The Engineer articles from October 2005

The Engineer archives from October 2005

COMMENT: Operating equipment at the cutting edge.
October 3, 2005... There are few higher-pressure working environments than the operating theatre, and few where any help that technology can offer to relieve the strain on medical staff is more welcome. Sometimes this involves applying clever engineering to...

Technology to the rescue.
October 3, 2005... Most advanced lifeboat yet has faster top speed and a range of hi-tech features The RNLI has launched the world's most advanced lifeboat. The Tamar- class vessels, costing #2m each, will eventually replace the Tyne-class boats in its...

A1 racing series gets off the grid.
October 3, 2005... The new A1 Grand Prix series got under way at Brands Hatch in Kent last week. The event, brainchild of Sheikh Maktoum of Dubai, is aiming to become the World Cup of Motorsport, pitting nation against nation with all 25 drivers in cars...

Ant army prepares for operations.
October 3, 2005... A swarm of intelligent robotic ants is to be built for possible deployment by the thousands to perform medical procedures inside the human body, or inspect pipelines and engines. The EU-funded I-Swarm project, being carried out by 10...

IN BRIEF: Experiments on super metals produce strongest-ever results.
October 3, 2005... Researchers at the US Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered a way to make metals harder, with potential applications in spacecraft shielding, car frames and nuclear fusion reactor targets. Metals consist of tiny grain-like...

IN BRIEF: Solar-powered stops will brighten up London bus routes.
October 3, 2005... Solar-powered bus stops that remain lit through the winter gloom are to be introduced at 1,200 London sites this month, giving the capital the world's biggest network of solar-powered shelters. The LED illuminated installations, designed by...

IN BRIEF: Shield deflects ATM fraudsters.
October 3, 2005... A simple #250 shield designed at the University of Warwick could protect cash machines from card fraud costing banks tens of millions of pounds a year. Devices fixed to ATMs can copy card details, while miniature cameras can record PIN codes...

Rocks and Rolls.
October 3, 2005... Rolls-Royce works on diamond transistors that operate at high temperatures in 'more-electric' engines Rolls-Royce is working with engineers at University College London to create diamond transistors that will be able to withstand the...

Uplifting sounds.
October 3, 2005... Wing design uses sound vibration to improve aircraft lift An Australian aerospace engineer has developed a technique that he claimed can boost aircraft lift by using sound to control air flow over wings. The discovery would allow UAVs...

Keyhole repairs unlocked.
October 3, 2005... Surgical technique is used on aero-engines An instrument based on techniques used in keyhole surgery will allow Rolls-Royce engineers to inspect and work on aircraft engines' internal components without having to strip them down. The...

Fast track.
October 3, 2005... Advanced digital communications system to be installed across the UK motorway network The Highways Agency (HA) has given the go-ahead for a #490m telecoms infrastructure that will underpin a national network of advanced communications...

Leading wedge technology.
October 3, 2005... Siemens braking system using wedge-shaped pads responds faster than standard brakes Siemens has unveiled a prototype automotive braking system based on the same principle used to slow down horse-drawn carriages a century ago. The...

Gas recycling exhausts the possibilities.
October 3, 2005... A team of UK engineers claims to have developed a simple device that could recover the energy lost through a vehicle's exhaust pipe. Researchers working on the Turbo-generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System (Tigers) project said...

Hands-free operation.
October 3, 2005... Voice-control system allows surgeons with their hands busy to check medical equipment Voice-controlled medical devices could help to streamline operating theatres, following successful European trials of technology developed by Philips....

New vision in polymers.
October 3, 2005... Researchers at Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research are developing new high-performance polymer materials to create ultra-thin, flexible eye implants for cataract sufferers. The German team said lenses made from the...

Red light for bacteria.
October 3, 2005... Contamination in meat can be spotted early using a new infrared bacteria sensor An infrared sensor that is claimed to detect contaminated meat before it enters the food chain has been developed by researchers at Manchester University. ...

Green light for starch-coated pills.
October 3, 2005... An edible hardshell pill capsule based on starch rather than gelatine has been developed by two UK companies after a six-year research project. Stanelco, a specialist in radio frequency technology, and its partner Carclo Technical...

Time on their side.
October 3, 2005... Timestrip labels showing when food products are past their best are to be tested by Nestle Nestle is to begin trials of UK-developed food labels that use membrane technology to give a clear warning of when a product is no longer fit for...

PACKAGING GETS SMART.
October 3, 2005... Designing packaging that acts as more than just a protective barrier has long been a goal for the food industry. So-called 'active packaging' aims to provide consumers with information about the state of its contents and whether they are...

FOCUS: Bids for innovation.
October 3, 2005... Two US engineering giants are locked in a battle for UK company Domnick Hunter, attracted by its commitment to R&D on niche technologies with great potential. Andrew Lee reports For the past month two US engineering giants have been...

BUSINESS: Smiths' R&D focus pays off.
October 3, 2005... The group's four divisions recorded steady profit growth, the Detection arm benefiting from two key acquisitions Smiths' solid, if unspectacular, performance - with pre-tax profits rising to #310m from #300m in 2004 - was chiefly achieved...

BUSINESS: New products boost restructured RTS.
October 3, 2005... Technology group RTS's restructuring of its global operations, allied with new products and contracts in its core areas, helped the company post strong half-year results. Manchester-based RTS said the disposal of its two US plants and...

BUSINESS: Sound progress at NXT.
October 3, 2005... Flat-panel speaker maker claims 'landmark year' Audio technology group NXT said efforts to launch its flat-panel speaker systems into the aerospace sector were making progress, but admitted that the fast-moving world of consumer electronics...

IP2IPO's technology portfolio value rises from #7m to #40m.
October 3, 2005... IP2IPO, the IP commercialisation company, announced a big increase in the value of its technology portfolio in its half-year results. Following the acquisition of Techtran, the technology transfer specialist, and an increase in the number of...

Antonov challenges Toyota over driveline patent.
October 3, 2005... Transmission developer Antonov has launched legal action in the German courts against Toyota, alleging that the driveline of the Prius and Lexus RX400h infringes its patents. Originally filed in April, the action was kept private while the...

Thales sells off High Tech Optics.
October 3, 2005... Thales, the French defence and electronics group, has reached an agreement with private equity group Candover for the sale of Thales High Tech Optics (HTO) for N220m. HTO, which designs and manufactures high-precision optical components and...

Ricardo diversification pays off increased profits and orders.
October 3, 2005... UK independent automotive consultancy Ricardo enjoyed a much better 2005, driven by the company's expanded customer and geographical focus. Profits rose to #8.4m from #1.8m in 2004 with a 21 per cent increase in the order book (#70m in 2005...

QuestAir to develop hydrogen purifier for ExxonMobil refinery.
October 3, 2005... QuestAir Technologies, a developer and supplier of advanced gas purification systems for the refinery, industrial and fuel cell markets, announced it has passed a significant internal review at ExxonMobil, which will support QuestAir's...

VIEWPOINT: The science of swing.
October 3, 2005... The swinging ball was a vital component of this summer's ashes success. Matt Carre explains the engineering principles behind England's secret weapon England cricket fans (including myself) are recovering from the euphoria of winning...

Letter: Hybrid smokescreen.(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... Hybrid engines are the new 'must-be-seen-to-be-doing-something' accessory for the car industry (News, 19 September). But I think if you look closely at the figures you'll find that the money spent on R&D into hybrids is dwarfed by the...

Letter: Don't knock F1 tie-ups.(Letter to the Editor)
October 3, 2005... Those who are cynical about the Williams/Qinetiq tie-up (Letters, 19 September) might like to look back at your original feature (5 September) on the subject. This mentioned that McLaren entered a similar arrangement with BAE. The...

ROBOTIC SURGERY: Medic-aid.
October 3, 2005... Robotic systems are increasingly being used in hospital wards and operating theatres, but could they ever really replace the human touch? Christopher Sell reports The operating theatre, for years the sole preserve of highly skilled...

INTERVIEW - JOHN HOWARD: Vision mixer.
October 3, 2005... John Howard regards his role as MD of TRT(UK), the research arm of Thales, as having the foresight to seek out the technology that will be needed 'just over the horizon'. Niall Firth reports Back in the early 1980s engineers from what was...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Seal of fortune.
October 3, 2005... Academia and industry join forces to adapt biological healing mechanisms for a 'bleeding composite' material to temporarily 'mend' impact damage. Stuart Nathan reports The high strength-to-weight ratio of composite materials has led to...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SHOCK ABSORBERS: Absorbing matter.
October 3, 2005... UK engineer develops re-usable safety device designed to absorb sudden impacts on vehicles and buildings. Stuart Nathan explains A deceptively simple device could form the basis for a new generation of shock-absorbing safety systems for...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOFTWARE: Top drawer.
October 3, 2005... With Alias Sketchbook Pro 2, written to complement Photoshop, it is now possible to produce artwork from quick doodles to complete print- quality material - at an attractive price, says Charles Clark IF YOU'VE ever been stuck trying to do...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - DRIVES & CONTROLS: For goodness snake.
October 3, 2005... Dangerous, time-consuming and otherwise impossible tasks in the robotics and medical equipment industries are now possible, thanks to the multi-motor snake arm robot. Mark Venables reports Motors may appear to be one of the simplest of...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - BATTERIES: Power packs.
October 3, 2005... Companies in the UK are helping to improve batteries and chargers, and cut the costs associated with charger systems. Matthew Peach explains ACCORDING TO research, over 70 billion batteries worth more than e30bn (#20bn) are produced...

COMMENT: Diesel still has plenty more left in the tank.
October 17, 2005... Not so long ago we would have found it amazing that in 2005 diesel engines would even merit much discussion - let alone millions of pounds' worth of investment. Few would have been surprised to see diesels chugging gracelessly and noisily...

Balancing act.
October 17, 2005... Biker robot demonstrates Japanese firm's sensor technology on 2cm-wide beam Japanese technology group Murata Manufacturing has built a bike-riding robot called Murata Boy to showcase the capabilities of its sensors. A demonstration of...

Nissan turns the tables on reversing.
October 17, 2005... PIVO, Nissan's latest concept car, will make its debut at the Tokyo motor show later this week to showcase a range of innovations designed to make urban driving easier and safer. The electric vehicle's most eye- catching feature is a cabin...

Chocks away for a 'virtual dogfight'.
October 17, 2005... RAF pilots will take part in 'virtual dogfights' using a Qinetiq combat- based flight simulator. The technology group has secured an #8m contract to supply a Mission Training through Distributed Simulation (MTDS) facility, designed to train...

IN BRIEF: Scotland to see the power from trees with #90m biomass plant.
October 17, 2005... The UK's largest biomass power station is to be built in Lockerbie in Scotland. The #90m plant will produce 44MW of power, enough to meet the energy needs of around 70,000 homes. It will run on a fuel made from 220,000 tonnes of...

IN BRIEF: Hit me with your virtual stick.
October 17, 2005... A researcher at Berkeley University in the US is designing software that aims to enable users to predict the sound of any percussive instrument, real or imagined. The Vibration Lab allows the creation of computer-generated 3D objects...

IN BRIEF: In the I-Mode for some online shopping on the move.
October 17, 2005... I-Mode, a service launched by O2 this month, offers UK mobile phone users high-speed internet access on the move. I-Mode has been available in Japan, where 70 per cent of the population uses the service, since 1999 and was developed by the...

Bomb sight.
October 17, 2005... UK researchers develop UWB-based radio technology to foil suicide bombers Suicide bombers could be spotted in a crowd before they carry out their deadly mission, thanks to a combination of ultra-wideband radio technology and an obscure...

Safety net.
October 17, 2005... The police are to test UK-developed anti-blast materials that become thicker when they are stretched, potentially offering protection from the deadly effects of flying glass following a bomb explosion. The Police Scientific Development...

Dirty work.
October 17, 2005... EU-backed project develops particulate sensor that clears the way for self-cleaning diesel exhausts Particulate sensors that allow automatic cleaning of filters in diesel exhaust emission control systems have been developed in an...

A prints among tag technology.
October 17, 2005... BASF is claiming a breakthrough in the development of fully-printed organic electronics which it claims could pave the way for competitively-priced, mass-manufactured RFID tags. The German multinational's Future Business division worked...

Robot challenge.
October 17, 2005... EU bids to give its future robotics strategy fresh impetus in the face of global initiatives The EU has launched a major bid to give fresh impetus to Europe's robotics sector, amid warnings that the continent risks falling behind other...

Mobilising hydrogen.
October 17, 2005... Anglo-Japanese partnership looks into using hydrogen fuel cells for mobile phones and cameras Qinetiq and Olympus are teaming up to build miniature hydrogen fuel cells capable of powering portable electronic devices. The UK technology...

Fuel cell sets your house in order.
October 17, 2005... A fuel cell group has unveiled a domestic device that it claims can meet the power needs of an entire household. The NetGen fuel cell, which is around the size of a washing machine, has been developed by Australia's Ceramic Fuel Cells (CFCL)....

Mind over matter.
October 17, 2005... UK project seeks breakthrough in brain interface systems to give severely disabled people more instinctive control A UK project team hopes to make a key breakthrough in brain-computer interface technology, allowing wheelchairs, robot arms...

FOCUS: The powers that be.
October 17, 2005... Hybrid engines are claimed to be the next big thing, yet diesels outsell petrol vehicles in parts of Europe and meet emissions objectives. Julia Pierce reports as two top car makers strengthen their backing for diesel Changing the...

BUSINESS: Kwik off the mark.
October 17, 2005... Renewable energy company pays #1m-plus for mobile biodiesel conversion technology In a deal worth more than #1m, UK renewable energy and fuels company Kwikpower International has snapped up technology that aims to dramatically increase...

UK's Amphion raises its image in the US.
October 17, 2005... UK technology development specialist Amphion Innovations plans to capitalise on the burgeoning medical imaging market with a $1m (#570,000) investment in Supertron, bringing its stake in the US company to 30 per cent. In what is a rapidly...

VIEWPOINT: Fusion of minds.
October 17, 2005... To meet global energy requirements in the future we need a focused and innovative commitment today to nuclear science worldwide, says Dr Mohamed ElBaradei Even the most conservative estimates predict at least a doubling of energy usage by...

Letter: Invest in our future.(Letter to the Editor)
October 17, 2005... It seems a long time since this country led the industrialised world in innovation. Over a million manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1997, and the great British manufacturing tradition appears to be sliding gently into history. It...

Letter - TALKING POINT: Surgically removed.
October 17, 2005... It is understandable why surgeons are slightly anxious about the growth in the use of robotics (Feature, 3 October). While the increased precision offered by robot devices during procedures is likely to be of benefit, I wonder if the element...

Letter: Safety first?(Letter to the Editor)
October 17, 2005... Your interesting item on the Jaguar pedestrian protection bonnet (The Big Picture, 5 September) and the accompanying photographs brought back a distant memory. In 1972 or 73 I went, with a school car club to an open day at the Road...

Letter: Saved by the oil crisis.(Letter to the Editor)
October 17, 2005... Under the headline 'Hybrid smokescreen' (Letters, 3 October) Peter Joyce suggested security of oil supply as a solution for the global oil crisis. Oil is the problem, not the solution. The global car economy is dependant on a finite...

SKYSCRAPERS: High technology.
October 17, 2005... As London architects and engineers work on what will be Europe's tallest building, Jon Excell investigates the challenges of going high- rise after 9/11 The mighty skyscraper. Stretching upwards, dominating the skyline, dwarfing its...

THE RISE OF THE ELEVATOR.
October 17, 2005... Advanced construction techniques, high-strength building materials and innovative architectural approaches have enabled civil engineers to scale ever more dizzying heights with buildings. But the success of the skyscraper owes a huge debt to...

INTERVIEW - KEVIN MATTHEWS: Healthy diagnosis.
October 17, 2005... Kevin Matthews of Oxonica has diversified the company's portfolio from fuel additives to medical applications - a move that seems to have paid off, as it is now the first nano firm to be listed on AIM. Julia Pierce reports From a...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Strutting its stuff.
October 17, 2005... German researchers believe that by using parallel kinematics, their tripod mount provides more speed and precision than a serial machine. Stuart Nathan explains In the sci-fi classic War of the Worlds, HG Wells conjured up tripods that...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - NANOTECHNOLOGY: Hole new approach.
October 17, 2005... French engineers develop a technique for designing and making a porous compound they claim is the most spacious solid material ever. Stuart Nathan reports Nanoporous materials, riddled with networks of holes of different shapes and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - ENERGY: Mercurial powers.
October 17, 2005... The environment stands to benefit from inexpensive modifications to cut flue-gas treatment costs at coal-fired power stations. Stuart Nathan reports Simple, inexpensive modifications could have important implications for the environment...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - PUMPS: Gut reaction.
October 17, 2005... Colin Carter looks at peristaltic pumps, which mimic the mechanisms used in the human body to move delicate and soft materials simply, reliably and cheaply The human body is a highly-tuned, complex set of processes which has evolved over...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION: Critical situation.
October 17, 2005... As industry and R&D sectors demand ever-higher accuracy, so measurement and inspection equipment developers strive to meet the challenge. Matthew Peach reports Measuring and inspection technologies have undergone steady development...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - ENVIRONMENT: Trimming the waste line.
October 17, 2005... With a raft of seemingly endless waste disposal regulations making ever- growing demands on industry, companies are fast realising that there are opportunities to reduce overheads. Stuart Nathan explains Regulations are a constant factor...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - ENVIRONMENT: Sense of achievement.
October 17, 2005... A new generation of small, sensitive devices providing more information on environmental problems, with less effort and at a keener price, is set to change the face of detection Sensors designed to detect the various types of environment-...

COMMENT: A topical paradise?
October 31, 2005... Whatever your point of view - pro or anti-nuclear, wind-power evangelist or renewables sceptic - we are surely all agreed that when it comes to meeting our future energy needs, bold thinking is the order of the day. With this in mind, The...

No mourning for Marconi.
October 31, 2005... On a different note, it was interesting to see the relatively low-key reaction to the loss of a historic UK name to foreign ownership - Marconi to the Swedes of Ericsson - compared to the apocalyptic response to MG Rover's collapse and...

THE BIG PICTURE: End of their tether.
October 31, 2005... Teams compete in NASA contest to create cable and car needed for a space elevator Teams from industry and universities joined amateur enthusiasts last weekend to compete in NASA's 2005 Beam Power and Tether challenges - two contests to...

THE BIG PICTURE: Drug delivery unit noses ahead.
October 31, 2005... A breath-actuated nasal delivery device could revolutionise the treatment of conditions including Parkinson's disease, rhinosinusitis and sexual dysfunction. The multi-dose, bi-directional system, developed by Norwegian drug delivery...

THE BIG PICTURE: Car handle fingers criminals.
October 31, 2005... Hitachi has developed a finger-vein-detecting security system for use on car door handles and steering wheels. The biometric technique could provide drivers with a highly secure, keyless entry and ignition system. A working version...

IN BRIEF: Gait-way to laptop security.
October 31, 2005... A device that can detect its owner's walking style could make mobile phones and laptops harder to steal. The system, patented by Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre but yet to be sold to manufacturers, uses sensors to measure...

IN BRIEF: No uplifting experience for ISS.
October 31, 2005... An attempt to raise the orbit of the International Space Station by 10km has failed, after engines on the cargo ship trying to lift the station shut down shortly after last week's manoeuvre began, according to Russian scientists. During...

IN BRIEF: Neptune weaves underwater web.
October 31, 2005... Canadian and US scientists plan to turn hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of seabed into an internet-connected undersea observatory. The Canadian-funded, multi-million dollar North-East Pacific Time Series Undersea Networked...

NEWS: Avian alert.
October 31, 2005... Cambridge engineering team aims for instant, low-cost diagnosis of bird flu Low-cost, disposable bio-sensors designed to allow on-the-spot detection of outbreaks of bird flu are being developed by engineers in Cambridge. The BiMAT...

NEWS: Dose detective.
October 31, 2005... Portable radiation sensor said to offer greater accuracy New portable radiation sensor technology will allow emergency teams to measure the level and source of radioactivity more accurately, its UK developers claim. New portable...

NEWS: Powerful image.
October 31, 2005... Space mapping telescope to monitor disasters launched The China Mapping Telescope - a powerful high-resolution instrument designed to map and photograph Chinese territory - was launched last week aboard Surrey Satellite Technology's...

NEWS: War on waste.
October 31, 2005... Recycling takes a step forward with rubbish sorting system that uses defence technology Defence industry technology is being employed in a bid to improve the UK's poor record for recycling household waste. By using sensors more...

NEWS: Laser diagnosis cuts to the bone.
October 31, 2005... A laser technique that claims to reveal the strength of bones to a far greater degree of accuracy than before could allow doctors to predict a patient's risk of bone fractures. The imaging technique, developed at Imperial College in...