The Engineer articles from March 2008

The Engineer archives from March 2008

COMMENT: Morgan's shared success.
March 10, 2008... It was heartening to see the LifeCar - the stunning, zero-emissions prototype from Morgan - creating such a stir at the current Geneva Motor Show. You can read the full story behind this highly innovative vehicle in this issue's feature...

THE BIG PICTURE: People's car.
March 10, 2008... Pininfarina's new concept car claims to be built for passengers rather than around components Seventy years after the first concept car (General Motors' 1938 Buick Y- Job) Italy-based Pininfarina has unveiled the 'synthesis' of its ideals...

THE BIG PICTURE: Beaming Jeep up.
March 10, 2008... Work has begun on building the Joint Engineering, Environmental and Processing (Jeep) beamline facility at the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. Once complete, Jeep will enable dense engineering components weighing up to 2 tonnes and...

THE BIG PICTURE: Keep taking the tablets.
March 10, 2008... One in three adults fail to take medicine prescribed by their doctor. This puts a strain on the economy as people are re-hospitalised, suffer from complications, progressive disease and death. Now a sensor necklace that records the date...

IN BRIEF: Steroid test for athletes.(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Tests to find out if athletes have taken illegal drugs have been refined by Nottingham University. Researchers using hydropyrolysis, a process more commonly used in oil exploration, have developed an accurate test for steroids in urine....

IN BRIEF: Robot technology smooths ride.(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Technology designed to help robots walk over uneven surfaces could be adapted for car suspension systems. Reading University's Dr Gerard McKee and Richard McElligott have won funding to develop it to attract commercial partners. 'The...

IN BRIEF: Daimler's battery boost.(Brief article)
March 10, 2008... Daimler claims it is the first manufacturer to have succeeded in adapting lithium-ion technology for demanding automotive applications. Its new battery will be used in the series-production S400 BlueHybrid from next year. Daimler engineers have...

NEWS: Combined harvester.
March 10, 2008... Nature's way of collecting the sun's energy could make solar cells more efficient improvements in our understanding of how nature converts the sun's energy into a flow of electrons, plus the odd properties of extremely small crystals,...

NEWS: Swell idea.
March 10, 2008... Ribbon-shaped sensor technology aims to make wave energy converters more precise Wave energy converters could be made more efficient with a device that measures the size of each wave approaching the converter. Scientists at Edinburgh...

NEWS: Orfeus in the underworld.
March 10, 2008... Euro-collaboration seeks to improve ground-probing radar technology to reduce disruption A UK-led European project aims to improve radar technology used when mapping underground utilities to help reduce disruption when building roads or...

NEWS: Nature study.
March 10, 2008... UK project aims to mimic plant photosynthesis to capture CO2 emission and convert it into fuel Scientists at Strathclyde University are investigating the feasibility of converting CO2 into a fuel by mimicking the photosynthetic system of...

NEWS: Sea-food dressing.
March 10, 2008... Combined properties of crab shell and seaweed extracts create antimicrobial medical fabric Extracts from seaweed and crab shells have long been used, separately, in the treatment of wounds, but now scientists have combined the substances...

NEWS: Cut-price tag.
March 10, 2008... Corporate collaboration investigates feasibility and cost implications of printed RFID tags A consortium of major European companies has started a three-year, #11m project to make Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags more...

NEWS: Shape up to soot.
March 10, 2008... Next-generation diesel particulate filter technology promises cleaner emissions construction plant could in future emit cleaner exhaust fumes, thanks to the development of new diesel particulate filter technology. Diesel particulate...

NEWS: Horse sense.
March 10, 2008... Equestrian 'dashboard' aims to streamline performance and training Engineers from Cambridge Design Partnership spin-off GMax are developing a performance-measuring sensor system for horses that could bring success to equestrians the world...

VIEWPOINT: Let's make small talk.
March 10, 2008... The public debate over nanotechnology has started, but needs to be widened, says Ian Pearson Nanotechnologies offer potentially huge benefits to society, industry, the environment and health. They can help us improve our quality of life...

LETTER: Peek at oil production.(Letter to the editor)
March 10, 2008... After reading the articles 'Search for ignition key' (News, 25 February) and 'Clean up our act' (Viewpoint, same issue) I feel I must write about a subject that few people (if any) like to speak aloud - global oil production peak. Many...

LETTER: Fossil future.(Letter to the editor)
March 10, 2008... Your very interesting feature on carbon storage (Cover story, 25 February) highlighted the serious attention now being given to this technique and, by default, shows how wide of the mark are any daydreams of a future powered by renewable...

LETTER: AGVs on fast track.(Letter to the editor)
March 10, 2008... Your article on the new Alstom AGV trains (The Big Picture, 11 February) was correct - they are a first - but Stephen Mosley (Letters, 25 February) was not wrong either. The AGVs will be the first multiple unit articulated trains with the...

MORGAN LIFECAR: Morgan's clean break.
March 10, 2008... An icon of the golden age of British sports cars has thrown off its 'bumbling' image to become a pioneer of zero emissions technology. Jon Excell reports Zero-emissions motoring - the holy grail of automotive engineering - has a new and...

INSIGHT: The missing ink.
March 10, 2008... The first pocket-sized printer does away with ink and promises to take over from the Polaroid instant camera. Stuart Nathan reports The instant photo is dead, long live the instant photo. After 45 years, Polaroid says it will no longer...

INTERVIEW: Classics master.(Interview)
March 10, 2008... Achieving the right balance between form and function has defined the work of Kenneth Grange, who has been responsible for some of the UK's most distinctive industrial designs. Jon Excell reports Kenneth Grange's CV reads like a list of...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Wireless watch.
March 10, 2008... As British Gas announces a price hike, UK researchers develop a new approach to home metering which offers a real-time solution to cost efficiency. Siobhan Wagner reports As the first generation of smart gas meters begins to appear in UK...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SENSORS: The rat's whiskers.
March 10, 2008... Touch technology project aims to develop sensory systems for a range of applications from helping locate disaster survivors to space exploration. Siobhan Wagner reports Sensors that twitch their 'whiskers' like a rat to detect their...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - ENGINE TECHNOLOGY: Clean start.
March 10, 2008... Natural gas engine is claimed to efficiently produce the same amount of power as a diesel - with fewer emissions. Siobhan Wagner reports NATURAL GAS engine with a high-energy ignition system is claimed to produce the same amount of power...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Touching tribute.
March 10, 2008... The ever-growing trend towards touch-based interface technology has the potential to revolutionise the way we interact with computers, says Chris Creed The recent release of products such as Apple's iPhone and the Nintendo DS have...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - FLUID POWER: Tour de force.
March 10, 2008... Despite technological advances fluid-powered hydraulics systems are still the best way to lift and manoeuvre large, heavy objects, from aircraft parts to film industry special effects, says Colin Carter Although there have been some amazing...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MULTIPHYSICS SIMULATION: Unlimited access.
March 10, 2008... Next-generation key to solving partial differential equations makes it possible to run far more 'what-if' analyses while building fewer physical prototypes. Charles Clarke explains When using software tools to analyse and replace diseased...

CAREERS: Mutual friends.
March 10, 2008... The Engineering Council UK sets up an international register to provide skills recognition when working abroad. Anh Nguyen reports The pathway to working abroad could be made a little smoother with a new international award for...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Process jobs training.
March 10, 2008... The new National Skills Academy for the Process Industries plans to train 1,000 people in its first year of operation. The academy, which will be based at the University of Teesside and will operate via seven regional hubs, has attracted more...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Backing technicians.
March 10, 2008... Employees in the land-based engineering sector are being asked to join a campaign to help recruit, train and retain skilled technicians. Lantra, the sector skills council for the industry, which includes areas such as agricultural equipment,...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: More metrology.
March 10, 2008... The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) aims to further boost the revival of metrology skills by launching the second module of its dimensional measurement curriculum to manufacturing businesses. Employees at companies including Rolls-Royce and...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Subsea Masters.
March 10, 2008... Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University is offering a new Masters degree in subsea engineering after consultation with companies in the sector. Recent graduates and professional engineers with experience in the oil, gas or marine industries can...

CAREERS: A job for life.(Company overview)
March 10, 2008... Europe's ageing population is providing a strong market for aids to improve quality of life and medical manufacturing is struggling to fill vacancies. Julia Pierce reports Vital equipment that helps keep people alive has more than a...

COMMENT: Back to reality.
March 24, 2008... Nobody knows how many more cracks are yet to appear in the global financial system, least of all the Masters of the Universe who got themselves into such a mess in the first place. The question is, how much of a mess have they got the rest...

THE BIG PICTURE: Eyes in for Nimrod.
March 24, 2008... Flight simulators are preparing aircrew at RAF Kinloss for new aircraft RAF pilots are using Thales' new training simulators to prepare for the delivery of the updated MR2 Nimrod aircraft in 2010. The crews are using the simulators...

THE BIG PICTURE: Lightweight contender.
March 24, 2008... A shoebox-sized synthetic aperture radar (SAR) a hundred times lighter than standard equipment has been successfully tested on Boeing's ScanEagle unmanned aircraft. Manufacturer ImSar claims its NanoSAR, which can see in hazy, cloudy,...

THE BIG PICTURE: Fusion for the future.
March 24, 2008... The possibility of a fusion-fuelled future moved one step closer as construction of an experimental plant in northern Germany reached a milestone. The Wendelstein 7-X fusion device being assembled at the Greifswald branch of Max Planck...

IN BRIEF: Hybrid booster.(Brief article)
March 24, 2008... Ricardo has set up a battery systems development centre at the Ricardo Detroit Technology Campus in Van Buren township, Michigan. It will develop complete high-voltage battery-pack systems for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles....

IN BRIEF: Plug-in fleet.(Brief article)
March 24, 2008... Volvo, Saab Automobile, ETC and Vattenfall, with help from the Swedish Energy Agency, are working on a research project to develop the next generation of hybrid vehicles. The consortium plans to produce a fleet of 10 plug-in hybrids that can...

IN BRIEF: Cash for laser nano research.(Brief article)
March 24, 2008... Surrey University's Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and Bristol University's School of Chemistry have been awarded EPSRC funding to investigate the fabrication of nanomaterials using lasers. 'A focused short laser pulse can produce very...

NEWS: Dynamic drive.
March 24, 2008... Prodrive develops self-adjusting technology to give cars a sportier feel Car drivers could get a far sportier feeling out of their vehicles without additional power, weight or fuel consumption, thanks to a dynamics system developed by...

NEWS: Hands-on approach.
March 24, 2008... Pattern recognition software could mean electronic devices being controlled by gesture A RESEARCH TEAM has unveiled gesture control technology claimed to be cheap and simple enough to be integrated into a wide range of everyday consumer...

NEWS: Clean sweep.
March 24, 2008... UK universities combine with industry to investigate brushless wind turbine generator The growth in wind energy has encouraged UK engineers to investigate a new generator system that could eliminate maintenance challenges and improve a...

NEWS: Skin deep.
March 24, 2008... Bioimplantable electronics network aims to wirelessly control body sensors A major obstacle to the development of bioimplantable sensors to constantly monitor deep inside the body is how to communicate with them. Researchers at...

NEWS: Dram of the clean stuff.
March 24, 2008... By-product from Scotch fermentation process could make land decontamination easier The medicinal powers of whisky have long been reputed, but a new technology from Scotland uses a by-product from the liquor to cure contaminated...

NEWS: Faster by design.
March 24, 2008... #11m Euro project aims to develop advanced silicon-based transistor A European consortium has set its sights on developing a transistor that would enable the design of cheaper and faster products for applications ranging from communication...

NEWS: Ears to the ground.
March 24, 2008... UK forces to trial acoustic sensor system that can accurately locate the position of sniper fire A lightweight electronic device able to detect the precise location of snipers may soon undergo trials with UK military forces The Engineer...

VIEWPOINT: Take five.
March 24, 2008... First came the PC. Then the graphical user interface, the internet and Web 2.0. Now Steve Ballmer predicts a fifth computing revolution Expanded processing power, huge amounts of storage, ubiquitous broadband, natural user interface...

LETTER: Points to watch.(Letter to the editor)
March 24, 2008... The article 'Wireless watch' about Sentec's Lattice solid state gas metering technology (Design Engineering, 10 March) was very interesting, but begged some questions. Natural gas sourcing is now more variable and includes UK, two...

LETTER: The sensible line.(Letter to the editor)
March 24, 2008... Our online comment article 'The strain of the train' highlighted the recent report by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers on the importance of getting people back on the railway, rather than using their cars. Here is a selection of your...

LETTER: Inefficiency drive.(Letter to the editor)
March 24, 2008... I write in response to the Porsche Cayenne/Panda discussion (Letters, 10 March). Last year the government changed the categories of road tax so that all 4x4s would be classified as band G vehicles. There used to be a 4x4 version of...

HYPERSONIC PASSENGER AIRCRAFT: Aiming high.
March 24, 2008... A team of UK engineers plans to help prove the sceptics wrong and show that hypersonic flight could revolutionise aviation. Stuart Nathan reports It Is five years since Concorde - the most beautiful plane ever built, many people would...

INSIGHT: Lift-off for speed record.
March 24, 2008... A trimaran using advanced hydrofoil technology will attempt to break the world 50-knot sailing record. George Coupe reports According to legend, when the mistral wind screams down the Rhone valley in winter, it turns people mad. Once a...

INTERVIEW: Space ace.(Interview)
March 24, 2008... Colin Paynter, head of EADS Astrium, is helping lead the government- backed push for an increasing share of the global market in space technology. Jon Excell reports It is not often you hear UK manufacturers singing the government's...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Inside information.
March 24, 2008... New laser-based technology claimed to accurately 'see' the active ingredient in drug capsules could help spot counterfeit drugs. Siobhan Wagner reports Researchers have perfected a new laser-based technique which they claim can 'see' the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - RAPID MANUFACTURING: Power of print.
March 24, 2008... UK university develops polymer powder printing technique that could help cut the cost of manufacturing made-to-measure consumer goods. Siobhan Wagner reports A new powder printing process developed by DeMontfort University (DMU) in...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY: Clean air act.
March 24, 2008... In a bid to cut ozone-depleting chemicals, GKN Aerospace develops an improved material for aircraft fuel bladders that can be RF welded. Siobhan Wagner reports Engineers at GKN Aerospace in Portsmouth, have developed an improved material...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Program for the planet.
March 24, 2008... Information technology has a profound impact on manufacturers' ability to improve their environmental sustainability, says Campbell Macfarlane Many manufacturing companies have reported their best-ever year in terms of growth and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MARKING & TRACEABILITY: Marked for life.
March 24, 2008... With traceability now mandatory for many products, systems manufacturers are coming up with novel solutions for a wide variety of applications. Colin Carter reports With the increasing amount of global legislation on marking, traceability...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MACHINE TOOLS: Choice cuts.
March 24, 2008... Although machine tool technology is continuously evolving, modular designs that can be easily reconfigured make for economic efficiency and productivity. Martin Oakham reports THE DEMAND for increased productivity and quality by equipment...

TECHNOLOGY UK: Spread the word.
March 24, 2008... Scotland has built a deserved reputation as one of the UK's technology hot-spots over the last 20 years, not least because of its strong position in the energy and electronics industries. Its next big challenge is to transfer those...

CAREERS: Legal technicality.
March 24, 2008... Engineers looking to expand their legal expertise can gain a new qualification by taking part in a tailored course offered by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). 'An Engineer in Court' is a series of seminars and courses...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Knowledge awards.
March 24, 2008... The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme recognised projects and individuals from across the UK at its 2008 awards ceremony in London. KTPs create partnerships between businesses and universities by placing high-quality graduates...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Design masters.
March 24, 2008... Graduates in engineering or science-based industries will be able to develop their creativity with the launch of a Master's degree in design (MDes) in Innovation and Creativity in Industry. The one-year qualification, due to start in October,...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Food science skills.
March 24, 2008... Improve, the food and drink manufacturing sector skills council, is working with universities in Wales to develop a Master's level food science and technology conversion course to provide more food scientists. There is a shortage of 2,000 food...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: SME student training.
March 24, 2008... The Engineering and Technology Board, with the Nuffield Foundation, has launched a scheme to encourage small and medium enterprises to host students on further education engineering courses for five-week summer placements. The ETB will pay...

CAREERS: Energy boost.
March 24, 2008... With the massive investment now taking place in the energy sector, there is a shortage of people to fill the jobs in all areas.. Julia Pierce reports After decades of low investment, the UK energy business is suddenly at the forefront of...