Engineering

Thursday, February 09, 2012

73 Magazine (also known as 73 Amateur Radio Today)

Wikipedia states “The magazine was a pioneer promoter of SSB, FM, solid-state, easy construction projects, and the marriage of personal computing and amateur radio.” Many of the issues of this magazine, which was published from 1960-2003, are now available through the Internet Archive at http://www.archive.org/details/73-magazine. You can use advanced search/collections to search just this magazine.

posted @ Thursday, February 09, 2012 11:49 AM | Feedback (0)

Minerals and metals scarcity in manufacturing

The ticking time bomb “The fine line between ‘just in time’ and ‘just not there’ With a growing population, increasing GDP levels and improving lifestyles, we’re consuming more and more. Renewable and non-renewable resources—energy, water, land, minerals—are in ever-higher demand. And since the relationships between these resources are strong, both the causes of, and the solutions to scarcity are complex. Which, for a manufacturing organisation with a global supply chain, can spell trouble.” Download the report by pwc from http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/sustainability/research-insights/metal-minerals-scarcity.jhtml

posted @ Thursday, February 09, 2012 11:48 AM | Feedback (0)

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

NSK Develops a Guide-Dog Style Robot

“Autonomous External Recognition and Staircase Guidance Made Possible. NSK has developed a four-legged, wheeled robot that utilises a newly developed external recognition technology and guidance function to detect the position of stairs, autonomously recognise the shape of the stairs and then guide the user up and down staircases. The robot developed by NSK is a four legged, wheeled robot equipped with drive wheels on each of its legs and highly capable of manoeuvring over flat and stepped terrain. It is also capable of autonomously recognising stairs through the use of independent processing of external information detected through image and distance sensors, and then guiding the user up and down staircases. This technology resulted from the development of technology aimed at achieving an autonomous robot capable of assisting human eyesight.” Read more at http://www.nskeurope.com/cps/rde/xchg/eu_en/hs.xsl/nsk-develops-a-guide-dog-style-robot.html

posted @ Wednesday, February 08, 2012 8:48 AM | Feedback (0)

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Setting new standards for pipeline design

“Several years of Norwegian research on fracture mechanics have resulted in new numerical modelling tools. The new software means that we can calculate the risk of fracture in pipelines much more accurately than current methods permit, according to the SINTEF group behind the method.” Read more at http://www.sintef.no/home/Press-Room/Research-News/Settings-new-standards-for-pipeline-design/

posted @ Tuesday, February 07, 2012 2:04 PM | Feedback (0)

Thursday, February 02, 2012

Engineering is cool

Try Engineering. Admittedly, Dilbert and his fellow engineers haven't boosted the image of the engineering profession, but the website "TryEngineering" succeeds at making engineering seem a little cooler. Visitors will note that the site is sponsored by IBM, IEEE, and TryScience, and it provides information for parents, students, teachers and counselors. The "Lesson Plans" link "provides tips on how lessons can be integrated with other subject areas and offers background information on engineering and engineering careers."

Visitors can search the lesson plans by age range, category or keyword, and there are over 100, so there is bound to be more than one that is of interest. Some of the lessons include "Can You Canoe?", "A Century of Plastics", and "Build Your Own Robot Arm". The "Play Games" link offers visitors such fun as "Solar Car Racing", "Roller Coaster Designer" and "Design a Parachute". [KMG] From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2010. http://scout.wisc.edu/ See it at http://www.tryengineering.org

posted @ Thursday, February 02, 2012 10:13 AM | Feedback (0)

Study of strong ground motion may show need to modify building codes

“ "In recent decades, population growth and scarcity of undeveloped metropolitan land have changed urban land use patterns and placed an increasing number of people and infrastructure in areas susceptible to topographic effects during earthquakes," said Adrian Rodriguez-Marek, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech.” Read more at http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2011/12/120811-engineering-motionbuildingcodes.html

posted @ Thursday, February 02, 2012 10:11 AM | Feedback (0)

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Smart cities

Information Marketplaces: The New Economics of Cities “outlines how smart cities could pay off hugely in the coming decades if we act now. This isn’t only a technical challenge, it is a leadership challenge. As the report shows, cities are already making investments in low carbon ‘smart’ services from cycle hire schemes to real time transportation apps, and are increasingly the site for smart grid and distributed electricity generation pilot projects. But the explosion in access to data – 400% growth since 2005 – means that more low carbon services could be developed today. To make this opportunity real, cities can set ambitious visions, measure track and manage their progress to sustainability goals enabled by the digital infrastructure, and test new business models to scale up solutions. “ Read the report at http://www.theclimategroup.org/
_assets/files/information_marketplaces_05_12_11.pdf

posted @ Wednesday, February 01, 2012 11:55 AM | Feedback (0)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Wireless body suit puts Sunderland research into new dimension

“An innovative body suit which is proving to be an invaluable tool for movie makers and the military is now helping North East researchers develop improvements in a wide range of sporting activities and healthcare. The MNV Biomech is a 3D human kinematic, camera-less measurement system, with integrated small tracking sensors placed on the joints, which can communicate wirelessly with a computer to capture every twist and turn οf the body and is displayed as an avatar and a 3D set of data on screen.” Read more at http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/newsevents/news/news/index.php?nid=1481

posted @ Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:45 AM | Feedback (0)

The Engineer's Top 10 Technologies of 2011

The Engineer's Top 10 Technologies of 2011 Find out what made it to the top 10 at http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/the-engineers-top-10-technologies-of-2011/1011314.article?cmpid=TE01

posted @ Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:44 AM | Feedback (0)

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Solar-powered classroom brings science to schools in developing countries

“An innovative project led by a Chemistry academic at the University of Southampton is using solar generators to provide IT resources and ‘hands-on’ science for students in developing countries. A major difficulty in teaching science subjects in developing countries, especially in rural schools, is that students are rarely able to get ‘hands-on’ experience of experiments. This could be partly due to a lack of equipment, chemicals and facilities but mainly because of a lack of electricity and running water. Now, Professor Tony Rest, a visiting Chemistry academic at the University of Southampton, and Keith Wilkinson, formerly a teacher at the International School at Lusaka in Zambia, have devised a solar-powered solution based on a digital projector and low-cost solar energy panels so that students can gain access to IT and other modern teaching methods.” Read more at http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/news/2011/dec/11_126.shtml

posted @ Thursday, January 26, 2012 8:31 AM | Feedback (0)