The Engineer articles from July 2006

The Engineer archives from July 2006

COMMENT: Innovation is on the agenda.
July 3, 2006... Is R&D turning into a political hot potato? That may be putting it a little strongly - R&D is unlikely to knock crime or pensions off the front pages just yet - but there are at least signs that some gentle baking is underway. Evidence...

THE BIG PICTURE: Small advance for ESA.
July 3, 2006... Space agency carries out first static test of Vega launch vehicle's Zefiro 23 motor The European Space Agency last week successfully completed the first firing test of Zefiro 23, the second-stage motor of ESA's Vega small satellite...

THE BIG PICTURE: Aerial fire-fighter takes to the skies.
July 3, 2006... Evergreen International has demonstrated the fire-fighting capabilities of its 747 Supertanker, which took three years and more than $40m (#22.2m) to develop. The company, based in McMinnville, Oregon, visited 11 states during a...

THE BIG PICTURE: Hush House hosts F135 firing for JSF.
July 3, 2006... The first F135 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter recently completed successful test runs at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The trials took place at an indoor engine test facility that was...

IN BRIEF: Don't frown - you'll upset the computer program.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... Researchers at Cambridge University have developed an 'emotionally aware' computer program. The program is connected to a camera to locate and track 24 facial 'feature points' such as the edge of the nose, the eyebrows and the corners of...

IN BRIEF: Loughborough leads on life-saving landslide sensors.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... A technique devised by Loughborough University to help predict landslides could save hundreds of lives worldwide. The Acoustic Real- time Monitoring System gauges the stability of slopes by listening to soil movement. It is hoped that the...

IN BRIEF: Iowa researchers' network to monitor electricity transmission.(Brief article)
July 3, 2006... An Iowa State University research team led by Arun Somani, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is working to develop a network of wireless sensors that could monitor the US's electricity transmission system. The sensors could...

NEWS: Scaffold surgery.
July 3, 2006... Specially-developed polymers could mean a revolution in treating severe skin injuries A breakthrough in understanding cell behaviour and a newly-developed, dissolvable scaffold for growing new areas of skin could provide a safer, more...

NEWS: Generation game.
July 3, 2006... Power fluctuations that hamper electric-vehicle systems could be smoothed out with a new-style generator A new generator system for hybrid electric buses could improve city centre air quality while helping the government to meet its targets...

NEWS: Hydrogen heroes.
July 3, 2006... UK-BASED Intelligent Energy (IE) has developed the first hydrogen- generation system that converts liquid synthetic diesel into hydrogen, which can then used to produce electricity and heat in a fuel cell. It was developed with South African...

Attractive proposition.
July 3, 2006... The race is on to keep ahead of computer power with a copper-free method of carrying currents A THREE-YEAR international project led by Bath University could, it is claimed, make computers up to 500 times faster by dispensing with the...

NEWS: Distance digging.
July 3, 2006... System that converts standard military JCB into remote-controlled vehicle aims to save troops' lives Qinetiq has developed technology to transform a standard military JCB into a remote control unit for use in hazardous environments. ...

NEWS: Phoenix rises to the ITER challenge.
July 3, 2006... It's not easy containing a plasma at 150m*C. Our Sun, fortunately, cannot keep energy to itself, even though it is 10 times cooler but scientists running the International Tokomak Experimental Reactor (ITER) require a vessel that must not be...

NEWS: Seeing the light.
July 3, 2006... Project to work on light sources based around carbon nano-composites The Carbon Trust has awarded the University of Surrey #465,000 to develop Ultra Low Energy High Brightness (ULEHB) light sources that could, it is claimed, lead to more...

NEWS: Bone of invention.
July 3, 2006... A technique that uses electrical current to engineer human tissue could one day be used in the treatment of bone marrow diseases such as leukaemia. The technology, pioneered at Manchester University, uses electric fields to build up...

Breaking the digital speed limit.
July 3, 2006... Industry and academia join forces to cryogenically produce world's fastest low-energy chips A new world record in silicon-germanium chip speed brings the prospect of a step-change in digital devices closer. This heralds a class of...

FOCUS: Route of all good.
July 3, 2006... From carbon credits to cutting speed limits, there could be a lot more to reducing CO2 than what goes on under car bonnets. Max Glaskin reports Which of these will save the world? Speed cameras on every road. A gauge on every dashboard...

BUSINESS: Gulf tourists boost Atkins' sales and profits.
July 3, 2006... Engineering consultant Atkins enjoyed solid year-end results, mainly on the back of public sector contracts in design and engineering and strong growth in the middle east. Sales grew 10 per cent last year to #1.05bn, with operating...

BUSINESS: Measured success.
July 3, 2006... Millbrook Scientific's global presence still on the up, but Q3 downturn spoils a promising year A third-quarter sales lull stifled what looked to be a promising year for Millbrook Scientific, the designer and manufacturer of instruments...

VIEWPOINT: Engineering makes the world go round.
July 3, 2006... In the run-up to the 2012 Olympics engineers will be in great demand - precisely the time, says John Childs, to take the opportunity to stand up and be counted Why is it that engineers have such a low profile in the media? Our mainstream...

LETTER: Water isn't working.(Letter to the editor)
July 3, 2006... Regarding Carl King's observations on the UK's water shortage (Letters, 5 June), it does seem ironic that as an island nation we should be facing serious drought, and I guess desalination plants seem a logical step. However, as is often...

LETTER: Water shortage.(Letter to the editor)
July 3, 2006... * Recent correspondents suggest desalination as a possible answer to our water shortage. I think this is mistaken, not because of the (significant) running costs, but because of the approach, which is equivalent to 'the roads are full - build...

GAMES TECHNOLOGY: Serious Fun.
July 3, 2006... The relentless technological advances of the video games industry are making waves and fuelling applications across a range of sectors, including defence and medicine. Niall Firth reports A greasy adolescent sits cooped up in his fetid...

INTERVIEW: Tag team.(Interview)
July 3, 2006... Innovision R&T's technical director Heikki Huomo believes his firm's technology could bring every piece of data and transaction you could wish for to your mobile phone. Jon Excell reports Ask most engineers about radio frequency...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Feel the vibes.
July 3, 2006... A German research team is developing a way to measure the noise and disturbance experienced by car passengers and deliver much quieter rides. Stuart Nathan reports Driving is a sensory experience. Even the most pragmatic driver doesn't...

AEROSPACE: Brighter sparks.
July 3, 2006... Faulty wiring on aircraft can be hard to detect and have catastrophic effects. Now a new system of tracking faults is being developed in the US. Stuart Nathan reports As they age, aircraft break down, much like any other piece of...

NANOTECHNOLOGY: Turning up the heat.
July 3, 2006... Magnetic data-storage devices are facing meltdown because they are running out of space. Heat-assisted technology could provide a solution, reports Stuart Nathan A discovery by researchers in France could be the key to new high- capacity...

SOFTWARE: Swift solutions.
July 3, 2006... SolidWorks 2007 includes innovative technology designed to take the mystery out of modelling operations, while producing error-free CAD models more effectively and efficiently. Charles Clarke explains As mid-range CAD software matures, the...

LINEAR MOTION: Moving experience.
July 3, 2006... A choice of linear motion technologies, for a wider range of applications than ever, enables machine builders and end-users to make huge cost savings. Mark Venables reports TODAY there is a huge choice of linear motion systems available...

COMMENT: The ultimate NIMBY challenge.
July 17, 2006... The government's Energy Review marked a return from the wilderness for nuclear generation. It will never exactly be loved, but clear and repeated explanation of the need for nuclear as part of the UK's future energy mix has already ensured...

THE BIG PICTURE: Heavy metal.
July 17, 2006... China takes container shipping to whole new dimensions The world's largest container ship, Xin Los Angeles, has been delivered by Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to Lloyd's Register class. The 336.7m ship is owned by China...

THE BIG PICTURE: Taking the heat out of landmindes.
July 17, 2006... Engineers at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon have developed a way to use infrared imaging to locate landmines more safely and quickly. Zouheir Fawaz, associate dean and professor of the...

THE BIG PICTURE: A shining example of cruising.
July 17, 2006... Visitors to Hyde Park can now take a ride across the Serpentine on a solar-powered boat. The Serpentine SolarShuttle cruises at 6mph, has a maximum range of 40 miles and can carry 40 passengers. Its solar-electric engine will, it is...

IN BRIEF: Pollution monitors go to the top of the class.(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Pupils from two UK schools will be using prototype mobile phone technology and sensors to monitor pollution levels on their journey to and from school over the next two weeks. The project is part of a three- year, #3.6m research programme...

IN BRIEF: Making a mesh of sight.(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... MIT scientists have developed an optical system made of mesh-like webs of light-detecting fibres. The fibre constructs, said to have a number of advantages over their lens-based predecessors, can measure the direction, intensity and phase of...

IN BRIEF: Surgical surface workers.(Brief article)
July 17, 2006... Engineers at Brown University have created zinc or titanium oxide nanosurfaces that can reduce the presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteria in orthopaedic implants. Found on skin or in mucous membrane, S. epidermidis can enter a surgical...

NEWS: Growth industry Headline 22pt.
July 17, 2006... Small refineries using locally-grown biomass aims to secure UK energy supplies and cut carbon emissions Small refineries could convert locally-grown biomass into fuel, power, heat and chemicals for neighbourhoods across the UK - a move...

NEWS: Healthy development.
July 17, 2006... Ultra-low-power chip could mean wireless patient monitoring An ultra-low power silicon chip could pave the way for future wireless body networks that use 'digital plasters' in healthcare applications. The Sensium chip, developed by...

NEWS: Face of the future.
July 17, 2006... Japanese car giant to use UK expression-based driver safety technology in its vehicles TOYOTA, manufacturers of the popular Yaris, Prius and Verso, plans to install mind-reading technology in its vehicles by 2010, so that the key mental...

NEWS: Tunnel vision.
July 17, 2006... London Underground to trial digital imaging system to monitor train tunnel walls London Underground is to trial a digital imaging system that monitors the movement of train tunnel walls. A full prototype of the technology was first...

NEWS: Efficiency drive.
July 17, 2006... Germany builds world's biggest gas turbine to meet ever-growing energy demands The WORLD'S largest gas turbine is being built by Siemens in its Berlin factory to become the heart of a high-efficiency combined cycle power plant. ...

NEWS: Breaking the information speed limit.
July 17, 2006... Faster information flow has been a permanent human quest since the first hill-top beacons were lit. Now, in the digital era, researchers want to boost data to speeds of 40Gbit/s across entire optical networks. They want to eliminate the...

NEWS: H-trap.
July 17, 2006... Adsorbent microporous materials could be the breakthrough to a hydrogen economy The chassis and body panels of a car may one day store the vehicle's fuel, doing away with the bulky tank altogether. That's one possible consequence of...

NEWS: Chipping in.
July 17, 2006... Sensors used to track food consumption could monitor your gas bill Small intelligent sensors originally developed by a UK firm to help large multinational companies in their market research are to find their way into the smart homes of the...

NEWS: Foam is where the heart is.
July 17, 2006... Foam is not only important in today's cafe-bar society, for making cappuccinos and giving beer an attractive head, but it is also vital to industry. Foams are used to separate mineral ore from crushed rock and for enhanced oil recovery to...

FOCUS: Stand and deliver.
July 17, 2006... Engineers must play a crucial role in our future, and sustainability is key to that role, agreed delegates at a London conference. Jean Leston reports CAN engineers be instrumental in solving the big problems of today? The important...

Oxford University and Technikos sign #12m biomedical deal.
July 17, 2006... Oxford University has signed a #12m private equity deal with London investment group Technikos to help fund its new Institute of Biomedical Engineering. The deal includes the provision of commercial and financial advice and assistance in...

Puricore gets clean bill of health.
July 17, 2006... FDA ruling allows global biomimetic technology giant to diversify into wound treatment market PuriCore, a developer of technology that mimics the body's defensive system, has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to...

VIEWPOINT: Power from the people.
July 17, 2006... As the debate over nuclear dominates the government's Energy Review, Malcolm Wicks says tackling CO2 can start at home Our climate is changing. Melting ice sheets, rising sea levels, flooded cities. These are all part of our future and...

LETTER: Bad tidings.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... I read your article 'Turning the tides' (Feature, 19 June) with interest, but the Severn Tidal Power Group is overlooking one major problem. When the tidal flow is reduced by the barrage, sediment - from the tributaries and the incoming...

LETTER: Fuelling chaos.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... The debate about biofuels is much wider than whether engines can be designed to operate using them (of course) and whether the car industry can be persuaded to get behind them (probably, if it's made worth their while). As you alluded to...

LETTER: Electric point.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... Biofuels are indeed going to play a big part in transport in the near future (Focus, 3 July) but renewable electricity can too. I have been driving electric vehicles using grid-supplied wind and hydro energy for years, most recently...

LETTER: A lot of hot air.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... I have no wish to be unnecessarily contentious, but global warming continues to be of enormous benefit to the engineering community worldwide, creating jobs and opportunities hardly imagined 20 years ago. It provides the principal basis...

LETTER: Don't blame us.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... We have heard a lot in the news recently about the problems surrounding Airbus and Eads. It seems to me that while there may be a technical issue at the root of the delays to the production of the A380, the controversy has been fuelled...

LETTER: Short-sighted move.(Letter to the editor)
July 17, 2006... We are told that engineering needs to find modern role models if the next generation is to be inspired to enter the profession. We are not informed exactly who they are, just that we need them. The 'old' role models such as Brunel and...

FUTURE SOLIDER PROJECTS: Techno warriors.
July 17, 2006... The race is on to develop technology to improve the capability of troops. From sophisticated communications systems to hi-tech weapons, Niall Firth reviews what the best-equipped soldier will be wearing in future Fifteen years from now,...

INTERVIEW: The debris detective.(Interview)
July 17, 2006... Safeguards put in place following the investigation by NASA's Steve McDaniels of the Columbia disaster should help soothe the nerves of those anxiously awaiting the return of Discovery. Stuart Nathan reports On 1 February 2003 a bright...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Fighting fit.
July 17, 2006... With three companies producing various and complex parts for the JSF's system development and demonstration models, never has the need for perfection been greater. Stuart Nathan explains ASSEMBLING the world's most advanced fighter plane...

CATALYSTS: Golden opportunity.
July 17, 2006... Swiss researchers believe they can explain the behaviour of gold particles, which could pave the way to new applications in fuel cells and air purification. Stuart Nathan reports Gold is a bit of a puzzle to engineers and scientists. Its...

MACHINING: Productivity bonus.
July 17, 2006... Advanced CNC technology is helping to cut costs and move the UK metalworking industry into areas that are less sensitive to threats from low-cost overseas competition. Mark Venables reports VARIOUS STRATEGIES are employed by the UK's...

DTAT ACQUISTION: Record collection.
July 17, 2006... As the data generated by typical industrial processes grows apace, sectors as varied as water, oil and pharmaceuticals are having to look at how they collect and use it. Colin Carter explains Data acquisition has been an issue since the...

Patent round-up.
July 17, 2006... Safer chopper A small, lightweight ballistic shield made from composite materials (US7059567) is designed to defend helicopters from attack. the shield covers the passenger area of the chopper and is supported by aluminium struts to keep...