The Engineer articles from October 2007

The Engineer archives from October 2007

COMMENT: Ideas are the real assets.
October 1, 2007... A chapter in the UK's industrial history is almost over following last week's news that Telent, the final chunk of the once-mighty GEC, is poised to vanish from the stock market. Telent, a telecoms service business, is the remaining...

THE BIG PICTURE: Path to safer driving.
October 1, 2007... Ford unveils predictive technology in a bid to cut down on car accidents Ford has unveiled automotive path prediction technology, a system developed under the PReVENT research project to make driving safer. PReVENT is a European car...

THE BIG PICTURE: Prospecting in the dark ...slowly.
October 1, 2007... A robot that can navigate rocky surfaces and carry out drill operations in complete darkness is being developed at Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Mellon University. The four-wheeled robot, Scarab, is a demonstrator of technologies that could...

THE BIG PICTURE: Remote control security at sea.
October 1, 2007... IT MAY look like a giant floating flat iron, but Qinetiq's latest unmanned reconnaissance and surveillance craft boasts far more capability than meets the eye. The stealthy Sentry - which is 3.5m long, with a beam of 1.25m and a height...

IN BRIEF: The values of green collaboration.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... MIT and BP have announced a green energy research partnership to explore the conversion of low-value carbon feedstocks, such as petcoke and coal, to high-value products including electricity and liquid fuels. The collaboration will support a...

IN BRIEF: Faster tests for Avian flu.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Researchers claim to have developed a miniaturised device for diagnosing avian flu (H5N1) virus in humans in less than an hour. Comprising a platform developed at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) the all-in-one...

IN BRIEF: Disease to get a nano-pasting.(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Fruit flies raised on a diet of yeast paste containing carbon nanotubes could help find new ways to diagnose disease. Using a laser, scientists at Rice University, Houston, excited a fluorescent glow from the nanotubes and took pictures of...

NEWS: End in site.
October 1, 2007... Oil exploration technology will play key role in decommissioning Windscale Fifty years ago this month, a fire raged through Pile 1 of Windscale nuclear power station in Cumbria, sending a plume of radioactive material as far afield as...

NEWS: Transmission possible.
October 1, 2007... Space communication-inspired technology could improve quality of deep- sea signals Swarms of autonomous vehicles may soon be combing the ocean floors swapping vital information on deep-sea wreckage investigations or possible naval defence...

NEWS: Cool concept.
October 1, 2007... Domestic boiler reverses refrigeration process to create heat and power A UK firm has unveiled a domestic boiler that generates heat by applying the process of refrigeration - backwards. The micro combined heat and power (CHP) boiler...

NEWS: Breath of fresh air.
October 1, 2007... Nanotech-constructed plastic membrane mimics the lungs to filter carbon dioxide from flue emissions A MEMBRANE that filters carbon dioxide from flue emissions in a similar way to how lungs rid the body of the waste gas has been developed...

NEWS: Sound of accuracy.
October 1, 2007... Submarine stealth technology adapted for safer physiotherapy ultrasound Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have developed an acoustic absorber that they claim helps to ensure ultrasound machines used in physiotherapy...

NEWS: An eye on emissions.
October 1, 2007... Laser radar technology aims for more accurate aircraft pollution readings around airports As EU limits on air quality threaten airport expansion, a UK university team has developed laser radar technology to produce a reliable estimate of...

NEWS: Fast food inspection.
October 1, 2007... UK universities combine to develop microwave sensors to measure salt and fat in meals Microwaves and microwave ovens may not be synonymous with healthy food, but they may hold the key to finding out how much fat and salt is in your...

VIEWPOINT: High priority alert.
October 1, 2007... Climate change and an effective green lobby means our number one challenge is to develop an economical and environmentally sustainable UK aerospace industry, says Allan Cook The aerospace industry is going through a defining period. In many...

LETTER: Unhealthy situation.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Your editorial 'A sticking plaster won't do' (Comment, 17 September) raises unanswered questions for engineers about their contribution to our long-term health. In reality, neither the medical profession, medical engineering nor the...

LETTER: Shape of teamwork.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Your item 'MMU helps put bullet trains on track' (The Big Picture, 3 September) includes a statement regarding the wheel wear simulation programs which I would like to clarify. The wheel wear prediction routines were developed in a...

LETTER: Wheels of misfortune.(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I applaud Max Lazarus' support for trolley buses (Letters, 17 September) and agree with all he says about trams. Until 1949 I lived near the longest trolley route in the UK, Nottingham to Ripley, which worked well and provided a...

MANNED SPACEFLIGHT: Friends in high places.
October 1, 2007... As a new manned 'space race' gets underway, Europe chooses a partnership of equals with Russia over a junior role with NASA. George Coupe reports THE SPACE race could be on again as the US, Europe, Russia, China, Japan, India and...

INSIGHT: Outsmarting the burglars.
October 1, 2007... A combination of stylish design and wireless technology promises to bring home security into the 21st century. Jon Excell reports A wireless home security system said to be cheaper, smarter and simpler to use than a traditional burglar...

INTERVIEW: The ring master.(Interview)
October 1, 2007... Prof Chris Llewellyn Smith, director of nuclear fusion research at the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Culham, heads ground-breaking work into new tokamak reactors. Stuart Nathan reports In a primary school classroom in the early 1950s, fate...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Solar skyline.
October 1, 2007... If work by Oxford University researchers comes to fruition, homes around the world may soon sport dramatic-shaped roofs designed to catch the sun. Siobhan Wagner reports UK city skylines are famous for funky architecture, but soon homes...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - AERONAUTICS: Reach for the sky.
October 1, 2007... A mix of disciplines and software is being used by engineers developing a program to simulate wind tunnel tests on aircraft controls. Siobhan Wagner reports It sounds a bit like the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel - an ambitious...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - WIND POWER: One to depend on.
October 1, 2007... Low maintenance is the selling point for a new wind turbine generator aimed at offshore wind farms. Siobhan Wagner reports Designers of a new type of wind turbine generator hope to find applications with offshore wind farms where low...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Fast boat to china.
October 1, 2007... Now is the time for manufacturers to tie up with Chinese companies to share skills and expertise and expand product markets, says Matthew Link With booming trade between the UK and China, exporting original equipment manufacturers from...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - DRIVES & MOTORS: Variable interest.
October 1, 2007... With an eye on both energy efficiency and cost savings, all the signs point to a major shift towards the use of variable speed drives in a range of applications. Colin Carter explains With energy saving top of the environmental agenda,...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - FASTENERS: Healthy outlook.
October 1, 2007... Choosing failsafe fastening technologies for the medical sector can both save money and protect patient health, delivering benefits to all. Julia Pierce reports When it comes to medical equipment, failure is not an option. From devices...

CAREERS: Working for a cleaner future.
October 1, 2007... Government White Paper's support for emissions reduction targets paves the way for opportunities in the renewable energy and nuclear industries. Julia Pierce reports This spring the renewable energy sector and nuclear industry were...

COMMENT: Hybrids - the face of the future.
October 15, 2007... In the ongoing debate over the UK's energy future there are many arguments. Here's one: renewable energy is the UK's only hope for a secure energy supply in the face of dwindling fossil fuel reserves. Here's another: there are loads...

THE BIG PICTURE: Damage limitation.
October 15, 2007... Automatic sensor system aims to cut time and costs of aircraft inspections A system of sensors that can automatically inspect aircraft structures for damage has undergone its first trial on a BAE Systems Hawk jet trainer. The...

THE BIG PICTURE: Mirrored army to protect Earth.
October 15, 2007... A fleet of satellites carrying large mirrors, flying in close formation, could save the Earth from a direct hit by an asteroid, according to space scientists at Glasgow University. The 'Mirror Bee' concept is the best method for deflecting...

THE BIG PICTURE: Laser joins anti-ballistic arsenal.
October 15, 2007... The world's most powerful airborne laser capable of shooting down a ballistic missile is being re-assembled by Northrop Grumman and the US Missile Defence Agency (MDA). The laser is being integrated onto MDA's Airborne Laser (ABL). High-...

IN BRIEF: Micropatch needles.(Brief article)
October 15, 2007... Relief could be in sight for people who are terrified of hypodermic needles. US researchers at Emory University, Atlanta, and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed microneedles that could be applied to the skin in patches to...

IN BRIEF: Transplants in sight.(Brief article)
October 15, 2007... Europeans awaiting cornea transplants could soon benefit from the EU- funded CORNEA project that has developed artificial corneas made from a commercially available polymer. Project member Dr Joachim Storsberg of the Fraunhofer Institute for...

IN BRIEF: Lab link-up.(Brief article)
October 15, 2007... Scientists in London will be able to use scientific instruments and technology in the US, thanks to The Global Lab. Launched at Imperial College last week, it links laboratories in the UK and the US via the Lambda Rail, a high bandwidth/low...

NEWS: Floating rovers.
October 15, 2007... Robot-controlled helium balloons could be used to explore the surface of Mars Ballooning was mankind's earliest step off the ground, and arguably marked the first chapter in the history of space exploration. Now researchers at the...

NEWS: Radio revolution.
October 15, 2007... A reconfigurable antenna could speed up two-way radio communication In AN effort to improve the speed and quality of two-way radio communication, Birmingham University researchers have developed a self- adapting antenna for cognitive radio....

NEWS: Magnetic view.
October 15, 2007... Magnetic shield protecting the Earth from solar wind to come under close scrutiny Leicester University has beaten off more than 80 competitors for NASA funding to develop an X-ray telescope that could be used on the Moon. In...

NEWS: Flight without sight.
October 15, 2007... Suite of onboard systems helps helicopter pilots fly blind Qinetiq has successfully tested technologies that it says will make light of a helicopter pilot's work during adverse flying conditions. Visibility can be greatly hindered at...

NEWS: Clear route to power.
October 15, 2007... Organic photovoltaic film applied to windows and roofs could prove the key to cheap solar energy A thin layer of organic photovoltaic (PV) film applied to the windows and rooftops of homes and businesses around the world has the...

NEWS: Cluster reconnaissance.
October 15, 2007... A technique to tether microsatellites so they can study disruptive plasma bubbles is being devised Mathematicians and astrodynamicists at Surrey Space Centre are embarking on a three-year research project to test the feasibility of...

NEWS: Crunch time.
October 15, 2007... Steel that becomes stronger as it deforms aims to save lives on the roads A form of steel that gets stronger as it deforms is being developed by the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research (MPIR) in Germany. The material, dubbed TWIP...

VIEWPOINT: Hard sell for green cars.
October 15, 2007... Fuel cell cars could be appearing on the roads in the next 10 years, despite the obstacles facing manufacturers, says Paul Nieuwenhuis Fuel cell cars are regarded by many as the answer to all our environmental concerns but so far all we...

LETTER: Thinking not allowed.(Letter to the editor)
October 15, 2007... I agree entirely with the beginning of Dr Mynott's correspondence (Letters, 1 October). Unfortunately, he then goes off at a tangent, possibly even on a rant, expressing his personal views on specific medical matters. This is exactly...

LETTER: Saline solution.(Letter to the editor)
October 15, 2007... The idea of using electronic methods within a microwave oven to precisely detect the levels of salt and fat in food (News, 1 October) may, at first, seem to be a good idea. However, the issue of salt in food has almost become fashionable,...

ENERGY SECURITY: Generation gain.
October 15, 2007... Companies are tackling the urgent need for new methods of storing and producing energy by developing underground salt caves and novel hybrids involving wind, hydrogen and gas. Stuart Nathan reports The energy sector has always depended on...

INSIGHT: Silent witness.
October 15, 2007... In a bid to help make potentially life-saving decisions, West Midlands firefighters are the latest emergency service to use a new unmanned spy drone. Jon Excell reports Later this month the West Midlands Fire service will take delivery...

INTERVIEW: Science without spin.(Interview)
October 15, 2007... Chris Rapley, the new director of the Science Museum, is on a mission to reignite the passion for discovery and celebrate the discipline's unsung heroes. Jon Excell reports There's some confusion at the reception of the Science Museum in...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Ski lift.
October 15, 2007... A passion for the piste combined with chemistry know-how has led to a self-waxing ski that is said to increase speed. Siobhan Wagner reports When Peter Styring was reading chemistry at Sheffield University he wondered if there was a way...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SPACE TECHNOLOGY: Clearer outlook.
October 15, 2007... A joint European/Japanese space mission will use UK-designed sensing technology in a bid to discover how altitude and density of clouds affects climate change. Siobhan Wagner reports A UK-designed remote-sensing satellite instrument could...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - HYBRID POWER: Economy drive.
October 15, 2007... Retired engineer customises his Toyota Prius drive system, improving fuel economy and making move towards full electric power. Siobhan Wagner reports A retired electrical engineer has revamped his Toyota Prius drive system to improve its...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Global links.
October 15, 2007... The speed of change in the world economy means it is vital for UK industry to improve its innovation infrastructure, argues David Sainsbury Manufacturing has been undergoing a major period of change in recent years and, if we are to seize...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MACHINE TOOLS: Single-minded.
October 15, 2007... Rapidly-developing technology means machine tools are now able to offer several functions in a single unit which improves set-up times and cost efficiency. Martin Oakham explains Technology is developing and changing so rapidly that...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - COMPRESSORS: Changes in the air.
October 15, 2007... In the face of rising fuel costs, the compressors market sees innovative solutions to energy efficiency as the most important driver for change. Julia Pierce reports The compresSors market, rather than relying on innovation to drive it...

CAREERS: Spoilt for choice.
October 15, 2007... Contrary to popular belief, the car industry in the UK is flourishing and from an employment point of view is going from strength to strength. This is due to over 40 vehicle manufacturers, ranging from global volume companies to small,...

COMMENT: The auto industry is not the enemy.
October 29, 2007... Here at The Engineer we're not ones for the sort of Euro-shock story beloved of some of our colleagues - the 'ban on bent bananas' type of thing. Sometimes, however, you do have to wonder whether Brussels is actually located on another...

THE BIG PICTURE: Light touch from Philips.
October 29, 2007... Designs of the future include a daylight window and pregnancy room A daylight window that gives the occupant of a hotel room total control over ambient light, and a pregnancy room designed to give mothers-to-be and their partners a less...

THE BIG PICTURE: Hydrogen test for spy plane.
October 29, 2007... Boeing has successfully tested the hydrogen propulsion system of its High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned spy aircraft using an engine developed by Ford. During the test, the engine ran for nearly four days in a control chamber at...

THE BIG PICTURE: Heart of the matter.
October 29, 2007... IMEC's Eindhoven-based research laboratory has developed a wireless electrocardiography (ECG) patch that can continually monitor heart rate. Consisting of a wireless sensor node on a flexible, polyimide substrate, and integrated into...

IN BRIEF: Aerospace ambition.(Brief article)
October 29, 2007... Manchester University hopes to become a leading centre for aerospace research with the launch of the its Aerospace Research Institute. The institute, made up of more than 100 researchers at the university, will investigate the development of...

IN BRIEF: Carbon co-operation.(Brief article)
October 29, 2007... A new technology to reduce CO2 emissions is being developed by Aker Kvaerner, SINTEF and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). At the core of the co-operation agreement is a plan for SINTEF (the largest independent research...

IN BRIEF: Award cements research.(Brief article)
October 29, 2007... Researchers from Queen's University Belfast and Leeds University have been awarded #500,000 by the EPSRC to continue research on biological cements to repair spinal 'burst fractures'. Dr Fraser Buchanan of Queen's University School of...

NEWS: Child minder.
October 29, 2007... Driver-reversal alert technology adapted for non-contact monitor aimed to keep an eye on babies Researchers have adapted technology that alerts drivers to obstructions while reversing to create a non-contact monitor that observes a...

NEWS: Dry run to beat superbugs.
October 29, 2007... Microbiological chamber investigates alternative ways of fighting hospital infections Researchers at Bradford University are investigating the effects of humidity on hospital 'superbugs' using one of the largest biological test chambers...

NEWS: Music to the ears.
October 29, 2007... A five to 10-channel audio software aims to transport listeners into the performance venue Scientists HOPE to add a new dimension to music with technology that will transport digital home entertainment system users into the venue of...

NEWS: Breathe easy.
October 29, 2007... New software may provide more accurate MRI scans by eliminating errors that occur as patients breathe researchers have developed software for radiologists to capture more accurate images of moving organs, reducing the number of...

NEWS: Animal magic.
October 29, 2007... Mimetics could produce ultrasonic sound systems to identify cancers deep within the body The technique used by bats to catch insects at night could be adapted to find tumours deep inside a person's body. Engineers at Strathclyde...

NEWS: No hiding place.
October 29, 2007... Wireless sensor network could improve CCTV identification around potential terrorist targets A network of millimetre-wave radar sensors is being developed at Bath University to protect potential terrorist targets such as airports and...

NEWS: Scatter for cover.
October 29, 2007... A scatter-enhanced 3D X-ray scanner will help fit the final piece of the jigsaw to aircraft luggage screening Airport luggage screeners may soon have a tool at their disposal that combines 3D imagery with the ability to highlight any...

VIEWPOINT: Beyond the boundary.
October 29, 2007... BP is using renewable energy, conversion technologies and carbon sequestration in its search for fresh energy sources, says Tony Meggs Conventional fuels will continue to supply the lion's share of the world's energy needs for decades to...

LETTER: Let's not forget oil.(Letter to the editor)
October 29, 2007... A recent report in the national press suggested that oil is steadily becoming a scarcer resource and access to it will be the major factor that will cause wars, riots and other political disturbances in the years ahead. While I have...

LETTER: Diet for change.(Letter to the editor)
October 29, 2007... Attempts to use modern tech- nology to monitor the healthiness or otherwise of food are laudable (News, 1 October and Letters passim) but can only ever scratch the surface of the problem of obesity and poor diet. Engineering of this type...

LETTER: In praise of trams.(Letter to the editor)
October 29, 2007... I cannot understand the antipathy towards trams of some of your correspondents (Letters passim). They are an efficient and modern solution to mass transport for urban areas, which is one of the biggest problems facing our overcrowded...

LETTER: Prioritise NHS cash.(Letter to the editor)
October 29, 2007... Almost every issue the Engineer carries news of another 'amazing development' of systems that promise to push back the boundaries of medical science. But when I turn on my television or tune in to the radio I see and hear not this but...

EXPLORATION & PRODUCTION: Frozen assets.
October 29, 2007... Before it can harvest the huge fuel reserves thought to lie beneath the Arctic ice, the oil and gas industry must first overcome a significant knowledge gap. Jon Excell reports For centuries the Northwest passage linking the Atlantic and...

INSIGHT: New wave.
October 29, 2007... An original method of harnessing wave power using underwater devices claims significant advantages over surface-based systems. Stuart Nathan reports Visitors to the UK's Atlantic coast cannot fail to be impressed by the rolling ocean...

INTERVIEW: London calling.(Interview)
October 29, 2007... John Wood, the new head of Imperial College London's engineering faculty, aims to promote the profession as a creative pursuit by adding the wow factor. Jon Excell reports To say that Imperial College London's engineering faculty has a...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Baked to perfection.
October 29, 2007... An infrared oven has proved the best and cheapest method of attaching spoilers to Jaguar's S-Type vehicles. Siobhan Wagner reports Jaguar is using a new method to fit rear spoilers on its S-Type with a custom-built infrared oven at its...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - COMPONENT MONITORING: Eye opener.
October 29, 2007... German researchers develop X-ray camera claimed to provide improved reliability when monitoring components on the production line. Siobhan Wagner reports an X-ray camera using special optics and claimed to last longer than conventional...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION: In control.
October 29, 2007... Components of varied shape, size and weight can now be produced on a single assembly line, thanks to a new-style servopneumatic proportional gripper. Siobhan Wagner reports A NEW servopneumatic proportional gripper with independent jaw...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Close the skills gap.
October 29, 2007... For the sake of diversity and success, it is time for engineering and technical companies to start concentrating their efforts on recruiting and retaining more women, argues Elizabeth Pollitzer The struggle for talent is worldwide and...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - WIDER VIEW: Wider view.
October 29, 2007... Ease of use and lower prices mean machine vision technology is broadening its appeal for application in new sectors. Julia Pierce reports Machine vision technologies, once the preserve of selected industries, are now expanding into new...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - CNC MACHING: Turning point.
October 29, 2007... For manufacturers keen to lower their production costs, there are many benefits and advantages to taking the plunge and investing in mill/turn technology. Martin Oakham explains For the increasing number of manufacturers investing in...