Latest News & Analysis
HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Competition Gap Among U.S. Vehicle Makers Is Smaller Than Ever, IHS Automotive
A recent IHS Automotive analysis of U.S. new vehicle market share among vehicle manufacturers indicates the competition at the top has never been greater.
Internet of Things in the Real World, Part 4
How will the Internet of Things (IoT) actually be implemented in an industrial enterprise? Many of the separate elements have been in place for a couple of decades, so the challenge is to understand what needs to be done to pull them together to function as a whole.
Internet of Things Stimulates MEMS Market
The explosive expansion of the Internet of things (IoT) is driving rapid demand growth for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices in areas including asset-tracking systems, smart grids and building automation.
Round and Round We Go: Rotary Engines for Automotive Applications
Given that internal combustion (IC) engines used to power automobiles are intended to drive wheels, it might seem obvious that engines which produces rotary rather than reciprocating motion in the first place would be preferable.
SpaceX Secures NASA Launch Services Contract
SpaceX has secured an $87m contract from the U.S. space agency, NASA, to provide launch services for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. (Read "SpaceX Innovates as It Aims for Mars" by clicking here.) Under the contract, SpaceX will be responsible for spacecraft processing,
U.S. Congress Passes Bill to Confront Cyber Attack Risks
The United States Congress approved the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2014, which now goes to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
Boeing Breaks Ground for Composites Center
Boeing began construction of a 367,000-square-foot facility in St. Louis, Mo., where it will build parts for the 777X aircraft.
NREL Claims 45.7% Efficiency for Concentrator Solar Cell
The U.S. Energy Department's National Renewable Energy lLaboratory has improved the design of its solar cell by adding an additional absorber layer. NREL says this increased the conversion efficiency to 45.7% for a four-junction solar cell at 234 suns concentration.
Volvo Developing 3-cylinder Engine to Improve Fuel Economy
Volvo Cars is developing a lightweight 3-cylinder petrol engine. The engine is already undergoing prototype testing, says Dr. Peter Mertens, senior vice president of Research & Development for the Swedish-based company.
Algal Biofuels: Closer to Sustainability?
To tackle concerns driven by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, chemical majors are using bio-process engineering technologies to convert carbon sources into new energy forms.
Growth Returns to the Market for Motion Controls in 2014
After declining for two straight years, revenues from the sales of motion-control products are forecast to grow over 6% in 2014 to $12.2 billion according to the latest IHS study on the market for motion controls.
IHS Acquires Communications Technology Market Intelligence Firm
IHS Inc. has acquired Infonetics Research, an international market research firm that serves the global communications market.
Lockheed Martin's 100 MW Compact Fusion Nuclear Reactor
A Lockheed Martin Skunk Works team is working on a compact fusion reactor (CFR) that could be developed and deployed in as little as 10 years.
Technology Innovations Turn Wastewater Plants Into Energy Producers
Their main business may be cleaning up water for drinking and other human purposes. But today, some water and wastewater treatment facilities are also turning themselves into small-scale power plants.
Research Outlines Basic Rules for Construction with Kirigami
University of Pennsylvania researchers are turning kirigami, an art form related to origami that allows the paper to be cut, into a technique that can be applied to structures on radically divergent length scales.
Energy Department Tags $12.5bn for Advanced Nuclear Energy Projects
The Energy Department issued the Advanced Nuclear Energy Projects loan guarantee solicitation, which provides as much as $12.5 billion to support innovative nuclear energy projects.
ASTM Metallic Wear Standard Will Help Machines Run Smoothly
To keep machines running smoothly, a new ASTM International standard, D7917, Inductive Wear Debris Sensors in Gearbox and Drivetrain Applications, provides practices for the selection, application and use of inductive type metal debris sensors that are used to indicate the presence of ferrous and
Getting to 80: Engineering Challenges in Achieving Extended Lives for Nuclear Power Plants
The nuclear power industry is at a crossroads with new and aging plants. As of early 2015, the United States will have 99 active nuclear power plants generating nearly 20% of the country’s electricity.
Global Economy Growth Rate of 3% or More Expected in 2015
The global economy is expected to expand at a rate of 3.0% or slightly higher in 2015 after three years of global growth stuck in the 2.5% range, according to a forecast from Nariman Behravesh, chief economist for IHS.
Research Finds a Strong Pulse of Engineering
The inaugural IHS Engineering360 “Pulse of Engineering” research survey reveals three key challenges facing engineers and allied professionals almost everywhere in the world: appropriate skill levels and expertise, adequate time to complete projects, and effective communication.