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Picking up Pancakes and Pallets, flying and swimming robots and elephants trunks!

5th November saw a gathering of more than 120 people in Manchester for a seminar on Robotics: Current Trends and Future Horizons. The event was a collaboration between the IET Robotics & Mechatronics TPN and the Control Systems Centre at the University of Manchester. Attendees heard from a number of speakers covering such diverse subjects as: application of robotics in advanced manufacturing; trends in factory-of-the-future concepts; latest developments in service and field robotics application of robotics in nuclear decommissioning Legged Robotics: Humanoids, Quadrupeds and Exoskeletons How would you feel working alongside a robot? Currently robots are separated from human operators for safety purposes but there is much effort to develop systems that can safely work alongside of people as…

Joanne Longton
Oldest meets youngest!

At a meeting of the IET Peterborough and Huntingdon Network on Tuesday 25th November 2014, at The Bell, Stilton, the current President - Professor William Webb, who is the youngest ever president of the IET - awarded an IET Coat of Arms plaque to Jim Blackburn IEng MIET, who, at 68 years a member of our Institution, is believed to be one of the longest current serving members!

Julie
For Children: The 2014 Christmas lecture: The 1000 mph Car

The 1000 mph Car Bring your children, grandchildren, nephews or nieces to the joint IET and IMechE London festive Christmas Lecture and 'after party'. Hear about the car designed to go at 1,000 mph designed to beat the current world record holder (Thrust SSC) that travelled at an average speed of 763mph. To keep you on the edge of your seat, think about these amazing facts: 0 - 1,000mph in just 55 seconds, 25,000 hp more than the QE2, the temperature in the rocket motor is twice as hot as the inside of a volcano! To find out more please go to (http://www.theiet.org/events/local/210759.cfm)

Robert Heaton
IET Accreditation Meet With Trinidad & Tobago LN

The IET Accreditation team visited the University of the West Indies to review the Electrical and Computer Engineering programme's accreditation status and welcomed a visit from the Trinidad and Tobago Local Network executive and a specially invited guest. (LR: Kevin Durham (manager National Drilling Academy), Denis Marchant (IET Academic Accreditor), David Drakes (VC IET TT LN), Anthony Chadee (Chair IET TT LN), Sean Ocho (Treasurer IET TT LN), Ahmad Mohammed (PATW Co-ordinator IET TT LN)) (Seated LR: Lorna Hadfield (IET Accreditation Account Manager) and Gerald Mendes (IPRA and IET TT LN executive member) The executive initiated the discussions by providing an overview of the LN and identifying the potential for additional accreditation services for the universities, colleges and other tertiary…

Jason Robert Rameshwar
Are electric motorbikes better than petrol?

October 2014 saw the finale of the MotoERacing series which was launched this year and ran over five rounds at Anglesey, Assen, Donington , Hockenheim and Silverstone. The IET ARTS TPN were supporting the series and the opportunity arose at Silverstone to get some interviews with the riders, Read the blog pos t for more information and to view the interviews and videos, including some onboard footage as Richie Welsh from Arc-EV Engineering rides the course.

Joanne Longton
Crossrail Talk Feedback

The Crossrail talk on 20 November was excellent and well received by the audience A number of questions were raised that needed to be investigated. Patrick Griffin from Crossrail advises:

David Blake
IET Announces Winners Of Achievement Awards

A pioneer in medical technology has been awarded the IET’s Faraday Medal, as part of the institution’s Achievement Awards. Professor Christofer Toumazou invented and commercialised “lab-on-a-chip” technology that can decode a patient’s DNA in under 30 minutes, enabling testing for genetic disease and drug intolerances on the spot. The co-editor-in-chief of the IET’s Electronics Letters journal has also been responsible for developing cochlear implants for children born deaf and an artificial pancreas for type 1 diabetics and now holds more than 50 patents and employs over 350 people. Despite leaving school with no A-Levels he has published more than 750 research papers, founded the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College and set up two successful medical device companies – Toumaz…

Gemma Hadley
IET Hong Kong YMS Nov-14 Blogging

IET Hong Kong has been thriving to help equip with its members with the most up-to-date new technology and news about the engineering, to members from university undergraduates and members from engineering industries. Last month we have organized membership drive and career seminars to the engineering undergraduates in the local network, positive responses were received from both the speakers and the audience. In the coming month, we will continue to carry on our missions, to offer our members with the latest engineering news and to strengthen the network bonding. Technical visit to Kai Tak Development District Cooling System will be organized locally, intending to provide fresh information to members about the idea and real world implementation of centralised air-conditioning system ; globally…

Julia Chan
IET Germany Local Network Survey

I ET Germany Local Network Survey The Germany Local Network committee would like to invite you to participate in a survey, which will help us understand what matters to members in Germany. The survey should take around 5-10 minutes to complete and will enable us to understand your needs. Please complete the survey by clicking on the link below. https://response.questback.com/theiet/germanlnsurvey/ We look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Hannah Howells & Alistair Gill on behalf of the Germany Local Network Committee.

Howard Gray
Work Starts On First T Style Pylons In The UK

National Grid said it has started building six of the new T style pylons in the UK at Eakring Academy in Nottinghamshire. The six pylons will form a test line for the new design and will include all five of the required variations to meet the different operational needs such as turning corners or terminating lines and taking them underground. National Grid said the test line is expected to be completed by next summer. National Grid has been working with Danish architecture and engineering firm Bystrup on the pylon since 2011. The prototype for the pylon was previously built and tested in Denmark but this is the first time they have been built in the UK. It is also the first time that all the electrical insulators will be fitted on the pylon which is only 35 metres high. National Grid’s director…

Gemma Hadley
Wanted: Practical People With An Interest In Problem Solving.

Could you design and build a throwing chair for a disabled athlete? Or adapt a wheelchair to carry a fishing rod? Could you make a machine to turn the pages of a newspaper for someone with no arms? The ingenious inventors and engineers at the charity Remap do all this and more. Interested in joining in? We are looking for more volunteer engineers in Kent and Sussex now. See www.remap.org.uk or contact d.martin@remap.org.uk 07921 854071.

Brian Dury
Arnold Barks Memorial Christmas Lecture

This year we have the privilege of welcoming Professor Dame Wendy Hall to talk on the Web. I am sure that she will cover her time working with Sir Tim Berners-Lee in the development of the web but at the same time I expect she will give an insight into the future of the Web. Dame Wendy who is a fellow of the IET is Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Web Science Institute at Southampton University. The Lecture is on Wednesday 3 December at the Salisbury Arts Centre at 7.00 For full details and registration go to http://www.theiet.org/events/2014/210435.cfm There will be a small charge for the reception afterwards. We all use the web and this is a great opportunity to hear first hand from one of the team that has helped to develop it to what it is today. We look forward to seeing…

John Savage
Stop With The Hard Hats And Overalls Already! By Abbie Hutty

Engineering has an image problem, and we are all trying desperately to get articles published, and media coverage to address this. But while the messages going out in those reports are right, the images used to accompany such articles are just as important, if not more so. After all, a picture paints a thousand words. Here is a link to the full blog by Abbie Hutty - 2014 IET YWE Award Winner

Former Community Member
New Barbie Coding Book Teaches Girls that they Need a Man's Help to Code!

''Yesterday, we told you about a new Barbie book called I Can Be A Computer Engineer , which—while it sounded so promising—actually taught girls that they need a man’s help in order to code games, or even just use a computer without breaking it, really. But fear not—awesome women to the rescue!'' For more information...

Former Community Member
Why Electric Motorbikes Are Better Than Petrol? – MotoERacing

October 2014 saw the finale of the MotoERacing series which was launched this year and ran over five rounds at Anglesey, Assen, Donington, Hockenheim and Silverstone. As the IET ARTS TPN were supporting the series and the Electric Road Race Commission (ERRC) are all IET members, Silverstone seemed like a good opportunity to get some interviews, images and other footage to share on the community area. Here is a thought provoking video on why Electric motorbikes are better than petrol : What’s your thoughts on this video? Do you feel the same way about electric motorbikes? Here’s another video on what Electric Motorbikes are all about: We also shot some interviews with: Chris Foster from the Agni Motors – Darvill Racing Team Matt Bagshawe and Richie Welsh at Arc-EV Engineering…

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Why Electric Motorbikes Are Better Than Petrol? – MotoERacing

October 2014 saw the finale of the MotoERacing series which was launched this year and ran over five rounds at Anglesey, Assen, Donington, Hockenheim and Silverstone. As the IET ARTS TPN were supporting the series and the Electric Road Race Commission (ERRC) are all IET members, Silverstone seemed like a good opportunity to get some interviews, images and other footage to share on the community area. Here is a thought provoking video on why Electric motorbikes are better than petrol : What’s your thoughts on this video? Do you feel the same way about electric motorbikes? Here’s another video on what Electric Motorbikes are all about: We also shot some interviews with: Chris Foster from the Agni Motors – Darvill Racing Team Matt Bagshawe and Richie Welsh at Arc-EV Engineering…

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Advanced Manufacturing Automation & Robotics

On 5th of September the Manufacturing TPN held the Advanced Manufacturing Automation & Robotics event at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry. The event was well attended with around 35 delegates in the morning and a combined total of 70 in the afternoon. The collaboration with Policy Connect was very effective in allowing us to engage with senior industrialists. The day was split into two parts. The morning started with an introductory speech by Clive Hickman Chief Executive of the Manufacturing Technology Centre, followed by a presentation from the TPN exec team member, Jeremy Hadall - Chief Technologist – Automation Manufacturing Technology Centre - Advanced Manufacturing. Automation has come a long way since the first industrial robots were employed in the 1950’s by General Motors…

Joanne Longton
LAPC Highlights

The 10th LAPC took place on 10-11 November 2014 and it was a pleasure to attend and represent the IET's Antennas & Propagation Technical and Professional Network. For those who have never been, LAPC is a single stream, two day conference in Loughborough and attracts around 200-215 delegates each year. View the programme . We have been invited to film the sessions so that we can share the content with the wider A&P community. You can view the videos on IET.tv: The Impact of Computational Electromagnetics, and Associated Software, on EM Education and Research Constantine Balanis Antenna: a key enabler for 5G innovative RF IC development Frederic Gianesello Capability and Manufacturability: Some Considerations Concerning the Current Status of Multi-Filar Dielectric Loaded Antennas Oliver Leisten…

Former Community Member
Hybrid Electrically Powered Aircraft

The Aerospace TPN recently organised an evening seminar on the above hot topic at Rolls Royce Derby. There were three speakers - Peter Malkin from Cranfield University, Lorenzo Raffelli and Mark Husband from Rolls Royce. Peter gave a general overview on the topic, Lorenzo and Mark covered an overview of the Distributed Electrical Aircraft Propulsion (DEAP) and further technical aspects of the project. A number of interesting points were mentioned during the presentations: Tube/wing aircraft along with gas turbines are coming to the end of their development cycle. Market drivers for DEAP – growth to exceed 5% pa independent of GDP growth, number of aircraft has to double every 14 years, plus environmental issues such as jet fuel costs, noise, emissions. New radical technology is needed to address…

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Hybrid Electrically Powered Aircraft

The Aerospace TPN recently organised an evening seminar on the above hot topic at Rolls Royce Derby. There were three speakers - Peter Malkin from Cranfield University, Lorenzo Raffelli and Mark Husband from Rolls Royce. Peter gave a general overview on the topic, Lorenzo and Mark covered an overview of the Distributed Electrical Aircraft Propulsion (DEAP) and further technical aspects of the project. A number of interesting points were mentioned during the presentations: Tube/wing aircraft along with gas turbines are coming to the end of their development cycle. Market drivers for DEAP – growth to exceed 5% pa independent of GDP growth, number of aircraft has to double every 14 years, plus environmental issues such as jet fuel costs, noise, emissions. New radical technology is needed to address…

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Aero MSc Bursary Scheme

The Royal Aeronautical Soceity (RAeS) would like to draw your attention to their AeroMSc bursary scheme which pays tuition fees for MScs in aerospace starting next academic year 2015-16. Applications are open now click here for more details.

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Railway Lecture And Dinner 2014

Carolyn Griffiths, Chief Inspector, RAIB was the guest speaker at the IET Railway Lecture and Dinner in October 2014. The evening was Chaired by George Clark and Joe Silmon gave the vote of thanks. George and Joe are both members of the Railway TPN Executive Committee. During an interesting and informative presentation, the following points were made in relation to the RAIB: Operational from 2005 when they were set up as a result of an inquiry in the Ladbroke Grove accident Sole purpose is to improve safety on the railways Independent of all parts of the railway industry Cover passenger, metro, heritage, freight and channel tunnel trains 26 staff located in two offices in Derby and Farnborough Deployed to 436 incidents Over 90% of their recommendations are accepted or implemented. Carolyn went…

Deborah-Claire McKenzie
Craig Owen Concert

We have been informed of a great concert with Craig Owen and Band in aid of The Great North Air Ambulance and the RNLI (Redcar Lifeboat) This is on the 7th of February 2015, doors open at 6:30pm The PDF Poster is attached below and can be downloaded for further information.

Former Community Member
Rally Car Racing With A Difference!

Here's a rally car competition that makes a change from the usual environment. Twenty teams are currently taking part in the Solar Atacama Rally in Chile which covers a distance of 870 miles through a desert where the solar radiation levels are amongst the highest in the world. The competitors race on the paved roads rather than closed off sections or special areas of the desert. With a top speed of 87mph/140km/h the cars still have to comply with the Chilean speed limit. For further information on this BBC article click here.

Deborah-Claire McKenzie

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