• Underground structure built with robots cuts time and costs

    The latest demonstrator from startup hyperTunnel was built at the firm’s R&D facility in the North Hampshire Downs. The approach is claimed to be friendlier to the environment and will use sustainable materials such as low-carbon concrete. It could also drastically improve safety in the tunnelling sector because no humans need to enter the structure during construction. A fleet of ‘hyperBot’ robots enters the ground via an arch of high-density plastic pipes and, once inside, can 3D print the tunnel shell by deploying construction material directly into the ground. The 6m-long, 2m-high and 2m-wide Peak XV ‘pedestrian-scale’ tunnel has been delivered as part of a project for Network Rail. The Network Rail project has been demonstrating the hyperTunnel process, investigating the technologies…

  • Texas sues Google over ‘indiscriminate’ collection of facial recognition data

    The state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against technology giant Google for the company's collection and use of biometric data, which it says goes against the state's Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act. The  lawsuit claims Google “indiscriminately” harvested "millions of biometric identifiers" from users and non-users of the company’s products without their consent, and profited from them.  The state claims the data was used to improve the facial recognition technology leveraged by Google Photos and the voice recognition technology used in its line of smart speakers and other home products. "In blatant defiance of that law, Google has, since at least 2015, collected biometric data from innumerable Texans and used their faces and their voices to serve Google’s commercial ends,"…

  • Wireless charging motorways need careful energy management for affordability

    Wireless charging technology that is built into roads has been trialled a number of times in the past and is considered to be one possible solution to “range anxiety” in electric vehicles. Today, it takes a lot of time to charge an electric vehicle and a car’s range may only be a few hundred miles. With wireless charging lanes, a driver may simply move into the charging lane, much like today’s high-occupancy vehicles move into special lanes (in the United States) to avoid dense traffic. “Electrifying transportation is great, since you can eliminate carbon emissions,” said senior author Oliver Gao. “You can energise your car while driving in the charging lane. But if you’re managing a charging highway that can provide energy to cars, you’re buying and selling electricity on an industrial…

  • TfL's income increased by £100m from the expansion of London's Ulez

    One year after Transport for London (TfL) expanded the area included in the Ulez, official figures have shown the economic impact of the decision.  The analysis by the RAC found that between the start of November 2021 and the end of June 2022, an average of 1.9 million journeys were made into the zone every month, resulting in £112.5m of revenue from those required to pay. That is compared with revenue of less than £19m between February and September 2021, before the Ulez was expanded, thereby resulting in a £93.6m increase. The Ulez was first launched in April 2019, requiring all vehicles passing through the city centre to meet strict emissions standards or pay a fee. Within months, the number of more polluting vehicles fell by a third, as people were pushed to walk, cycle or use public…

  • World-leading engineers celebrated at IET Achievement Awards

    The IET has named the winners of its 2022 Achievement Awards. The IET Achievement Medals exist to recognise individuals from all over the world who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of engineering, technology and science in any sector. This can be through research and development in their respective technical field or through their leadership of an enterprise. One of this year’s most significant awards, the Faraday Medal, goes to Dr Chad A Mirkin for his contributions to nanotechnology and nanoengineering, including the invention and development of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) – technology which is being used in the early detection of diseases, identification of new genetic markers and has led to a new therapeutic pipeline for gene regulation and immunotherapy. …

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Hands-on review: OneWorld 65 International Adapter with 65W PD Charger

    Mains-power compatible in practically every country on Earth, the OneWorld 65 International Adapter houses one 65W USB PD charging port with QC; two USB-C smart-charging ports; two USB-A smart charging ports, and a 10A AC universal power outlet, enabling you to charge up to six devices simultaneously. For all but the most rabid gadget enthusiast, this should be more than enough I/O for the modern traveller. The OneWorld 65 has been designed using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors, which are valued for their efficiency at transferring current (amongst other chemical advantages) and handling power supply and conversion. The goal here is to maximuse energy transmission to the devices connected to the adapter, with less energy lost to heat. The real-world result is that devices should charge…

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine

  • Underwater microphones to record the melting of icebergs

    An expedition of scientists and an artist are deploying underwater microphones in the ocean off Greenland to record the sounds of melting icebergs, The Guardian has reported.  Over the next two years, the hydrophones will capture the sounds of melting Arctic sea ice and under subaquatic audio every hour, being  lowered to different levels and temperatures to record earthquakes, landslides, wildlife, pollution and meltwater, creating an archive of the “ocean’s memory”. The recordings will be used in scientific research, as well as in a mixed-media installation to explore human impact on the world’s oceans, the newspaper reported.   “I’m interested in hearing the acoustic pollution,” the artist said. “The sea levels are rising and that will have an impact I’d imagine on the sound range…

  • Face masks fit men better than women, MIT sensors confirm

    Developed by MIT researchers, the sensor measures physical contact between the mask and the wearer’s face and can be applied to any kind of mask. Using this sensor, the researchers analysed the fit of surgical masks on male and female subjects, and found that overall, the masks fit women’s faces much less closely than they fit men’s faces. “What we realized by analysing our collected data from the individuals in the study was that the masks that we use in daily life are not very suitable for female participants,” said Canan Dagdeviren, corresponding author of the study. The researchers hope that their sensor will help people to find masks that fit them better, and that designers could use it to create masks that fit a wider variety of face shapes and sizes. The sensor can also be used…

  • How solarpunk ideals can inspire the robots of tomorrow

    'Solarpunk' is an art movement depicting a sustainable future where technology meets nature, the world is at peace and humans collaborate with robots to build a better quality of life. All of these ideals sound very Utopian, but with the fast-paced advancement of technology - and society’s urge to become greener - the future could easily resemble solarpunk if the correct steps are taken. If robots are envisioned as the turning point to reach this optimistic future, industry is currently heading in the right direction. We have seen robots take the place of pets, nurses, factory and retail workers - including ones that make good conversation. The latter, however, still creates hesitancy among people due to fear of the singularity , a hypothetical point at which technological growth becomes…

  • MPs reject motion to force a vote to ban fracking in the UK

    Newly resigned Prime Minister Liz Truss' government won the vote on fracking legislation by 326 votes to 230 in the House of Commons on Wednesday, despite the lack of votes of 30 Conservative MPs.  The motion discussed was one put forth by Labour to force a vote on the banning of fracking, a very controversial  process of hydraulic fracturing, which uses high-pressure liquid to release gas from shale formations. The moratorium on fracking had been in place since 2019 following a series of earth tremors, but the ban was lifted in September 2022 by Truss. At the time, Conservatives representing seats in northern England hit out at the move to end the ban, which unequivocally breaks a clear Tory manifesto promise. Due to the controversial nature of the motion, as well as the growing animosity…

  • Regulator wants new measures to boost North Sea oil production

    The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) said that production remained low in 2021 versus pre-pandemic levels but that current project pipelines and a new licensing round would boost drilling activity. Production totalled around 480 million barrels in 2021, compared with 600 million in 2019. The NSTA’s Wells Insight Report found that pre-pandemic drilling operations were taking place in 141 wells in 2019. But last year, drilling operations began on only 66 wells, including five exploration, five appraisal and 56 development wells, similar to levels recorded in 2020. The report suggests that a focus on second wellbores, the new licensing round and maintaining existing wells could all help boost production in years to come. NSTA head of technology Carlo Procaccini said: “Amid the energy…

  • US grants $2.8bn to boost the production of EV batteries

    The United States has announced it will award $2.8bn (£2.5bn) in grants to boost the US production of electric vehicle batteries and the minerals used to build them in 12 states.  The grants mark the latest push by the Biden administration to help reduce the country's dependence on China, a country that currently produces 75 per cent of the batteries used in electric vehicles, according to officials.  "This is critically important, because the future of vehicles is electric,'' Biden said at a White House event with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. "By undercutting US manufacturers with their unfair subsidies and trade practices, China seized a significant portion of the market. Today we're stepping up... to take it back, not all of it, but bold goals." The funding recipients, first…

  • National Grid trialling tech to boost power line capacity amid renewables influx

    ‘Dynamic Line Rating’ (DLR) technology is being trialled for first time in the UK following successful deployment on National Grid’s electricity networks in the US. DLR uses sensors and a data analytics platform to highlight available spare capacity on overhead power lines when available. Based on the US trial, National Grid said the system has the potential to unlock 0.6GW of additional capacity, enough to power more than 500,000 homes and save £1.4m in network operating costs annually. The sensors continuously monitor the transmission lines and apply advanced analytics to calculate the Dynamic Line Rating which is determined by a power line’s physical and electrical properties, such as size, resistance and maximum safe operating temperature, as well as the local weather conditions.…

  • Shapeshifting AI material created that learns and adapts to changing conditions

    The material is composed of a structural system made up of tunable beams that can alter its shape and behaviours in response to dynamic conditions. The research findings – which posit future applications in the construction of buildings, airplanes and imaging technologies, among other areas – have been published in the journal Science Robotics . When the material is placed in aircraft wings, for example, it could learn to morph the shape of the wings based on the wind patterns during a flight to achieve greater efficiency and manoeuvrability of the plane. Building structures infused with this material could also self-adjust the rigidity in certain areas to improve their overall stability during an earthquake or other natural or manmade disasters. Using and adapting concepts from existing…

  • View from India: Where next for quantum computing?

    Quantum computing isn’t new, but its commercialisation is somewhat recent. Looking back, 2016 could probably be considered as still the pre-market phase for quantum computing. It then seemed like a scam for concerned investors and end users. Since then on, the ground is being prepared for raising awareness about the technology. “The pandemic has fuelled quantum innovation for challenges coming from supply chain management and a distributed workforce. Consequently, there’s is an extra pressure on automation and an enabling hybrid working environment. Now we need to take the technology to the next frontier,” said Dr Eric Holland, business development manager, quantum at Keysight Technologies, speaking at the Keysight World Innovate event held virtually. Quantum is not a plug-and-play technology…

  • Hands-on reviews: Vantrue dashcams E1 and S2 2CH

    Dashcams are increasingly common, both for insurance purposes and a sense of self-preservation. These cameras never lie and it's peace of mind for many motorists to be able to unequivocally prove the facts of an incident. With one in five vehicles now fitted with a dashboard camera, motorists are even being warned to “ drive like they’re being filmed ” every time they get behind the wheel. E&T has previously reviewed dashcams from a range of companies, including Mio , Viofo and Nexar . By and large, the differences between comparable models is often minimal. Any decent dashcam worth its visual salt on the market today will capture high-quality video footage, both day and night, and will also log GPS details of the journey and even watch over your car while you sleep. Where different dashcams…

  • Risks of long-term exposure to space radiation confirmed with mouse experiment

    Ordinary people are now able to travel in space, and the possibility of long-term manned flights to deep space, such as to the Moon and Mars, is increasing. Yet space radiation remains a limiting factor for manned exploration. A team from Osaka Metropolitan University studied the biological effect of the phenomenon by launching frozen mouse embryonic stem cells from the ground to the ISS, exposing them to space radiation for over four years, and quantifying the biological effect by examining chromosome aberrations. Their experiment results show, for the first time, that the actual biological effect of space radiation mirrors predictions previously made by other researchers. Scientists have been conducting intensive studies to measure physical doses of space radiation to better understand…

  • Scientists recycle used facemasks into Ethernet cables

    Green chemistry has empowered researchers to turn used facemasks into Ethernet cables.  In a study published in   Carbon Letters , the Swansea University team outlined the chemical process that allowed them to upcycle materials which would otherwise be thrown away, transforming them into high-quality, single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT).  These CNTs can then be utilised for a wide variety of purposes, including the production of Ethernet cables with broadband quality, as well as  lightweight batteries used in electric cars and drones. “Single-use facemasks are a real travesty for the recycling system as they create vast amounts of plastic waste - much of it ending up in our oceans," said Professor Alvin Orbaek White, one of the authors of the study, from Swansea University’s Energy Safety…

  • Current Paris Agreement efforts are ‘woefully inadequate’

    The Paris Agreement established three global goals – limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C and ideally 1.5°C, promote adaptation and resilience, and align financial flows with low-emissions, climate-resilient development. Nationally determined contributions – or NDCs – are the foundation of the Agreement as they lay out which specific efforts countries are taking to meet it. In their NDCs, each of the Paris Agreement’s 194 countries must lay out its aims to reduce emissions. Although 139 have outlined new or updated NDCs as of September 2022, a report from the World Resources Institute (WRI) found them to be “woefully inadequate to avert the climate crisis”. The report used newly available data from the open-source Climate Watch platform, which captures detailed snapshots…

  • MoD’s ‘fundamental reset’ hampered by lack of digital skills

    The MoD's ambition for its spending programme is to transform the armed forces' use of technology, enabling the MoD to seamlessly share and exploit data in military operations across land, air, sea, space and cyber. However, the National Audit Office (NAO) said the MoD was struggling to recruit and retain the skilled staff it needed - in part, because it could not match the pay on offer in the private sector. “Technologists see the MoD as bureaucratic and the hiring process - including getting security clearance - as too lengthy,” the NAO added. “The shortfall of technical skills is affecting the delivery of both individual programmes and the strategy.” The NAO said the programme faced further challenges due to the nature of the MoD’s business, requiring the use of technology in hostile…

  • Sondrel looks to long-term pursuit of custom silicon

    October is not an auspicious month for stock markets. Thirty-five years ago, Black Monday put the brakes on what had been up to then a display of irrational exuberance for which the markets are notorious for good reason. And October was already famous for sudden drops to the point that stockbrokers are somewhat superstitious about the month. It might not seem the ideal time for an initial public offering (IPO) but for a company like Sondrel, a specialist in electronics design, waiting for the supposedly ideal time is probably a bad idea. For the past year, the chip market has been riding high as companies who now rely on electronics to underpin their designs found that getting hold of key products got a lot harder in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Such demand-driven shortages in semiconductors…

  • Government not on track to protect 30 per cent of UK land and sea by 2030

    According to the Wildlife and Countryside Link, which is a coalition of nature and green groups, just 3.22 per cent of England’s land and 8 per cent of the sea was effectively protected by 2022. This is an increase of just 0.22 per cent of the land and 4 per cent of the sea compared with 2021. In 2020, the government made its 30x30 pledge to protect at least 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030. But two years on, nature campaigners are warning that little progress has been made. Since becoming Prime Minister, Liz Truss has made deregulatory proposals to reform or repeal laws protecting nature and to liberalise planning which would “take England even further away from meeting nature targets”, the report found. It singled out the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill…

  • UK space sector boosted with £15m satellite technology fund

    The competition, running until next spring, aims to focus on creating entire new satellite constellations, ground systems or delivering new services to customers. It will be funded through the UK Space Agency’s leading role in the European Space Agency (ESA) Advanced Research in Telecommunications Services (ARTES) programme. Ghani, who stepped into the position of science minister within Liz Truss’ cabinet at the beginning of this month, said the funding will help “to strengthen the UK’s position as a world leader in the satellite communications market” and boost STEM skills in the UK. “There are a series of important programmes on the table and I want to harness opportunities in space to grow the UK economy, create jobs and inspire young people into STEM careers,” she added.  The £15m…

  • Smart cities can beat the heat if stakeholders work together

    The threat that climate change poses to those living and working in urban areas came to the fore this summer as the UK experienced a record-breaking 40°C heatwave. With warnings from the World Health Organisation that extreme temperature events are set to increase in frequency, duration, and magnitude, it’s crucial to answer critical questions over how best to future-proof urban areas to increase resilience to climate change. The nature of modern economies and lifestyles in developed cities across the UK requires a radical urban transformation that can only truly be delivered through the better utilisation of data and technology to more efficiently manage both the public’s use of cities and the resources necessary for their operation. As we face extreme weather, from flooding to drought,…

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