The Engineer articles from September 2005

The Engineer archives from September 2005

COMMENT: Technology gets a buzz from F1.
September 5, 2005... It's a familiar refrain. The UK is great at developing world-leading technology but lags in getting it out of the laboratory and quickly to market. While the UK's innovators frequently struggle to nurse an idea from seedling to commercial...

BIG PICTURE: Jaguar takes a singular approach.
September 5, 2005... Car maker to unveil most advanced model ever at Frankfurt motor show Jaguar will unveil what is being hailed as its most advanced sports car ever at next week's Frankfurt motor show. The XK Coupe, pictured, has a rigid, lightweight...

BIG PICTURE: Core issues at CERN.
September 5, 2005... Crucial components of the device that will reproduce conditions similar to those immediately after the Big Bang left Oxford last week for the European Particle Physics Laboratory, CERN, near Geneva. Four modules assembled by scientists at...

BIG PICTURE: Bullet plane.
September 5, 2005... Japan is to test a supersonic passenger aircraft at Woomera, Australia, at the end of this month as it resumes its bid to develop Concorde's successor. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) aims to build an aircraft that can...

IN BRIEF: Switched-on beetles.
September 5, 2005... US engineers have created a switch inspired by a mechanism found in palm beetles. The device, developed at Cornell University, uses water droplets to form adhesive bonds almost as strong as aluminium. It can work by itself on the scale of a...

IN BRIEF: New thermals for Her Majesty.
September 5, 2005... The Royal Family has announced it is to use geothermal energy to heat and cool Buckingham Palace. Water containing a chemical refrigerant will be circulated through a loop of pipework running through the bed of the lake in the palace's...

IN BRIEF: Nailing security problems.
September 5, 2005... Japanese researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to read data written into fingernails using a laser. Scientists from the universities of Tokushima and Hokkaido wrote dot patterns on a nail using an ultra-fast laser. The molecules of...

NEWS: Hot work.
September 5, 2005... Dual initiative to develop sensors to monitor performance inside fuel cells Rolls-Royce and Cambridge University aim to develop laser sensors able to monitor the internal performance of industrial-scale fuel cells. Engineers...

NEWS: 100MW fuel cell power plant to be fuelled by coal.
September 5, 2005... US power giant GE Energy plans to develop a 100MW fuel cell power plant to be fuelled by coal. The US Department of Energy has awarded GE Energy's Hybrid Power Generation Systems division an $83m contract to design the plant to maximise the...

NEWS: Seal of approval.
September 5, 2005... New material could slash the production cost of fuel cell systems A UK electro-chemical specialist is claiming a newly-developed membrane represents a significant step towards commercially viable fuel cells. ITM Power said the new...

NEWS: Little time.
September 5, 2005... Tiny atomic clocks for hand-held devices aim to improve accuracy of weapons guidance systems Atomic clock technology practical for use in hand-held devices moved a step closer after the US military commissioned further development of a...

NEWS: A brief history of atomic time.
September 5, 2005... In the 1930s Isidor Rabi, a physics professor at Columbia University, developed a technique called atomic beam magnetic resonance. He became convinced this could be applied to a clock and in 1949 the National Bureau of Standards (now the...

NEWS: A reason to smile.
September 5, 2005... Developments in nanotechnology could make sensitive teeth a thing of the past, claim UK researchers Those suffering from sensitive teeth could be handed a long-term solution to their problem, thanks to a development in nanotechnology...

NEWS: Signalling a change.
September 5, 2005... EU-backed GPS project could cut cost of operating low-density lines A satellite-based command- and-control system for railway lines could dramatically cut the cost of operating quiet sections of track, according to its developers. The...

NEWS: Mr Mussel.
September 5, 2005... #12m research initiative to investigate control of biofouling on ships and key marine equipment Coating materials that can control the build-up of organisms on underwater structures while meeting tough new environmental regulations are...

NEWS: Batty about sonar.
September 5, 2005... EU-funded project uses research into bats' ears to produce robotic in- air sonar system A robotic 'bat head' that can emit and detect ultrasonic frequencies has been developed by a European research consortium. It could pave the way for...

NEWS: Bubble, bubble... spot the trouble.
September 5, 2005... A cancer screening technique that uses ultrasound to track the movement of tiny gas bubbles around a patient's blood system is claimed to be quicker and more accurate than existing diagnostic methods. Developed by engineers at Siemens...

FOCUS: Night hawks.
September 5, 2005... At the Frankfurt motor show the spotlight is on road safety, with BMW and Mercedes both showcasing systems to help drivers see and avoid hazards in the dark. Dan Thisdell reports Motor industry players from around the world are heading for...

BUSINESS: Joint strike by Rolls-Royce and GE.
September 5, 2005... The two engine manufacturers co-sign JSF engine contract A joint Rolls-Royce and General Electric team has been awarded a contract worth $2.4bn (#1.5bn) to develop the F136 engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The deal puts the...

BUSINESS: Transatlantic deal for Lockheed Martin and Insys.
September 5, 2005... Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's largest contractor, has signalled its intentions to gain a stronger foothold in the UK market with its second major acquisition here this year. Following a deal in February to take over Stasys, a consultant...

VIEWPOINT: For health's sake.
September 5, 2005... With healthcare expenditure escalating worldwide and developed countries' populations all ageing, medical technology must act now to meet the needs of tomorrow, says Louis Burns We are constantly flooded with stories about the rising costs...

LETTER: Sorry, it's a let-down.(Letter to the Editor)
September 5, 2005... Your item about the airship industry (News, 8 August) seems to be a typical story of UK innovation racing ahead of the market. Airships represent a branch of the aerospace industry that has always struggled to find a role. Even the giant...

LETTER: Cashing in.(Letter to the Editor)
September 5, 2005... Many of the 'researchers' quoted in The Engineer seem to have a great time working on projects that attract a good deal of public money over long periods of time. Three or four years does not seem uncommon for the type of research often...

LETTER: Cashing in...on disasters.(Letter to the Editor)
September 5, 2005... The recent hurricane damage in the southern United States is yet another reminder that when natural disaster strikes, it is engineers who will be asked to rebuild the infrastructure that has been swept away by storm or flood. As with the...

FORMULA ONE: Dream team.
September 5, 2005... Williams wants access to more technologies in a bid to regain the F1 driver's championship, and Qinetiq is keen to see its systems perform in Grands Prix. The benefits for both are obvious, which is why they have signed a partnership deal....

FORMULA ONE: Materials.
September 5, 2005... The Williams/Qinetiq link in materials technology will cover areas including metals, ceramics, polymeric materials and composites. A key area identified by Qinetiq will be related to aircraft structural components, where it believes its work in...

FORMULA ONE: GPS.
September 5, 2005... GPS for data acquisition technology could provide Williams with an advantage over conventional satellite positioning, according to Qinetiq. The research group has developed through its military and aerospace work a system that is accurate to...

INTERVIEW: Eye on the future.
September 5, 2005... Although Roke Manor Research is renowned for contract R&D, managing director Paul Stein says the company is doing a lot less 'R' and far more 'D' these days. Niall Firth reports Armchair cricket fans thrilled by this summer's Ashes...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SIMULATION: White hope.
September 5, 2005... Simulation software could enable development of trains to handle that perennial bugbear of network operators and passengers: snow on the track. Stuart Nathan reports Snow and trains are not a good combination. Rail users everywhere are...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - BIOMIMETICS: Hard copy.
September 5, 2005... Researchers have discovered the secret behind the beetle's strong but light armour, which, says Stuart Nathan, could be the basis for applications in the aerospace and defence industries It's a tough life, being a beetle. When you're not...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOFTWARE: Solutions you cam afford.
September 5, 2005... Just like their PLM counterparts, CAM vendors are beginning to focus on improving the process, as well as making it more affordable. Charles Clarke says now is the time to buy The mid-range modelling market was defined in 1995 by the...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - LINEAR MOTION: Direct action.
September 5, 2005... The uptake of linear technology for machining has been steady, but not nearly as dramatic as experts predicted. New systems, however, aim to make the leap. Martin Oakham explains When I last put the cases for and against the use of linear...

COMMENT: Time to make an exhibition of ourselves.
September 19, 2005... Welcome to September. The holiday season is over, the summer suddenly feels like a distant memory and now there isn't even the cricket to remind us of warmer, longer days. The trees welcome the autumn by shedding their leaves. The world...

Flight deck works like a dream for pilots.
September 19, 2005... Dreamliner's controls boast top-flight technology, but are standard enough they'll take 'just five days to learn' Boeing has revealed details of the flight deck for its 787 Dreamliner. The aerospace giant also offered an insight into the...

Up for a challenge.
September 19, 2005... The F430 Challenge, Ferrari's eight-cylinder competition car that will be taking part in next year's Ferrari Challenge event, the Trofeo Pirelli, has been previewed at the Frankfurt motor show. The braking system is taken from Formula 1...

Radio does a double-take.
September 19, 2005... A hybrid radio that can receive and record programmes in both digital and conventional formats has been demonstrated at the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam. The device, created by the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)...

IN BRIEF: Choppers to see how the land lies.
September 19, 2005... A landing aid sensor developed by BAE Systems in Australia may soon make it possible for helicopters to land in conditions currently considered too dangerous. The device will allow pilots to operate in poor visibility conditions such as sand...

IN BRIEF: Explosives detection to go underground in the capital.
September 19, 2005... London's mayor Ken Livingstone has launched a search for a 'sniffer' technology to detect explosives on the city's Tube network. The mayor told MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee that airflow caused by Tube trains would make it hard to...

IN BRIEF: Scientists to prove many a true word is spoken in gestures.
September 19, 2005... The US government is funding the development of a lie detector capable of interpreting facial expressions and body language. It could be used by immigration officers, the police and embassies. The Department of Homeland Security has...

Bridging the gap.
September 19, 2005... UK firm unveils design for dual-use transmission system A new continuously variable transmission system that allows an engine to operate at its most efficient speed is the first to bridge the gap between hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles,...

Hybrids get thumbs up.
September 19, 2005... Three car giants announce collaboration on 'two-mode' hybrid technology In a deal that has been hailed as a major vote of confidence for hybrid drive systems, GM, DaimlerChrysler and BMW have announced that they are to collaborate on the...

Treasure hunt.
September 19, 2005... UK team believes technologies adapted from oil and gas industries provide the key to Davy Jones' locker A UK company using advanced technology to find and recover sunken treasure has located its first target - a 19th century shipwreck...

Safety in the bag.
September 19, 2005... World's first commercial motorbike airbag is latest example of global advances in crash protection systems Honda has announced the launch of the world's first commercially- available motorcycle airbag. Developed by engineers at the...

Little teras.
September 19, 2005... Terahertz imaging could be used to provide handheld screening devices A UK project plans to bring terahertz (THz) imaging capability to low- power portable equipment, thanks to optoelectronic technology first used in the telecoms industry....

Lighting the way for gentler cancer treatment.
September 19, 2005... A new generation of organic optoelectronic materials under development in Scotland could lead to much less painful treatment for skin cancer, according to researchers. The work is being undertaken by Prof Ifor Samuel at the Organic...

Message in an implant.
September 19, 2005... Brain sensor in motor neurone sufferers could redirect blocked muscle signals for other tasks A micro-sensor that could be injected into the brain of those suffering from motor neurone disease and transmit data to a computer is being...

Treatment time bombs.
September 19, 2005... Microcapsules of drugs that self-explode within the body at set times could free patients with conditions such as cancer and HIV from the need to take numerous daily doses of medicine. It could also benefit people in developing nations...

Bob's your output.
September 19, 2005... Harnessing energy from water's bobbing action 'could produce more power than windfarms' Manchester University has unveiled an innovative wave energy device that uses the 'bobbing' effect of water to create power. Developed as part of...

Watching brief for Wi-Fi.
September 19, 2005... Research into using Wi-Fi transmissions as an alternative radar technology could lead to low-cost tracking and surveillance systems, according to engineers at University College, London. The UCL team claimed technical similarities between radar...

FOCUS: The eye of the storm.
September 19, 2005... In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's devastation of New Orleans detailed satellite imaging, operated by a Surrey company, has been pivotal in co- ordinating the relief effort. Niall Firth reports Aid from around the world has poured into the...

BUSINESS: BAE reaps Airbus dividend.
September 19, 2005... UK defence giant turns in robust results, due to airliner orders, MoD work and a bold transatlantic strategy An increasingly bold transatlantic strategy, a strong performance in its large-scale military programmes for the MoD and growing...

BUSINESS: Spinning is tops for Generics.
September 19, 2005... Buoyed by a strong performance from its spin-offs, the Generics group announced a 28 per cent increase in turnover for the first half of 2005. The Cambridge technology development and investment specialist reduced its operating loss to...

VIEWPOINT: Reality check.
September 19, 2005... Innovations such as high-definition TV are forcing the consumer electronics industry to rethink its business model, says Rudy Provoost All too often we have seen innovation driven by technology for technology's sake, whereas simplicity...

Letter: Railway should be run by people, not robots.(Letter to the Editor)
September 19, 2005... There is a lot in the engineer about the increasingly sophisticated devices used to monitor and control safety on railway lines such as satellite navigation (News, 5 September) and track sensors, and the efforts being made to overcome the...

Letters - TALKING POINT: F1 success needs cash and technology.(Letter to the Editor)
September 19, 2005... Good luck to Williams in its attempt to get back into pole position following its partnership deal with Qinetiq (Feature, 5 September). As is clear from your article, Qinetiq is a clever company. but I think that it's going to take a bit...

AIRPORTS OF THE FUTURE: Air support.
September 19, 2005... The challenges of moving tens of thousands of people a day through airports are more acute than ever. But new technology promises to make the experience more rapid, painless, efficient and safe. George Coupe checks in to the airport of the...

INTERVIEW - LARRY BURNS: Global search.
September 19, 2005... General Motors' Larry Burns is expanding the car giant's focus from US- centric R&D to collaborative work all around the world. Christopher Sell reports 'It isn't easy getting on Larry's calendar,' The Engineer was told. This is not...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING: Eye opener.
September 19, 2005... The world's first fully-automated contact lens manufacturing system claims to make the most top-quality contact lenses, from the least material, as fast as possible. Stuart Nathan reports Making contact lenses is one of the ultimate...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - GEMS: A cut above the rest.
September 19, 2005... Gem cutting has always been the preserve of craftsmen, but two research teams hope to automate the process to minimise lost material and extract the maximum value. Stuart Nathan reports In 1673, the jeweller to the French court, Sieur...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - LENS TECHNOLOGY: In plane focus.
September 19, 2005... A joint UK-US initiative predicts that in the future it will be possible to simply produce a flat, near-perfect lens using cost- effective materials. Stuart Nathan explains Imaging systems, electronics and digital computers could benefit...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - METROLOGY: For good measure.
September 19, 2005... Precision is paramount if UK manufacturers are to maintain their edge against newly-industrialised nations. Mark Venables discusses quality measuring solutions for the aerospace industry It has long been accepted that the best way for the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - WASTE MANAGEMENT: Watching the waste line.
September 19, 2005... Although there has been a delay in UK electrical and electronic waste legislation, effective management in civil engineering is playing a key role in prestige construction projects. Paul Gay reports As European legislation deadlines draw...

TEAM 05: TOTAL ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NEC 4-6 OCTOBER.
September 19, 2005... When the UK manufacturing and engineering community gathers at the NEC for the annual three-day TEAM event - Total Engineering and Manufacturing - from 4-6 October, the main topic of conversation is likely to be the pressure that the sector is...

TEAM 05: Timely solutions.
September 19, 2005... To compete globally, companies are taking advantage of a wide array of design technologies to ensure they meet time-to-market schedules and maximise profit potential. Mark Venables reports In today's economic climate, no company can afford...

TEAM 05: Cutting edge.
September 19, 2005... Engineering companies are under pressure to invest in new technologies to compete against low-cost economies. But too often inexpensive cutting tools are overlooked. Mark Venables explains Visitors to this year's Tooling show will come...