Engineering news
Nissan ramps up job cuts
BBC
Nissan will cut 12,500 jobs around the world and reduce the number of models it produces after a drop in sales and a drastic quarterly fall in net profit. The total figure includes a previously-announced reduction of 4,800 roles. Unions reportedly expect the company to spare its Sunderland factory from the cuts, however, thanks to its production of profitable models and the Leaf electric car.
AI captain!
Professional Engineering
An armed unmanned boat developed by BAE Systems can patrol for up to 10 days or pursue enemies for almost seven hours, the company has claimed. Announcing the successful completion of trials, the Royal Navy supplier said its retrofitted Pacific 950 rigid inflatable boat (Rib) was the “first of its kind” thanks to its varied capabilities, with the potential to make naval missions faster, easier and safer. It has a mounted MSI Defence Systems MWS 12.7mm machine gun.
Boeing could pause 737 Max production
BBC
Boeing could pause production of its 737 Max aircraft after two crashes contributed to a quarterly loss of £2.7bn. The aeroplane was previously grounded in March following the second crash, which might have been caused by a faulty anti-stall sensor. Reduced production led to increased cost for parts, the BBC reported.
Autonomy in the driver’s seat
Professional Engineering
The autonomous driving element at Formula Student is set to expand over the coming years, the head judge and IMechE president-elect has said. This year’s competition included its first ever autonomous car contest alongside the established driver-controlled petrol and electric elements. Teams from UK universities developed driverless software and sensor systems, taking turns running their systems on the bespoke Drone Vehicle, developed by the IMechE and partners.
Robotic maintenance crew 'could cut downtime for huge offshore turbines'
Professional Engineering
A robotic maintenance crew combining robots, non-destructive testing, AI, space mission expertise, marine and aerial engineering and ‘nanobiotechnology’ could reduce downtime and cut the number of crew transfers to offshore wind turbines, one of the project partners has said. The £4m Mimree (Multi-Platform Inspection, Maintenance and Repair in Extreme Environments) scheme could facilitate bigger wind farms, further from shore.
Getting carbon cuts on track
Rail Technology Magazine
Diesel trains must be removed from the UK rail network and replaced with electric, battery and hydrogen trains to aid decarbonisation efforts ahead of the 2050 ‘net-zero’ target, the Rail Safety and Standards Board has said. More than 3,000 carriages or vehicles will need to be replaced or converted.
Hyperloop scales up
E&T
Virgin Hyperloop One and Saudi Arabia will build the world’s the longest Hyperloop test track as backers continue their mission to prove the futuristic transport mode’s viability. The project includes the 35km track, an R&D centre and a Hyperloop factory, north of Jeddah. Although the Hyperloop has prominent backers including first proponent Elon Musk and Virgin's Richard Branson, engineers have raised concerns about issues including safety, cost and feasibility.
Stick that in your pipe
Professional Engineering
Reservoirs, pipes and platforms once used for the extraction and transport of polluting fossil fuels could instead be used to move and store captured carbon dioxide, helping tackle emissions from industry and energy. Plans to make it easier to recycle oil and gas infrastructure for use in carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) were included in a raft of government announcements on low-carbon energy. Reservoirs are well-mapped and trunk pipelines are often very long and wide, making them both particularly suitable.
A revolution in car battery power
New Atlas
A miniature device concealed within car tyres could harness friction to generate enough electricity to power onboard accessories, Sumitomo has claimed. The Japanese firm revealed its energy-harvesting concept this week. It includes two electrodes, a positively-charged film and a negative one, and it generates electricity as the wheel turns and deforms.
Hand in glove
Professional Engineering
A sensor-packed glove that captures real-time movement of hands without using cameras could open up new motion sensing possibilities for robot remote control and AR or VR applications. An international team from ETH Zurich and New York University created the “user-friendly, stretch-sensing data glove” to capture “real-time, interactive hand poses” with more precision than conventional techniques.
Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.