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Europe's Space Ferry: Ready for Launch
Europe to launch autonomous spacecraft IXV (Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle) on 11 February in Kourou, French Guiana.
Lighter Steel Could Boost Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
Materials scientists at Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea report to have developed a lightweight steel which is stronger and more pliable than titanium alloys by altering the array of material compounds in the alloy.
U.S. Air Force Awards Contract for 3D Printing
3D Systems (3DS) has been awarded two contracts with the U.S. Air Force to develop advanced manufacturing 3D printing capabilities. The $1 million contracts are funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFL) and administered by America Makes and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation.
Artificial Intelligence May Need a Co-pilot for Self-driving Cars
Professor from the University of Massachusetts delves into artificial intelligence to make driving safer.
Brain-computer Interface Works Wirelessly
After more than a decade of engineering work, researchers at Brown University and Blackrock Microsystems have commercialized a wireless device that can be attached to a person’s skull and transmit via radio thought commands collected from a brain implant.
Chemical Engineer Robert Langer Wins Queen Elizabeth Prize
The 2015 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering has been awarded to Dr. Robert Langer for his work and leadership in engineering at the interface with chemistry and medicine.
Chinese Market for Medium-voltage Motors Will Slow in 2015, IHS Says
The Chinese market for medium-voltage (MV) motors will decelerate in 2015, IHS says. This drop comes after a 6.6% decrease in revenue from 2013 to 2014. The Chinese MV market faces strong headwinds due to the adverse impact from end markets, says Shirly Zhu, analyst for industrial automation at IHS
Concrete Harvests Solar Energy for Electricity
Researchers at the University of Kassel in Germany have developed a building material based on the principles of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).
Dream Chaser Space Vehicle Loaded with International Benefits, Study Finds
Sierra Nevada Corp.’s (SNC) Space Systems and German-based OHB System AG announced the completion of the Dream Chaser for European Utilization (DC4EU) study, co-funded by the Space Administration and German Aerospace Center (DLR) and OHB.
Energy Department Launches Clean Energy Incubator
The U.S. Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) launched the Clear Energy Incubator Network.
Energy Management Smart Thermostats Installed in 3.2m U.S. Homes
Consumers in North America and Europe bought twice as many smart thermostats in 2014 as in the previous year, according to an article in Metering.com.
Graphene Boost in High-energy Conversion Solar PV
Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have observed and measured graphene converting a single photon into multiple electrons in a photovoltaic device.
Security System to Shield Electric Vehicles from Cyber Theft
Smart electric grids, which ingest data on consumer and supplier behavior, present new security challenges for mobile systems like electric vehicles (EVs), which may be vulnerable to both physical and electronic attacks.
U.S. Sending 1,000 Academics to India in Training Push
The U.S. plans to send 1,000 academics a year to India as part of a partnership initiative solidified in January by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama.
How to Attain (and Retain) Engineering Innovators
Innovation has always been fundamental to engineering and to attain a competitive edge globally, engineers need to have a widespread culture of innovation.
Molten Salt Reactor Firm Partners with Canadian and Oak Ridge Labs
Terrestrial Energy Inc. (TEI) is collaborating with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) to move the company’s integrated molten salt reactor (IMSR) to the engineering blueprint stage by late 2016.
Nanoscale Mirrors Make Data Transfers More Secure
New research performed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory reveals the constructing of tiny "mirrors" to trap light around impurity atoms in diamond crystals, the team dramatically increased the efficiency with which photons transmit information about those atoms' electronic spin states, which can be used to store quantum information.
Propylene in Demand: Roadblocks and Opportunities
The propylene supplies in North America have reached unprecedented levels of shortness and the increase in price leaves a severe impact on businesses. But in the recent weeks the price of propylene has lowered and they are several measures taken to increase the production of propylene.
Revised ASTM Standard Allows for More Biofuel Contamination in Jet Fuels
ASTM standard revised to increase the amount of free acid methyl esters (FAME) limit in jet fuels.
SAE International Releases Standard for Manufacturing Management
SAE International develops a new standard to manage manufacturing process. This standard covers design analysis, manufacturing risk identification, planning, operation management and supplier management.