Electric car sales surge and NASA plans Moon mining: 10 top stories of the week
发布时间：2024年6月5日 15:52
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A Tesla Model 3 charges in London (Credit: Shutterstock)
NASA calls for Moon mining proposals
Professional Engineering
NASA has set out to “fuel a new era of exploration and discovery” with plans to mine material from the lunar surface. The US space agency plans to return people to the Moon by 2024, ahead of plans to venture further out into the solar system. Yesterday (10 September), administrator Jim Bridenstine released a ‘solicitation’ for commercial companies to provide proposals for the collection of space resources.
Government invests in repair bots for satellites and turbines
Professional Engineering
The government will fund the development of inspection, maintenance and repair robots for nuclear power stations, satellites and turbines. The robots are just one area of focus for a £65m investment, aimed at ‘making the UK the global home for future technologies in battery development, robotics and advanced healthcare treatments’. Universities, research organisations and businesses will use £15m funding to develop the robots, which could complete tasks that are either too hazardous or impossible for human workers to do.
Green recovery essential for aerospace
The Engineer
The aerospace sector must use green technology and promote environmental credibility to recover from the Covid-19 slump, according to new Protolabs research. The report, which surveyed aerospace business leaders across Europe, found 72% believe new materials will be a main route for emissions reduction.
’Plug and play’ brain-computer interface doesn’t require daily retraining
Professional Engineering
A person with paralysis has learned to control a computer cursor through a new brain-computer interface (BCI) without extensive daily retraining, a potentially significant development that could aid the development and use of complex robotic limbs. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences used machine learning techniques and a different type of sensor to improve on previous BCI systems.
Researchers create plant-based supercapacitor
New Atlas
A team at Texas A&M University has developed a new plant-based supercapacitor. Using lignin, a natural polymer that gives plants rigidity, the device is reportedly light, flexible and cost-effective.
Network Rail publishes decarbonisation plan
Rail Technology Magazine
Network Rail has published its interim decarbonisation strategy, including plans for 12,000km of electrification by 2050 and an increased focus on hydrogen and battery technology. Different traction technologies are needed to tackle different types of services.
’Smart mask’ could regain filtration efficiency after washing
Professional Engineering
Masks that filter out coronavirus and other dangerous particles could soon be ‘recharged’ to their former filtration efficiency, even after being cleaned. Researchers from India's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Israel's Technion-IIT developed the method to restore the efficiency of N95 masks to ‘out-of-box’ levels, as long as they have not been structurally compromised. A battery-operated version can be recharged.
Solar energy has bright future after records broken during pandemic
Professional Engineering
Just after midday on 20 April, solar energy was generating nearly 30% of electricity demand in the UK as it broke its all-time energy generation record. The energy source has a bright future post-pandemic, writes Jennifer Johnson.
Photovoltaic ‘paint’ could generate energy on cars or buildings
E&T
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have developed a paint-like ‘organic solution processable solar cell’. The resulting photovoltaics, which could one day be applied to vehicles or buildings, reportedly offer 30% higher power conversion efficiency than existing ones.
New models help electric car sales jump 110% in August
Professional Engineering
Sales of ‘zero emission capable’ cars leapt 110% in August as new models hit the markets. Plug-in hybrids were particularly popular with drivers in the UK, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing sales increasing 221% – although that only accounted for one in 30 sales. Registrations of battery electric cars increased by 77.6%, accounting for 6.4% of sales. They account for 4.9% of registrations for the year-to-date, up from 1.1% last year.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Professional Engineering
NASA has set out to “fuel a new era of exploration and discovery” with plans to mine material from the lunar surface. The US space agency plans to return people to the Moon by 2024, ahead of plans to venture further out into the solar system. Yesterday (10 September), administrator Jim Bridenstine released a ‘solicitation’ for commercial companies to provide proposals for the collection of space resources.
Government invests in repair bots for satellites and turbines
Professional Engineering
The government will fund the development of inspection, maintenance and repair robots for nuclear power stations, satellites and turbines. The robots are just one area of focus for a £65m investment, aimed at ‘making the UK the global home for future technologies in battery development, robotics and advanced healthcare treatments’. Universities, research organisations and businesses will use £15m funding to develop the robots, which could complete tasks that are either too hazardous or impossible for human workers to do.
Green recovery essential for aerospace
The Engineer
The aerospace sector must use green technology and promote environmental credibility to recover from the Covid-19 slump, according to new Protolabs research. The report, which surveyed aerospace business leaders across Europe, found 72% believe new materials will be a main route for emissions reduction.
’Plug and play’ brain-computer interface doesn’t require daily retraining
Professional Engineering
A person with paralysis has learned to control a computer cursor through a new brain-computer interface (BCI) without extensive daily retraining, a potentially significant development that could aid the development and use of complex robotic limbs. Researchers at the University of California San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences used machine learning techniques and a different type of sensor to improve on previous BCI systems.
Researchers create plant-based supercapacitor
New Atlas
A team at Texas A&M University has developed a new plant-based supercapacitor. Using lignin, a natural polymer that gives plants rigidity, the device is reportedly light, flexible and cost-effective.
Network Rail publishes decarbonisation plan
Rail Technology Magazine
Network Rail has published its interim decarbonisation strategy, including plans for 12,000km of electrification by 2050 and an increased focus on hydrogen and battery technology. Different traction technologies are needed to tackle different types of services.
’Smart mask’ could regain filtration efficiency after washing
Professional Engineering
Masks that filter out coronavirus and other dangerous particles could soon be ‘recharged’ to their former filtration efficiency, even after being cleaned. Researchers from India's Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and Israel's Technion-IIT developed the method to restore the efficiency of N95 masks to ‘out-of-box’ levels, as long as they have not been structurally compromised. A battery-operated version can be recharged.
Solar energy has bright future after records broken during pandemic
Professional Engineering
Just after midday on 20 April, solar energy was generating nearly 30% of electricity demand in the UK as it broke its all-time energy generation record. The energy source has a bright future post-pandemic, writes Jennifer Johnson.
Photovoltaic ‘paint’ could generate energy on cars or buildings
E&T
Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology have developed a paint-like ‘organic solution processable solar cell’. The resulting photovoltaics, which could one day be applied to vehicles or buildings, reportedly offer 30% higher power conversion efficiency than existing ones.
New models help electric car sales jump 110% in August
Professional Engineering
Sales of ‘zero emission capable’ cars leapt 110% in August as new models hit the markets. Plug-in hybrids were particularly popular with drivers in the UK, with figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) showing sales increasing 221% – although that only accounted for one in 30 sales. Registrations of battery electric cars increased by 77.6%, accounting for 6.4% of sales. They account for 4.9% of registrations for the year-to-date, up from 1.1% last year.
Want the best engineering stories delivered straight to your inbox? The Professional Engineering newsletter gives you vital updates on the most cutting-edge engineering and exciting new job opportunities. To sign up, click here.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
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