Developments

Octopus inspired robot

It has the ability to morph (change shape), propel itself and turn quickly in water (i.e. super-manoeuvrability) efficiently and silently, lending itself to future possibilities in surveillance and inspection. Scientists in Singapore have developed a new octopus-inspired robot which can zip through water 10 times its body length within one second, in an ultra-efficient manner. This first-ever ultra-fast propulsion and super-manoeuvrability demonstrated in underwater vehicles is unprecedented; and is the work of researchers and an engineer from the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART). This ground-breaking research validates the physics of shape change (that forms the basis of jet propulsion of cephalopods) to give additional thrust to underwater vehicles. Inspired by the speed at which cephalopods like the octopus, flee from danger by inflating its mantle cavity with water to a bluff-body shape and then quickly expelling it to dart away, the researchers started building an octopus-inspired robot in November 2013. The end result is a polycarbonate 3D printed streamlined skeleton which had no moving parts and no energy storage device other than a thin elastic outer membrane. It works like blowing up a balloon and then releasing it to fly around the room. The 27cm long robot is inflated with water and once released, rapidly deflates by shooting the water out through an aperture at its base to power its propulsion. As the rocket contracts, it can achieve more than 2.6 times the thrust of a rigid rocket doing the same manoeuvre, while creating minimum turbulence – an important feature in underwater research / survey vehicles. The skeleton within the robot keeps the final shape streamlined, while fins at the tail, help in stabilisation. When a fish escapes by swimming fast, it bends its body and zooms through the water, losing some energy to the surrounding water and […]

Green engineering to develop low-cost dam

The dam’s frame consists of gabion cages: wire mesh baskets filled with sturdy columns of recycled concrete cylinders or rocks. Designed by a team from the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), the “Gaia dam” could control or prevent flooding from torrential rains on farms, along rivers and in coastal areas by minimising and re-routing the flow of water through storm runoff pathways. Its main structural frame consists of gabion cages: wire mesh baskets filled with sturdy columns of recycled concrete cylinders or rocks, which provide stability against the hydrostatic forces pushing through the dam. Like a miniature hydroelectric power plant, the Gaia dam could divert water into the powerhouse where turbines are installed, yet do so less expensively than the concrete dams that are usually used for this purpose. In addition, the dam is designed to release proprietary proteins and enzymes when water passes through its specialised core. Its proteins are designed to help crops absorb soil nutrients and minerals, while its enzymes would gradually dissolve the exoskeletons of insects and other pests that attack the crops, thereby acting as natural fertilizers and pesticides. Thus the Gaia dam has the potential to help in the production of organic crops. The UPD research team is now exploring the possibility of creating a spin-off company to produce the Gaia dam and is seeking partners to license its technology. Meanwhile, the team plans to further develop the technology and build prototypes for Filipino farms.

LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA 2015

10th Anniversary, A Decade of the Highest Quality On March 17-19, 2015, LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This year, the trade show again attracted leading exhibitors from around the globe to show their latest technologies and innovations. LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA continued its successful growth in all aspects: A total of 715 companies from 20 countries exhibited on an exhibition area of 36,960 square meters. In the three days, 40,291 industry professionals visited the trade fair. Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, Deputy CEO of Messe München International, responsible for the LASER World of PHOTONICS international network, praised the achievements of the Chinese platform: “LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA has successfully developed into one of the most important trade fairs in Asia for both international and Chinese companies.” This year, many domestic enterprises were present: in addition to traditional giants such as Han’s and HG, they included Focuslight, Huaray, Raycus, Max, Delphi, Golden Laser and Huineng. According to Pfeiffer, another key factor is the strong presence of foreign companies: “The 22 percent increase in international exhibitors in the anniversary year 2015 demonstrates the high interest of international laser and photonics manufacturers in the Chinese market.” PHOTONICS CONGRESS and supporting program well received by attendees and speakers The PHOTONICS CONGRESS CHINA held concurrently with the trade show was highly accredited by the participants for its quality and international environment. It covered a wide range of hot topics, for example laser processing, advanced lasers, optics, IR imaging, laser safety and light beam analysis, as well as the latest findings in these areas. Under the umbrella of the PHOTONICS CONGRESS CHINA, the 10th International Laser Processing and Systems Conference (LPC 2015) highlighted the topic of Industry 4.0. LASER World of PHOTONICS CHINA 2015 played […]

Air plasma system includes internal air compressor

Hypertherm has announced introduced the Powermax30® AIR, a new portable air plasma system featuring an internal compressor that offers greater convenience for on-the-go cutting. With the built-in compressor and the ability to operate on both 120 or 240 volt lines, the Powermax30 AIR is a highly versatile system that enables metal cutting just about anywhere. Weighing only 13.5 kg (30 pounds), the Powermax30 AIR provides 30 amps of output, and has the highest power-to-weight ratio of any system in its class. This high power-to-weight ratio is due in part to several engineering advances, including an all-new patent-pending consumable design that optimises airflow from the compact internal compressor. Coupled with a proprietary and highly-effective moisture removal system, the Powermax30 AIR provides excellent cut quality and performance in hot and humid conditions. Benefits: High portability with the addition of an internal air compressor that eliminates the need for an external compressor unit; Greater versatility and convenience with a ‘Plug-and-Use’ model that allows the system to be used anywhere with just an electrical power point, even in remote and non-industrial environments; and Cost reduction with the elimination of additional costs associated with the use of an external compressor.

FARO Announces its Asia Pacific 3D User Conference 2015

Sessions Scheduled in China, India, & Japan FARO Technologies well known for 3D measurement, imaging, and realisation technology, has unveilled the third edition of the annual FARO 3D User Conference for the Asia Pacific region. Catering to 3D documentation communities within various industries, and held between June and September, the 2015 conference comprises three full-day sessions in China, India, and Japan. “Our last two conferences received strong support from 3D user communities across the region,” said Joseph Arezone, Managing Director Europe, Middle East & Africa and Managing Director Asia Pacific. “We are heartened by the response, and are committed to continue offering users this exclusive platform. It would be a golden opportunity for them to keep up-to-date with the latest technologies, as well as to interact and connect with one another, irrespective of the industries they are from.” According to Research and Markets[i], the global 3D terrestrial laser scanning market is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 12.53% over the period of 2013-2018, arising mainly from a need to improve productivity. The conference seeks to inspire attendees and pave the way for more 3D laser scanning applications in time to come. As with past years, the event serves practitioners from a variety of functions and industries, including Architecture Engineering and Construction (AEC), Energy and Natural Resources, Heritage, Law Enforcement, Process Power and Piping (PPP), and Shipbuilding. Architects and structural engineers, for instance, will see how laser scanning can offer a rapid and simple way to comprehensively record the current condition of buildings and building sites. Forensic scientists, on the other hand, can appreciate how the technology can enable them to accurately capture and recreate incident scenes with 3D data. Attendees will hear from renowned professionals and top industry experts about the capabilities and potential of the […]

Singapore's precision engineering sector PIC

Singapore’s precision engineering sector expanded by 4% in 2014

AMIC, MTA2015 exhibitor, says national education programmes and collaboration with industry has paid off and helped boost manufacturing industry One of the key drivers of the Singapore economy, the manufacturing industry, contributes about 20 to 25 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Precision Engineering (PE) – the backbone of the industry – is applied in sectors from aerospace to medical, equipment building to oil & gas. From simple contract manufacturing in the early days, the Singapore precision engineering sector now provides integrated solutions from design to prototyping to production and even supply chain management. The sector recorded a growth of about four per cent in 2014. To further boost the PE industry, the Singapore government has collaborated with industry and academic partners to develop fresh talent, as well as enhance the knowledge and deep skillsets of the current work force. The Additive Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) and Centre for Digital & Precision Engineering (CDPE) at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) are two such academic partnerships with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). Through government support and funding in the Continuing Education and Training (CET) and Pre-Employment Training (PET) national programmes – cumulatively S$128 million – NYP offers the Precision Engineering Mastercraftsman (PeMC) and National Precision Engineering Scholarship (NPES) programmes for both students and working professionals. These programmes involve hands-on work at the AMIC and CDPE across every stage of the precision engineering process, from design to production. With the advent of new technologies, students now have the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge of the latest precision engineering and manufacturing technology such as additive manufacturing or 3D printing, robotics and Industrie 4.0 applications. The AMIC and CDPE unveiled these advanced manufacturing technologies at an exclusive media tour today. “Advanced manufacturing technologies such as 3D printing or even the Industrial […]

Controlling car pollution at the quantum level

Toyota Central R&D Labs. Inc. in Japan have reviewed research that might be leading the way towards a new generation of automotive catalytic converters. Catalytic converters that change the toxic fumes of automobile exhaust to less toxic pollutants only reached the market in the mid-1970s. They are formed of a catalyst – usually in the form of a precious metal such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium – a catalyst support material, and a wash-coat designed to disperse the catalytic materials over a wide surface area. Toyota Central R&D Labs. Inc. in Japan are involved in research to develop catalysts that are controlled at the quantum-level. With this level of control, “we can expect an extreme reduction of precious metal usage in automotive exhaust catalysts and/or fuel cells,” says Dr. Yoshihide Watanabe, chief researcher at the Toyota Central R&D Labs in Japan. He reviewed research on different types of catalytic reactions involving metal clusters whose sizes were atomically controlled. Metal cluster chemistry has been developing rapidly since the mid-20th century. A cluster is a group of atoms or molecules formed by interactions varying in strength from very weak to strong. Some naturally occurring clusters are known to be involved in catalytic reactions. The study of metal clusters is inspiring great interest, partially for the potential use of synthetic clusters in industrial applications, such as catalysts in catalytic converters. He pointed out that not much research has been done in the area of atomically controlled cluster catalysis, with the exception of studies on carbon monoxide oxidation reaction. His research indicates that catalytic activity is strongly affected by the electronic structure of clusters, their geometry on a support material, and the interaction between the cluster and the material. Thus, the catalytic activity of clusters can be enhanced by controlling cluster size and the […]

NGOs allowed to sue polluters in China

Hundreds of campaign groups in China have been granted the unprecedented right to bring legal action over environmental damage. The number of NGOs in China concerned with environmental protection has grown significantly in the past decade. According to Liao Hong, vice-director of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, there are now 569,000 licensed NGOs in China, with about 7,000 registered as groups campaigning on environmental issues. This is a conservative estimate and does not include the plethora of unlicensed NGOs and ad hoc activist groups focusing on environmental issues at both the national and local level. However, it’s long been debated what exactly environmental NGOs can actually do in China. Campaigns are possible, but often restricted; mass gatherings, protests and rallies are virtually always deemed illegal; and perhaps most importantly, the ability of an NGO – whether registered or not, international or domestic – to actually seek prosecution against a Chinese enterprise for breaching environmental regulations has been almost non-existent in China’s arcane and highly politicised legal system. That has changed somewhat in 2015. In December 2014, the Ministry of Civil Affairs approved 700 NGOs as eligible to launch public interest litigation over violations of environmental law. This is the first time any NGOs have been granted the legal status necessary to take violators to court, rather than simply report violations to the authorities. Seven hundred may only be one-tenth of registered NGOs but, looking on the bright side, it is a start. The Beijing-based Friends of Nature and Fujian province-based NGO Green Home tested the new legislation with a lawsuit, lodged on 1 January this year in Fujian’s Nanping Intermediate People’s Court, against four mine operators accused of carrying out illegal mining activities since 2008 in a mountainous area of natural beauty and environmental conservation. The case lasted a couple […]

Why it pays to join the circular economy

We all know that the current linear economic model is not sustainable. Materials are extracted, manufactured into products and then discarded into landfill – it’s a system that wastes valuable resources, causes environmental damage and will make it near impossible to satisfy the demands of the 3 billion new consumers in developing nations, who are expected to join the middle class by 2030. The concept of the circular economy is about decoupling growth from resource consumption – and maximising the positive environmental, economic and social effects. It’s about designing products so that they are easier to reuse or recycle, like Timberland’s Earthkeeper shoes. It’s about making sure that every product ingredient is biodegradable or fully recyclable, like the chemicals company that has replaced fossil-fuel feedstocks in their production methods. It’s about maximising useful product life by repairing or remanufacturing, like Caterpillar’s parts-refurbishing programme. The circular economy is about new business models that have shifted from selling products to selling services, such as the tyre company that offers a per-km tyre-leasing service. It is about eliminating waste from production, and making sure any waste is recovered as a valuable resource, whether it’s heat, slurry, nutrients, organic material, metal, salt – whatever. It’s about engaging your customers throughout the life cycle of the product, instead of the few minutes during which they make a purchase; and, ultimately, it’s about gaining competitive advantage. The scale of the competitive advantage is startling. Against a backdrop of resource prices that have more than doubled over the past 10-12 years, erasing the commodity-price decline of the 20th century, our material-saving potential is expected to reach around $1 trillion per year by 2025. The opportunity presented by the circular economy in Europe and the US pales into insignificance compared with what is at stake in developing nations, […]

Let’s not follow the others

Picture: Doug Green, Publisher, Asia Manufacturing News www.asiamanufacturingnewstoday.com If Peter Thiel, co- founder of PayPal and Palantir has it right the future needs to change. It’s easier to copy a model than to make something new. Doing what we already know how to do keeps on adding more of something familiar. And it is easier to do. Peter Thiel has a book out with Blake Masters, Zero to One. How about we just don’t keep on being a computer manufacturer amongst lots of other computer manufacturers and make something new? Because if we keep on being moderate and doing what we know amongst other similar companies – our competition – then sooner or later we, the competition, may not be around much longer because competition amongst equals brings with it company takeovers. Three computer manufacturers become two. Why not make something brand new instead of copying what others are doing? Can we think of something that hasn’t been made before and not have to bother having competition. Get it? In golf, we talk about our own authentic swing. That may be a swing not based on our golfing buddies, not copying anyone else to drive the ball down the fairway. Because 2014 is rapidly coming to an end I think this is a good subject for all of us to look at for 2015. A great opportunity to dream and plan what might be next for our company that no one else is doing. Imagine that! Get your company geniuses together and ask the question “How can our company make something new and not take the easy way by continuing to do just what we know?” One upon a time someone invented the paper clip. Then someone else made another model, round, not silver, but in colours. It was still […]

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