selected to take part in a #1.1bn Energy Technology Institute (ETI)...

NEWS: Extra dimension.
January 26, 2009... Tumours may be easier to identify with mammogram that uses 3D X-ray images A mammogram that produces 3D digital images, making tumours easier to see in dense breast tissue, could be launched by a UK company next year. London-based...

NEWS: Toxic trail.
January 26, 2009... European researchers use imaging technique to study how harmful toxins affect cell membranes Technology to identify the effect of harmful toxins on cell membranes is being developed by European researchers led by a team from Leeds...

NEWS: Rolling back the years.
January 26, 2009... Advanced scanning technique may help unlock the secrets of the world's ancient scrolls Advances in X-ray microtomography technology originally developed for dentistry could allow historians to peer into centuries-old scrolls too damaged...

NEWS: Fuelling change.
January 26, 2009... Researchers are developing an anode that overcomes problems typically associated with fuel cells Aberdeen University researchers are developing a new type of low- temperature fuel cell that overcomes the high cost of components and low...

NEWS: Reflections on cancer.
January 26, 2009... A HANDHELD fibre-optic probe that is set for launch in April could help doctors detect and diagnose skin and oral cancer. Vivosight from UK medical equipment manufacturer Michelson Diagnostics is a new optical coherence tomography (OCT)...

VIEWPOINT: Community care.
January 26, 2009... Engineers have a golden opportunity to develop technologies to cater for the needs of the growing number of elderly people and cut healthcare costs, says Simon Fielden This Century offers outstanding opportunities for engineers and...

LETTER: Tame the tides.(Letter to the editor)
January 26, 2009... Several letters on renewable energy have made the point that wind is not reliable, but then include tidal energy schemes in the same breath. We have 24-hour tidal energy available around the British coastline. A large number of...

LETTER: Don't stress the grid.(Letter to the editor)
January 26, 2009... While Prof Nigel Brandon is considering the big issues in a pro-active, scientific manner his comments (Interview, 12 January ) that we can afford losses in our energy transmission, provided the energy was low carbon, are interesting. I...

LETTER: Hydrogen downside.(Letter to the editor)
January 26, 2009... Hydrogen fuel has a global warming effect I've only seen once mentioned in the press. Hydrogen escaping into the upper atmosphere reacts with hydroxyls. It is the hydroxyls that partly reduce the accumulated methane in the atmosphere,...

LETTER: Engineered solution.(Letter to the editor)
January 26, 2009... Our online leader article 'A win-lose solution?' on the proposed third Heathrow runway said such a major project would boost the engineering sectors and engineers should be among the decision makers in the debate. Here is a selection of your...

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE: Red alert.
January 26, 2009... Engineers are developing electronic monitoring and analysis technologies to help keep chronically ill people out of hospital. Stuart Nathan reports MORE THAN 17 million people in the UK have some kind of chronic illness, such as diabetes,...

CANCER THERAPY: Finer focus.
January 26, 2009... A range of technologies could be at the heart of a new era of cancer therapy tailored and targeted according to a patient's condition. Jon Excell reports Until recently, when faced with inoperable cancer, clinicians had a fairly limited...

INSIGHT: Flesh and blood.
January 26, 2009... Jon Excell explains how new developments in artificial arteries offer an alternative to more conventional vascular grafts and could help patients avoid amputations An artificial artery that recreates the swirling bloodflow of a natural...

INTERVIEW: Upper hand.(Interview)
January 26, 2009... Hugh Gill, Touch Bionics' director of technology and operations, aims to develop the award-winning prosthetic hand into the next generation. Stuart Nathan reports It is often said that engineers take ideas from nature and turn them into...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Premier protection.
January 26, 2009... Scientists at the DSTL have discovered a way to manufacture super- strength armour using a less expensive process than conventional hard steels. Siobhan Wagner reports Super-strong military armour could be easier and less expensive to...

ELECTRONICS TESTING: Breaking point.
January 26, 2009... A technique that measures fracture resistance of dielectric material could help avoid unnecessary costs in the development of integrated circuits. Siobhan Wagner reports A new method for testing the toughness of dielectric material could...

RADPID MANUFACTURING: In the swim.
January 26, 2009... Rapid manufacturing technologies could join the industrial mainstream if a heavyweight consortium led by Loughborough University succeeds. Andrew Lee reports A #2.7m university/industry collaboration hopes to bring rapid manufacturing...

MEDICAL DEVICES: Breathe easy.
January 26, 2009... Dry powder inhaler uses a novel reverse-cyclone design to optimize drug delivery for patients with limited lung capacity A UK-developed dry powder inhaler (DPI) that is claimed to dispense drugs more effectively than conventional devices...

MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION: In the can.
January 26, 2009... New data system allows manufacturer to monitor the performance of seaming machines and guarantees the quality of cans produced The humble metal can hardly seems like a miracle of modern engineering - the first was patented as far back as...

EVENTS GUIDE 2009: The show must go on.
January 26, 2009... To be invisible is to be forgotten, which is why the business event is holding its own despite the downturn Not for the first time and probably not for the last, some commentators are predicting the imminent demise of the business event....

EVENTS GUIDE 2009: Plastic valley calls.(Conference news)
January 26, 2009... The Plastics Design and Moulding Exhibition and Conference in Telford promises to inform, educate and inspire on ways to survive the recession If you design or produce plastic products there is only one event you need to know about this...

EVENTS GUIDE 2009: Maintec 2009.
January 26, 2009... A whole host of new technology is set to be launched at this year's easyFairs(R) MAINTEC at Birmingham's NEC on 17-19 March In tough times, when budgets for new capital expenditure are tight, effectively maintaining existing assets and...

EVENTS GUIDE 2009: Manchester alive!
January 26, 2009... With live demonstrations and specially commissioned conference and seminar sessions, Process Engineering Live aims to be much more than a traditional trade show Process Engineering LIVE is an entirely new kind of event for the process...

EVENTS GUIDE 2009: Subcon 2009.
January 26, 2009... Subcon will offer buyers the chance to source all types of subcontract manufacturing from UK and international suppliers Subcon 2009, the one-stop-shop for regional, national and global sourcing of subcontract manufacturing services, is...

MEDTEC UK 2009: Medical showcase.
January 26, 2009... MEDTEC UK 2009 is set to offer its visitors a window onto the latest innovations in medical device technology and an insight into the issues facing the industry Employing around 60,000 people - many of them in skilled, high-value roles...

COURSES: Survival training.
January 26, 2009... Skills development can pay dividends even in tough times, with universities an often overlooked resource Amid the gathering economic gloom at the end of last year, one announcement stood out. Toyota's decision to scale back production at...

CAREERS: Wave of optimism.
January 26, 2009... Despite the falling oil price and general downturn, there are still opportunities in Scotland's renewable energy and oil exploration and production sectors. Julia Pierce reports Scotland is faring relatively well compared with many areas...