• 5G communications maximised with energy-efficient relay network

    5G communications maximised with energy-efficient relay network

    The researchers say the design is both economical and energy-efficient and such an advance in 5G communications could create tremendous opportunities for a wide range of sectors. The ever-increasing demand for wireless data bandwidth shows no sign of slowing down in the near future. Millimetre wave, a short-wavelength spectrum, has shown great potential in 5G communications and beyond. To leverage high-capacity millimetre-wave frequencies, phased-array antennas (antenna elements that work together to boost signal strength in a specific direction) are being adapted. However, the current use case is confined to line-of-sight propagation. As a result, relay nodes are considered for non-line-of-sight communications (see illustration below). While relaying can provide improved bandwidth, coverage…

  • 6G – a generation too far?

    6G – a generation too far?

    Now that 5G has arrived with an advertising onslaught from operators like EE, what else could there be for the telecom industry to work on but 6G? Due out around the end of this decade, 6G would keep wireless communications on much the same time scale set since 3G first appeared. But questions are now being asked as to whether these generational shifts are working out the way the industry intended. One of the early aims for 5G was to bring cellular wireless to a bunch of industrial applications that could not use its predecessors. Although 4G made some attempts to cut the round-trip latency for delivering packets over the air, 5G was designed to cut that to a millisecond or so. In principle, this makes it possible to coordinate robots without having to cable them up, assuming you do not try…

  • Robot Barber uses 5G to carry out remote beard shave

    Robot Barber uses 5G to carry out remote beard shave

    The barber, who was based in Clapton, London, was 250 miles away from Ellis who was located 729 metres above sea level on Snowden in Wales. Ellis, who was connected via 4G, used his phone to videocall the barber, who was on a 5G connection, so he could see what he was doing and remotely operate the robot arm without causing any cuts. EE’s Robot Barber arm, developed by The Mill, features a fully mechanical custom-designed hand that grasps the razor blade and carefully mirrors the gestures of the barber who, through the use of five tracking markers and state of the art motion-capture technology, is being tracked precisely as he moves. The network demonstration relies on low-latency and high-speed data transfer via the 5G network to ensure a smooth shave. Enabling…

  • Plastic bag charge rises to 10p, with all retailers now participating

    Plastic bag charge rises to 10p, with all retailers now participating

    Under the extension, all stores including corner shops will now have to apply the charge. Previously, only businesses with 250 employees or more were obliged to levy the charge per bag, while smaller shops could choose to do so voluntarily. The levy on single-use bags has been a success in curbing their widespread use. The 5p charge for plastic bags was introduced in England in 2015, with the most recent figures showing the number of single-use bags distributed by large supermarkets has fallen by more than 95 per cent. The average person in England now buys just four single-use bags a year, compared to around 140 in 2014. A survey in December 2020 for waste and resources body Wrap found 73 per cent of consumers supported the levy. However, the same poll found that 26 per cent of consumers…

  • Jurassic Coast gets 5G landslide detection monitoring

    Jurassic Coast gets 5G landslide detection monitoring

    5G RuralDorset - a project exploring how next-generation connectivity can benefit rural communities - has announced a new programme expansion to monitor land stability and cliff movement at key points along Dorset's famous Jurassic Coast. The extension to this project, backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), takes total funding to £8m and sees the British Geological Survey (BGS) join the project to work in this research area. Coastal landslides and cliff failures represent a significant hazard to local residents, workers and the 12 million people who visit Dorset’s coast each year. Cliff falls are a hazard worthy of research and development trials, as they can be expensive and time-consuming to monitor using traditional methods. The interdisciplinary work will bring…

  • Modelling Complex Cable Systems in COMSOL®︎

    Modelling Complex Cable Systems in COMSOL®︎

    Join us for this webinar looking at an expanded 3D cable crossing model for analysing the conductor core temperature, as well as discussing the benefits of using a finite element analysis approach with COMSOL Multiphysics . You will see a live demonstration in the COMSOL Multiphysics software and Q&A. Register for this webinar to learn about: A quick introduction to the IEC 60287 method for cable rating calculations Modelling precise soil dry out for a ducted system in accordance with National Grid’s TS2.05 Efficiently truncating large thermal models with the use of Infinite Element Domains Modelling the heat transfer in and around a cable through conduction, convection and radiation Increasing the range of your model to simulate multiple complex cable crossings in 3D An…

  • Drive for innovation: the role of 3D printing in Formula One

    Drive for innovation: the role of 3D printing in Formula One

    The cars raced in Formula One are engineering marvels fuelled by relentless innovation. Teams work tirelessly to reach and beat an ever-growing standard of peak performance and the Alpine F1 Team is no exception to this. In between seasons, teams alongside Alpine (formally known as Renault Sport) design and build a new car responding to rule changes outlined by the motorsport’s governing body, the FIA. This period paves the way for the natural research and development cycle aimed at improving car performance. Once the racing season begins, teams may have to deliver engineering changes to their cars every racing weekend. Each race presents engineers with its own challenges related to architecture, climate and asphalt type, varying from purpose-built circuits to bumpy and tortuous street…

  • Vaccine roll-out affecting consumer behaviour and spending

    Vaccine roll-out affecting consumer behaviour and spending

    The research also suggests that some businesses could be in danger of missing out on this pending windfall, with more than half (51 per cent) of customers saying they would ditch a brand after one or two bad experiences and 53 per cent having followed through on this claim during the pandemic by switching providers. This is in spite of 82 per cent believing that the customer experience has improved since the pandemic started. Meanwhile, a quarter (28 per cent) will resist change once the pandemic subsides and return to pre-pandemic shopping habits. This still means that over half (58 per cent) will be changing for good, forcing businesses to quickly adapt to their customers in light of loyalty diminishing. According to the global research by SAS, when asked if they would increase their…

    IET EngX
    IET EngX
  • Algae printed into tough material with plant-like properties

    Algae printed into tough material with plant-like properties

    The scientists combined 3D printing with a novel bioprinting technique to print algae into living, photosynthetic materials which are also tough and resilient. “Three-dimensional printing is a powerful technology for fabrication of living functional materials that have a huge potential in a wide range of environmental and human-based applications,” said Dr Srikkanth Balasubramanian, a researcher at Delft and first author of the study. “We provide the first example of an engineered photosynthetic material that is physically robust enough to be deployed in real-life applications.” Srikkanth Balasubramanian and his colleagues started with a non-living bacterial cellulose: an organic compound produced and excreted by bacteria. Its combination of mechanical properties renders it flexible, tough…

  • Holland’s 3D-printed concrete house welcomes first occupants

    Holland’s 3D-printed concrete house welcomes first occupants

    The house, situated in the Eindhoven neighbourhood of Bosrijk, is the first of five within ‘Project Milestone’ and fully complies with all of the strict building requirements of The Netherlands. The project partners have realised a home with an original design thanks to extensive R&D that enlarged the freedom of form in concrete printing. Project Milestone is a joint construction and innovation project of Eindhoven University of Technology, Van Wijnen, Saint-Gobain Weber Beamix, Vesteda, the Municipality of Eindhoven and Witteveen+Bos. The house is a detached single-storey home with 94 square metres of net floor area, a spacious living room, and two bedrooms. The home is shaped like a large boulder, which fits in well with the natural location and demonstrates the freedom of form offered…

  • Can a shape-shifting mannequin make the fashion industry more sustainable?

    Can a shape-shifting mannequin make the fashion industry more sustainable?

    It is undeniable that emerging technologies are changing the world of fashion, ranging from personal recommendation engines using artificial intelligence (AI) to fitting rooms based in augmented reality done remotely from a smartphone. However, there is a sustainability crisis that still looms over the industry and advocates are doing all that they can to raise awareness of the importance of innovation for sustainability across the sector. For some time, technologies such as AI have been fine-tuning fashion business models, with AI being used to predict fashion trends as well as aiding the design process. It has also been effective in providing insights into how designers can tweak their designs to better resonate with the behaviours of consumers. Although AI and robotics have already proven…

  • Personalised 3D-printed facemasks made possible using smartphone mugshots

    Personalised 3D-printed facemasks made possible using smartphone mugshots

    A team from the University of Edinburgh has designed a system which generates 3D images of participants’ faces using either a precision scanner or three pictures taken with a smartphone. From this, moulds can be created that precisely match the contours of an individual’s face. The moulds can be 3D-printed and used to make mask components made of silicone, with the final product assembled using additional plastic parts and a filter section. While masks could be made using scanners or smartphone images, being able to capture pictures remotely is particularly beneficial during the pandemic due to social distancing rules and the ubiquity of remote working. Computer simulation of the reusable facemasks Image credit: University of Edinburgh Researchers found that…

  • Apple to invest £430bn in US; updates iOS with ad-tracking features

    Apple to invest £430bn in US; updates iOS with ad-tracking features

    Apple said it will allocate tens of billions of dollars to the development of next-generation silicon, including further research into 5G. Most of the new jobs are expected to be in roles focusing on machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering and other technology fields. “At this moment of recovery and rebuilding, Apple is doubling down on our commitment to US innovation and manufacturing with a generational investment reaching communities across all 50 states,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’re creating jobs in cutting-edge fields - from 5G to silicon engineering to artificial intelligence - investing in the next generation of innovative new businesses, and in all our work, building toward a greener and more equitable future.” Apple said it currently supports…

  • Google and Facebook are failing to tackle fake adverts, Which? says

    Google and Facebook are failing to tackle fake adverts, Which? says

    In a survey carried out by Which?, a third (34 per cent) of victims said that scam adverts were not taken down by Google after they reported them, while a quarter (26 per cent) of victims who reported a scam advert on Facebook also said the advert was not removed by the social media company. The survey, which was conducted by Opinium on behalf of Which?, asked 2,000 adults about their experiences, with 298 people saying they had fallen victim to a scam ad. Which? said that online platforms should be given legal responsibility for preventing fake and fraudulent adverts from appearing on their sites in order to force them to take more action. It called on the government to include such a ruling in the scope of its proposed Online Safety Bill . The survey also highlighted low levels of engagement…

  • ‘Fingerprint’ for 3D printer could help protect intellectual property

    ‘Fingerprint’ for 3D printer could help protect intellectual property

    3D printing is transforming everything from fashion and health care to transportation and toys. But this rapidly evolving technology, also known as additive manufacturing, can threaten national security and intellectual property rights. To reduce the illicit use of 3D printers, Zhanpeng Jin, an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University at Buffalo, is developing a way to track the origin of 3D-printed items. Jin’s concern was that, as long as people have the digital design for an item – which can be downloaded from the internet, sometimes as open-source material – they can print out anything they want, ranging from computer parts and toys to more dangerous objects such as fully functional handguns and assault rifles. “So, what would be…

  • 5G mast rules relaxed to improve rural coverage by making them bigger

    5G mast rules relaxed to improve rural coverage by making them bigger

    The reforms will also help to reduce build time and costs for new infrastructure and with each mast able to fit more equipment, it could mean a lower number of towers servicing the same area. Under the proposals, mobile companies will be allowed to make new and existing masts up to five metres taller and two metres wider than current rules permit. But stricter rules will apply in protected areas, including national parks, the Broads, conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty and world heritage sites. In addition, building based masts could be built closer to roads in order to offer better coverage for drivers. The government said it hopes the move will “turbocharge” the delivery of the £1bn Shared Rural Network which was created last year to allow operators to share infrastructure…

  • Ocado invests £10m in Oxbotica for autonomous vehicle solutions

    Ocado invests £10m in Oxbotica for autonomous vehicle solutions

    Ocado Group plc has commercially partnered with Oxbotica Ltd, headquartered in Oxford. Ocado will invest £10m in Oxbotica as part of Oxbotica’s latest Series B equity funding round, which included other strategic and financial investors in the UK, the US, China and Australia. Ocado will take a seat on Oxbotica’s board. The purpose of the partnership is to collaborate on hardware and software interfaces for autonomous vehicles, enhancing and integrating Oxbotica’s autonomy software platform into a variety of vehicles. Potential use cases range from vehicles that operate inside of Ocado’s Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) buildings and the yard areas that surround them, all the way to last-mile deliveries and kerb-to-kitchen robots. This will be a multi-year collaboration and the ultimate…

  • Why electrifying the last mile of your online order delivery is so important

    Why electrifying the last mile of your online order delivery is so important

    In December 2020, ‘Cyber Monday’ saw a record-breaking $10.8bn spent in a single day - the largest online shopping day in US history. It’s just one example of the continuing growth of e-commerce that is encouraging vehicle manufacturers and logistics companies to focus on solutions for making deliveries more efficient and environmentally sustainable. The ‘last mile’ of a delivery is the movement of goods from a transportation hub to their final destination. Anyone who is familiar with the delivery ecosystem will tell you that this stage is the most difficult. It is also, however, the easiest to electrify. Commercial vehicles responsible for the ‘middle mile’ – delivery from the depot to the stores – are large and have to be capable of travelling long distances. They require very heavy, expensive…

  • Dynamically controlled surface for 3D printers could help reduce waste

    Dynamically controlled surface for 3D printers could help reduce waste

    Traditional 3D printing uses the 'Fused Deposition Modelling' (FDM) technique, which prints layer-by-layer directly onto a static metal surface. The new prototype instead uses a programmable, dynamically-controlled surface made of moveable metal pins to replace the printed supports. The pins rise as the printer progressively builds the product. The prototype was created by a team at the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Yong Chen, professor of industrial and systems engineering at USC and lead of the study, said that testing of the new prototype has shown it saves around 35 per cent in materials used to print objects. “I work with biomedical doctors who 3D print using biomaterials to build tissue or organs,” Chen explained…

  • 5G operators head for the clouds

    5G operators head for the clouds

    Back in the 1980s computer giant IBM narrowly avoided being broken into parts in the same way that phone company Bell had been in the previous decade. Part of the reason for the US government abandoning its antitrust investigation of Big Blue was then president Ronald Reagan’s enthusiasm for the way the company had managed to break into the Japanese market at a time when electronics companies from the Far East were laying waste to American suppliers thanks to their willingness to sell products more cheaply. In the event, IBM’s reprieve proved to be less effective than its management had hoped. At the start of 1993, the company won the record for the biggest ever corporate loss in US corporate history, at least up to that point. IBM’s weakness proved not to be antitrust lawyers concerned over…

  • Designing electrical models in Revit: Learn how to efficiently and accurately respond to changes

    Designing electrical models in Revit: Learn how to efficiently and accurately respond to changes

    Discover how you can optimise your electrical system design while easily maintaining design integrity with Trimble solutions. Whether you’re at the beginning of your digital transformation or looking to make significant improvements to your existing BIM workflow, this on-demand webinar will show you how you can dramatically increase your design efficiency and accuracy. Key Learning Points: Learn how to improve your productivity and accuracy whilst producing electrical 3D designs Learn how to improve your BIM workflow Understand how specialist software allows you to go beyond Revit functionality Download here

    E+T Magazine
    E+T Magazine
  • Europe needs €300bn 5G investment, report finds

    Europe needs €300bn 5G investment, report finds

    ETNO’s report suggests that investment on this scale could benefit Europe to the tune of 2.4 million new jobs over the next four years, while also boosting economic growth and accelerating green transformation. The release comes prior to a meeting of EU heads of state for the European Council where they will discuss the future of Europe’s industrial and digital policy. The new analysis, carried out by consulting firm BCG on behalf of ETNO, finds that 5G alone can generate an annual increase of €113bn in GDP by 2025. The construction of gigabit networks and new digital services could also help to increase productivity as the continent tries to recover from the Covid-19 impact. BCG estimates that €150bn is still needed to achieve a 'full 5G' scenario in Europe, while an additional €150bn…

  • Implants embedded with antibiotics used to regenerate damaged bone

    Implants embedded with antibiotics used to regenerate damaged bone

    Each year, around four million people worldwide develop a bone infection following an open fracture or surgery. The gold standard treatment comprises a lengthy antibiotic therapy, usually delivered orally or intravenously, and the removal of infected bone tissue. This often leaves behind a hole too large for the body to fill via normal bone regeneration.  To tackle this, a group of researchers from the Netherlands, Italy and Spain outlined a novel treatment approach they have developed – antibiotic-releasing and biodegradable 3D-printed scaffolds, capable of supporting bone regeneration and delivering antibiotics at the same time. “Every person has their own individual body anatomy, which certainly requires a specific intervention in the event of bone injury,” explained Lorenzo Moroni,…

  • UK government to support sustainable fashion in Waste Prevention Programme

    UK government to support sustainable fashion in Waste Prevention Programme

    The UK government has unveiled plans to reduce waste, which include proposals for measures that will ramp up action on fast fashion production and hold manufacturers accountable for textile waste. The plans form part of a new wide-ranging Waste Prevention Programme for England , which sets out how the government and industry can take action across seven key sectors – construction; textiles; furniture; electrical products; road vehicles; packaging, plastics and single-use items; and food – to minimise waste and work towards a more resource-efficient economy. Building on the Resources & Waste Strategy , the government said they will consult stakeholders by the end of 2022 on options for textiles. For example, its Extended Producer Responsibility scheme would ensure the industry contributes…

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