The Engineer articles from June 2006

The Engineer archives from June 2006

COMMENT: Drivers' DNA will shape automotive evolution.
June 5, 2006... The potential marriage of the mobile device and the automobile suggested in our cover feature (see page 26) is an intriguing prospect. In summary, the idea is that details of what could be described as your 'driving DNA' - your habits,...

THE BIG PICTURE: Making a splash.
June 5, 2006... High-speed amphibian switches from land to water mode in just five seconds Gibbs Technologies, the high-speed amphibian (HSA) technology specialist, has unveiled Quadski, a prototype of what is claimed to be the first commercially viable...

THE BIG PICTURE: Great shakes for airborne tanker.
June 5, 2006... The first Boeing KC-767A tanker, scheduled for delivery to the Italian air force in mid-2007, has completed ground vibration testing at the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Structural Dynamics Laboratory in Everett, Washington. The KC-767...

THE BIG PICTURE: Up periscope for US nuclear sub.
June 5, 2006... The US's newest nuclear-powered submarine, USS Texas (SSN 775), has returned to Northrop Grumman's Newport News shipyard after concluding a clean sweep of initial sea trials. 'I'm pleased to report that the ship's trials were...

IN Brief: X-ray vision gets clearer.(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have developed a 3D microscope that harnesses X-rays to provide information about an object's internal structure, down to the micron scale. X-ray microscopes can produce 3D internal pictures of an...

IN Brief: Small time breakthrough.(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... A timer circuit one hundred times smaller than the traditional quartz crystal has been developed by the Technical Research Centre of Finland VTT, in co-operation with VTI technologies. The substitution of quartz for silicon is said to open...

IN Brief: UK moves on to new circuit.(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Researchers from five UK universities have received #5.3m funding to design circuits that will work with a new generation of nano-electronic chips to power the electronic devices of the future. Current electronic circuits cannot cope with...

NEWS: Slow work.
June 5, 2006... University researchers aim to solve problem of sensorless drives breaking down at zero or low speeds Engineers at Nottingham University aim to design a drive that overcomes sensorless designs' inability to operate at zero or low speeds....

NEWS: A better image all round.
June 5, 2006... High-resolution, multi-viewer 3D monitors are being developed by BAE Systems and Holografika A Hungarian holographic company has teamed up with BAE Systems to develop a new generation of 3D display technologies giving an unprecedented...

NEWS: Shrouded in near-silence.
June 5, 2006... Aerodynamic approach to wind turbine design aims to provide quieter, more efficient power generation A new design of wind turbine could provide significantly better power output than existing mills, while overcoming some of their...

NEWS: Ice pick.
June 5, 2006... NASA trials self-sufficient, lightweight drill for boring through Mars ice caps A powerful drill designed to bore through the polar ice caps of Mars has undergone testing by NASA in the icy wastes of northern Canada. The drill is...

NEWS: Shape and control - it's crystal clear.
June 5, 2006... An international collaboration led by Michael Anderson at Manchester University is embarking on a project to control the growth of zeolite crystals - non-porous materials used commercially in catalysts for cracking oil. Zeolites make up...

NEWS: Liquid crystal locomotion.
June 5, 2006... Nanomaterials specialist aims to manufacture more powerful batteries using crystal-based templates Nanoporous materials developed by Nanotecture may offer a solution to the power limitations of standard, non-rechargeable lithium...

NEWS: Monitoring pollution in living colour.
June 5, 2006... A normal PC and webcam are being used to monitor the build-up of environmentally important gases such as carbon monoxide and NOx, in a research project under way at Linkoping University's division of applied physics in Sweden. The...

NEWS: Fighting talk.
June 5, 2006... US programme set to save lives by transforming standard military radio into powerful multi-task device Next-generation communications technology to transform the standard military radio into a multi-faceted device is being developed to...

FOCUS: First flight.
June 5, 2006... If the UK does not foster its fuel cell industry, it will be left behind by other countries such as Japan. Niall Firth reports on initiatives to support this fledgling sector Two weeks ago, at a specially convened DTI conference in London,...

BUSINESS: Dual boost for diesel specialist.
June 5, 2006... Clean Air Power, the Oxford-based company developing a system allowing engines to operate on a combination of diesel and natural gas, has been granted two patents that it claimed will boost the prospects for its technology worldwide. In...

BUSINESS: Shell cleans up with coal.
June 5, 2006... Energy group teams up with mining specialist Anglo American to exploit clean coal technologies Shell and Anglo American aim to maximise the commercial benefits from the fast-growing field by taking joint stakes in coal conversion...

CDP launches #1m fund to help firms take products from lab to launch.
June 5, 2006... Technology and product development company Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) has launched a #1m fund to nurture early-stage high-tech businesses. CDP said the fund gives companies access to its multi- disciplinary teams, covering...

Ford Bridgend plant continues to expand with #100m for S16 engine.
June 5, 2006... Ford's high-tech engine plant at Bridgend, Wales, has received a #100m investment to produce a new 3.2 litre, six-cylinder engine named the SI6. The new engine has been earmarked for Volvo's S80 flagship saloon and its XC90 SUV. Predicted...

Gyrus enhances da Vinci's code by developing tool for surgical robot.
June 5, 2006... Gyrus Group, a supplier of devices that reduce trauma and complications during surgery, has entered into a development partnership with Intuitive Surgical, the company behind the da Vinci medical robotics system. Under the deal, Intuitive...

US army enlists Smiths Detection for $8m weather forecasting contract.
June 5, 2006... Smiths Detection, part of the UK's Smiths Group, has won an $8m (#4.28m) US Department of Defence contract to design and test a prototype mobile weather forecasting system. With an option for a second system, the maximum contract value is...

FEATURE: A renewed vision for Scotland.
June 5, 2006... Scotland's deputy first minister Nicol Stephen argues that renewable energy sources have a central role to play in fighting climate change We all know that climate change is a clear danger. We can see the ice caps melting live before our...

LETTER: Saline solution.(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... I write with a question that has constantly nagged at me and has resurfaced this week with the latest news of water shortages. Why is it that, after all these years and articles about this dilemma, we have not woken up to the main...

LETTER: Net gains.(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... I found your archive material on the internet fascinating, not only for the content but also for the presentation and contemporary view of the advances. The juxtaposed snippets of other articles were a bonus. Please publish some more! ...

LETTER: Old coat wears well.(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... Having been involved in corrosion protection for more than 25 years, I read with interest your article on the protection system developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Production Engineering, 24 April). It struck me as...

LETTER: Bursting our balloon.(Letter to the editor)
June 5, 2006... You let your normally high standards slip in your editorial and article on airships (22 May). To say: 'history's verdict on airships can be summed up in the main as a series of disasters' only panders to the ignorant. What about the...

ADAPTIVE DRIVING: Chameleon car.
June 5, 2006... Imagine a car that adapts to your style of driving, habits and even musical tastes - and helps save you from having accidents. All this could be possible via a 'nomadic device' like a mobile. Dan Thisdell reports As visions for better...

INTERVIEW: Growth spurt.(Interview)
June 5, 2006... Prof Hugh Clare, chief of the network that manages UK funding into microsystems and nanotechnology, has been a major driving force behind the sector doubling in size within three years. Stuart Nathan reports Small stuff is big business....

DESIGN ENGINEERING: A star is reborn.
June 5, 2006... An airshow legend 'disappeared' for 25 years - until it was bought by a self-confessed aircraft fanatic, who is using today's technologies to restore the plane to its former glory. Stuart Nathan reports Dick Keyt wouldn't look out of...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - HYDRAULICS: Liquid asset.
June 5, 2006... Fluid power, with its ability to deliver enormous amounts of energy, is used widely - from moving Las Vegas stage sets to making linkspan bridges on UK ro-ro car ferries safer. Colin Carter explains Despite being a relatively mature...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SENSORS: Elevating the senses.
June 5, 2006... Advances in electronics and computing have led to a new breed of aircraft sensors that are even more powerful than before, driving innovations in areas such as air safety. Colin Carter reports Sensors are becoming more commonplace every...

COMMENT: BP sows the seeds of hope.
June 19, 2006... This week's announcement by BP chief executive Lord Browne that the energy behemoth will plough almost #300m into biofuels technology research is a big boost for this emerging field. The words plough and field are apt, because biofuels...

THE BIG PICTURE: Boeing realises a dream.
June 19, 2006... The first cargo loader big enough to transport 787 Dreamliner assemblies is launched in Canada Boeing has launched the first cargo loader to be used to transport large 787 Dreamliner assemblies. The loader, which weighs 100 tonnes and...

THE BIG PICTURE: Hats off as Eurofighter tests BAE Systems helmet.
June 19, 2006... The Helmet Equipment Assembly (HEA) was fully tracked into the Typhoon's computer systems. This allows the pilot to direct sensors and weapons to where he needs them by simply turning his head - be it to cue a missile, lock on a sensor to a...

THE BIG PICTURE: Researchers win #1.7m for Red Planet probe.
June 19, 2006... The UK's Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council last week invested #1.7m in the type of R&D that will one day help man to colonise Mars. The investment will enable UK scientists and engineers to develop instrumentation and...

IN Brief: Southampton computing cluster could revolutionise codes.(Brief article)
June 19, 2006... A new high-performance computing cluster at the University of Southampton could, it is claimed, revolutionise the creation of computer code for engineering design. The Spitfire Computer Cluster will enable engineers and researchers to perform...

IN Brief: ORNL to develop software for virtual soldier lifesaver tags.(Brief article)
June 19, 2006... Research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in TN, US is playing a role in providing a 'virtual soldier' for use in the treatment of battlefield wounds. In the US Virtual Soldier project, each soldier would be equipped with a personalised...

IN Brief: Nanotechnology to create clothes that resist infection.(Brief article)
June 19, 2006... Professors at Wilkes University, PA, US plan to design a process that uses nanotechnology to turn a piece of clothing into a bacteria-killing garment. They also aim to create an infectious-disease sensing uniform that detects the presence of...

NEWS: Emissions statement.
June 19, 2006... UK project claims full-hybrid diesel car can deliver ultra-low CO2 without compromising function or performance A full-hybrid diesel vehicle claims to have cut carbon emissions by 30 per cent compared to the standard showroom model. The...

NEWS: Looking good.
June 19, 2006... The vision being dreamed up for tank crews will provide all-round views from inside, improving safety and surveillance BAE Systems has begun a two-year project to deliver full hemispherical vision to the commanders and crew of armoured...

NEWS: Vertical challenge.
June 19, 2006... World's 'highest-resolution' ion beam instrument could mean cancer care tailored to individual patients An ion beam - which its developers claim will be the highest-resolution instrument of its type in the world - could allow cancer care...

NEWS: Frequent flyer.
June 19, 2006... Low-frequency ultrasound could aid aircraft safety by speeding up wing testing Aircraft safety could be boosted by faster and more frequent inspections of wing structures if researchers can demonstrate that their methods are reliable....

NEWS: Optical data storage technologies take on malaria.
June 19, 2006... Work to develop the world's first hand-held non-invasive malaria detector, which has adapted the magnetic and optical technologies used for data storage, has begun. Malaria kills at least one million people every year, and it is only...

NEWS: Streets ahead.
June 19, 2006... The Highways Agency is researching a new vehicle that will speed up condition surveys of the UK's road network A new road survey vehicle was launched last week that will allow data to be collected from Britain's roads 30 times faster than...

NEWS: Stonehenge inspires.
June 19, 2006... Stonehenge has survived largely because it was over-engineered by its prehistoric designers. Modern builders do not have the luxury of such leeway and that is why buildings and structures made of modern materials can deteriorate in far less...

NEWS: Unfrozen assets.
June 19, 2006... Academia and industry team up to conquer cold of deep space The dark side of the moon, the deepest lunar craters and Jupiter's satellite, Europa, are so cold that even robots may refuse to work there. This presents a significant hurdle...

FOCUS: Flight surgeons.
June 19, 2006... A UK-led international project aims to research and address the environmental issues facing the aviation industry. Christopher Sell reports The aviation industry, a major source of economic wealth around the world, has found itself at the...

BUSINESS: Qinetiq jumps the hurdles.
June 19, 2006... Despite a squeeze in MoD funding, the technology group has won alternative markets and a 38 per cent profits rise GROWTH in three key areas helped UK-based global technology group Qinetiq to deliver a strong set of annual results. ...

BUSINESS: Demand for imaging helps double profits.
June 19, 2006... A steady showing from its core business areas helped e2v, the developer and manufacturer of high-tech electronic components and sub-systems, to boost sales by almost 12 per cent and more than double its profits to #12m compared with 2005....

LETTER: Diverse roads.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2006... I was encouraged by your article 'Chameleon car' (Feature, 5 June). Personally I can't wait for the day when my intelligent car will drive me to work so that I can read the paper or catch up on some sleep. So many of the proposed...

LETTER: Water-shed.(Letter to the editor)
June 19, 2006... The discussion about water shortages and losses is valuable and, certainly, the desalination solution has its merits. However, it misses the point that the Aquifer under London is continuing to fill up and that the water table has reached such...

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Turning the tides.
June 19, 2006... A consortium of UK engineering firms is proposing a barrage across the Severn estuary that could, it is projected, harness tidal energy to generate double the output of a nuclear power station. Jon Excell reports When Tony Blair signalled...

INTERVIEW: The incubator.(Interview)
June 19, 2006... As head of the engineering division of Imperial College's technology transfer arm, Brian Graves has a nose for the academic projects that can be nurtured into commercial successes. Christopher Sell reports Taking an innovation from the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Materials witness.
June 19, 2006... Project aims to combine scanning technology and computer modelling to predict how, and where, cracks will develop in critical aircraft parts. Stuart Nathan reports Research into modelling the structure of metals could lead to a method...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - JOINING TECHNOLOGIES: A riveting need.
June 19, 2006... German engineers trial gun with a difference, that incorporates automatic 3D quality checking technology to make safety process even faster. Stuart Nathan reports Aircraft - particularly passenger planes - use increasingly advanced...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - NANOTECH: Growing concern.
June 19, 2006... UK-developed process for producing cost-efficient nanomaterials at room temperature receives commercialisation funding. Stuart Nathan reports A low-cost technique for growing nanotubes has received funding from the South East England...

CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION: Controlled progress.
June 19, 2006... With remote monitoring and control now possible from country to country, a revolution is taking place in the instrumentation market. Colin Carter explains Recent advances in control and instrumentation mean that relatively small, but...

MARKETING & TRACEABILITY: Lighting up time.
June 19, 2006... Traditional marking methods such as engraving, dot matrix and inkjet have been superseded by laser technology which is permanent and doesn't damage the surrounding substrate. Mark Venables reports In a bid to provide full product...

FARNBOROUGH: Three regions one goal.
June 19, 2006... The UK's aerospace giants are committed to major global projects, which will ensure a good platform for the Farnborough air show. Mark Venables reports The UK has the world's largest aerospace industry outside the US, with...

FARNBOROUGH: Fly away success.
June 19, 2006... While the big players make headline news by developing faster, more fuel-efficient engines and advanced systems, it is all too easy to overlook smaller firms who play a vital role. Stuart Nathan puts the record straight The aerospace...