Monday, June 30, 2008
Ford Says Goodbye to Fuel Tank Screw Cap; Easy Fuel, Easy Go
'Every time a fuel cap is either lost or not screwed on properly, that equates to evaporative emissions entering the environment,' said Brian Aitken, a Ford fuel systems supervisor.
That's not it. It dirties your hand too.
Engineers at Ford have developed a product known as Easy Fuel to keep your hands clean. Easy Fuel is a capless fuel-filler system - it eliminates the need for a fuel tank screw cap.
The novel design uses an integrated spring-loaded flapper door that is held closed by two latches that can only be released by a standard-size unleaded fuel nozzle. When the nozzle is inserted into the filler neck, the latches release to open up the flapper door. When the nozzle is removed, the doors close automatically.
This innovative system prevents the loss of fuel and also saves time. Positive response from customers has prompted them to to offer the Easy Fuel system as standard equipment across the Ford.
Easy Fuel was introduced on the 2008 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, and will be offered as standard equipment on the all-new 2009 Ford F-150, Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS.
Source - Ford
That's not it. It dirties your hand too.
Engineers at Ford have developed a product known as Easy Fuel to keep your hands clean. Easy Fuel is a capless fuel-filler system - it eliminates the need for a fuel tank screw cap.
The novel design uses an integrated spring-loaded flapper door that is held closed by two latches that can only be released by a standard-size unleaded fuel nozzle. When the nozzle is inserted into the filler neck, the latches release to open up the flapper door. When the nozzle is removed, the doors close automatically.This innovative system prevents the loss of fuel and also saves time. Positive response from customers has prompted them to to offer the Easy Fuel system as standard equipment across the Ford.
Easy Fuel was introduced on the 2008 Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer, and will be offered as standard equipment on the all-new 2009 Ford F-150, Ford Flex and Lincoln MKS.
Source - Ford
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Ford Says Goodbye to Fuel Tank Screw Cap; Easy Fuel, Easy Go posted by Vanessa : 3:48 AM
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Sunday, June 29, 2008
Airless Tires Designed For Military Purposes
“Developing tires that will allow vehicles to continue to roll no matter what is thrown at them — even roadside bombs — is a real priority for the military and could be the difference between life and death for our troops in the field,” says U.S. Rep. Dave Obey.
Fueled by the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense, Resilient Technologies,LLC in collaboration with The University of Wisconsin-Madison has worked on a $18 million project to develop an airless tire. For two years they have tested out hundreds of prototypes before hitting the jackpot.
Photo: The honeycomb design of tires (Resilient Technologies LLC)
An airless tire cannot resemble a normal one. It has to be specifically designed to handle the pressure. And when they were on the lookout for inspiration, a bee buzzed in to act as their muse. The bee's humble honeycomb became the inspiration behind the design of the tire. They narrowed down on this design because it helps to ease the stiffness of the tire and also enables it to transmit loads uniformly.
"The patent pending Resilient design relies on a precise pattern of six-sided cells that are arranged, like a honeycomb, in a way that best mimics the “ride feel” of pneumatic tires."
Right now they just want to satisfy the requirements of the military, but soon hope to create airless tires for all the riders around the world.
Source - The Wisconsin Idea
Fueled by the needs of the U.S. Department of Defense, Resilient Technologies,LLC in collaboration with The University of Wisconsin-Madison has worked on a $18 million project to develop an airless tire. For two years they have tested out hundreds of prototypes before hitting the jackpot.
Photo: The honeycomb design of tires (Resilient Technologies LLC)
An airless tire cannot resemble a normal one. It has to be specifically designed to handle the pressure. And when they were on the lookout for inspiration, a bee buzzed in to act as their muse. The bee's humble honeycomb became the inspiration behind the design of the tire. They narrowed down on this design because it helps to ease the stiffness of the tire and also enables it to transmit loads uniformly.
"The patent pending Resilient design relies on a precise pattern of six-sided cells that are arranged, like a honeycomb, in a way that best mimics the “ride feel” of pneumatic tires."
Right now they just want to satisfy the requirements of the military, but soon hope to create airless tires for all the riders around the world.
Source - The Wisconsin Idea
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Robotic Shadow Caddy Follows You Wherever You Go
Every move you make
Every step you take
I'll be 'following' you
(If the Shadow caddy had a voice it might be singing this.)
Golfers love to play golf i.e. concentrate, aim and shoot the ball into the hole. Carrying the clubs for a long distance, hunting for the lost balls are some of the distractions that toughens their game.
To make things easier for the golfer,the robotic shadow caddy has been designed. Mary had a little lamb that followed her wherever she went. The shadow caddy acts on the same principle. You can enjoy your game while it takes care of the luggage.
Shadow caddy is operated by a simple transmitter, which the golfer clips to their belt and the robot will automatically follow a few feet behind them. An intelligent infra-red collision system enables it to navigate the turf easily. It automatically dodges bunkers, trees, water features, golfers and other caddies.
Without a heavy baggage on your shoulder you can enjoy a brisk walk. Employing a professional caddy is another option. But it comes with a high price tag.
The robot runs on long-life batteries which let it complete two 18-hole rounds between charges. The 19kg robot is also fitted with wide turf tyres to prevent it damaging greens and fairways.
Golf clubs can equip themselves with this robot caddies that cost £3,000 each and rent it out to players to lessen their burden.
The Shadow caddy is on its way to become a golfer's best friend.
Source - Dailymail
Interesting Robotics
Future of Robotics - Robots Uses, Trends, Applications
Jumping Micro-robot Inspired By Grasshoppers
Every step you take
I'll be 'following' you
(If the Shadow caddy had a voice it might be singing this.)
Golfers love to play golf i.e. concentrate, aim and shoot the ball into the hole. Carrying the clubs for a long distance, hunting for the lost balls are some of the distractions that toughens their game.
To make things easier for the golfer,the robotic shadow caddy has been designed. Mary had a little lamb that followed her wherever she went. The shadow caddy acts on the same principle. You can enjoy your game while it takes care of the luggage.
Shadow caddy is operated by a simple transmitter, which the golfer clips to their belt and the robot will automatically follow a few feet behind them. An intelligent infra-red collision system enables it to navigate the turf easily. It automatically dodges bunkers, trees, water features, golfers and other caddies.
Without a heavy baggage on your shoulder you can enjoy a brisk walk. Employing a professional caddy is another option. But it comes with a high price tag.
The robot runs on long-life batteries which let it complete two 18-hole rounds between charges. The 19kg robot is also fitted with wide turf tyres to prevent it damaging greens and fairways.
Golf clubs can equip themselves with this robot caddies that cost £3,000 each and rent it out to players to lessen their burden.
The Shadow caddy is on its way to become a golfer's best friend.
Source - Dailymail
Interesting Robotics
Future of Robotics - Robots Uses, Trends, Applications
Jumping Micro-robot Inspired By Grasshoppers
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Robotics
Monday, June 16, 2008
Honda's Clarity - A Car That Runs on Hydrogen and Emits Only Water
A car which runs on hydrogen and electricity and emits only water from its exhaust pipe has started to come off a production line.
The first recipients of this technological marvel are Hollywood celebs Jamie Lee Curtis, husband Christopher Guest, '24' actress Laura Harris and film producer Ron Yerxa.
Hybrids require conventional gasoline, but the Honda Clarity is powered entirely by hydrogen.The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity leaves behind.
Currently Honda aims to roll out just 200 cars a year. You don't have to be a celebrity to afford them, you can lease them out for $600 per month, including insurance.
Honda's creation FCX Clarity cars ushers in a new era of eco-friendly cars.The day isn't far when fuel cell cars will be a part of the mainstream and not just limited to celebrities.
Source - Honda
The first recipients of this technological marvel are Hollywood celebs Jamie Lee Curtis, husband Christopher Guest, '24' actress Laura Harris and film producer Ron Yerxa.
Hybrids require conventional gasoline, but the Honda Clarity is powered entirely by hydrogen.The fuel cell combines hydrogen with oxygen to make electricity. The electricity then powers the electric motor, which in turn propels the vehicle. Water is the only byproduct the FCX Clarity leaves behind.
Currently Honda aims to roll out just 200 cars a year. You don't have to be a celebrity to afford them, you can lease them out for $600 per month, including insurance.
Honda's creation FCX Clarity cars ushers in a new era of eco-friendly cars.The day isn't far when fuel cell cars will be a part of the mainstream and not just limited to celebrities.
Source - Honda
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Mechanical-Engineering
PermaLink - Honda's Clarity - A Car That Runs on Hydrogen and Emits Only Water posted by Vanessa : 11:25 PM
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Famous Five's Cool Invention - Air-Powered Go-Kart Race Cars
Mr. Langille and his four colleagues are thrilled with their project. “It was an awesome experience, very fulfilling. We’re excited to see it work so well because there were a lot of people who were doubtful and it was exciting to get an A+.”
The Famous Five in Enid Blyton's stories were popular for their investigative skills that kept the little readers spellbound throughout the world.
Dalhousie University's Famous Five are sure to keep Racing fans and scientists spellbound with their latest invention - air powered go-kart cars.Five Dalhousie mechanical engineering students David Alderson, Scott Allan, David Langille, Michael Roy and Dave Spencer had set upon an ambitious task for their year-long research project. They planned to develop a air powered go-kart cars. That's definitely a tall order.
To achieve it the students modified a 40-year-old snowmobile engine and ran compressed air through the engine to produce power similar to a gas engine. They attached the engine to a refurbished go-kart using two scuba tanks to house the air. The air is released through a standard scuba fitting with a high-flow regulator. The released air travels through tubing to a ball-valve connected to the foot pedal and throttle. “It operates much like a normal rotary engine,” says Mr. Langille.
The students are currently working on setting right the drawbacks. The major drawback is that it runs out of air quickly. But once the engine's capacity is refined one can look forward to a successor to conventional gas-powered engines.The students officially unveiled their air-powered go-kart at Kartbahn Racing in Bayer’s Lake Business Park last week and invited members of the media to take it for a spin.
Source - Dalhousie University
Catch the exciting drive here.
Image credit - Nick Pearce
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Engineering-Education, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Famous Five's Cool Invention - Air-Powered Go-Kart Race Cars posted by Vanessa : 10:56 PM
1 Comments
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Bicycle that Goes 75 MPH - You Heard it Right
Image credit: Kneeslider
Pulsejets were the engines used by the German V1 buzzbombs in WWII. The buzzbomb got its name from the buzzing sound of the pulsejet engine.
Robert Maddox builds pulsejet engines. And he has attached some to - of all things - bicycles. The version you see in the video (below) puts out 50 to 60 pounds of thrust, enough for 75 mph or so on the bike. So, get set on the bike and vroooom!
As you can see in the video above, the buzzing bomb jet engine attached to a retro-style bicycle frame is capable of moving along furiously nicely.
If you are one of those freaks who loves to have your moving things big, the pulsejet bicycle is sure to please you. Now, whether it will please your neighbours is quite another question!
Sources: Kneeslider, AutoBlog Green
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - A Bicycle that Goes 75 MPH - You Heard it Right posted by Ecacofonix : 8:13 AM
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Monday, May 5, 2008
Ugly Looking Japanese Car Costs Over US$ 90,000
The Japanese company Mitsuoka started selling the weird looking car Mitsuoka Orochi mid-engined sports for over US$90,000, starting January last year. Can you believe it? Of course it was in limited production (about 400 pieces), but who would be interested in plonking such large sums for such an ugly looking car?
Well, you never know!
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Ugly Looking Japanese Car Costs Over US$ 90,000 posted by Ecacofonix : 11:14 AM
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Monday, April 14, 2008
A123 Company Says Its Auto Battery will Propel EVs
For all the doubts about whether a tiny, 7-year-old company can essentially rewire the domestic auto industry, A123's executives express abundant confidence in their invention.
"Today, we are providing enough batteries to power the equivalent of 100,000 vehicles," said Ric Fulop, one of A123's founders and its chief evangelist. "If you look at other technologies, they're still in the lab. It's years before they get into mass production."
The hurdles to powering vehicles with electricity instead of oil have become less daunting in the past year, but they're still towering: Cost, Safety, Longevity, Environment...
More from here
Keywords: Tech company, future of autos, A123 Systems, Chevrolet Volt, battery pack
General Motors Corp, chief evangelist, Ric Fulop, Chevy Volt
"Today, we are providing enough batteries to power the equivalent of 100,000 vehicles," said Ric Fulop, one of A123's founders and its chief evangelist. "If you look at other technologies, they're still in the lab. It's years before they get into mass production."
The hurdles to powering vehicles with electricity instead of oil have become less daunting in the past year, but they're still towering: Cost, Safety, Longevity, Environment...
More from here
Keywords: Tech company, future of autos, A123 Systems, Chevrolet Volt, battery pack
General Motors Corp, chief evangelist, Ric Fulop, Chevy Volt
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - A123 Company Says Its Auto Battery will Propel EVs posted by Ecacofonix : 5:19 AM
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Friday, April 11, 2008
Boeing Makes First Ever Hydrogen Battery Flight
US aircraft maker Boeing flew a plane that was powered by a hydrogen battery at the start of 2008 for the first time in aviation history, senior company officials said in Spain on Thursday.
"For the first time in the history of aviation, Boeing has flown a manned airplane that was powered by a hydrogen battery," Boeing chief technology officer John Tracy told a news conference at the firm's research centre in the central Spanish town of Ocana.
The plane, which used propellers, flew at a speed of 100 kilometres (62 miles) an hour for about 20 minutes at an altitude of about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) using only the hydrogen battery for power, Boeing said in a statement.
The director of the Ocana research centre, Francisco Escarti, said the hydrogen battery "could be the main source of energy for a small plane" but would likely not become the "primary soruce of energy for big passenger planes".
"For the first time in the history of aviation, Boeing has flown a manned airplane that was powered by a hydrogen battery," Boeing chief technology officer John Tracy told a news conference at the firm's research centre in the central Spanish town of Ocana.
The plane, which used propellers, flew at a speed of 100 kilometres (62 miles) an hour for about 20 minutes at an altitude of about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet) using only the hydrogen battery for power, Boeing said in a statement.
The director of the Ocana research centre, Francisco Escarti, said the hydrogen battery "could be the main source of energy for a small plane" but would likely not become the "primary soruce of energy for big passenger planes".
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Boeing Makes First Ever Hydrogen Battery Flight posted by Ecacofonix : 4:21 AM
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A Flying Car or an Aeroplane on Road? - James Milner Creates Cool Idea
A former pilot has come up with the idea of finding a solution to traffic problems. James Milner has created a flying car, which he had on display at the New York Auto Show.
“For trips up to one thousand miles, a flying car is the fastest door to door transportation,’’ Milner said. “You extend the wings and you can take off and fly. The airplane will fly at two hundred miles an hour, eventually up to twenty-five thousand feet so you get above a good amount of the weather.”
Once the plane has landed, one has to fold the wings, switch to rode mode and the aviation panels become the car’s dashboard. The wheelbase then adjust from the flight position, which places the weight in the rear so the nose is light – to the road position where weight is more evenly distributed.
The four-seater can go as fast as 85 miles an hour. Its estimated cost is approximately $500,000.
More from here
“For trips up to one thousand miles, a flying car is the fastest door to door transportation,’’ Milner said. “You extend the wings and you can take off and fly. The airplane will fly at two hundred miles an hour, eventually up to twenty-five thousand feet so you get above a good amount of the weather.”
Once the plane has landed, one has to fold the wings, switch to rode mode and the aviation panels become the car’s dashboard. The wheelbase then adjust from the flight position, which places the weight in the rear so the nose is light – to the road position where weight is more evenly distributed.
The four-seater can go as fast as 85 miles an hour. Its estimated cost is approximately $500,000.
More from here
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - A Flying Car or an Aeroplane on Road? - James Milner Creates Cool Idea posted by Ecacofonix : 4:12 AM
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Thursday, April 10, 2008
Project Better Place Teaming with Renault-Nissan to Promote Electric Vehicles
Today more than three billion cellphones are in use around the world. They have changed, for better or worse, not just the way we communicate, but our sense of what it means to keep in touch.
Now a private investment company with an ostentatious name hopes to employ the kind of marketing structure that put cellphones in so many pockets to launch a new era of electric cars.
Project Better Place is teaming up with Renault-Nissan in a scheme designed to drive electric vehicles from the fringe category and into the mainstream of personal transportation.
They are starting in Israel and Denmark, but if Project Better Place lives up to its name and makes this ambitious plan work, it could be a natural fit in British Columbia.
Although electric cars have been around for almost as long as their conventional gas and diesel-powered cousins, they have been held back by limited performance and range and high costs.
Project Better Place has no world-beating technology to change the performance equation. What it has is enough startup capital -- $200 million committed so far -- and a marketing idea to offer not just an electric car, but a system to make it work.
More from here
Now a private investment company with an ostentatious name hopes to employ the kind of marketing structure that put cellphones in so many pockets to launch a new era of electric cars.
Project Better Place is teaming up with Renault-Nissan in a scheme designed to drive electric vehicles from the fringe category and into the mainstream of personal transportation.
They are starting in Israel and Denmark, but if Project Better Place lives up to its name and makes this ambitious plan work, it could be a natural fit in British Columbia.
Although electric cars have been around for almost as long as their conventional gas and diesel-powered cousins, they have been held back by limited performance and range and high costs.
Project Better Place has no world-beating technology to change the performance equation. What it has is enough startup capital -- $200 million committed so far -- and a marketing idea to offer not just an electric car, but a system to make it work.
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Project Better Place Teaming with Renault-Nissan to Promote Electric Vehicles posted by Ecacofonix : 9:20 AM
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Flyak from Einar Rasmussen - A Superfast Kayak
At the outset, the race seems lopsided. A single kayaker is outmanned against an Olympic-style K4 craft with four oarsmen. As expected, the foursome achieves an early lead. What happens next, however, is miraculous. The kayak accelerates to triple its speed. The kayak wins by more than a length. Einar Rasmussen arranged the informal 200-M challenge as a demonstration. The four-time Norwegian kayaking champion and physics expert and his partner, kayakbuilder Peter Ribe, have created what they hope will become the fastest human-powered craft in history—the Flyak.
There’s nothing supernatural about the Flyak’s acceleration, as the name implies, the Flyak “flies.” Its wings are underneath the water, in the form of front and rear hydrofoils. The more the surface area of a hull touches the water, the greater the vehicle’s resistance.
Once the rider works the speed up to roughly 10 KMH (6 MPH), the Flyak is ready for take-off. The energy on the oblique foils propels the hull up above the water’s surface. Once airborne, the velocity gained from paddle strokes increases dramatically. Theoretically, the Flyak can achieve speeds nearly twice as fast as conventional championship-level racing kayaks
The foils are removable and interchangeable through a hand-screw apparatus behind the seat. By removing the foils, the craft can be maneuvered like a conventional kayak
More from here
There’s nothing supernatural about the Flyak’s acceleration, as the name implies, the Flyak “flies.” Its wings are underneath the water, in the form of front and rear hydrofoils. The more the surface area of a hull touches the water, the greater the vehicle’s resistance.
Once the rider works the speed up to roughly 10 KMH (6 MPH), the Flyak is ready for take-off. The energy on the oblique foils propels the hull up above the water’s surface. Once airborne, the velocity gained from paddle strokes increases dramatically. Theoretically, the Flyak can achieve speeds nearly twice as fast as conventional championship-level racing kayaks
The foils are removable and interchangeable through a hand-screw apparatus behind the seat. By removing the foils, the craft can be maneuvered like a conventional kayak
More from here
Labels: Design-Engineering, Fluid-Dynamics, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Naval-Architecture
PermaLink - Flyak from Einar Rasmussen - A Superfast Kayak posted by Ecacofonix : 12:15 AM
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Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Volvo Hybrid Refuse Trucks in Final Trials - Uses I-SAM System
Volvo has launched two hybrid refuse trucks into trials in regular daily operations in sweden with refuse collection firms renova and ragn-sells.
Although both trucks use a charge-sustaining hybrid system for motive power, one of the trucks is equipped with a second, grid-charged battery that powers the refuse compactor. The hybrid system used in the refuse truck is a version of volvo’s i-sam (integrated starter, alternator, motor) parallel hybrid system. The i-sam system comprises a starter motor, drive motor and alternator fit between the clutch and the i-shift automatic transmission.
Full report here
Keywords: Renova, Ragn, Charge-sustaining, Hybrid system, Grid-charged battery, I-SAM (integrated starter, alternator, motor).
Although both trucks use a charge-sustaining hybrid system for motive power, one of the trucks is equipped with a second, grid-charged battery that powers the refuse compactor. The hybrid system used in the refuse truck is a version of volvo’s i-sam (integrated starter, alternator, motor) parallel hybrid system. The i-sam system comprises a starter motor, drive motor and alternator fit between the clutch and the i-shift automatic transmission.
Full report here
Keywords: Renova, Ragn, Charge-sustaining, Hybrid system, Grid-charged battery, I-SAM (integrated starter, alternator, motor).
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Volvo Hybrid Refuse Trucks in Final Trials - Uses I-SAM System posted by Ecacofonix : 5:16 AM
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Monday, April 7, 2008
Boeing Plane Flies on Hydrogen, Fuel Cells
Engineers from across Europe have successfully developed and flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen and fuel cells — a first in history and a step towards cleaner and more energy-efficient aviation, Boeing announced recently.
The breakthrough is "full of promises for a greener future," Boeing Chief Technology Officer John Tracy told reporters at the company's research center in Ocana, Spain, where the aircraft was on display.
Given rising fuel costs and concerns about climate change, the air industry is keen to find ways to cut energy bills and emissions tied to global warming. While hydrogen is still expensive to produce as an energy carrier, it emits no pollutants.
More from here
The breakthrough is "full of promises for a greener future," Boeing Chief Technology Officer John Tracy told reporters at the company's research center in Ocana, Spain, where the aircraft was on display.
Given rising fuel costs and concerns about climate change, the air industry is keen to find ways to cut energy bills and emissions tied to global warming. While hydrogen is still expensive to produce as an energy carrier, it emits no pollutants.
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Electric Hybrids for Off-road Vehicles - Aggressor, Renegade
Think of an “off-road” vehicle, and billy goat four-by-fours usually come to mind — the ones that chug along using muscular John Deere-style powerplants or diesel engines.
Electric motors? They’re for golf carts, or sissified urban commuter boxes and not for brawny rock crawlers, right?
The leading off-road manufacturers beg to differ. Judging by the concept cars shown by Jeep and Land Rover at this year’s Detroit auto show, they think electric motors do have a future in their vehicles.
The Army agrees on the potential of electrically driven vehicles and has a contract with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide to develop a diesel-electric Alternative Mobility Vehicle, or “Aggressor.”
Like civilians, the Army wants to cut fuel use, because fuel constitutes 70 percent of the materiel it moves into combat zones
Jeep’s Renegade concept, shown for the first time at this year’s Detroit show, examines the possibility of the company making the logical step into dune buggy-style vehicles — small, open vehicles with fat tires pushed to the far corners
Electric power is perfectly suited for off-roaders, according to Doug Quigly, executive engineer for Jeep’s environmentally responsible vehicles.
More from here
Electric motors? They’re for golf carts, or sissified urban commuter boxes and not for brawny rock crawlers, right?
The leading off-road manufacturers beg to differ. Judging by the concept cars shown by Jeep and Land Rover at this year’s Detroit auto show, they think electric motors do have a future in their vehicles.
The Army agrees on the potential of electrically driven vehicles and has a contract with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide to develop a diesel-electric Alternative Mobility Vehicle, or “Aggressor.”
Like civilians, the Army wants to cut fuel use, because fuel constitutes 70 percent of the materiel it moves into combat zones
Jeep’s Renegade concept, shown for the first time at this year’s Detroit show, examines the possibility of the company making the logical step into dune buggy-style vehicles — small, open vehicles with fat tires pushed to the far corners
Electric power is perfectly suited for off-roaders, according to Doug Quigly, executive engineer for Jeep’s environmentally responsible vehicles.
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Electric Hybrids for Off-road Vehicles - Aggressor, Renegade posted by Ecacofonix : 10:38 PM
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Google's Transportation Routing Patent Holds Promise for Future Transportation?
Some people peer into crystal balls to predict the future; Stephen Arnold peers into the vast database at the U.S. Patent Office to predict the future of Google. Focusing on one patent on transportation routing, he told a gathering at last week's AIIM conference in Boston that he sees not only a business opportunity for Google in transportation routing, but also the tip of a proverbial iceberg in the way the search engine colossus approaches much of its business.
"No one knows what these guys at Google are up to," said Arnold, who has written two books on Google, in an interview this week. "That's why their patents are so important."
Arnold, who takes an investigative approach to Google without help from the company, says the transportation routing patent is already embodied in Google's employee bus system in the Bay Area. Using Google's mapping technology, GPS location finding linked with Google employee cell phones, the buses and employees are connected efficiently in real time. Employees are informed wirelessly when their bus is approaching. Another iteration of the system appears to be in use at a Google facility in Korea, Arnold added.
More from here
"No one knows what these guys at Google are up to," said Arnold, who has written two books on Google, in an interview this week. "That's why their patents are so important."
Arnold, who takes an investigative approach to Google without help from the company, says the transportation routing patent is already embodied in Google's employee bus system in the Bay Area. Using Google's mapping technology, GPS location finding linked with Google employee cell phones, the buses and employees are connected efficiently in real time. Employees are informed wirelessly when their bus is approaching. Another iteration of the system appears to be in use at a Google facility in Korea, Arnold added.
More from here
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Google's Transportation Routing Patent Holds Promise for Future Transportation? posted by Ecacofonix : 10:10 PM
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Are Maglev Trains the Future of US Transportation?
Maglev trains are already being touted as the next big thing in the transport industry. However, there are a couple of issues that are stopping it from taking flight in the first place. Whether MagLev trains become a reality or not is now largely in the hands of both the Congress and another supposedly cheaper and more efficient transport system dubbed the DesertXpress.
Whether or not MagLev trains become a reality, it is definitely no waste of time to know what they are all about. MagLev trains work on the principle of electromagnetic propulsion. Using magnetic principles, these trains differ from conventional steel wheel and track trains in the sense that they float over a guideway without making any contact with it. In the case of MagLev trains, the train is propelled using the magnetic field created by electrified coils in the guideway walls and the track.
More from here
Whether or not MagLev trains become a reality, it is definitely no waste of time to know what they are all about. MagLev trains work on the principle of electromagnetic propulsion. Using magnetic principles, these trains differ from conventional steel wheel and track trains in the sense that they float over a guideway without making any contact with it. In the case of MagLev trains, the train is propelled using the magnetic field created by electrified coils in the guideway walls and the track.
More from here
Labels: Electronics-Communications-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Are Maglev Trains the Future of US Transportation? posted by Ecacofonix : 10:09 PM
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Why US Automakers Don't Sell a 50 Mpg Car
Just hop on a plane and fly to Europe, where all new cars average 43mpg, or Japan, where the average hits 50mpg. In the United States, people are stuck at 25mpg in our considerably larger and more powerful cars, trucks and SUVs. So why can't they do better? Here's the dirty little secret: they can. "If you want better fuel economy, it's just a question of when auto companies want to do it and when consumers decide they want to buy it," says Don Hillebrand, a former Chrysler engineer who is now director of transportation research for Argonne National Labs. "Auto companies can deliver it within a year."
A 50mpg car would certainly put a tiger in the tank of the moribund U.S. auto industry. But don't get your checkbook out quite yet. The reality is that you won't see a car on a showroom floor in America with 50mpg on the window sticker for at least three years and maybe longer. Sure, all auto companies are focusing on jacking up fuel economy, especially since Congress just mandated that all new autos sold by 2020 must average 35mpg. The new mileage mantra also is motivated by the fact that car sales are weak, partially because of panic at the pump. But putting out a 50mpg car any time soon is daunting even to the maker of America's mileage champ, the 48mpg Toyota Prius. "We're close enough to spit at that now," says Bill Reinert, Toyota's national manager of advanced technologies. "It's not an incredible stretch, but it's an incredible stretch to do it on a mass-market basis."
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A 50mpg car would certainly put a tiger in the tank of the moribund U.S. auto industry. But don't get your checkbook out quite yet. The reality is that you won't see a car on a showroom floor in America with 50mpg on the window sticker for at least three years and maybe longer. Sure, all auto companies are focusing on jacking up fuel economy, especially since Congress just mandated that all new autos sold by 2020 must average 35mpg. The new mileage mantra also is motivated by the fact that car sales are weak, partially because of panic at the pump. But putting out a 50mpg car any time soon is daunting even to the maker of America's mileage champ, the 48mpg Toyota Prius. "We're close enough to spit at that now," says Bill Reinert, Toyota's national manager of advanced technologies. "It's not an incredible stretch, but it's an incredible stretch to do it on a mass-market basis."
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
Alternative Propulsion, Cruiser / Feeder, Personal Air Travel...Future of Air Transport?
Six ideas that were seen as having the most potential included
* alternative propulsion
* a cruiser/feeder type of long range transport
* ground-assisted take-off and landing
* personal air travel
* advanced airport
* global air traffic systems.
The first four of these ideas now feature in the latest €80.42 million seven-year research agenda.
The Cruiser/Feeder concept including mid-air refuelling - The concept envisages very large - possibly nuclear-powered - aircraft flying on stable circuitous routes that connect major centres of population
Ground-based power sources for take-off and landing - The objective here is to reduce the installed power and systems on the aircraft as a means to reduce weight and fuel consumption.
Personal Air Transport System - Recently developed very light jets - some originating from European companies like Grob and Diamond have led to a new form of air transport, the air taxi - completely different from business aviation.
Main propulsive power - All energy sources of a quite different nature such as solar and nuclear power should be considered - beyond the advanced and fairly mature gas-turbine concept and fully funded schemes such as fuel cells with energy sources.
A Globalised and Seamless Air Traffic System - Another promising area is the development of a single seamless management system that would replace today’s diverse systems, going well beyond the work of Single European Sky ATM Research.
More from here
* alternative propulsion
* a cruiser/feeder type of long range transport
* ground-assisted take-off and landing
* personal air travel
* advanced airport
* global air traffic systems.
The first four of these ideas now feature in the latest €80.42 million seven-year research agenda.
The Cruiser/Feeder concept including mid-air refuelling - The concept envisages very large - possibly nuclear-powered - aircraft flying on stable circuitous routes that connect major centres of population
Ground-based power sources for take-off and landing - The objective here is to reduce the installed power and systems on the aircraft as a means to reduce weight and fuel consumption.
Personal Air Transport System - Recently developed very light jets - some originating from European companies like Grob and Diamond have led to a new form of air transport, the air taxi - completely different from business aviation.
Main propulsive power - All energy sources of a quite different nature such as solar and nuclear power should be considered - beyond the advanced and fairly mature gas-turbine concept and fully funded schemes such as fuel cells with energy sources.
A Globalised and Seamless Air Traffic System - Another promising area is the development of a single seamless management system that would replace today’s diverse systems, going well beyond the work of Single European Sky ATM Research.
More from here
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Alternative Propulsion, Cruiser / Feeder, Personal Air Travel...Future of Air Transport? posted by Ecacofonix : 9:41 AM
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Friday, April 4, 2008
In-vehicle Networking - Better Automotive, Safety, Comfort
In-vehicle networking is creating a quiet revolution in automotive technology. It has eliminated bulky wiring harnesses once used for control circuits and enabled dozens of convenience features such as anti-skid braking systems, airbags, engine control, transmission control, and electric power steering.
In the future, networks will deliver operational data such as lane departure warnings and road condition advisories while allowing drivers and passengers to enjoy their journey more than ever before. Networking is also critical to environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles, which depend on fast, reliable inter-communication between components. Battery systems need charging and power management, and hybrids also require precise coordination between the electric motor and gasoline engine.
Full report here
In the future, networks will deliver operational data such as lane departure warnings and road condition advisories while allowing drivers and passengers to enjoy their journey more than ever before. Networking is also critical to environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles, which depend on fast, reliable inter-communication between components. Battery systems need charging and power management, and hybrids also require precise coordination between the electric motor and gasoline engine.
Full report here
Labels: Computer-Science, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - In-vehicle Networking - Better Automotive, Safety, Comfort posted by Ecacofonix : 11:21 PM
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Renault Mégane Coupé Concept Car @ Geneva Motor Show
Renault took the wraps off its Mégane Coupé concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show held in March. Renault concept car incorporates a host of new design concepts.
This futuristic dragonfly lookalike foreshadows a compact production coupé to be released at a later date.
The 4,5- m-long vehicle features doors that are topped by a separate glazed area and, as they open, the two parts deployin an independent movement “redolent of dragonfly wings”. A carbon arm at the rear of the doors connects them to the body structure, and ensures easy access for passengers.
Full report here
This futuristic dragonfly lookalike foreshadows a compact production coupé to be released at a later date.
The 4,5- m-long vehicle features doors that are topped by a separate glazed area and, as they open, the two parts deployin an independent movement “redolent of dragonfly wings”. A carbon arm at the rear of the doors connects them to the body structure, and ensures easy access for passengers.
Full report here
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Renault Mégane Coupé Concept Car @ Geneva Motor Show posted by Ecacofonix : 11:01 PM
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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Johnathan Goodwin - an Auto Mechanic Does What Detroit Says is Impossible
This is an interesting story. It centers on Kansas City auto mechanic and inventor Johnathan Goodwin.
Two years ago, Goodwin got a rare chance to show off his tricks to some of the car industry's most prominent engineers. He was driving a converted H2 to the SEMA show, the nation's biggest annual specialty automotive confab, and stopped en route at a Denver hotel. When he woke up in the morning, there were 20 people standing around his Hummer. Did I run over somebody? he wondered. As it turned out, they were engineers for GM, the Hummer's manufacturer. They noticed that Goodwin's H2 looked modified. "Does it have a diesel engine in it?"
"Yeah," he said.
"No way," they replied.
He opened the hood, "and they're just all in and out and around the valves and checking it out," he says. He'd filled it up with grease from a Chinese restaurant the day before and was worried that the cold morning might have solidified the fuel. But it started up on the first try and ran so quietly that at first they didn't believe it was really on
And they're like, 'Is it running? Yeah, you can hear the fan going.'" One engineer turned and said, "GM said this wouldn't work."
Remember -- Detroit tells us it's impossible to increase gas mileage without taking a hit on horsepower. Yet here's Goodwin -- with an eight-grade education -- able to design motors that blow the doors off the conventional wisdom.
More from here
Two years ago, Goodwin got a rare chance to show off his tricks to some of the car industry's most prominent engineers. He was driving a converted H2 to the SEMA show, the nation's biggest annual specialty automotive confab, and stopped en route at a Denver hotel. When he woke up in the morning, there were 20 people standing around his Hummer. Did I run over somebody? he wondered. As it turned out, they were engineers for GM, the Hummer's manufacturer. They noticed that Goodwin's H2 looked modified. "Does it have a diesel engine in it?"
"Yeah," he said.
"No way," they replied.
He opened the hood, "and they're just all in and out and around the valves and checking it out," he says. He'd filled it up with grease from a Chinese restaurant the day before and was worried that the cold morning might have solidified the fuel. But it started up on the first try and ran so quietly that at first they didn't believe it was really on
And they're like, 'Is it running? Yeah, you can hear the fan going.'" One engineer turned and said, "GM said this wouldn't work."
Remember -- Detroit tells us it's impossible to increase gas mileage without taking a hit on horsepower. Yet here's Goodwin -- with an eight-grade education -- able to design motors that blow the doors off the conventional wisdom.
More from here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Johnathan Goodwin - an Auto Mechanic Does What Detroit Says is Impossible posted by Ecacofonix : 10:35 AM
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Soild Hydrogen Storage System by Stanford Ovshinsky
Hydrogen Solutions to Replace Gasoline Inventor will Keynote nanoTX USA’08
World-famed pioneer in nanostructures, who was once named Time Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet,” is greatly anticipated in the scientific and business community with exciting new advances
Stanford R. Ovshinsky has become a living legend in the scientific and business communities, having once been profiled in a one-hour PBS program on NOVA entitled “Japan’s American Genius.” The most recent exciting advancement is his solid hydrogen storage system, a metal hydride solid which can be stored in a granular, inert form in compact tanks. It's as easy to fuel up a vehicle with this solid hydrogen as it is to gas up a conventional car. When the car needs fuel, a little energy from the battery system heats up the solid and releases hydrogen gas. Solid hydrogen is currently powering some internal combustion engines on modified Toyota Priuses, and the future looks promising for fuel cell implementation.
Full story here
World-famed pioneer in nanostructures, who was once named Time Magazine’s “Hero of the Planet,” is greatly anticipated in the scientific and business community with exciting new advances
Stanford R. Ovshinsky has become a living legend in the scientific and business communities, having once been profiled in a one-hour PBS program on NOVA entitled “Japan’s American Genius.” The most recent exciting advancement is his solid hydrogen storage system, a metal hydride solid which can be stored in a granular, inert form in compact tanks. It's as easy to fuel up a vehicle with this solid hydrogen as it is to gas up a conventional car. When the car needs fuel, a little energy from the battery system heats up the solid and releases hydrogen gas. Solid hydrogen is currently powering some internal combustion engines on modified Toyota Priuses, and the future looks promising for fuel cell implementation.
Full story here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Material-Sciences
PermaLink - Soild Hydrogen Storage System by Stanford Ovshinsky posted by Ecacofonix : 7:20 AM
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - The Future of Motoring?
Automotive entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin is convinced that his New York-based company, Visionary Vehicles, will introduce a globally sourced, Chinese-built plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to the US market in 2009. According to Bricklin, the car will achieve fuel efficiency of at least 100 mpg, boast a level of detail to rival Mercedes, and roll into consumer’s driveways for $35,000. Bricklin sees it as a no-compromise automobile that will embarrass the Prius in the areas of mileage, luxury, and desirability. “This 35-mpg garbage is going to be history,” says Bricklin. “If I have the opportunity to change this industry, I’m going to. And I do have the opportunity to change this industry. So I will.”
The claim brings Bricklin head-to-head with the world’s biggest automakers as they race to develop a technology many are heralding as the future of motoring.
Full story here
The claim brings Bricklin head-to-head with the world’s biggest automakers as they race to develop a technology many are heralding as the future of motoring.
Full story here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Mechanical-Engineering
PermaLink - Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - The Future of Motoring? posted by Ecacofonix : 1:42 AM
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Monday, March 24, 2008
Putting McKinsey's Eight Business Technology Trends into Practice
The McKinsey Quarterly recently published an article on eight business technology trends to watch that was not only quite good, but a good summary of the trends that you should be implementing, appropriately, in your supply chain. In this second part of this two part series, this post from Sourcing Innovation reviews the trends and give you some examples of how you can apply them to improve your sourcing and supply chain practice.
Related blogposts
Putting McKinsey's Eight Business Technology Trends into Practice
McKinsey’s 8 Business Technology Trends to Watch
Related blogposts
Putting McKinsey's Eight Business Technology Trends into Practice
McKinsey’s 8 Business Technology Trends to Watch
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Putting McKinsey's Eight Business Technology Trends into Practice posted by Ecacofonix : 11:30 AM
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Boeing Looking Beyond B-1B, B-52, Super Hornet...Towards F/A-XX
By 2018, the Air Force says, it wants a new bomber to replace aging B-1Bs and B-52s — likely something that can fly 4,000 miles and carry 14,000 to 28,000 pounds of weaponry. Rivals Boeing and Lockheed Martin Corp. have teamed up to bid on the job. They're expecting competition from Northrop Grumman Corp., although that company has made no formal announcement that it will bid.
The Air Force still is considering exactly what it wants in the bomber, but Boeing began brainstorming a couple of years ago, and Davis even has a scale model of a prototype on the conference table in his office. Boeing has been testing different ideas and capabilities in the 70,000-square-foot Virtual Warfare Center battle simulator on its campus in Hazelwood, and figuring out what it would take to build the craft most effectively.
They're also starting to think about what comes after the Super Hornet. The Navy is beginning to think about how it will replace its main fighter jet in a few decades, and Boeing is studying what kind of technology that plane, called the F/A-XX, will require.
More from here
The Air Force still is considering exactly what it wants in the bomber, but Boeing began brainstorming a couple of years ago, and Davis even has a scale model of a prototype on the conference table in his office. Boeing has been testing different ideas and capabilities in the 70,000-square-foot Virtual Warfare Center battle simulator on its campus in Hazelwood, and figuring out what it would take to build the craft most effectively.
They're also starting to think about what comes after the Super Hornet. The Navy is beginning to think about how it will replace its main fighter jet in a few decades, and Boeing is studying what kind of technology that plane, called the F/A-XX, will require.
More from here
Labels: Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Boeing Looking Beyond B-1B, B-52, Super Hornet...Towards F/A-XX posted by Ecacofonix : 3:15 AM
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Optimal Cross Aisle and Fishbone Aisles Design - New Warehouse Design Concepts
An innovative, alternative warehouse-design concept developed by a University of Arkansas researcher and his colleague at Auburn University has been implemented by a Wisconsin generator manufacturer. In its newly designed warehouse in Whitewater, Wis., Generac Power Systems built a non-traditional aisle and rack system based on concepts created by Russell Meller, professor of industrial engineering, and Kevin Gue, engineering professor at Auburn.
In 2006, Meller and Gue announced two novel designs - the optimal cross aisle design and the fishbone aisles design - as alternatives to conventional warehouse layout in which storage racks are laid out to create rows of parallel picking aisles with one or more cross aisles in the middle. The researchers' alternative designs included V-shaped diagonal cross aisles that improved order-picking travel times by 10 to 20 percent.
More from here
In 2006, Meller and Gue announced two novel designs - the optimal cross aisle design and the fishbone aisles design - as alternatives to conventional warehouse layout in which storage racks are laid out to create rows of parallel picking aisles with one or more cross aisles in the middle. The researchers' alternative designs included V-shaped diagonal cross aisles that improved order-picking travel times by 10 to 20 percent.
More from here
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Optimal Cross Aisle and Fishbone Aisles Design - New Warehouse Design Concepts posted by Ecacofonix : 3:15 AM
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Metal Hydrides, Alanates, Borohydrides & Hydrogen Cars’ Efficiency
Hydrogen-powered cars seem to be the best solution to the problem of fossil fuels pollution.
David S. Sholl, a professor of chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is conducting a new research to identify a new class of materials to be used in making hydrogen engines more efficient than ever.
“We are currently studying the use of metal hydrides, such as alanates and borohydrides, to find materials that could ultimately improve the efficiency of hydrogen cars and curb pollution,” said Sholl.
They’re trying to create new materials that are able to store large amounts of hydrogen in a compressed gas tank and then release it to power the fuel cells of the future cars.
Full report here
David S. Sholl, a professor of chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is conducting a new research to identify a new class of materials to be used in making hydrogen engines more efficient than ever.
“We are currently studying the use of metal hydrides, such as alanates and borohydrides, to find materials that could ultimately improve the efficiency of hydrogen cars and curb pollution,” said Sholl.
They’re trying to create new materials that are able to store large amounts of hydrogen in a compressed gas tank and then release it to power the fuel cells of the future cars.
Full report here
Labels: Chemical-Engineering, Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Metal Hydrides, Alanates, Borohydrides & Hydrogen Cars’ Efficiency posted by Ecacofonix : 3:15 AM
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Telematics Heralds Self-driving Car
Integration of consumer devices is one of the major growth trends in automotive electronics, with telematics as a close second. Both technologies pose significant challenges to electronics designers and at the same time open interesting perspectives for OEMs, tier ones, service providers and drivers.
At the recent Euroforum Automotive Electronics congress in Munich, EE Times Europe discussed perspectives and obstacles with Marc de Jong, executive vice president and general manager, automotive & identification, NXP Semiconductors.
Full details of the discussion here
Related blogposts
Transportation Communications Newsletter
At the recent Euroforum Automotive Electronics congress in Munich, EE Times Europe discussed perspectives and obstacles with Marc de Jong, executive vice president and general manager, automotive & identification, NXP Semiconductors.
Full details of the discussion here
Related blogposts
Transportation Communications Newsletter
Labels: Electronics-Communications-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Are Signs to Make Roads Safer Making them More Dangerous?
Wired Magazine published an article in 2004 about Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman, and a trend he started to improve roadway safety by making things appear more dangerous.
The theory goes like this. Putting up signs and designing to remove all possible things that interfere with traffic makes roads appear safer than they really are. Drivers react by becoming more relaxed and less vigilant, resulting in accidents. But if you make roads appear dangerous, for example, by removing signs, people pay more attention and there are less accidents.
Monderman has several real life examples. A quote:
"Riding in his green Saab, we glide into Drachten, a 17th-century village that has grown into a bustling town of more than 40,000. We pass by the performing arts center, and suddenly, there it is: the Intersection. It's the confluence of two busy two-lane roads that handle 20,000 cars a day, plus thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians. Several years ago, Monderman ripped out all the traditional instruments used by traffic engineers to influence driver behavior - traffic lights, road markings, and some pedestrian crossings - and in their place created a roundabout, or traffic circle. The circle is remarkable for what it doesn't contain: signs or signals telling drivers how fast to go, who has the right-of-way, or how to behave. There are no lane markers or curbs separating street and sidewalk, so it's unclear exactly where the car zone ends and the pedestrian zone begins. To an approaching driver, the intersection is utterly ambiguous - and that's the point.
Monderman and I stand in silence by the side of the road a few minutes, watching the stream of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians make their way through the circle, a giant concrete mixing bowl of transport. Somehow it all works. The drivers slow to gauge the intentions of crossing bicyclists and walkers. Negotiations over right-of-way are made through fleeting eye contact.
It applies to things other than roads as well. Any system with extensive safety measures and procedures becomes at some point prone to catastrophic failure!"
Interesting perspective...
Mored from here
The theory goes like this. Putting up signs and designing to remove all possible things that interfere with traffic makes roads appear safer than they really are. Drivers react by becoming more relaxed and less vigilant, resulting in accidents. But if you make roads appear dangerous, for example, by removing signs, people pay more attention and there are less accidents.
Monderman has several real life examples. A quote:
"Riding in his green Saab, we glide into Drachten, a 17th-century village that has grown into a bustling town of more than 40,000. We pass by the performing arts center, and suddenly, there it is: the Intersection. It's the confluence of two busy two-lane roads that handle 20,000 cars a day, plus thousands of bicyclists and pedestrians. Several years ago, Monderman ripped out all the traditional instruments used by traffic engineers to influence driver behavior - traffic lights, road markings, and some pedestrian crossings - and in their place created a roundabout, or traffic circle. The circle is remarkable for what it doesn't contain: signs or signals telling drivers how fast to go, who has the right-of-way, or how to behave. There are no lane markers or curbs separating street and sidewalk, so it's unclear exactly where the car zone ends and the pedestrian zone begins. To an approaching driver, the intersection is utterly ambiguous - and that's the point.
Monderman and I stand in silence by the side of the road a few minutes, watching the stream of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians make their way through the circle, a giant concrete mixing bowl of transport. Somehow it all works. The drivers slow to gauge the intentions of crossing bicyclists and walkers. Negotiations over right-of-way are made through fleeting eye contact.
It applies to things other than roads as well. Any system with extensive safety measures and procedures becomes at some point prone to catastrophic failure!"
Interesting perspective...
Mored from here
Labels: Civil-Engineering, Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Safety
PermaLink - Are Signs to Make Roads Safer Making them More Dangerous? posted by Ecacofonix : 11:03 PM
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Hydrogen on Demand Using Aluminium & Gallium
Purdue professor Jerry Woodall, center, and researchers Charles Allen and Jeffrey Ziebarth display hydrogen gas created by adding water to an alloy of aluminum and gallium.
A Purdue University engineer and National Medal of Technology winner says he's ready and able to start a revolution in clean energy.
Professor Jerry Woodall and students have invented a way to use an aluminum alloy to extract hydrogen from water — a process that he thinks could replace gasoline as well as its pollutants and emissions tied to global warming.
Woodall says the method makes it unnecessary to store or transport hydrogen — two major challenges in creating a hydrogen economy. The hydrogen is generated on demand. So instead of having to fill up at a station, hydrogen would be made inside vehicles in tanks about the same size as today's gasoline tanks. An internal reaction in those tanks would create hydrogen from water and 350 pounds worth of special pellets.
Read the full story from here
Related blogposts
New Aluminum-Rich Alloy Produces Hydrogen On-Demand
Hydrogen On Demand
A Purdue University engineer and National Medal of Technology winner says he's ready and able to start a revolution in clean energy.
Professor Jerry Woodall and students have invented a way to use an aluminum alloy to extract hydrogen from water — a process that he thinks could replace gasoline as well as its pollutants and emissions tied to global warming.
Woodall says the method makes it unnecessary to store or transport hydrogen — two major challenges in creating a hydrogen economy. The hydrogen is generated on demand. So instead of having to fill up at a station, hydrogen would be made inside vehicles in tanks about the same size as today's gasoline tanks. An internal reaction in those tanks would create hydrogen from water and 350 pounds worth of special pellets.
Read the full story from here
Related blogposts
New Aluminum-Rich Alloy Produces Hydrogen On-Demand
Hydrogen On Demand
Labels: Chemical-Engineering, Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Sciences
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Emission-free Cars Thanks to Carbon Recyling Technology
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a strategy to capture, store and eventually recycle carbon from vehicles to prevent the pollutant from finding its way from a car tailpipe into the atmosphere. Georgia Tech researchers envision a zero emission car, and a transportation system completely free of fossil fuels.
Technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from large-scale sources such as power plants have recently gained some impressive scientific ground, but nearly two-thirds of global carbon emissions are created by much smaller polluters — automobiles, transportation vehicles and distributed industrial power generation applications (e.g., diesel power generators).
The Georgia Tech team’s goal is to create a sustainable transportation system that uses a liquid fuel and traps the carbon emission in the vehicle for later processing at a fueling station. The carbon would then be shuttled back to a processing plant where it could be transformed into liquid fuel.
Full report here
Technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from large-scale sources such as power plants have recently gained some impressive scientific ground, but nearly two-thirds of global carbon emissions are created by much smaller polluters — automobiles, transportation vehicles and distributed industrial power generation applications (e.g., diesel power generators).
The Georgia Tech team’s goal is to create a sustainable transportation system that uses a liquid fuel and traps the carbon emission in the vehicle for later processing at a fueling station. The carbon would then be shuttled back to a processing plant where it could be transformed into liquid fuel.
Full report here
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Emission-free Cars Thanks to Carbon Recyling Technology posted by Ecacofonix : 6:27 AM
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Small Battery-powered Electric Cars Could Catch On Soon
Within four years, at least two Japanese automakers plan to have all-electric cars on American roads. Several other automakers from around the world, including Ford Motor Co., are mulling similar vehicles.
When they arrive, the new electrics won't be big or inexpensive, and they won't go far -- probably no more than 90 miles without recharging. But with better battery technology, tougher environmental laws and growing demand for oil-free forms of transportation, auto executives say there's a niche for electric cars to thrive.
Full report here
Related blogposts
Battery powered cars
When they arrive, the new electrics won't be big or inexpensive, and they won't go far -- probably no more than 90 miles without recharging. But with better battery technology, tougher environmental laws and growing demand for oil-free forms of transportation, auto executives say there's a niche for electric cars to thrive.
Full report here
Related blogposts
Battery powered cars
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Small Battery-powered Electric Cars Could Catch On Soon posted by Ecacofonix : 5:51 AM
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Friday, March 21, 2008
Space Elevator - Will Arthur Clarke be Proved Right Again?
"It's definitely my most important contribution," Arthur Clarke told a journalist a couple of months before this death, about his prescient idea of communications satellites. And he added, "And maybe in a generation or so the space elevator will be considered equally important."
The space elevator - basically a huge cable connecting the Earth to space, along which payloads can be launched using electromagnetic vehicles - is another thing that Clarke has championed. He first wrote about it in 1978. Current plans call for a cable about 50,000 kilometers long.
"The chief expense of space travel when you build the space elevator is entertainment and in-flight movies," joked Clarke to the journalist. It is very sad that the sci-fi genius is no more...
The space elevator - basically a huge cable connecting the Earth to space, along which payloads can be launched using electromagnetic vehicles - is another thing that Clarke has championed. He first wrote about it in 1978. Current plans call for a cable about 50,000 kilometers long.
"The chief expense of space travel when you build the space elevator is entertainment and in-flight movies," joked Clarke to the journalist. It is very sad that the sci-fi genius is no more...
Labels: Astronomy, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Space Elevator - Will Arthur Clarke be Proved Right Again? posted by Ecacofonix : 11:42 AM
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Seegrid Unveils GT3 Industrial Mobile Robot for Material Handling
Seegrid Corporation (www.seegrid.com) unveils GT3, the first vision-guided industrial mobile robot recently. Designed specifically for material handling in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution...
The vehicle employs Seegrid's Industrial Mobile Robotics (IMR) technology which enables it to move through manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operations utilizing stereo cameras to build a reliable 3D map of the environment. The GT3 then uses the map and its own reasoning ability to navigate a predetermined path to complete its assigned transport task
Full report here
Related blogposts
Seegrid Unveils GT3, the First Vision-Guided Industrial Mobile
The vehicle employs Seegrid's Industrial Mobile Robotics (IMR) technology which enables it to move through manufacturing, warehousing and distribution operations utilizing stereo cameras to build a reliable 3D map of the environment. The GT3 then uses the map and its own reasoning ability to navigate a predetermined path to complete its assigned transport task
Full report here
Related blogposts
Seegrid Unveils GT3, the First Vision-Guided Industrial Mobile
Labels: Automation, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Seegrid Unveils GT3 Industrial Mobile Robot for Material Handling posted by Ecacofonix : 10:54 AM
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Automotive Opportunities in a Green Economy
Many experts believe that the automotive industry will see continued growth and sales in many types of fuel-efficient vehicles. This is due in part to stiff emission standards proposed by several U.S. states and continued investment in other types of advanced technology. This includes one of the most exciting new developments in U.S. car manufacturing: Tesla Motors’ new, revolutionary all-electric sports car. Innovations like this point to a changing, yet continuously growing and competitive industry, with doors opening for new opportunities.
Locations across North America are trying to seize these opportunities, and are often willing to dole out generous incentives to get a piece of this attractive industry. After all, investments by automotive companies mean prodigious economic growth for an area. Here’s a look at some locations that are helping to shape the future of the automotive industry.
Related blogposts
Automotive Opportunities in a Green Economy
Locations across North America are trying to seize these opportunities, and are often willing to dole out generous incentives to get a piece of this attractive industry. After all, investments by automotive companies mean prodigious economic growth for an area. Here’s a look at some locations that are helping to shape the future of the automotive industry.
Related blogposts
Automotive Opportunities in a Green Economy
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
Pininfarina Sintesi Sports Car - Liquid Packaging, Starting with the Passengers!
The Sintesi is a sports car with four doors and four seats, developed by an innovative approach: it does not consider the car as a shape that covers the mechanicals, but one that gives a shape to the mechanicals around the passengers, starting from the latter. This approach, which is known as "Liquid" Packaging, tends to improve weight distribution and lower the centre of gravity, important elements for driving dynamics.
Pininfarina made this possible by close collaboration with Nuvera, which developed the Quadrivium Fuel Cells system, the various components of which were distributed around the car, with four fuel cells positioned near to the wheels. The result is that the space for passengers is much more generous - in proportion to the total volume of the car - without detracting from the sporty line with its relaxed, elegant profile which is sleek, tapered and aerodynamic
Full story here (and nice pics too)
Pininfarina made this possible by close collaboration with Nuvera, which developed the Quadrivium Fuel Cells system, the various components of which were distributed around the car, with four fuel cells positioned near to the wheels. The result is that the space for passengers is much more generous - in proportion to the total volume of the car - without detracting from the sporty line with its relaxed, elegant profile which is sleek, tapered and aerodynamic
Full story here (and nice pics too)
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering, Mechanical-Engineering
PermaLink - Pininfarina Sintesi Sports Car - Liquid Packaging, Starting with the Passengers! posted by Ecacofonix : 12:09 AM
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Sunday, March 2, 2008
Fulfillment: The Unexpected Key to Successful E-Commerce
e-commerce gives consumers a lot of what they want: broad assortment and convenient shopping any time from anywhere. These characteristics of Internet retailing are driving the e-commerce supply chain to be as flexible, fast and low-cost as the Internet itself. The ironic challenge of e-tailing is that the things making it attractive to consumers are exactly the things that make order fulfillment and DC (distribution center) operations difficult. The problem is that anachronistic material handling approaches are not well suited for the demands of Internet retailing, presenting a bottleneck in the enterprise value chain. Clearly, 21st century e-commerce operations will not succeed when simply duct-taped to 20th century automation.
To compete effectively, e-commerce must figure out how to transform the distribution function from a cost center into a competitive asset. This article takes a look at why fulfillment processes in their current state hold e-commerce back from its full competitive potential, and offers some insights about a new approach.
To compete effectively, e-commerce must figure out how to transform the distribution function from a cost center into a competitive asset. This article takes a look at why fulfillment processes in their current state hold e-commerce back from its full competitive potential, and offers some insights about a new approach.
Labels: Computer-Science, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Fulfillment: The Unexpected Key to Successful E-Commerce posted by Ecacofonix : 7:58 PM
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Thursday, February 28, 2008
'Green Mobility' Tops Agenda for Siemens at Rail 2008
'Green Mobility' Tops the Agenda for Siemens at Rail 2008
Siemens today underlined its commitment to creating greener railways, with the launch of a major initiative at today's RAIL 2008 conference.
Green Mobility is part of a global approach under the banner of Complete Mobility. Siemens is a leading international supplier to the railways industry and as a single source supplier and system integrator combines all the expertise necessary to cover all areas of rail transportation.
Full story here
Related Blogposts
Green Mobility on the Agenda
Siemens today underlined its commitment to creating greener railways, with the launch of a major initiative at today's RAIL 2008 conference.
Green Mobility is part of a global approach under the banner of Complete Mobility. Siemens is a leading international supplier to the railways industry and as a single source supplier and system integrator combines all the expertise necessary to cover all areas of rail transportation.
Full story here
Related Blogposts
Green Mobility on the Agenda
Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - 'Green Mobility' Tops Agenda for Siemens at Rail 2008 posted by Ecacofonix : 5:27 AM
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Monday, February 18, 2008
All New FG Falcon - Kinetic Design that Reflects the Car
All New FG Falcon-Design that Reflects the Car
The all-new exterior and interior design of the FG Falcon embodies the vehicle's core attributes of performance, comfort and fun-to-drive characteristics.
With three distinct faces providing greater series differentiation, a new interior designed around the driver, and the first Australian application of European kinetic design influences, the FG Falcon represents the most design intensive Falcon program since the introduction of the AU Falcon in 1998.
Full story here
The all-new exterior and interior design of the FG Falcon embodies the vehicle's core attributes of performance, comfort and fun-to-drive characteristics.
With three distinct faces providing greater series differentiation, a new interior designed around the driver, and the first Australian application of European kinetic design influences, the FG Falcon represents the most design intensive Falcon program since the introduction of the AU Falcon in 1998.
Full story here
Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - All New FG Falcon - Kinetic Design that Reflects the Car posted by Ecacofonix : 5:12 AM
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Sunday, February 17, 2008
Clean Sky Project Boosts Europe Green Aircraft Research
New initiative gives green aircraft research a boost
Plans for a new generation of green aircraft took a step closer to becoming reality today with the launch of a €1.6bn (£1.19bn) Europe-wide research programme. The Clean Sky project, a joint technology initiative (JTI), is a public-private partnership involving universities and research centres, and small and large industry. The aim of the programme is to make air travel more environmentally sustainable by developing greener technologies.
Aircraft produce around 3% of all EU carbon emissions and experts forecast that they will account for 5% of global warming in 2050.
Full story here
Plans for a new generation of green aircraft took a step closer to becoming reality today with the launch of a €1.6bn (£1.19bn) Europe-wide research programme. The Clean Sky project, a joint technology initiative (JTI), is a public-private partnership involving universities and research centres, and small and large industry. The aim of the programme is to make air travel more environmentally sustainable by developing greener technologies.
Aircraft produce around 3% of all EU carbon emissions and experts forecast that they will account for 5% of global warming in 2050.
Full story here
Labels: Aerospace-Engineering, Energy-Environment-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering
PermaLink - Clean Sky Project Boosts Europe Green Aircraft Research posted by Ecacofonix : 9:52 AM
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Future Aircraft Inspection Technologies
Future Aircraft Inspection Technologies
Feb 7, 2008
Imagine for a moment the airplane of the future, a flying machine all but freed from scheduled inspections, able to keep flying because of sets of sophisticated sensors imbedded within it.
In perhaps a decade or so, a mechanic might do a walk around inspection, much as the first officer does at pre-flight, just before departure. But this walkaround would be far more probing. Armed with a wireless ultrasound device, "your technician walks past the airplane and a little chip beeps at him," envisions Michael Moles, senior technology manager for Olympus NDT. "He knows then and there whether there's a problem." This, contends the veteran NDT executive, "will tend to be the future," a future predicated not so much on periodic inspection, as on structural health monitoring.
Full report here
Feb 7, 2008
Imagine for a moment the airplane of the future, a flying machine all but freed from scheduled inspections, able to keep flying because of sets of sophisticated sensors imbedded within it.
In perhaps a decade or so, a mechanic might do a walk around inspection, much as the first officer does at pre-flight, just before departure. But this walkaround would be far more probing. Armed with a wireless ultrasound device, "your technician walks past the airplane and a little chip beeps at him," envisions Michael Moles, senior technology manager for Olympus NDT. "He knows then and there whether there's a problem." This, contends the veteran NDT executive, "will tend to be the future," a future predicated not so much on periodic inspection, as on structural health monitoring.
Full report here
Labels: Aerospace-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering