The Engineer articles from March 2007

The Engineer archives from March 2007

COMMENT: Fighting to raise the profile.
March 12, 2007... We all spend a lot of time listening to politicians telling us what we should be doing, so there is a certain satisfaction when the roles are reversed. Getting a collection of ministers, MPs, peers of the realm and other movers and...

THE BIG PICTURE: Mass detection.
March 12, 2007... World's largest energy particle accelerator seeks to answer questions about gravity Scientists claim to be one step closer to resolving some important unanswered questions about Newton's description of gravity with recent construction on...

THE BIG PICTURE: Improved bedside manner is on hand.
March 12, 2007... Doctors and nurses will be able to access their patients' medical records from the bedside, thanks to a wireless hand-held device designed by Philips. The Mobile Clinical Assistant (MCA) will help improve patient care by reducing...

THE BIG PICTURE: 'Mushroom' robot to plumb the depths.
March 12, 2007... After a successful deep-water test in Mexico, a NASA-funded autonomous robot is a step closer to proving its ability to carry out a mission to seek life on Europa, an ice-covered moon of Jupiter. The robot, the Deep Phreatic Thermal...

IN BRIEF: Sensor to detect bacteria.(Brief article)
March 12, 2007... Sheffield University researchers have received government funding to develop a bacteria-detection sensor. The method - combining polymers, which change shape when they encounter bacteria, and a light signal through fluorescence non-radiative...

IN BRIEF: Micro-medical innovations.(Brief article)
March 12, 2007... Designing, prototyping and manufacturing micro-scale medical devices on site is now possible at Nottingham University with the opening of its Centre of Excellence in Customised Assembly. The centre is focused on micro and meso-scale...

IN BRIEF: New look on stress.(Brief article)
March 12, 2007... A computer modelling approach to study how materials behave under stress at atomic level has been developed in the US. The research is said to offer insights that could help engineers design materials, which can involve a trade-off between...

NEWS: Clad tidings.
March 12, 2007... UK universities and nuclear industry giants join forces to improve efficiency of fuel cladding materials Despite all the technology used to enrich uranium and package the fuel efficiently, nuclear reactors are not particularly...

NEWS: Loss adjuster.
March 12, 2007... Three-year project sets out to use ultraviolet light for more cost- efficient phase shifter control Keeping track of a very fast-moving object can be a matter of life and death, particularly if it's a missile travelling at up to five...

NEWS: A step ahead of crime.
March 12, 2007... Automatic shoeprint ID system will rely on image processing research to speed up analysis Detectives will soon be able to spot criminal suspects simply by examining their feet using a system that automatically identifies shoes from the...

NEWS: Patch work.
March 12, 2007... Vehicle control system software upgrade claims to improve fuel efficiency A simple patch to the software that controls car systems can reduce fuel consumption by 2.6 per cent by making orthodox cars work more like hybrids, according to...

NEWS: A more flattering light.
March 12, 2007... Flat optical fibres promise to be more flexible and efficient than conventional systems A groundbreaking form of 'flat' optical fibre has been developed and patented by Southampton University. It promises to be far more flexible and...

NEWS: Slimline tonic.
March 12, 2007... Creation of world's smallest transistor using super-thin material could see rapid miniaturisation of electronics Researchers at Manchester University have used the world's thinnest material to create the smallest transistor ever as well...

NEWS: Bonding exercise.
March 12, 2007... Global collaboration aims to develop robots able to interact emotionally with humans Robots designed to grow emotionally in the same way as a human children are being developed at the University of Hertfordshire. The Feelix Growing...

VIEWPOINT: Brain drain.
March 12, 2007... Stuart Parkinson fears nuclear's powerful supporters and a limited skills base could mean the fledgling renewables sector loses out Now that the government has confirmed it wants new UK nuclear power stations, the race is on to recruit...

LETTER: Let solar be the source.(Letter to the editor)
March 12, 2007... Commenting on the judicial review of 15 February that threw out the UK government's plans to build more nuclear power stations, the DTI and Tony Blair have both stressed the importance of energy security. But is that security provided by...

LETTER: Grayrigg mystery.(Letter to the editor)
March 12, 2007... The interim report into the Grayrigg train derailment puts much emphasis on the faulty Lambrigg 2B facing points. But did these points cause the catastrophic derailment? Aerial pictures clearly indicate the derailed train continued for...

LETTER: Back in the trolley.(Letter to the editor)
March 12, 2007... The answer to Max Lazarus' question regarding the disappearance of the trolley bus (Letters, 12 February) is, as always, economics. When introduced, each trolley bus company generated its own electricity, so that the bus going downhill or...

MULTI-TOUCH TECHNOLOGY: Creative touch.
March 12, 2007... Once the height of computer hardware sophistication, the traditional mouse could eventually be replaced by interface systems using just gentle finger movements and hand gestures. Jon Excell and Niall Firth report It was carved out of...

INSIGHT: Stepping up a gear.
March 12, 2007... The latest version of Honda's Asimo boasts a host of features that takes the world's most advanced robot closer to full autonomy. Niall Firth reports On an anonymous industrial estate just outside Brussels the world's most sophisticated...

INTERVIEW: Down to zero.(Interview)
March 12, 2007... While others debate alternative methods of fuel generation, ETRI's Colin Snape is finding ways to make traditional fossil fuel technology greener. Stuart Nathan reports The constant news stories about wind farm protests and new nuclear...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Rock-solid option.
March 12, 2007... A unique barium titanate and tin composite developed by US researchers could provide building materials with diamond-style toughness. Siobhan Wagner reports In an ideal world, where money was no object and engineering techniques had...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MEDICAL: In the swim.
March 12, 2007... A transatlantic team brings the idea of micro-robots a step nearer by supplying devices with sufficient energy to propel themselves through liquid. Siobhan Wagner reports The concept of tiny robots capable of use in microsurgery or...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - GEARS: Full control.
March 12, 2007... Today's gears are tough, reliable and accurate components used in a wide variety of applications, from rotary table drives to the music industry. Mark Venables explains Gears and gear mechanisms are probably among the oldest mechanical...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - CFD/FEA: In the driving seat.
March 12, 2007... Simulation and analysis of car crashes should take place before the initial design process to ensure vehicle strength and durability, writes Charles Clarke For years analysis and simulation has been a 'follower' in the design process,...

CAREERS: Room for high-flyers.
March 12, 2007... A combination of advanced communications technology and recovery from downturn are driving the creation of job opportunities in the UK's aerospace industry, says Julia Pierce If you were to compare today's UK aerospace industry with that...

COMMENT: Let's go with the flow.
March 26, 2007... THERE ARE plenty of good reasons to visit the beautiful northern coast of Scotland. The scenery is spectacular, the welcome is friendly and the rush hour an unknown concept. If you need another incentive, venture to Orkney and you will...

THE BIG PICTURE: Renewable Dream.
March 26, 2007... Helium-filled balloon to attempt Atlantic crossing powered only by sea, sun and wind A piloted helium-filled balloon will attempt to cross the Atlantic from Dakar in Senegal to Martinique powered only by renewable energy. Windream...

THE BIG PICTURE: Injured snow-sporters get flexible friend.
March 26, 2007... Extreme sports fans could soon have instant medical treatment for broken limbs with the design of a unique, versatile portable plastic splint. The First Aid Splint, incorporating essential medical treatment with convenience, is designed...

THE BIG PICTURE: Boeing noses closer to airborne laser.
March 26, 2007... After this month's successful test launch, Boeing says it is one step closer to developing an airborne laser (ABL) that would find, follow and knock out enemy missiles after they've been launched. During the test, the ABL, a modified...

IN BRIEF: Car that's a model of autonomy.(Brief article)
March 26, 2007... Researchers at the University of Essex are developing an autonomous model car they believe could pave the way for driverless vehicles. It will be built using a standard remote control model car. A PC will be mounted on the chassis and a video...

IN BRIEF: Glass act to aid bone re-growth.(Brief article)
March 26, 2007... The Functional Materials Group at the School of Physical Sciences, University of Kent, has received #266,000 from the government to continue its research on new forms of bioactive glass. The purpose of the research is to investigate bioactive...

IN BRIEF: Helping biodiesel go with a flow.(Brief article)
March 26, 2007... A material developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, could replace a costly process that consumes chemicals, water and energy in biodiesel manufacture. During production, catalysts must be applied to transform biodiesel from a...

NEWS: Screen test.
March 26, 2007... Universities join forces in quest to produce nanomaterials on large scale for industry Inorganic nanomaterials are used in a wide range of applications, from fuel cell and battery components through to sunscreen, speciality chemicals and...

NEWS: Draw, you're on camera.
March 26, 2007... UK's busiest rail station to trial surveillance technology designed to crack down on graffiti activity The video surveillance company behind London's congestion charging scheme has announced trials in which CCTV technology will be used...

NEWS: Far sighted.
March 26, 2007... Large, lightweight reflectors may enable future space telescopes to view previously unseen galaxies A team of European academics is working on a project to develop extremely large, lightweight space reflectors. If successful, the...

NEWS: Wheelchairs to fare better.
March 26, 2007... Three-year project into protection for disabled rail users could mean improved carriage design Train carriages may be facing a re-design, thanks to an EU project aimed at cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries among wheelchair...

NEWS: Light years ahead.
March 26, 2007... Photonic computers promise to be a million times faster than those with silicon chips An EPSRC-funded project at the University of Bath aims to develop technology that could one day form the processor for the next generation of...

NEWS: Warning light.
March 26, 2007... Security may be improved if with the help of a material that shines brightly when radiation is present AN INTERNATIONAL collaboration involving research laboratories in the UK, the US and South Africa has begun a three-year project to...

NEWS: Tune in, track down.
March 26, 2007... WiFi-based surveillance system could make real-time detection easier Researchers at University College London are developing a wireless system that could allow continuous, real-time radar-style detection and tracking of people or objects...

VIEWPOINT: Watching brief.
March 26, 2007... A more coherent and proactive policy is required if Europe is to lead the way in Mobile TV, argues Viviane Reding Mobile TV will challenge our way of experiencing television and audiovisual services. It will offer the possibility of...

LETTER: Loss adjustment.(Letter to the editor)
March 26, 2007... With reference to P Field's letter 'Costly renewables' (Talking Point, 26 February) the issue of carbon emissions still seems to be a problem, not so much in the operation of the systems mentioned - nuclear, biofuels and windfarms - but the...

LETTER: Natural selection.(Letter to the editor)
March 26, 2007... Hydrogen and electric-powered cars are generally perceived to be 'green', and the government is looking at renewing our nuclear plants as a way to a greener future. At least that's the way it's sold to us, but people have to realise that...

LETTER: A case of CSP.(Letter to the editor)
March 26, 2007... The main advantage of CSP as mentioned by Robert Palgrave is that its heat can be stored to enable electricity generation to continue at night and on cloudy days. A report from the German Aerospace Centre shows that CSP electricity would...

LETTER: Rotary puzzle.(Letter to the editor)
March 26, 2007... Andrew Porter's point regarding rotary engines with an 'energy transfer efficiency' of 70 per cent (Letters, 12 February) had me puzzled. If Mr Porter is familiar with Carnot's theorem then it isn't obvious from his description....

LETTER: Nuclear shock.(Letter to the editor)
March 26, 2007... Robert Palgrave (Letters, 12 March) may well be right about the problems faced by nuclear energy. However, the claim that the uranium comes from 'politically unstable countries' might come as a shock to Canadians and Australians (28 per...

MARINE ENERGY: Turning the tide.
March 26, 2007... In the dramatic, windswept landscape of Orkney, Scotland, engineers are helping to harness some of the most powerful waves and tides in the world to produce renewable marine energy. Stuart Nathan reports The European Marine Energy Centre...

MARINE ENERGY: BOBBING AROUND.
March 26, 2007... Pelamis and OpenHydro are just two of the wave and tidal technologies being tested in the UK. At various points around the country, other developers are sliding their machines into the water and awaiting results. At Strangford Narrows...

INSIGHT: Swipe and type.
March 26, 2007... To take the headache out of trying to remember umpteen computer passwords, a US company has developed a fingerprint swipe device that does the thinking for you. Julia Pierce reports Each person carries the passwords to an estimated average...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Protection plan.
March 26, 2007... There's more to safeguarding new products than a simple patent on the technology, writes Jonathan Moakes New products can often be protected by a variety of intellectual property rights, and ensuring that your innovation is adequately...

MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Fraud busters.
March 26, 2007... With the loss to genuine UK manufacturing running into billions an effective anti-counterfeiting programme is a must, says Gary Miller The effect of counterfeiting in the UK is profound. In 2004 the estimated loss to this country's...

INTERVIEW: Pushing the limits.(Interview)
March 26, 2007... Andrew Herbert's job is to think the unthinkable. As Microsoft UK's research chief, he and his 100 staff are at the cutting edge of technology. Jon Excell reports Once a year, at its headquarters in Redmond, Washington, IT giant...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: A hole lot better.
March 26, 2007... German collaboration develops a tiny, low-cost sensor designed to improve the accuracy of car body manufacture. Siobhan Wagner reports German researchers have developed a method to enable car manufacturers to detect immediately if errors...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - NANOMETROLOGY: Another dimension.
March 26, 2007... Three-year UK project aims to develop a solid-state chip device that will measure and assess nano-scale surfaces on the production line. Siobhan Wagner reports For years people have discussed future applications for nanotechnology -...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MICROTECHNOLOGY: All fingers, no thumbs.
March 26, 2007... Device that mimics the functionality of human fingers could be used to move and manipulate components in micro-factories of the future. Siobhan Wagner reports Mass production of micro-electromechanical and nano-electromechanical systems...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - CNC MACHINING: Graphic art.
March 26, 2007... CNC program motions can cause expensive damage, so simulating a job in the computer before it gets anywhere near the shop floor makes good sense. Charles Clarke explains Before using an expensive machine tool to cut a costly piece of...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - SOFTWARE: Suite solutions.
March 26, 2007... To keep pace with the drive to reduce downtime and improve safety, specialist monitoring software looks set to play an ever-increasing role in many manufacturing and process operations. Colin Carter reports Production plant operators are...

SPECIAL REPORT: The source of success.
March 26, 2007... Sub-contracting is playing an ever-important role in company strategy to ensure effective global competition. But proper management is essential, says Mark Venables The constant drive for supply chain consolidation and lean sourcing means...

CAREERS: Powerful opportunities.
March 26, 2007... With the UK's sustainable energy sector experiencing unprecedented growth and nuclear getting a government boost, the future for engineers is looking good, says Julia Pierce The government's recent draft Climate Change Bill outlined...

CAREERS: Clean-up man.
March 26, 2007... With the environment a top priority, Ragi Panesar's goal is to cut the level of emissions from conventional energy sources by developing clean coal technology. Julia Pierce reports While sustainable ways of generating energy such as...