The Engineer articles from September 2007

The Engineer archives from September 2007

COMMENT: Textile innovators are no dummies.
September 3, 2007... Next time you buy a #3 T-shirt from Tesco or Asda, spare a thought not just for the low-paid worker who produced it in Malaysia or India, but for the long-lost golden age of the UK rag trade. The textiles industry was one of the...

THE BIG PICTURE: Ford races to cell-power record.
September 3, 2007... Carmaker notches up world first as fuel-cell car smashes 200mph barrier Petrol heads who doubt the high-speed potential of hybrid or fuel cell- powered cars may have to curb their cynicism following a record breaking world first from Ford....

THE BIG PICTURE: Robina exhibits a fine set of wheels.
September 3, 2007... Visitors to the Toyota Kaikan Exhibition Hall in Japan will be greeted not by a smiling, grey-suited guide, but by Robina - a walking, talking robot on wheels that can even sign autographs should you want it. An acronym for Robot As...

THE BIG PICTURE: MMU helps put bullet trains on track.
September 3, 2007... Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) engineers are helping Hitachi develop the Channel Tunnnel Link bullet trains by researching the predicted wheel wear of the high-speed trains which is crucial to their safety. The MMU team spent...

IN BRIEF: Researchers brew up green fuel.(Brief article)
September 3, 2007... Fuel made from the by-products of brewing and distilling is being developed by researchers at the University of Abertay Dundee. The year- long project will study new methods of turning spent grain into bioethanol. The main advantages of...

IN BRIEF: Silicon connections.(Brief article)
September 3, 2007... A technique for producing conductive nanowires on silicon chips has been demonstrated by researchers at the US National Institute for Nanotechnology (NINT). It provides a way of connecting shrinking electronic components. 'We've figured out a...

IN BRIEF: Nanowire coating aids surgery.(Brief article)
September 3, 2007... A simple, inexpensive way to create a nanowire coating on the surface of biocompatible titanium can be used to create more effective surfaces for hip replacements and dental reconstruction. The discovery was made by University of Arkansas...

NEWS: Mobility treatment.
September 3, 2007... Electronic nerve root implant could improve quality of life for people with serious spinal cord injury A team at University College London (UCL) is developing a spinal canal implant that could improve the quality of life and life...

NEWS: Mine of information.
September 3, 2007... Acoustic sensing systems will provide detailed model of the seabed to help locate explosive devices Naval mine-hunting operations could be made easier with an acoustic sensing system that can provide a detailed model of the seabed,...

NEWS: Pressing problem.
September 3, 2007... UK university team developing device to help make blood pressure readings more accurate Research being conducted at Newcastle University could lead to the development of a blood pressure device that provides physicians with considerably...

NEWS: Work of friction.
September 3, 2007... Researchers say controlling airflow to reduce drag could cut aircraft fuel burn and pollution Drag caused by airflow on an aircraft's body, also known as skin- friction drag, can increase the level of fuel burn and pollution produced. ...

NEWS: Efficiency drive.
September 3, 2007... University/industry collaboration develops ID tag system to speed up diagnosis and pinpoint faulty car parts A SYSTEM that could tell mechanics which car parts need servicing has been developed by Cambridge University researchers aided by...

NEWS: Speech therapy.
September 3, 2007... US team aims to capture motor neuron sufferers' vocal brain signals to restore speech and movement Severely disabled people with medical conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - the most common form of motor neuron disease -...

VIEWPOINT: Grown-up solution.
September 3, 2007... With biofuels about the only large-scale alternative to oil for cleaner transport, we must take advantage of the opportunities they offer, says Andris Piebalgs Transport depends on oil for 98 per cent of its fuel needs. That degree of...

LETTER: Electric points.(Letter to the editor)
September 3, 2007... The Tesla is a certainly a good looking car (Feature, 13 August), but it will not get me anywhere near Manchester, or my annual Cornwall holiday on one charge - and where on Earth do I put my luggage? I can fill up with petrol or diesel in...

LETTER: Silver linings.(Letter to the editor)
September 3, 2007... In answer to the editor's leader on the government's new review of the UK railways (Comment, 30 July) your editorial and Mr Porter's observations on the same subject (Talking Point, 13 August) there are in fact many silver linings among the...

LETTER: Naive belief.(Letter to the editor)
September 3, 2007... The Comment headline 'New Electrics could be a turn-on' (13 August) nearly juxtaposed with 'Slow-speed railways' on a searing letter regarding the state of the UK rail network (Talking Point, same issue) was intriguing. The recent High...

SMART TEXTILES: A cut above.(Company overview)
September 3, 2007... The emergence of new applications and technologies for intelligent clothing may help the beleaguered European textile industry fight off low-cost competitors. Jon Excell reports From solar-powered bikinis that charge your iPod, to wearable...

INSIGHT: Finer detail.
September 3, 2007... Titan, one of the world's most advanced scanning/transmission electron microscopes, means UK scientists can for the first time observe in detail the interaction of atoms. George Coupe reports For years the wild frontier of particle...

INTERVIEW: Action man.(Interview)
September 3, 2007... Ian Pearson, the minister in charge of the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has the job of turning research ideas into commercial success. Stuart Nathan reports It was probably inevitable that Ian Pearson, the son of...

DESIGN ENGINEERING: Disc with a difference.
September 3, 2007... Polyurethane-based spinal disc replacement technology aims to offer more comfortable and durable alternative to traditional methods. Siobhan Wagner reports In the early 90s, when latex allergies were causing medical concern, UK chemist...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - LASER TECHNOLOGY: Mercury in focus.
September 3, 2007... German researchers are developing a new diode laser to provide astronomers with a 3D map of the most mysterious planet. Siobhan Wagner reports The geology of Mercury, the innermost and smallest planet in our solar system, remains a...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Digital weapon.
September 3, 2007... The secret to gaining competitive edge is reducing the time spent modelling design solutions and using digital prototyping instead, says Andrew Anagnost Just as you do not become a first-class engineer merely by owning a top- of-the-range...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - SOFTWARE: Spin doctors.
September 3, 2007... Recent CAD releases have led to improvements ranging from a customised dragster clutch for easier maintenance to a two-gear wheelchair drive for navigating ramps and hills. Charles Clarke reports First Sweden used SolidWorks to design the...

DESIGN ENGINEERING - MOTORS: Set to auto.
September 3, 2007... Motors have automated many of the functions once carried out manually which means competition is intense to produce the right size and type. Colin Carter explains People are getting lazier - and we all want products with automatic...

CAREERS: Flight path to work.
September 3, 2007... The aerospace sector in the UK is buoyant and long-term prospects look good. As Julia Pierce explains, finding the right candidates is often a job in itself The UK aerospace sector is thriving thanks to the number of large contracts...

COMMENT: A sticking plaster won't do.
September 17, 2007... The stock response to many of life's trials and tribulations is 'at least you've got your health'. But what if you haven't? And if you haven't, how will you know, and what can be done about it? It is increasingly clear that the above...

THE BIG PICTURE: Close look at art.
September 17, 2007... International contest announces winners as nano-art comes under the microscope A WORK of art, reminiscent of Picasso's Blue Period, has won its designer E5,000 (over #3,000) in an international contest. However, whereas the Spanish artist...

THE BIG PICTURE: Zephyr goes like the wind to claim record.
September 17, 2007... UK technology group Qinetiq claims its Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) UAV has beaten the official world record for the longest unmanned flight by 24 hours. The time was set during MoD-funded trials at the US military's White...

THE BIG PICTURE: Volvo plugs its cleaner hybrid at Frankfurt.
September 17, 2007... Volvo has unveiled a plug-in hybrid promising 66 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than other hybrids on the market at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The ReCharge Concept is a specially-designed Volvo C30 with individual...

IN BRIEF: Stimulating approach.(Brief article)
September 17, 2007... Seizure patients whose condition cannot be successfully controlled by drugs could benefit from a neurostimulator implanted in their skull. The RNS System, that claims to detect oncoming seizures, then delivers a brief electrical stimulus to...

IN BRIEF: Ricardo 'improves' diesel engine.(Brief article)
September 17, 2007... Car industry strategic consultant Ricardo claims to have demonstrated a diesel engine that can meet the US Federal Tier II Bin 5 standard for emissions without the use of NOx aftertreatment. The research is continuing with the aim of...

IN BRIEF: Cree sees the light.(Brief article)
September 17, 2007... Lighting energy performance specialist Cree says it has has demonstrated light output of more than 1,000 lumens from a single R&D LED. A single-die LED, driven at four amps, produced 1,050 lumens in cool white, and 760 lumens in a warm-white...

NEWS: Diagnosis delivered.
September 17, 2007... Microsystems are being developed to improve health monitoring and provide safer tests on foetus A microfluidic device to reduce the risk of miscarriage associated with some Down's Syndrome tests in foetuses is being developed by...

NEWS: Ear to the track.
September 17, 2007... Micro sensor that interprets the body's shock waves could improve athletes' all-round performance An unobtrusive sensor that collects and immediately transmits data might help the UK's athletes in their quest for medals at London's 2012...

NEWS: Mood music.
September 17, 2007... Listeners can fit the song to the moment if Glasgow researchers succeed in classifying its emotional content Listeners will no longer have to search for the song to fit the moment if Glasgow researchers succeed in classifying its...

NEWS: Silent callers.
September 17, 2007... Special filter could make long-distance phone calls as clear as a bell Crackly interference often associated with long-distance telephone calls could be eliminated thanks to a special filter developed by researchers at the Optoelectronics...

NEWS: Concrete example.
September 17, 2007... Marine energy device uses advanced concrete construction to cut cost of wave-generated electricity Bristol-based Embley Energy is developing marine energy technology that uses advanced concrete construction methods for lightness and...

NEWS: Volvo calls time.
September 17, 2007... Onboard breathalyser uses fuel cell technology to improve road safety by preventing drink driving VOLVO has become the first major car maker to develop an alcohol immobiliser for its vehicles, bringing the 'alcolock' a step closer to the...

VIEWPOINT: Healthier solutions.
September 17, 2007... To meet the needs of millions around the world facing death because they have no access to quality healthcare we must provide integrated, sustainable and innovative policies, says Gerard Kleisterlee The future of healthcare is one of the...

LETTER: On track, but late.(Letter to the editor)
September 17, 2007... I agree with Jon Excell's online leader heralding the first journey of the UK's High Speed One from Paris to London St Pancras - it is a major UK engineering success story, except it is 24 years late. That is the length of time it has...

LETTER: Nuclear aid.(Letter to the editor)
September 17, 2007... On a recent Radio 4 Today programme, John Hutton MP, business, enterprise and regulatory reform secretary, repeated what the government has said on previous occasions - that no subsidies would be provided for new nuclear power stations. ...

LETTER: Speeding backwards.(Letter to the editor)
September 17, 2007... I note the further correspondence about UK railways, one concerning speed, the other the important issue regarding electrification (Letters, 3 September). Once again, the altered Channel Tunnel link will remove connections in Kent to make...

LETTER: Trolleys v trams.(Letter to the editor)
September 17, 2007... I am alarmed at the apparent plans to spend massive sums of money on unnecessary trams and tram lines. I grew up with these, and remember them as menaces to cyclists, ambulances and fire engines. Also, a stone in the rail could derail a...

UNDERGROUND RESEARCH: Depth of knowledge.
September 17, 2007... A bid to turn a disused gold mine into an underground super-lab has researchers from across the world of science champing at the bit. Jon Excell reports A disused gold mine in the hills of the US mid-west, long ago stripped of its last...

UNDERGROUND RESEARCH: MORE UNDERGROUND LABS.
September 17, 2007... The world's largest underground laboratory is Gran Sasso in Italy. the facility, 120km from Rome, is located off a 10km-long freeway tunnel that crosses the Gran Sasso mountain range. Used exclusively for particle physics experiments, it...

INSIGHT: On the crest of a wave.
September 17, 2007... David Borman's Sea Phantom - a cross between a boat and a plane - is set to offer triple-digit speed for those who can't afford the price of an air ticket. Jon Excell reports When he moved house more than a decade ago, US boat designer...

INTERVIEW: Home truths.(Interview)
September 17, 2007... Peter Bonfield, chief executive of the Building Research Establishment, is helping industry meet the government's zero-carbon goal for 2016. George Coupe reports There are few challenges more demanding than the Olympics - for the...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - BIOTECHNOLOGY: Frozen future.
September 17, 2007... A giant fridge will store samples from 500,000 people in the UK for international research in an attempt to help fight life-threatening diseases. Siobhan Wagner reports The world's largest medical experiment will be launched in Manchester...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - SENSORS: Cool control.
September 17, 2007... US researchers hope a more accurate method of monitoring heat treatment of jet engine components will lead to a cut in aircraft emissions. Siobhan Wagner reports A more accurate method for monitoring the heat treatment of jet engine...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MANAGING TECHNOLOGY: Savings all round.
September 17, 2007... With companies under pressure to meet new environmental standards, a performance system can help them cut costs as well as carbon emissions, says Heather Cholerton UK manufacturers and engineers have much to gain by improving their...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - AUTOMATION: Menu for change.
September 17, 2007... The UK food industry lags way behind other European countries in adopting robotic production techniques. But dramatic price reductions in systems could see improved take-up, says Julia Pierce When it comes to the adoption of new...

PRODUCTION ENGINEERING - MARKING & TRACEABILITY: Clear lessons.
September 17, 2007... Following the recall of millions of hazardous toys, total product traceability must be a key requisite of modern day distribution systems. Colin Carter reports Marking and traceability have recently been in the news with the recall of...