http://www.theengineer.co.uk/xmlservers/RecentlyCommentedStoriestRSS.aspx http://www.theengineer.co.uk/xmlservers/RecentlyCommentedStoriestRSS.aspx http://www.theengineer.co.uk/magazine/graphics/logo.png http://www.theengineer.co.uk http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/opinion/engineering-must-find-its-voice/1016381.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/opinion/engineering-must-find-its-voice/1016381.article I am lapsed Chartered Engineer, pursued an early career and was a works engineering director with Glaxo before pursing a career in organisation development in manufacturing which is my true love. I agree with your comments. I was really proud to be an engineer but frustrated and dismayed by the perception and status we held not only in our own companies but society at large. We are guilty of not communicating our value and worth, and probably not making a fuss, although chuntering into our flasks of coffee. The result the profession has been left behind to other professions in the manufacturing arena. I am thinking marketing, purchasing and finance who seem to have carved out better returns and taken a more influential role at the table! I am now involved in coaching and development, and have a set of psychometric badges to add to the fantastic skill set I developed as an engineer, and engineers need to think how they might influence and communicate the worth and value of the profession, getting out of the detail and start talking possibility, the interconnections, and visions for better, faster, cheaper, stronger and connected ( I could go on....). Engineers need to learn a new skill set and behaviours. Influence and inspiration? Fri, 24 May 2013 16:41 GMT 24 May 2013 4:41 pm 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/engineering-and-expectations/1016380.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/engineering-and-expectations/1016380.article "If you run a company make sure you do not have an HR Manger. If you do have to make sure you have only one. If you do have to have two make sure they never meet". Tom DeMarco. Fri, 24 May 2013 16:05 GMT 24 May 2013 4:05 pm 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/in-depth/prism-project-a-proposal-for-the-uks-problem-plutonium/1016276.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/in-depth/prism-project-a-proposal-for-the-uks-problem-plutonium/1016276.article We need to move forward with the next generations of improved fission plants. So, build the PRISM. The old LWRs are coming due for replacement and we should take that next step in resctor safety, even though current reactors are already the safest form of energy production. Gen III+ are an improvement, but still can blow out the high pressure coolant, and produce explosive hydrogen from the cladding. So, why not go even further to the Gen IV level since the design is ready and has proliferation reduction (Pu consumption/spiking) benefits as well. I would rather move to liquid fueled molten salt reactors (e.g. LFTR) to further improve safety, enhance proliferation resistance, further reduce both fuel fabrication and reprocessing costs even compared to metallic fuel, and expand fuel flexibility to include fissile U235, Pu239, & Other TRUs, and convert/burn fertile U238, Th232 (3-4x U abundance), & remaining TRUs. Even ITER fusion tokamak is a test platform, and aren't predicting a grid size/connected fusion reactor until 2050 at the earliest IF ITER makes break even. That is time for several generational improvements in fission reactors, if desired. Fri, 24 May 2013 15:30 GMT 24 May 2013 3:30 pm 1 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/in-depth/career-opportunities-in-offshore-renewables/1016243.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/in-depth/career-opportunities-in-offshore-renewables/1016243.article Shortages - where? I'm with Dave above about this. My daughter graduated mechanically recently, and along with many others has little prospect of finding even UK based employment. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:29 GMT 24 May 2013 1:29 pm 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/policy-and-business/uk-skills-shortage-holding-back-fight-against-cyber-attacks/1016184.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/policy-and-business/uk-skills-shortage-holding-back-fight-against-cyber-attacks/1016184.article A team containing 6 young people including myself totally interested in Cyber crime management. We are able to solve any kind of problem to secure with the best protocol. But we are in lack of technologies with us not the knowledge. And also we tried a lot to prove our team can do best cyber security in any field, but no one give opportunity to us. So we are scattered and working in some IT jobs without interest. We are ready to unite again if we get this opportunity and to prove the best by solving all kind of problems. We are INDIANS. Fri, 24 May 2013 13:06 GMT 24 May 2013 1:06 pm 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/energy-storage-a-question-of-balance/1016270.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/blog/energy-storage-a-question-of-balance/1016270.article Batteries are great storage devices - high efficiency and very fast response with an ability to directly store renewably produced energy in the form of electricity. However, batteries are too expensive (at the moment) for cars and they are too expensive for grid energy storage. For cars, we need high energy and power densities but for energy storage we are not so much concerned about this. So, our idea in this project is to 1.) Give a battery more than one purpose, here by deploying li-ion batteries in existing UPS systems to provide dual purpose of UPS (bottom 50% of capacity) and grid tied energy storage (top 50%). This re-uses the existing infrastructure and reduces the cost of the installation. In addition, we will be able to better predict the backup function as the battery us actually used on a regular basis. This will increase confidence in the battery for its UPS use. 2. Re-using batteries, e.g. from electric vehicles. This is possible because the li-ion battery degrades quite predictably and slowly. So, the battery can have 10 years life in the car and following that another 20 years in a UPS / grid-tied energy-storage system. ... after which the battery should be recycled of course (we should have figured that out in about 30 years). The project is to demonstrate that this is a feasible approach. Other similar projects to follow. Additionally, we will support a free energy market with this - be your own energy supplier without complicated centralised management systems! We really try to do the right thing here - so feedback welcome!!! Fri, 24 May 2013 11:58 GMT 24 May 2013 11:58 am 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/uk-public-backs-support-for-aspiring-engineers/1016259.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/channels/skills-and-careers/uk-public-backs-support-for-aspiring-engineers/1016259.article With a skills-shortage holding back the manufacturing sector, if the nation would invest £5000 p.a. per engineering student then we'll surely reap it back several times in increased productivity. The trouble is that the future gain will be a few years down the road, so a different government could take the credit. Therefore our short-sighted, self-serving British politicians aren't likely to make this kind of investment! Fri, 24 May 2013 11:39 GMT 24 May 2013 11:39 am 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/aerospace/news/the-engineer-qa-astraea-autonomous-aircraft-project/1016347.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/aerospace/news/the-engineer-qa-astraea-autonomous-aircraft-project/1016347.article 1) Sense-and-avoid is a major issue. If autonomous agent software is to play a key role in UAVs of the future, how can it avoid the human habit of two approaching persons making the mirror movements when approaching one another - given that humans can resolve this by looking each other in the face ? This applies also to a UAV and a manned a/c. 2) Communication and communication delays appear to be key elements. Precisely what measures are being taken to ensure that sufficient bandwidth and availability is available as the numbers of UAVs increase ? 3) In the event of a collision (heaven forbid) between a UAV and any other object, where does the liability fall ? Software ? System ? Platform frame ? Sensor ? Avionics ? Ground Controller ? Fri, 24 May 2013 00:29 GMT 24 May 2013 0:29 am 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/home/blog/guest-blog/say-hello-to-your-next-car/1016341.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/home/blog/guest-blog/say-hello-to-your-next-car/1016341.article I use to work in the Car electronics industry some years ago, and to me the best thing is to go back to basics. There are too many systems on cars nowadays, trying to save fuel etc but the weight of most cars has increased quite significantly to the extent that it is detrimental to the efficiency of the engine. This also pushes the cost of cars beyond the average persons reach. Make them simpler and more fuel efficent. Everyone used to be able to drive from A to B years ago with very little problems, but now people are getting mentally lazy in doing things for themselves. It is logical to make cars as safe as possible etc, but don't put unnecessary electronic gagdets in just for the sake of it! Thu, 23 May 2013 23:06 GMT 23 May 2013 11:06 pm 0 http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/news/iter-nuclear-fusion-reactor-design-receives-approval/1016128.article http://www.theengineer.co.uk/energy-and-environment/news/iter-nuclear-fusion-reactor-design-receives-approval/1016128.article Andy H: fusion creates no radioactive waste what so ever and it is relatively safe unless the electricity powering the electromagnets goes out, causing the plasma to melt through the walls of the donut and melting the building, killing thousands of people in the process Thu, 23 May 2013 19:03 GMT 23 May 2013 7:03 pm 1