The Engineer articles from May 2008

The Engineer archives from May 2008

COMMENT: Banking on a dose of reality.
May 5, 2008... We know we live in strange times when the nation's top banker bemoans the number of the brightest and the best choosing banking as a career. That, however, was exactly the message from Bank of England governor Mervyn King to a committee...

THE BIG PICTURE: Operation creepy-crawly.
May 5, 2008... US troops could enlist help of BAE Systems-developed technology Hi-tech creepy-crawlies such as the robot spider above could soon be helping US forces on the battlefield, thanks to work under way by UK defence technology giant BAE Systems....

THE BIG PICTURE: Jellyfish robot mimics Nature.
May 5, 2008... A case of technology imitating nature can be found in Festo's AquaJelly robot, a test bed that has been modelled on the jellyfish. Developed as part of the German company's Bionic Learning Network, the AquaJelly is an artificial...

THE BIG PICTURE: Fluid movements, helping hand.
May 5, 2008... Engineers are testing a new type of prosthetic hand that is claimed to give users the sensation of a natural grip by mimicking the functions of a spider's legs. The Fluidhand is the creation of researchers at the Orthopaedic University...

IN BRIEF: Williams buys stake in kinetic energy recovery specialist.(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Williams F1 has bought a minority share in Automotive Hybrid Power (AHP), a company that specialises in composite flywheels for use in energy recovery systems. Renamed Williams Hybrid Power (WHP), the company has relocated from Norwich to the...

IN BRIEF: New pad system enables printing on wider range of materials.(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Fascia Graphics, a UK manufacturer of membrane keypads, has launched a new pad printing technology that it said would enable printing on a wider range of materials, shapes and surfaces. The new system will allow Fascia to print on to metals,...

IN BRIEF: Construction body's cash call to help UK firms.(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... CIRIA, a research organisation dedicated to improvement in the construction industry, is calling for funding and partners for a new project aiming to help the UK's infrastructure adapt to flooding conditions. The project involves collating...

NEWS: Screen test.
May 5, 2008... Radical enzyme-based technique could detect disabling conditions in infants at less cost A low-cost, enzyme-based screening kit could help prevent infants in poor countries from developing disorders that lead to mental disabilities, claim...

NEWS: Take charge.
May 5, 2008... Removable battery pack could make electric hybrid cars practical for more people Electric hybrid powertrain technology that allows batteries to be removed from vehicles for recharging would end the need to plug cars directly into the...

NEWS: Molecular modification.
May 5, 2008... UK-developed technology claimed to change materials' function by altering surfaces A UK company has developed a technology that is claimed to be able to modify a wide range of materials by changing their surface properties at the...

NEWS: Load holding.
May 5, 2008... Dual-spring system promises HGV drivers self-adjusting suspension for safer, more comfortable ride An E-shaped suspension system designed at Cambridge University promises to provide drivers of heavy trucks, buses, coaches and commercial...

NEWS: Sonic barrier.
May 5, 2008... Ultrasound wave technology could improve detection of bioagents and bacteria The detection of bioagents and bacteria could be greatly improved with a technology that uses ultrasound waves to purify and concentrate bacteria from substances...

NEWS: Gas guzzler.
May 5, 2008... Power station emissions could be turned into useful cyclic carbonates with catalyst technology A pioneering catalyst technology could transform carbon dioxide emissions from power stations into a key component of battery electrolytes,...

VIEWPOINT: Stuck in the slow lane.
May 5, 2008... The government should back research into road charging systems to help UK companies grab a share of the global action, says Nigel Wall A national system of road charging based on the driver's choice of travel time and route has been under...

LETTER: Plane incredible.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... Justin Gudgeon observes in his correspondence 'You can't be serious' (letters, 21 April) that letters are often unchallenging. But sometimes challenges can drop out of the blue. A small incident years ago, while descending into Heathrow,...

LETTER: Changes in the air.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... Perhaps sooner rather than later, motor vehicles will be powered by compressed air like those being developed in France and India. Imagine, instead of having to fill up with petrol or diesel we could fill our compressed air bottles at home...

LETTER: Growth industry.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... Take two issues that are often in the news these days - carbon capture and food miles. Would it not be possible to filter out the heavy metals, radioactive contamination and other nasties from coal-fired power station chimneys and...

LETTER: Marque of quality.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... I'd like James May (Interview, 21 April) to know that I had four Austin Maxis, and they were all good cars. The best one was a HighLine, which had two carburettors and a high compression head. For 1981, it went like stink! It also used a lot...

LETTER: Farming fuel.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... Our online comment article 'Gone with the wind' highlighted the Scottish government's decision to throw out plans for a windfarm on the Hebridean Island of Lewis, saying that it is a kick in the teeth for the renewables industry. Here is a...

LETTER: The right track.(Letter to the editor)
May 5, 2008... Buses have failed as an adequate substitute for past rail closures which have therefore contributed to a massive and unhealthy increase in car use, and a culture of car dependency, particularly for commuting. We clearly need to restore our...

POLAR RESEARCH: Crack team.
May 5, 2008... Part icebreaker, part drill ship, the Aurora Borealis will go where no lone vessel has gone before and could help unlock the secrets beneath the Arctic seabed. Jon Excell reports It is a reality of scientific endeavour that the answers to...

INSIGHT: One step beyond.
May 5, 2008... EADS Astrium's Spaceplane promises tourists a zero-gravity experience in one hop, returning to a conventional airport landing. Stuart Nathan reports Space, as the saying goes, is the final frontier. At least, it is for tourists. And...

INTERVIEW: Air apparent.(Interview)
May 5, 2008... Prof Phil Withers, head of Manchester University's Aerospace Research Institute, believes his team has the right mix of expertise to help make air travel greener, faster and safer. Berenice Baker reports It's crunch time for the civil...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: A glass of its own.
May 5, 2008... UK-designed primary mirror is the centrepiece of what is expected to be the world's largest and fastest ground-based telescope. Siobhan Wagner reports A UK-designed observatory telescope, which is expected to be the world's largest and...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MICROELECTRONICS: Wired up.
May 5, 2008... Joint UK university project aims to replace silicon chips in tomorrow's microelectronics with magnetic nanotechnology. Siobhan Wagner reports A UK TEAM plans to develop a tiny sensor that can read the data from nano-scale magnetic...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - VISION SYSTEMS: Focal point.
May 5, 2008... Cognex claims to have developed world's smallest vision system for faster, easier installation on production lines. Siobhan Wagner reports What is claimed to be the world's smallest complete machine vision system has the potential to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Slight advantage.
May 5, 2008... Tennis shows how technology can change a sport, but talent will ultimately carry the day, argues David James IT IS NOT only the competitive elite that benefit from advances in equipment design. Many sports have been made safer and more...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - PROTYPING: Rapid progress.
May 5, 2008... Once the preserve of design visualisation and simulation, rapid prototyping techniques could soon be used for desktop manufacturing. Charles Clarke explains Rapid prototyping techniques were once used for only design visualisation,...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MACHINE BUILDING: Flexible friends.
May 5, 2008... Innovation is leading to a new generation of machine tools claimed to deliver higher performance and productivity at a price designed to ensure a competitive edge. Martin Oakham reports Automation once had a limited role in the machine...

CAREERS: Build for the future.
May 5, 2008... Training body calls for more cash to avoid the shortfall of engineers that could threaten our energy new-build programme. Anh Nguyen reports The UK faces a shortfall of skilled engineers that could threaten the nation's drive to build a...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: The final frontier.
May 5, 2008... Adventurous engineers hoping to broaden their horizons in the most dramatic way possible may be interested in a recruitment drive about to be launched by ESA. The agency's search for new European astronauts to send into space starts with...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Coventry at hub of innovation.
May 5, 2008... Coventry University's Design Hub is responding to the 'Innovation Nation' White Paper by offering its services to businesses across the West Midlands. The hub will have access to the European Regional Development Fund, which means that...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Carbon footprint focus.
May 5, 2008... Bath University's chemical engineering department is starting a new training scheme next month to help companies in the south-west assess their products' carbon footprints. Funded by South West Higher Skills Project, the initiative aims...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: #3m worth of opportunities.
May 5, 2008... Ulster University has announced an investment of #3m over the next three years to fund 'Opportunity Scholarships' for new and existing students. While available to all undergraduates, there will be a particular focus on students on...

COMMENT: Winning combinations.
May 19, 2008... What do the following have in common? An assistance system for disabled racing drivers, a high-tech microscope, technology to solve complex engineering problems using advanced mathematics and a method of growing carbon nanotubes. The...

NEWS: Duck and dive.
May 19, 2008... Largest diesel-electric sub has optional fuel cell propulsion to lower risk of detection Naval architects at a UK design house have created the largest diesel- electric submarine to feature an optional fuel-cell auxiliary unit. BMT...

NEWS: Virtual missions.
May 19, 2008... World's first joint simulator training exercise links aircrews from across the globe FLIGHT simulators in the UK, US and Europe have been connected in the first joint operational training exercise of its kind in the world. Dubbed...

NEWS: LED-powered laser on a low-cost wavelength.
May 19, 2008... Scientists at St Andrews University have developed a low-cost laser with tuneable wavelengths that can be powered by a simple light- emitting diode (LED). The technology consists of a corrugated polymer film on a transparent silica...

NEWS: Small talk.
May 19, 2008... University/industry collaboration aims to shrink wireless antennas to fit into clothing Research underway at Sheffield University aims to produce antennas for low frequency wireless communications so small they could be incorporated in...

NEWS: Doctor on a chip.
May 19, 2008... Hand-held device brings diagnostics for a range of conditions into the home IMPERIAL COLLLEGE LONDON spin-out Molecular Vision has developed a hand- held device that could bring low-cost diagnostics for cardiac and other conditions into...

NEWS: Roach robot.
May 19, 2008... The complex structure of insects inspires researchers to develop autonomous robots THE NATURAL world has inspired European researchers to develop intelligent, autonomous robots that not only move like insects, but also react like them. ...

NEWS: Domestic generation game.
May 19, 2008... Cryogenic energy storage system could provide homes with year-round power, heat and air conditioning COMBINED heat and power (CHP) generation systems are well established in municipal and industrial settings, but one day it is hoped that...

NEWS: Field of image fusion could aid farmers.
May 19, 2008... Spanish researchers have developed a set of image fusion techniques that can be used on multi-spectral satellite images to provide better environmental and agricultural information. The Remote Sensing Group at the Universidad Politecnica de...

NEWS: Energy saver.
May 19, 2008... Technology is claimed to cut electricity bills by stabilising supply voltage at a low level A UK company has launched a system that it claims can shave 10 per cent off electricity bills for the average household. The device...

VIEWPOINT: Revved up for revolution.
May 19, 2008... Despite criticisms from environmental campaigners, the automotive industry is best placed to lead green-tech development, says Giles Hundleby While the automotive industry has often been criticised by environmental campaigners, it has...

LETTER: Think of the casualties.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... I was very interested in your article 'Stuck in the Slow Lane' (Viewpoint, 5 May). The government has a near impossible task in dealing with highways, transportation and road safety. Road charging systems may well deal with congestion but...

LETTER: Inventors please note.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... As a father of someone with coeliac disease, I was particularly interested in your article 'Cereal killer' (News, 21 April). While a simple test for this condition is welcome, it only confirms that the affected person will suffer a lifetime...

LETTER: Look for strengths.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... Congratulations. It is about time that someone stopped bemoaning the state of the country and started 'talking things up' rather than expecting all to descend into the depths of despair (Comment, 21 April). Manufacturing needs to respond...

LETTER: Wireless worries.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... The wireless technology, as discussed in your recent newsletter comment 'Wireless Wonders' may be helpful to the elderly, but I am concerned about them knowing what to do with it. I know that in many cases they cannot fully use today's...

LETTER: It's foreign-owned.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... I don't believe there is a British motor industry any more because all the major manufacturers in the UK are foreign-owned; their profits go abroad, and so do the jobs. Ford, Vauxhall and Peugeot have all pulled the plug on car making in...

LETTER: Industry is global.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... There isn't a British car industry. We are just a part of global industry owned and run by non-UK car companies. To say there isn't an 'indigenous' British car industry would be more precise. Rob Forrest Copyright: Centaur...

LETTER: Air-brained scheme.(Letter to the editor)
May 19, 2008... David Cutter (letters, 5 May) suggests the future might lie with vehicles driven by compressed air, which could be topped up 'at home or at the office using electricity, or for #2 at the filling station'. There are two main reasons why this...

CERN: Bottling the big bang.
May 19, 2008... This summer CERN's scientists will recreate the conditions that existed just after the universe began. Stuart Nathan examines the technology that will make this possible The air of anticipation around CERN, the European Organisation for...

DOUNREAY DECOMMISSIONING: Monumental task.
May 19, 2008... Once the site for the UK's experimental fast reactor programme, Dounreay is now the location for one of the world's largest, trickiest, nuclear clean-up jobs. Stuart Nathan reports Just about as far north as you can go without falling off...

INSIGHT: Quay of life.
May 19, 2008... Part tank, part tractor, part submarine, Supacat's latest vehicle will automate launch and recovery of the next generation of high-speed lifeboats. Jon Excell reports THE LATEST vehicle to emerge from the workshop of all-terrain vehicle...

INTERVIEW: Green for go.(Interview)
May 19, 2008... Thales's Peter Batley has the weighty responsibility of replacing London Underground's ancient signalling system. He explains the complexities of the job to Stuart Nathan As any regular user of the London Underground will tell you, the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Smooth with the rough.
May 19, 2008... Researchers develop polyurethane foam production process that is claimed to make tougher, cleaner and more environmentally friendly plastics. Siobhan Wagner reports Polyurethane-based products ranging from wheelchair, wheelbarrow and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - LITHOGRAPHY: Extreme printing.
May 19, 2008... Next-generation ultraviolet lithography technique could make it possible to create nano-scale integrated circuits with double the processsing speed. Siobhan Wagner reports A new way of printing circuit boards using advanced lithography...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Environmental two-step.
May 19, 2008... The twin challenges of green engineering are to measure it and then fix it, says National Instruments Over the last year, the mainstream media has dramatically increased its emphasis on all things green. Concerns about global climate...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MACHINE VISION: Complete picture.
May 19, 2008... Whether used for monitoring and control or complete component traceability, vision systems have great potential in all manufacturing and processing environments. Martin Oakham explains what's on offer Vision systems perform a wide variety...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION: The heat is on.
May 19, 2008... As UK energy waste continues to go through the roof, a handful of organisations is leading the drive towards greener housing. Julia Pierce reports According to EU figures, approximately 40 per cent of the UK's energy consumption is...

TECHNOLOGY UK: Push for the future.
May 19, 2008... With its reputation for technology-driven manufacturing the east midlands is now looking towards a multi-disclipinary focus on innovation for sustainability. Berenice Baker report The east midlands, in the heart of England, is home to many...

CAREERS: Customer and practice.
May 19, 2008... A consortium of UK universities has launched a research project to tackle the growing demand for professional engineers readily-equipped with service sector skills. Funded by BAE Systems and the EPSRC, Cambridge University's Institute for...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Get chartered while you work.
May 19, 2008... Engineers who want to gain chartered status while working can now do so with a new Master's level professional engineering course offered by Kingston University. Developed in collaboration with the Engineering Council, professional...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: NPL sets a measured course.
May 19, 2008... The National Skills Academy for Manufacturing has validated the National Physical Laboratory's (NPL's) dimensional measurement training framework to confirm that it meets industry-recognised competence levels. NPL's course, which is open to...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: Energy scholarships in Aberdeen.
May 19, 2008... Aberdeen University has introduced nine new scholarships for students working towards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the energy sector. Providing the scholarships are the Swire Educational Trust, Technip, Canadian Natural...

CAREERS IN BRIEF: NSAPI launches Midlands centre.
May 19, 2008... The National Skills Academy for Process Industries (NSAPI) will be launching its regional network in the Midlands on 30 May at the National Space Centre in Leicester. The event will be an opportunity for employers, training providers and...