The Engineer articles from March 2002

The Engineer archives from March 2002

Road to traffic reduction is paved with flawed intentions.
March 1, 2002... ON THE FACE OF IT this week's proposal for charging UK drivers using global positioning satellites makes sense. It is around 10 years since the Department of Transport grudgingly accepted the impossibility of building a way out of congestion....

Rover goes pinky and perky. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... FORGET HYDROGEN fuel cells, how about a nice chintz carpet, Indian silk linings and a few translucent pink plastic fittings? MG Rover has teamed up with fashion designer Matthew Williamson to restyle the interior of its cars to appeal to a...

Belgium starts nuclear reaction. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... BELGIUM is to phase out nuclear power by the year 2025, ministers have agreed. However, the government has yet to decide what will replace the country's seven nuclear reactors which provide almost 60 per cent of its electricity. Germany,...

BAE keeps a hawk eye on jet deal. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... BAE SYSTEMS HAS warned that it may be forced to lay off more staff at its Hawk plant in Brough, East Yorkshire unless it wins a contract from the Indian government. Foreign secretary Jack Straw was expected to lobby India to confirm its order...

Cool way to preserve energy. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... A NEW superconducting ceramic material for a range of energy efficiency applications, such as producing electricity cables that do not lose any energy through heat, has been developed by the Dutch government's Netherlands Organisation for...

Warm front in Afghanistan. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... THE LIVES of thousands of Afghans could be saved each year thanks to an insulated tent lining designed by a team at Cambridge University. Manufactured from polyester wadding and a cheap, breathable waterproof membrane, the lining is...

It's raining in my heart. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... SCIENTISTS IN Australia are developing smart fabrics capable of monitoring the wearer's heartbeat which have the added bonus of being able to repel rain. Woven into the fabric are sensors made from plastic polymers that can conduct electricity....

US steels itself for Bush verdict. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... STEEL PRICES have risen in the run-up to next week's expected announcement on US import tariffs by George Bush. According to consultants World Steel Dynamics, steel producers increased prices by up to 14 per cent in the past two months, quoting...

Shiver me timbers it's wet. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... SCIENTISTS IN SWEDEN are battling to save the country's famous 17th-century warship from dissolving in sulphuric acid produced by its own timbers. The Vasa was the largest ship of its kind when launched, but sank within minutes on its maiden...

Good & Bad Week. (This Week).
March 1, 2002... Good week. * Australian scientists: Kangaroos will unwittingly help scientists find a lost scramjet missile which went missing over South Australia last October. Engineers hope zoologists flying over the region observing the 'roos will...

Jaguar tests cars for radiation: UK car maker reacts to Swedish concern about potentially carcinogenic EM levels in Volvos. (Exclusive).
March 1, 2002... CONCERNS OVER the safety of cars' on-board electrical systems have prompted Jaguar to test its vehicles for harmful electromagnetic radiation. The move follows Volvo's decision to make adjustments to three of its models after they were...

UHF system keeps tags on logistical problems. (News).
March 1, 2002... A UK/CANADIAN joint venture was formed this week to develop a new generation of radio-based electronic labelling and tracking systems. BTG, the London-based technology commercialisation group, and SAMSys, a specialist in radio frequency...

GPS won't support road toll plan: Government report on programme to solve traffic congestion is seriously flawed, claim road experts. (Exclusive).
March 1, 2002... NEW PROPOSALS to reduce traffic congestion using Global Positioning System satellites may prove costly and ineffective in built-up areas. A report published this week by the commission for Integrated Transport, the government's independent...

Open wide please for Aerospace technology. (News).
March 1, 2002... AEROSPACE ENGINEERING technology is being used to develop a 'virtual mouth' to help dentists accurately measure and treat teeth. Aerospace engineers at the Georgia Technology Research Institute (GTRI) in the US have been working with...

Virtual engineers in space project: Digitally simulated 'humans' to offer new insight into the way we operate when building satellites. (Technology).
March 1, 2002... COMPUTER-simulated engineers are to be used to improve satellite manufacturing processes, as part of a research project funded by space technology firm Astrium. Researchers from Sheffield Hallam University have won a contract from...

Sounding out a new concept in speakers. (News).
March 1, 2002... THE WORLD'S first cardboard hi-fl speakers were launched this week by UK audio technology specialist NXT. The company has used its Surface Sound system to turn the traffic cone-sized cardboard assemblies into home stereo quality...

UK nerve gas shield to get US trials: In the wake of September 11 Domnick Hunter finds a ready market for chemical warfare filtration system. (Defence).
March 1, 2002... THE US MILITARY is to test a UK-developed system that claims to offer highly effective protection against chemical and biological weapons. Congress has approved funding for full-scale trials of a nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC)...

Microwave energy to cut cost of broadband. (News).
March 1, 2002... CHEAPER COMPONENTS for broadband communications could be the outcome of a new development in ion beam deposition technology. Ion beam deposition uses ionised gases to coat surfaces or build structures in very precise layers. Oxford...

Rail tunnel ads to make home debut: UK video system passes London trial. (Innovation).
March 1, 2002... A UK COMPANY that has developed a computer-controlled system for showing ads in train carriage windows hopes to make its domestic debut later this year. MotionPoster uses a combination of engineering, software and ISDN technology to turn...

Ricardo bullish over [pounds sterling]57m order book. (The Week in Business).
March 1, 2002... UK automotive engineering consultant Ricardo shrugged off the gloom in the global car industry to start 2002 with a record [pounds sterling]57m order book. The company said trends in the automotive sector were working in its favour, including...

ST Microelectronics and Philips in multimedia deal. (The Week in Business).
March 1, 2002... ST Microelectronic has signed a research agreement with Philips to develop multimedia technology for use in set-top boxes and digital TV sets. The two companies said they plan to offer electronics manufacturers systems that can cut...

Cookson profits down in wake of electronics slump. (The Week in Business).
March 1, 2002... Cookson Group saw its pre-tax profits slump from almost [pounds sterling]200m to just [pounds sterling]7m following a downturn of 'unprecedented severity' in the electronics industry. Although grim, the 2001 year-end figure was in line with...

Ultra looks to defence to replace civil aero loss. (The Week in Business).
March 1, 2002... Ultra Electronics said increased defence spending in the US and key contracts in the UK would compensate for a downturn in its civil aerospace business. A quarter of Ultra's sales are in the US defence market, and the company said a...

Gloom for Vitec as sales and profits decline. (The Week in Business).
March 1, 2002... Broadcasting equipment and technology group Vitec suffered a sales and profits drop last year as its customers cut spending. A slump in advertising revenues had an inevitable knock-on effect for Vitec, which supplies cameras and studio...

UK launches environmental cluster: As demand for lower pollution grows the country's first specialist technology grouping is formed. (Environment).
March 1, 2002... GROWING DEMAND for engineering solutions to meet the need for renewable energy sources and lower pollution levels has led to the launch of the UK's first environmental technology cluster. The cluster -- to be based around Peterborough --...

Infrared laser to herald a new wave of mobiles. (News).
March 1, 2002... A NEW LASER that emits infrared light in a range of wavelengths could open the way for a new generation of mobile communications. Existing mobile phones rely on microwave frequencies, but the laser could enable the use of the infrared...

Adding extra pressure to the debate over sustainable development.
March 1, 2002... I read with great interest Helen Knight's article ('Engineering on brink of a new era', News, 15 February), and also Professor Garel Rhys' comments (Letters, same issue) regarding the use of hydrogen to power vehicles. The main problems...

The small arms races. (Cover Story).
March 1, 2002... In the wake of rising casualty rates in modern combat and September 11, the military is increasingly turning to robots for reconnaissance -- and, says Rob coppinger, the race is now on to make them as small as possible. Forget the...

What's up doc? Envisat, Europe's most advanced satellite, has just embarked on a five-year mission to help scientists monitor the health of the planet. (Feature).
March 1, 2002... Providing all went well with its launch in the early hours of this morning Envisat, the most complex earth observation satellite ever built, will today begin a major checkup of the planet's health. From its orbit 800km above the earth Envisat...

Mission accomplished: When Spice Hunter needed to improve its packaging quality it decided to invest in machine vision. (Special Report Quality Control).
March 1, 2002... When shoppers browse supermarket shelves there is nothing more likely to put them off buying products as poorly presented merchandise. It's a fact that is not lost on Spice Hunter, a leading manufacturer of gourmet spice, which produces around...

Flying in the face of traditional quality control: Boeing ups productivity by using Renishaw diagnostic system prior to machining. (Case Study).
March 1, 2002... When aerospace giant Boeing changed the emphasis of its quality control from measuring finished parts to ensuring that machine tools used during production were correctly calibrated it led to a huge improvement in productivity. The...

Camio role for automatic programming software: Heraeus QuartzTech improves its inspection facility with LK tool upgrade. (Case Study).
March 1, 2002... One of the main reasons Heraeus QuartzTech decided to upgrade its co-ordinate measuring machines was to enable it to import solid models to automatically program its measuring machines. The work was also necessary to improve the overall...

Reacting to nuclear secrets. (The Engineer 12 March 1954).
March 1, 2002... The delivery of the James Clayton lecture on 'Nuclear Reactors and Power Production' by Sir Christopher Hinton coincided closely with the presentation to Parliament for the second reading of the Atomic Energy Authority Bill. Sir...

Events.
March 1, 2002... MARCH 7 March: Energy Solutions for Tomorrow Swindon. Conference organised by Bath University and the DTI. Comprises a panel of speakers from government, business and academia with questions and discussion. www.bath.ac.ukl icelforesight...

Reports of fusion power are greatly exaggerated.
March 8, 2002... IF YOU'VE MISSED this week's widely-reported breakthrough in fusion technology, you were probably working on the Hubble Space Telescope. But much as we'd like to bring you further details of how scientists have found the Holy Grail of...

A concept in competition.
March 8, 2002... MORE BAD NEWS for the steel industry as President Bush imposes tariffs on steel imports. The UK steel industry in particular now faces the prospect of cheap imports flooding its markets, on top of its problems with the exchange rate. Perhaps...

Friction prevents slipped discs. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... A NEW BRAKE disc should make high-performance cars easier to handle and reduce the number of braking failures in heavy lorries. Developed by UK company Surface Transforms-Aircraft, the discs are made of a carbon ceramic material that maintains...

That sinking feeling -- again. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... THE CENTREPIECE of Scotland's premier Millennium attraction -- a tower that rotates through 360[degrees] -- has been forced to close after it was discovered to be sinking. The tower, situated at Glasgow's Millennium Science Centre, is the...

New concept is a flexible friend with room to spare. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... MG ROVER unveiled its Tourer Concept Vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show this week, saying it indicated the future of its product design thinking. The company said the five-seater saloon has a flexible seating plan to maximise storage space, with...

Good & Bad week. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... Good week * Latin: A computer program called Brutus has been developed to teach the ancient language. Rident stolidi verba Latina! * Shoppers: Timex has begun trials, in Chicago, of a watch that doubles as a wallet and credit card,...

Balloon goes up on missile defence. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... THE US Congress is investigating claims that aerospace contractors falsified data relating to trials of the country's national missile defence system. Boeing and TRW have been accused of attempting to hide evidence that their interceptor...

Now it's chips with everybody. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... A US company has applied for permission to market a chip that can be inserted under the skin to hold medical records and other information. Called the VeriChip, it is the size of a grain of rice and is injected into the person. The information...

Making new colour resolutions. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... A MICROCHIP that can capture three times the colour resolution of similar devices will produce digital images as good as conventional 35mm film, claims US company Foveon. The X3 could also lead to cheaper digital cameras, as the technology...

Good vibrations lead the way. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... A CANE fitted with sonar technology will help blind people navigate busy streets, claim Leeds University researchers. The cane emits high-frequency sound pulses that bounce off nearby objects. Sensors pick up the echoes and relay the...

Major project means Scotland to get a dam sight more power. (This Week).
March 8, 2002... THE FIRST major hydroelectric dam to be built for 40 years is being planned for a site yet to be announced in northern Scotland. Jim Forbes, chief executive of Scottish and Southern Energy, said the company was actively examining the...

Cold fusion energy reports false: UK expert debunks press claims that US government scientists have found endless clean power source. (Exclusive).
March 8, 2002... NATIONAL PRESS reports that successful experiments in cold fusion research in the US could lead to a new clean source of energy are unfounded, The Engineer has discovered. Claims that work carried out by the US government's Oak Ridge...

The trail for the Holy Grail has gone cold. (News).
March 8, 2002... SCIENTISTS HAVE searched for the means to produce cold fusion because it represents the perfect answer to the questions of future energy sources and global warming. Instead of burning fossil fuels or producing mountains of radioactive...

UK lags behind on mobile tracking: EU considers introducing mandate to force phone network operators to link to the emergency services. (Telecoms).
March 8, 2002... MOBILE PHONE operators are facing growing pressure from business and legislators to speed up the roll-out of advanced handset tracking technologies. The European Union is considering a directive to make the provision of accurate location...

Model bodies are key to precision surgery. (News).
March 8, 2002... TECHNOLOGY developed to make precision tools for industry is being used to create artificial bodies for surgeons training in keyhole surgery techniques. Cardiff University's Manufacturing Engineering Centre is developing the anatomically...

New ray of hope for health checks: a different range in the electromagnetic spectrum could replace X-rays and detect engine pollution. (Technology).
March 8, 2002... A NEW IMAGING technology looks set to offer a less harmful alternative to X-rays. It will also have non-medical applications, such as allowing scientists to gain a better understanding of how fuel burns in an engine. Terahertz imaging,...

Dyeing to stamp down on the counterfeiters. (News).
March 8, 2002... CHEMICAL anti-counterfeiting technology designed to beat even the most determined fraudster could appear on UK products by the middle of the year. Cambridge-based technology development specialist Generics is developing a peel-back...

Ultra-strong steel to aid fuel goal: Advanced concept cars unveiled. (Automotive).
March 8, 2002... ADVANCED high-strength steels could play a key role in helping car makers achieve safety and fuel economy targets from 2004, according to an international consortium of 33 steelmakers. At the Geneva Motor Show this week the Ultra Light...

Pace warns of low sales after share price crash. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... Shares in Pace Micro Technology plunged by mere than 65 per cent earlier this week after the TV set-top box manufacturer warned sales for the year would be 'significantly below expectations'. The Yorkshire-based electronics group has...

Meggitt cheer as civil aerospace sector picks up. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... Defence and electronics group Meggitt said activity among its customers in the civil aerospace sector is beginning to pick up after reaching a low point in the fourth quarter of 2001. The company, which this week unveiled increased...

KBC sets its sights on global expansion. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... KBC Advanced Technologies said expansion into new global markets would underpin its future growth strategy. The process engineering group -- which provides services to oil refiners -- broke into Turkey and China last year and predicted that...

Quadrant to concentrate on CCTV security. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... Warwickshire-based electronics group Quadrant has announced plans to sell its flight simulator operations in order to concentrate entirely on its core business of advanced CCTV security technologies. The company also wants to rename itself...

Torotrak sheds 36 staff in company restructure. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... Torotrak, which is developing an infinitely variable transmission, has restructured and made 36 staff redundant The company said the staff were involved in contingency plans to go into small-scale production of its transmission if necessary. It...

Transense sensor range to start volume production. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... Transense Technologies, which is developing a new range of advanced sensors for the automotive sector, said it expects volume production of its systems to begin this year, bringing the company its first significant royalties from the products.

Brussels gives Invensys nod to sell Storage Group. (The Week in Business).
March 8, 2002... The European Commission has cleared the way for Invensys to sell its Energy Storage Group to EnerSys. The commission said no significant competition issues were raised by the deal, paving the way for the creation of the world's biggest...

Virtual reality takes a leap forward: Manufacturer affordability the key as unique centre allows researchers to walk into life-sized 3D models. (Design).
March 8, 2002... A NEW COMPUTING lab that allows researchers to step inside life-sized 3D models of their designs looks set to make the use of virtual reality more affordable for manufacturers. Researchers can walk in to the high-performance computing...

Motorola set to drive telematics a stage further. (News).
March 8, 2002... TELEMATICS SYSTEMS could be used to bring car makers and their customers closer together, thanks to new applications for the technology being developed by Motorola. Following recent European Commission proposals changing the automotive...

Simulated materials to cut costs: Scientists use virtual technology to remodel molecules on computers to develop new materials. (Innovation).
March 8, 2002... HUGE SAVINGS could be achieved in materials R&D by simulating new molecular models on computer. Chemists have traditionally had to use trial and error to make new materials for industry. But scientists at the University of Edinburgh...

Hi-tech nose mimics nature's scents of smell. (News).
March 8, 2002... THE WORLD'S smallest artificial nose is to be developed by UK scientists. It is hoped that it will improve on existing electronic systems by mimicking the biology of the human nose more closely. The device, which will be used in...

Letters.
March 8, 2002... We should pay more more heed to innovation -- the real mother of invention I enjoyed your excellent article 'Engineering on brink of new era' (News 15 February) regarding the image of engineers and future of engineering in general. ...

The airfix carrier: The Future Aircraft Carrier is the most significant UK naval contract since the Ark Royal. Not only will it be a giant ship with multiple capabilities, it will also be built using a completely new modular approach. (Feature).
March 8, 2002... One of the biggest surprises to come out of the Strategic Defence Review, conducted in the early stages of the first Blair government, was the decision to build two new aircraft carriers -- bigger than anything else in the current fleet. ...

It's a solid future for online collaboration. (Special Report Manufacturing Design).
March 8, 2002... Solid modelling packages are becoming easier to use, more intuitive and are set to become a vital tool for online collaboration during product development. so what does the future hold? Brian Davis invited top CAD vendors to forecast what lies...

Another dimension: The Engineer previews some of the 3D design highlights and launches from next week's two-day Solid Modelling exhibition. (Special Report Manufacturing Design).
March 8, 2002... Next week sees a two-day event no designer will want to miss. Solid Modelling 2002, the UK's dedicated CAD/CAM/CAE exhibition, will provide an opportunity to visit the stands of over 70 top participating companies, including IBM/Catia,...

You shall go to the ball.
March 8, 2002... This week is National Science Week, with events taking place all over the country designed to promote an appreciation of the role of science, engineering and technology. You can hear about the experiences of Russian cosmonauts at Leicester's...

Shipping forecast. (The Engineer - 12 March 1948).
March 8, 2002... In discussing the naval estimates for 1948--49 and the Navy supplementary estimates for 1947--48, Mr John Dugdale, the parliamentary and financial secretary, said in the House of Commons that he was asking this year for [pounds sterling]153m...

MoD sets sights on cutting friendly fire deaths. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... THE MoD WILL say next month how it plans to protect UK military personnel from friendly fire. The move was announced after a report by the National Audit Office said the government was not doing enough to prevent soldiers being killed or...

In-car copper keeps an eye on drink driving. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... DRUNK DRIVERS could be reported to the police by their own cars with new technology developed at Bristol University. An infrared eye tracking system monitors the time interval between the driver focusing his or her eyes and turning the...

Energy efficiency in a glass of its own. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... LONDON BRIDGE TOWER, the 'shard of glass' that gained planning approval earlier this week, will be around 35 per cent more energy efficient than a typical building of its size. The apex of the 350m tower, which will be on the site of the...

Painting over troubled waters. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... PAINTING THE Forth Bridge -- the job that was supposed never to end -- is set to resume after an enforced break of two years. The giant Victorian structure, which spans one and half miles across the Firth of Forth and includes eight million...

The next generation game. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... THE INTERNET seemed little more than a sideshow this week as wireless topped the bill at the worlds biggest technology fair. Beleaguered IT and communications companies gathered in Hanover for the annual CeBIT show, hoping new innovations...

Fuelling the case for a fossil-free future. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... MORE NUCLEAR power stations must be built to enable the UK to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, said the government's chief scientist, Professor David King. While atomic energy accounts for 27 per cent of the country's generating...

Good week & bad week. (This Week).
March 15, 2002... / Commuters: Bristol University has developed a Transport Simulator (www.bized.ac.uk/virtual) which will allow commuters to play 'Let's Solve London's Congestion Problems'. If only. / Excuses: A Hereford schoolboy's design and technology...

Selby inquiry ignored safety fears; Train design: In the wake of last year's disaster, is rear locomotion a major factor in high-speed derailments? (News).
March 15, 2002... CONCERNS that the design of the passenger train involved in the Selby rail disaster could have been a factor in the crash were not addressed in the official report on the accident, it has emerged. The GNER 225 that derailed in the accident...

Microwaves set to ease traffic flow; Technology: In-car radar system adjusts acceleration according to the speed of the vehicle ahead. (News).
March 15, 2002... A RADAR cruise control system for cars that can track vehicles up to 200m ahead in all weather conditions will be unveiled later this month. It will enable cars to adapt to road conditions automatically, braking and accelerating to keep a...

Weaving a worldwide web for personal ID. (News).
March 15, 2002... A GLOBAL internet standards body plans to develop ways to exchange complex personal ID such as DNA, fingerprints or iris scans via the internet. The US-based Oasis consortium aims to draw up a standard for biometric information based on...

Growing a solution to plastic waste; Environment: As governments impose strict regulations on plastics, the answer may lie in crop-based polymers. (News).
March 15, 2002... POLYMERS made from crops could provide an answer to increasingly tough environmental legislation governing the disposal of plastics in carrier bags and car interiors. Engineers and chemists at Warwick Advanced Sustainable Technologies...

Self-healing polymer is a cracking good idea. (News).
March 15, 2002... A PLASTIC THAT can be mended when it cracks will soon be available for military, industrial and scientific use. The new polymer, once repaired, retains 60 per cent of its original strength. The repair process requires no catalysts or other...

Sinking floor solves loading problems; Automotive: Consignia approves new hydraulic and suspension technology to make light work of heavy lifting. (News).
March 15, 2002... A UK COMPANY has developed a hydraulic loading system for vans that is designed to reduce back injuries. It believes clearance of the system for use by postal workers marks a major commercial breakthrough. After months of tests Consignia --...

Meta physics cuts the cost of digital media. (News).
March 15, 2002... A NEW UK-developed microprocessor technology aims to speed up the launch of mass-market digital televisions and radios. Imagination Technologies claimed its Meta processor core -- which made its debut at this week's CeBIT show -- will make...

Recharge of the light brigade; Transport: Battery-powered minitram to go on trial. (News).
March 15, 2002... A LIGHTWEIGHT minitram, narrow enough to travel through some of the UK's oldest towns and cities, is being developed by a Warwickshire-based company. The minitram is an electric vehicle with on-board batteries, capable of providing a...