Engineering

Robotic insects make first controlled flight

Engineering Library — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:29 GMT

“ In culmination of a decade's work, RoboBees achieve vertical takeoff, hovering, and steering. In the very early hours of the morning, in a Harvard robotics laboratory last summer, an insect took flight. Half the size of a paperclip, weighing less than a tenth of a gram, it leapt a few inches, hovered for a moment on fragile, flapping wings, and then sped along a preset route through the air.” Read more and view the illustrations at http://www.seas.harvard.edu/news-events/press-releases/robotic-insects-make-first-controlled-flight

Printable 'bionic' ear melds electronics and biology

Engineering Library — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:20:04 GMT

“Using 3-D printing tools, scientists at Princeton University have created a functional ear that can "hear" radio frequencies far beyond the range of normal human capability. The researchers' primary purpose was to explore an efficient and versatile method of merging electronics with tissue. The scientists used 3-D printing of cells and nanoparticles — with an off-the-shelf printer purchased off the Internet — followed by cell culture to combine a small coil antenna with cartilage, creating what they term a bionic ear.” Read more at http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S36/80/19M40/index.xml?section=topstories

Hydrogen to join electricity in ending traffic pollution

Engineering Library — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:19:40 GMT

“Global expectations for hydrogen are currently sky-high. Transport applications stand at the threshold of commercialisation, while ahead lies an investment boom in the hydrogen distribution network. The changeover to hydrogen based on natural gas would already mean a potential saving of billion in Finland's balance of payments. If hydrogen could then be produced from domestic renewable raw material, our car and bus traffic would eventually be practically self-sufficient and leave a significantly reduced carbon footprint. The above was revealed in the Finnish hydrogen roadmap published recently.” Read more at http://www.vtt.fi/news/2013/12042013_vetyauto.jsp

NREL Quantifies Significant Value in Concentrating Solar Power

Engineering Library — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:15:57 GMT

“CSP with thermal energy storage boosts California electric grid. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have quantified the significant value that concentrating solar power (CSP) plants can add to an electric grid. The NREL researchers evaluated the operational impacts of CSP systems with thermal energy storage within the California electric grid managed by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). NREL used a commercial production cost model called PLEXOS to help plan system expansion, to evaluate aspects of system reliability, and to estimate fuel cost, emissions, and other operational factors within the CAISO system. The analysis is detailed in a recent publication, Analysis of Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage in a California 33% Renewable Scenario, by Paul Denholm, Yih-Huei Wan, Marissa Hummon, and Mark Mehos.” Read it at http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2013/2180.html

SPIE Digital Library

Engineering Library — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:39:27 GMT

The SPIE Digital Library contains conference proceedings, journals, textbooks, field guides and reference works published by SPIE, the Society for Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers.

The Library's licence provides full access to all publications in the SPIE Digital Library:
- Proceedings, 1 (1963)-
- Journals, from the first issue of each title
- E-books. Over 160 titles, published from 1989 onwards

It is now available as a Library database from

http://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/databases/record/index.asp?record=SPIDigLibEbo

Controlling robots

Engineering Library — Sun, 19 May 2013 21:24:29 GMT

“"I use the movements of my eyes, eyebrows and other parts of my face", he says. "With my eyebrows I can select which of the robot's joints I want to move" smiles Angel, who is a Master's student at NTNU. … In the robotics hall, fellow student Signe Moe is guiding a robot by moving her arms, while SINTEF researcher and supervisor Ingrid Schjølberg is using a new training programme to try to get her three-fingered robot to grasp objects in new ways” Read more about these, and similar, research areas at http://www.sintef.no/home/Press-Room/Research-News/Controlling-robots-with-your-thoughts/

Engineering Ethics Case Studies How does one teach ethics?

Engineering Library — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:42:23 GMT

It can be a difficult subject and different fields (medicine, law, and so on) all have different ethical considerations and issues. This fine collection of engineering case studies from the Pennsylvania State University College of Engineering brings together resources from a variety of universities that have worked to address this matter. The cases are divided into separate areas that include Developing and Using Case Studies, General Science Cases, and Research Integrity Cases. Visitors shouldn't miss the bulk of the material covered in the General Engineering Cases area, which includes high-quality and contemplative materials on engineering practice ethics from SUNY-Buffalo and the National Science Foundation. The site is rounded out by a number of helpful cases developed in-house by Penn State engineering students. [KMG] From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout 1994-2012. http://scout.wisc.edu/ Use it at http://www.engr.psu.edu/ethics/casestudies.asp

Sensory helmet could mean firefighters are not left in the dark

Engineering Library — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:41:58 GMT

“A specially-adapted ‘tactile helmet’, developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, could provide fire-fighters operating in challenging conditions with vital clues about their surroundings. The helmet is fitted with a number of ultrasound sensors that are used to detect the distances between the helmet and nearby walls or other obstacles. These signals are transmitted to vibration pads that are attached to the inside of the helmet, touching the wearer’s forehead. Rescue workers, such as fire-fighters, who might be working in dark conditions or in buildings filled with smoke, will be able to use the signals to find walls and other obstacles that could help guide them through unfamiliar environments. Invented by a team of researchers at the Sheffield Centre for Robotics (SCentRo), the helmet was inspired by research into tactile sensing in rodents, whose whiskers give early warning of potential hazards.” Read more at http://sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/sensory-helmet-for-fire-fighters-1.265758

Tracking Clean Energy Progress 2013

Engineering Library — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:37:53 GMT

“This comprehensive overview examines the latest developments in key clean energy technologies: „ Technology penetration: how much are clean energy technologies being used? „ Market creation: what is being done to foster the necessary markets? „ Technology developments: how are individual technologies performing? Each technology and sector is tracked against interim 2020 targets in the IEA 2012 Energy Technology Perspectives 2°C scenario, which lays out pathways to a sustainable energy system in 2050.” Read it at http://www.iea.org/publications/TCEP_web.pdf

Zome competition 2013

Engineering Library — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:07:11 GMT

Dear All,

It is almost time, once again, to enter the annual Zome Competition sponsored by Fletcher Construction, with $2000 in prizes. Rules are available from the front desk of the Library. Teams are to comprise of 2-4 people.

Only 20 teams may enter and you need to register early due to high demand – registration opens on Monday 20th May at 8.30am at the Engineering Library front desk. Places fill very fast – usually in the first 10 minutes or less. Be here to queue at 8am to ensure a place. You will need your team’s names, ID numbers and e-mail addresses and phone contact details at registration.

The practice packs will be available at the Library desk from Monday 27th May and you will be able to practise from then onwards. You will need to build your model in one 4 hour session between 17th and 26th July i.e. Inter-semester Break and first week of Semester 2. Last year’s prize winning models are currently on display in the Library but will be pulled down before 21st to ensure originality of this year’s models. Prizes and certificates will be presented by the General Manager of Fletcher Construction Infrastructure at 4pm on 31st July and the Dean will be one of the judges, so there will be quite a lot of publicity for the successful competitors, including photos on the Faculty and Library web pages. Good for your CV!

Last year’s winning models are currently on display in the Engineering Library until the 20th.
Good Luck!