The Engineer articles from May 2005

The Engineer archives from May 2005

Comment: Teamwork is key to the UK's technology success.
May 3, 2005... Bridging the gap between academia and business has long been a challenge for both sides of the equation. The UK's leading universities are more aware than ever before that realising the commercial potential of the intellectual property...

The Big Picture: E=motionally charged.
May 3, 2005... UK-led team prepares to break the land speed record for an electric car The UK-designed e=motion will this week try to smash the land speed record for an electrically powered vehicle. The 10m-long electric car is due to mount its assault...

The Big Picture: Airbus hits the big-time.
May 3, 2005... The world's largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, completed its maiden flight on Wednesday with six crew and 20 tonnes of monitoring equipment on-board. The plane took off from its production site in Toulouse, southern France, before heading...

The Big Picture: Muscling in on physiotherapy.
May 3, 2005... A US research team has built a robotic arm to help stroke survivors regain basic functions such as reaching, grasping and feeding themselves. Led by a team from Arizona State University and biotech start-up Kinetic Muscles, it can also assess...

IN BRIEF: EPSRC award for automated tissue engineering research.
May 3, 2005... A UK consortium of academic and industrial partners has been awarded the #8m EPSRC Grand Challenge award, which will fund the first major European study into the automated manufacture of tissue-engineered products. The four-year project,...

IN BRIEF: Roadside broadband on trial.
May 3, 2005... High-speed mobile broadband transceivers are to be installed in lamp- posts across the country to transmit information to drivers. The system, which is the result of a partnership between Qinetiq and Last Mile Communications, will provide...

IN BRIEF: A broader perspective for Scots by end of summer.
May 3, 2005... All of Scotland will have access to broadband by the end of this year, following an agreement between the Scottish Executive and BT. Work to deliver broadband to the 20 rural and remote local authority areas without the service will begin...

IN BRIEF: Giving voice to credit control.
May 3, 2005... A major US credit card association is to adopt a voice-biometric card authentication system early next year, the technology's developer claimed. The system, by LA-based firm Beepcard, uses a previously recorded digital voiceprint. When a new...

News: Mine of innovation.
May 3, 2005... Technology using high-power microwave pulses to grind rocks could slash world energy consumption UK engineers are to join forces with some of the biggest names in mining to develop technology that could slash the global energy bill. ...

News: Top of the pops.
May 3, 2005... Radical concept in wing material could reduce aircraft drag and eliminate need for flaps Aircraft wings could be covered in a responsive surface that adapts to the airflow around it to reduce drag, slashing carbon dioxide emissions and...

News: Memories are made of this.
May 3, 2005... Researchers at Oxford University have developed a simple method for reading data from a type of computer memory that uses a magnetic rather than an electrical charge to store information. This reader circuitry could lead to the development...

News: Under observation.
May 3, 2005... Handheld cancer-imaging device uses technology developed for NASA observatory Imaging technology developed for X-ray astronomy could help in the fight against cancer. A team led by Dr John Lees, senior research fellow at the Bioimaging...

News: On the spot.
May 3, 2005... Norway investigates more effective skin cancer treatment A non-invasive imaging technology could help diagnose and fight skin cancer, according to Norwegian research. Trude Stoeren, a research fellow at the University of Trondheim,...

News: A moving story.
May 3, 2005... 4D imaging should make heart disease diagnosis easier An MRI scanner has been adapted to capture moving as well as still images for the first time. UK researchers have taken images of diseased body parts in four dimensions - time,...

News: Crime watch.
May 3, 2005... Reading University team develops camera system that can detect and inform police of car break-ins CCTV cameras that can determine if a crime is taking place and inform the nearest officers are being developed for the UK police. ...

News: Adding a new dimension to crash scenes.
May 3, 2005... Road trials to begin next month could see UK police being equipped with new technologies for road traffic accident investigation. The trials, which will be carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and West Midlands Police, will...

News: Walking into history.
May 3, 2005... Joint European project will use treadmills to allow virtual tours of Pompeii EUROPEAN researchers are developing a virtual Pompeii that can be explored 'on foot'. The computerised version of the ancient Roman city will be several...

News: Getting individual atoms under control.
May 3, 2005... A key step towards developing a quantum computer has been taken by US researchers who have devised a method of manipulating individual atoms. Ohio State University's physics department is building a lattice of laser beams suspended above...

News: Sound system.
May 3, 2005... UK university consortium borrows from nature for next-generation sonar technology Work starts this week to develop a new generation of sonar technology, based on the biological systems found in bats and dolphins. A consortium of UK...

News: 'Superlens' creates different image.
May 3, 2005... A 'superlens' that has broken the diffraction limit of optics could lead to the development of higher density electronic circuitry and faster fibre-optic communications. The research at the University of California, Berkeley, was backed...

Focus: Life science.
May 3, 2005... While drug discoveries attract the media spotlight, medical technology is just as important in the fight against cancer, with body-imaging devices potentially playing a far wider role. Helen Knight reports For most people cancer research...

Business: Honeywell performance soars.
May 3, 2005... Demand for new planes and diesel turbochargers gives global giant a strong start to the year Global engineering and technology giant Honeywell International turned in a stronger-than-expected start to the year thanks to a fast- recovering...

Business: PIM's number one for 3DM.
May 3, 2005... 3DM Worldwide, the UK company attempting to commercialise a new plastic moulding process, claimed it is it good shape despite delays to completing its new manufacturing facility. The company is developing a process called Powder Impression...

Business: Nissan drives profits to new high.
May 3, 2005... Japanese firm prospers at US car giants' expense Nissan this week unveiled record profits as the Japanese car group made hay in the US at the expense of America's domestic automotive giants. Nissan's operating profit for the year...

Ultra to supply components to US Navy anti-submarine programme.
May 3, 2005... UK defence and electronics group Ultra Electronics has tied up a deal to supply anti-submarine warfare equipment to a major US Navy programme. Ultra's US-based Flightline Systems subsidiary will provide Boeing with digital sonobuoy receivers...

Rolls-Royce brings INA FAG on board as Trent 900 partner.
May 3, 2005... Rolls-Royce wrapped up another key engineering partner for the Trent 900 - the engine that will power the Airbus A380 - when it named INA FAG as sole supplier of main shaft bearings and components. The contract will be worth about E20m...

Parker Instrumentation to make fittings for Qatar gas project.
May 3, 2005... Parker Instrumentation has won a key contract on the giant Dolphin Gas project at Ras Laffan in Qatar. As part of the agreement the Devon- based company, a division of global engineering group Parker Hannifin, will produce fittings fabricated...

Fuel cells firm scoops Carbon Trust Innovation Award.
May 3, 2005... CMR Fuel Cells, the UK company developing electro-chemical technology designed to make smaller, cheaper fuel cells, has scooped the 2005 Carbon Trust Innovation Award. CMR, a spin-out from Cambridge technology development group Generics, said...

SIT to work with Sarnafil on commercial solar power systems.
May 3, 2005... Solar Integrated Technologies (SIT), the developer of energy-efficient photovoltaic systems, has signed a co-operation agreement with Sarnafil, a Swiss specialist in advanced polymers. The two companies will jointly develop solar power...

Book Review: The End of Oil.
May 3, 2005... The End of Oil Paul Roberts Bloomsbury #8.99 Roberts tackles head-on the issue that makes engineers, economists and politicians alike wake up in a cold sweat - what do we do when the oil runs out? In truth, as the author...

Letter: Brains not brawn.(Letter to the Editor)
May 3, 2005... If the UK has the will, it has the way to dominate the global industry for nanotechnology. Our scientists and engineers have demonstrated thought, leadership and practical implementation of invisible engineering. We hold, in short, what...

Political point.
May 3, 2005... Maybe it's the nanobots turning my grey matter into, erm, grey matter, but shouldn't the shadow industry secretary Stephen O'Brien have said that 'It is impossible to overestimate the importance - rather than 'underestimate the importance' -...

Fusion Propulsion: Star potential.
May 3, 2005... The idea of crewed space travel in fusion-powered craft has been a fantasy for over 50 years, but now research in the field is growing and experts could turn vision into reality. Max Glaskin reports Fusion propulsion has been the space...

Interview: Feet of engineering.
May 3, 2005... At Adidas's Innovation Team Dr Tim Lucas brings an engineering approach to sport, producing trainers that adapt to the wearer and footballs that know when they cross the line. Jon Excell reports You've probably seen the ads: sports shoe...

Design Engineering: Reinventing the cog.
May 3, 2005... German researchers turn to old Dutch windmills for inspiration in the development of composite cogwheels. Jon Excell reports Engineers from Germany's Fraunhofer institute have looked to the past to develop cogs that are lighter, quieter...

Design Engineering - Structural Research: Damage limitation.
May 3, 2005... A trailblazing multi-disciplinary engineering research project is seeking ways to help structures and systems stand up to the stresses of earthquakes. Christopher Sell reports Governments and industries worldwide face an annual bill of many...

Design Engineering - Software: Wizard idea.
May 3, 2005... To provide diversified non-specialists with sophisticated standalone analysis capability, one US software maker has come up with FloWizard. Charles Clarke reviews it With The trend in recent years for multi-tasking, design engineers are...

Design Engineering - Enclosures: Keep cool.
May 3, 2005... As the density of power components in every kind of electronic device increases, makers of enclosures seek innovative solutions to keep control of the extra heat generated. Mark Venables reports Enclosures manufacturers are facing...

COMMENT: Putting the GE in green.
May 16, 2005... This week's announcement by General Electric that environmental technologies are now central to its corporate agenda (Business, page 20) should, to an extent, come as no surprise. Working on the 'man bites dog' principle of...

Robo pup for the cup.
May 16, 2005... Football competition showcases robotics with the goal to beat the human winners of the World Cup The RoboCup US Open has taken place at the Georgia Institute of Technology, in which students from universities around the world competed in...

Mapping out a new world vision.
May 16, 2005... ESA is creating the most detailed portrait of the world's land surface ever seen, using the Envisat environmental satellite. The Globecover project aims to produce a map three times sharper than previous satellite maps. Broken into 20...

Making a song and dance of polymers.
May 16, 2005... Researchers from Loughborough University will next month showcase a new breed of guitar made almost entirely of polymers. In a break from traditional engineering, the three models - a hybrid wood/polymer acoustic, an all-polymer acoustic...

IN BRIEF: Robot, repair thyself.
May 16, 2005... Researchers at Cornell University have developed a simple robot that can make copies of itself using a set of basic evolutionary rules. The robots, called Molecubes, are small cubes that can attach to each other using electromagnets. Each...

IN BRIEF: EPSRC diversifies R&D funding.
May 16, 2005... The EPSRC has announced a new branch of funding for the UK's research base in several diverse areas. The Science and Innovation Awards programme will initially concentrate on energy research, physical organic chemistry, statistics and...

IN BRIEF: A new spin on space travel.
May 16, 2005... NASA is exploring the use of artificial gravity as a means of protecting astronauts' bodies from the effects of weightlessness, using a human centrifuge. Researchers at Texas University, overseen by NASA's Johnson Space Centre, will place...

IN BRIEF: Lack of E=motion.
May 16, 2005... E=motion, the UK-designed car that was attempting to break the world land speed record for an electric car (The Engineer, 3 May), has abandoned its attempt until next year following numerous electrical problems. Copyright: Centaur...

Boning up on safety.
May 16, 2005... In-car finger scanner could custom-tune seatbelts to reduce injuries in crashes Cars could be fitted with a scanning system to estimate the occupant's bone strength and tune the seatbelt and airbags accordingly to improve safety during...

Driver AIDE.
May 16, 2005... Volvo to help motorists deal with car cockpit systems An all-in-one system to help streamline the wealth of hi-tech gadgetry overwhelming drivers is being developed by Volvo. The car maker is leading a project with the University of...

Black cab goes green.
May 16, 2005... Zero-emission London taxi powered by two technologies A UK team is developing a zero-emission black cab powered by a high- energy battery pack and small fuel cell. The London taxi will be fitted with two 40kW high temperature Zebra...

Ship-shape.
May 16, 2005... Swedish navy in ground-breaking trials of UK fibre-optic stress sensors The advanced lightweight materials frequently used in the design of small boats and yachts could soon become more attractive to major ship- builders thanks to...

Lab in a glass.
May 16, 2005... New generation of optical fibres could allow multi-tasking UK researchers are building a new generation of optical fibres that could be the equivalent of laboratories within a length of glass. A team at Southampton University is...

The eyes have it.
May 16, 2005... Improved tracking lasers could help disabled log on Millions of disabled people around Europe could use the internet for the first time thanks to improved eye-tracking lasers, due to be trialled in the UK in the next few months. ...

Diamonds on the rise.
May 16, 2005... Technique to levitate precious minerals could benefit mining industry UK researchers have successfully levitated diamonds and other heavy elements using a super-conducting magnet and liquid oxygen. This development could help reduce the...

Responding to bad vibes.
May 16, 2005... German engineers are developing responsive components that could be used to detect and cancel out vibrations in mechanical structures, from cars to machine tools. The team, from Darmstadt's Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability...

Evidently quicker.
May 16, 2005... Improved infrared imaging technique could speed up crime investigations Forensic scientists could analyse large quantities of evidence far more quickly and accurately using a technique, currently under development in the UK, to enhance...

Fuelling implant efficiency.
May 16, 2005... Researchers at Newcastle University are investigating the use of substances contained in the bloodstream as a means of producing long- life, low-power fuel cells that can be implanted into the body. The 'biofuel' cells could be used in devices...

Clear minded thinking.
May 16, 2005... Former UK pilot claims his non-explosive device can cut the cost of land mine clearance A South African-based UK inventor has developed a remote controlled device that is claimed to clear land mines for a fraction of the current cost. ...

On the ball for crime prevention.
May 16, 2005... Police could be issued with ball-shaped cameras that can be thrown into dangerous situations to assess conditions and save officers from walking into harm. The Eye Ball, created by Israeli research and development company ODF Optronics,...

FOCUS: Reversing a grim track record.
May 16, 2005... Despite attempts to improve rail safety, track workers have the second highest level of occupational risk in the UK. Helen Knight reports on plans to introduce technology that should reduce these hazards Safety on the railways is...

BUSINESS: EADS profits take off.
May 16, 2005... Strong performance from Airbus drives up aerospace and defence giant's profits and sales Airbus parent group EADS this week saw its profits take off with a roar to match the maiden flight of its A380 superjumbo. The European...

BUSINESS: GE chases 'green' dollar.
May 16, 2005... General Electric this week made its biggest public commitment to environmental technology, announcing that it is to double its 'green' R&D spending by the end of the decade. The US industrial behemoth claimed the new research initiative,...

VIEWPOINT: Wireless wars.
May 16, 2005... We are now used to nearly all mobile phones conforming to a global standard and the convenience that brings. But it is in short-range radios - covering from a few metres up to a few hundred metres - that we have seen most diversity in standard...

BOOK REVIEW: BOATS, BOFFINS AND BOWLINES.
May 16, 2005... BOATS, BOFFINS AND BOWLINES THE STORIES OF SAILING INVENTORS AND INNOVATIONS George Drower Sulton Publishing, #14.99 This publication for the naval connoisseur is an engaging collection of naval trivia that reveals the...

Letter: Powerful argument.(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... I read your magazine with great interest and enjoy the debates that arise from all the different areas of engineering. I recently received an e-mail informing me of the agenda for Engine Expo 2005, due to start on 1 June. I find it...

Letter: Economic gloom.(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... I am still struggling to get over the lack of any serious discussion about the future of our business economy in the general election campaign. I presume the party leaders read the financial press - perhaps even The engineer - and are...

Letter - TALKING POINT: We need humans not more cameras.
May 16, 2005... I am all for the advance of technology, but your story `Crime watch' about the cameras that will detect when a crime is happening and alert the police (News, 3 May) is a bit worrying. Cameras are increasingly seen as the answer to all our...

Letter: Embracing nuclear.(Letter to the Editor)
May 16, 2005... With nuclear energy back in the news and talk of a possible new programme for the UK, the nuclear industry and the government must realise what a job they have on their hands to restore the battered reputation of this technology. A good...

INTELLIGENT TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY: Electric avenues.
May 16, 2005... The UK is holding several trials of technology to alleviate traffic congestion. Some suggest that if the systems are implemented our roads could be a model for the world to follow. Jon Excell reports It's an issue that affects nearly all of...

INTERVIEW - DR TREVOR CROSS: 20:20 Vision.
May 16, 2005... Microwave and sensing device specialist e2v carries the baton for the UK's hi-tech sector. Its secret, says technology director Dr Trevor Cross, is keeping a close eye on potential markets. Jon Excell reports Last month's news from...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Poetry in motion.
May 16, 2005... After the SpaceBall, 3D motion control and productivity moves up a gear with the introduction of the SpacePilot and the so-called 'intelligent two-handed interface'. Charles Clarke reviews it One of the badges of office of the 'power' CAD...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - BEARINGS: Bearing the strain.
May 16, 2005... From huge engineering achievements such as the Falkirk Wheel and the London Eye to improving the performance of fishing reels, bearings have a vital role. Mark Venables reports Bearings may not be the most glamorous of mechanical...

COMMENT: Energy advances are in the pipeline.
May 30, 2005... After more than 10 years and $3.6bn (#2bn), the Caspian oil pipeline has now opened, designed to provide the west with an alternative and more secure energy source than the middle east. The 1,770km pipeline, which stretches from...

Plane sailing.
May 30, 2005... First automated touch down at sea by short take-off vertical landing aircraft is milestone for UK engineers UK Engineers have achieved the world's first automatic landing of a short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on a ship....

Traffic wardens really bug you.
May 30, 2005... Traffic wardens in Stoke-on-Trent have been issued with identity badges containing a microphone that allows a remote monitor to listen to and record threats and abuse. The Bold Identicom, created using technology developed by mobile...

Medical device makes a point.
May 30, 2005... A device that tells medics when a needle has hit a vein could make intravenous drip insertion and blood tests easier. The Vein Entry Indicator from Israeli company Vascular Technologies helps doctors quickly find a suitable site for an...

IN BRIEF: Swell power source.
May 30, 2005... A Scottish company is to build the first commercial wave power plant off the coast of Portugal. Ocean Power Delivery will provide three power generation units with a capacity of 2.25MW to renewable energy group Enersis. The plant will be...

IN BRIEF: Plot a way through filthy air.
May 30, 2005... An online 3D map of London will be developed to show how pollution levels and the health of workers and residents vary from street to street. 'Virtual London', which will be developed by King's College London and University College London...

IN BRIEF: Alarm system for the deaf.
May 30, 2005... Birmingham International has become the first UK airport to provide an evacuation alert system for deaf and hard of hearing staff and passengers. The Deaf Alerter, made by the Derby company of the same name, can be picked up at the information...

Detect and survive.
May 30, 2005... Ultrawideband radio technology will help locate firefighters in burning buildings Emergency crews could be given technology to allow them to communicate and locate each other in smoke-filled or partially collapsed buildings, and even...

Change of image.
May 30, 2005... 'Zero-power' LCD technology to trial in UK this year Pioneering electronic display technology that could replace paper labels or signs in a host of applications will begin UK trials this summer. Developed by Malvern-based ZBD Displays,...

Fuelling a home revolution.
May 30, 2005... Fuel cell made of low-cost metals offers greener power supply for home electronics A breakthrough in fuel cells based on the use of nanotechnology could see the devices rapidly commercialised into mass-market products from mobile phones...

Keeping track of patients.
May 30, 2005... System for wireless digital monitoring of patients wherever they are in a hospital Philips has developed a new system for wireless digital monitoring of hospital patients in a collaboration with Cambridge Consultants in the UK. The...

Chemical-free water purification.
May 30, 2005... Researchers at Siemens are developing a process that can turn waste water into drinking water without the need for chemicals. The process will ensure that germs cannot develop a resistance to the treatment, and will also do away with the...

Sound and vision.
May 30, 2005... Acoustic device from Oxford University provides high-quality 3D imaging A camera system that produces images using sound rather than light could create far more detailed pictures than conventional ultrasound equipment. The acoustic...