Andy Green on the value of the 'Bloodhound effect'

Innovation in action always appeals to engineers, whatever their discipline or particular field of interest, and it was top of the agenda at NIDays 2009, the annual professional development conference for engineers and scientists hosted by National Instruments in late November. The event has become firmly established as a key date in the technology calendar and once again packed out the headquarters of the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London.

There was innovation aplenty on display from National Instruments and the users of its test, control and design tools, who were on hand to demonstrate their own applications first-hand.

The action arrived in the imposing form of wing commander Andy Green, holder of the world land speed record and the man hoping to break the 1,000mph mark in the Bloodhound Supersonic Car, a project National Instruments is supporting.

Green delivered one of the keynote speeches at NIDays 2009, giving visitors the background to the project and explaining how it aims to inspire a new generation to engage with engineering, technology and science by creating a ‘Bloodhound effect’ in schools and colleges around the UK.