Developments

Cyborgs are gradually working their way into our lives. The general representation of a cyborg is that seen in science fiction films of a fusion between man and machine. A direct interface between the brain and the Internet, like the brain-machine interface (BMI) described in the science fiction manga Ghost in the Shell, has been successfully tested in laboratory experiments. That extreme level of man-machine fusion aside, people’s lives would already be compromised by not having a mobile phone or smartphone, and in some cases, when we think about those who lead a life that is dependent on such devices, we can see that the fusion between man and machine is underway with a momentum that supersedes the pros and cons. However, the fusion of humans and machines is not confined to fusion with engineering machinery. Think of machinery as technology in a wider sense. One of the largest modern technological fields is biotechnology. People are helped by biotechnology in the form of medical treatment, but we could be heading toward a scenario in which people are composed of biotechnology. If that is the case, theÊquestionÊmust be asked: what are the people who have been integrated with technology in such a way? My background is in western philosophy, which since ancient times has continually asked the question, ‘What is mankind?’ Traditional philosophy was founded on a distinction between human beings and machines (as well as animals), but nowadays technology is beginning to shake this distinction and cyborgs, which are the fusion of man and machine, really have to be seen as a fundamental phenomenon in philosophical discussions. The question ‘What is mankind?’ needs to be replaced by the question ‘What is a cyborg?’ Human beings composed of technology Let’s move from abstract theory to concrete considerations. I have discussed the […]

Manufacturers, particularly those in process industries, can gain increased functionality and an enhanced operator experience with the latest version of FactoryTalk View human-machine interface (HMI) software. FactoryTalk View Site Edition (SE) and Machine Edition (ME) 7.0 applications, released in early 2013, offer more efficient alarm management, simplified installation, improved user experience, and integrated data sharing in a wide range of production environments. To stay competitive, operators need scalable HMI solutions that are easier to install, enable operator productivity, and are more tightly integrated to company control and information systems. FactoryTalk View SE 7.0 software will support larger numbers of HMI clients and servers in a single system, increasing the size of systems that can support the FactoryTalk View SE alarming subsystem, FactoryTalk Alarms and Events. The FactoryTalk Alarms and Events alarming subsystem has been enhanced to align with ISA’s Alarming Standard 18.2., and will now support the shelving state. The subsystem now also allows users to configure remote-alarming commands on display faceplates, saving crucial time when an operator needs to react to device alarm situations. The newest version includes an improved installation process and design environment. The new installation process in FactoryTalk View SE and ME software saves time with a streamlined work flow that automates installation of FactoryTalk View components. From a design-time standpoint, a new find-and-replace for HMI and global-object displays will be available in the FactoryTalk View Studio design environment so the user can locate and replace tags or strings across multiple servers and screens. For run-time improvements, operators can more quickly and intuitively navigate screens and resolve production issues with a new navigation button that provides functionality similar to the navigation buttons in commercially available web browsers. Client workstations can track each screen the operator opens, and the navigation button allows the operator to quickly display […]

 A new microgram load cell is for use in an experiment aimed at establishing a new definition of the kilogram. The kilogram is the last unit of the International System of Units (SI) still based on an artifact – the international prototype of the kilogram (IPK), kept at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). Mass comparisons with the IPK have indicated a mean drift in the official IPK copies of 0.5 µg/year. To get better stability, scientists have been working on a new definition of the kilogram based on a physical constant of nature, which should be reproducible regardless of geographical location. The IPK prototype, machined in 1878, is a cylinder of platinum-iridium alloy (Pt 90% – Ir 10% in mass) whose height (39 mm) is equal to its diameter. Six copies were designated as official copies and are kept in the same protective conditions as the international prototype. To assess the evolution of the official copies relative to the IPK, three comparisons have been carried out since 1880. The results of these comparisons have clearly put in evidence, a relative drift of this set of masses with respect to the IPK, evaluated at 0.5 µg/year. Today, all modern mass measurements are directly related to the IPK. The relative uncertainty of each measurement is declared according to the comparison of a test weight used on the same weighing apparatus with the IPK. There is no currently accepted standard for defining the kilo in the same way as for other standards e.g. the meter is defined according to the distance light travels in a vacuum in a specified time period. The relative weight between the IPK and its copies is changing minutely over time and it is this which is driving scientists to redefine the kilo. METAS, in conjunction […]

The world offers a wild number of tools to the modern tinkerer. Yet the perfect tool never seems to be within arm’s reach, or available at all. The angle of the handle is off, the fitting imprecise, or the size awkward. How convenient it would be if we could fashion our own adaptation from clay, or styrofoam, or duct tape, throw it in a bag of sand, and pull out a solid, working version. That future is here . . . or nearly so. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Distributed Robotics Laboratory, Cambridge, MA, have devised a self-sculpting sand that will duplicate whatever object is thrown at it, or into it. Each grain (or module) is a cube filled with processors and electropermanent magnets. The cubes do not fidget about to assemble themselves into whatever new shape is demanded of them; individual mobility would add an entirely different engineering headache. Rather, they start as a latticed block, and then learn from their neighbours the shape of any object placed amidst them. They pass along messages as to which ones should stay together and which should fall away. It’s more akin to a sculptor “removing the excess material, to reveal the shape that’s always been underneath,” says Kyle Gilpin, a graduate student at the lab who led the project. A previous edition of the module measured 1.7 in per size. The current version is 12 mm. Shrinking them meant losing room for connectors, so at the moment they only work in two dimensions. “In the long run we would like a module approaching a millimetre in size,” says Gilpin “You can create objects with much higher resolutions.” Smaller means stronger as well. Where a single module of the 1.7-in version could support a chain of 17 additional modules, […]

Electropar is a multi-disciplined engineering company operating predominantly in the industrial electrical area. They contested and won a contract to supply for complex electrical equipment which had to be manufactured to meet very demanding standards for shock and vibration; protection against radio frequency interference (RFI) and electromagnetic interference (EMI). Their equipment was fitted to the 8 ANZAC ships built in Australia and New Zealand. A key motivation in using a competitive local supplier was to reduce whole of life cost. They completed the contract successfully and subsequently won more Defence contracts and they continue to supply spares and maintenance for ANZAC ships to this day. Beca Applied Technologies Ltd When the NZDF committed to upgrade the Orion fleet of aircraft they recognised that effective management of software maintenance costs through life was critical. They therefore encouraged bidders to identify local companies who could maintain and upgrade the system through life. The winning contractor – L3 Communications Ð ran a competition amongst NZ companies top select an organisation to work with them (L3) during the design of the system and outfitting the first aircraft. Beca Applied Technologies Ltd was the successful company and they sent a team of 7 people to work with L3 in Texas during the design phase of the project. Beca Applied Technologies has subsequently signed a support contract with the RNZAF and has established a team on RNZAF base Whenuapai to support the Orion fleet. (The size of this group has almost doubled since the inception of the contract.) The experience gained has been the kernel of significant growth in capability such that they have now delivered two simulators designed from scratch; recovered the Flight Training Device (simulator) for the P3 Orion delivered from another US based manufacturer which did not meet requirements and support the A109 […]

Now there is an even more colourful way to make household items or garden implements stand out. It’s called Plasti Dip Blaze, which is a new range of neon colours for this unique, handy product. Plasti Dip is a novel and ingenious way to cover just about any surface with a synthetic rubber coating that protects and insulates. The multi-purpose air-dry, synthetic rubber coating can easily be applied by spraying, brushing or dipping and, because it remains flexible and stretchy, it doesn’t become brittle or crack. The wide colour range has now been expanded to include the bright new eye-catching colours; Blaze Blue, Blaze Orange, Blaze Pink, Blaze Green, Blaze Purple and Blaze Yellow. The new Blaze collection, which comes in 311gram aerosol cans, applies just as easily as the rest of the Plasti Dip range to most substrates/surfaces to create a protective coating that is easy to grip and non-slip. Although they have only just entered the market, the new Blaze range is already selling well and several new Plasti Dip products are being lined up for launch in New Zealand in the near future. The new Blaze colours are designed for items that people may want to stand out, either for safety reasons – such as electrical wiring, or wooden steps – to things they may want to be able to spot easily or just to really jazz them up, maybe wooden playing blocks for young children. It’s perfectly safe. Plasti Dip can stick to most hard surfaces, including metal, wood, glass, masonry and other plastics, making is extremely versatile. The Americans refer to it as ‘like duct tape in a can because of the hundreds of uses.’ Originally developed to apply plastic coatings to replace worn grips on hand tools, such as pliers, wrenches and cutters it […]

Scientists at IBM Research together with experts at Airlight Energy, ETH Zurich and Interstate University of Applied Sciences Buchs NTB are developing a design to dramatically increase the efficiency of concentrated solar power systems which it says will be suitable for mass production.  The high concentration photovoltaic thermal (HCPVT) system uses a large mirrored parabolic dish mounted on a tracking system to align it with the sun. The incoming solar radiation is directed from the mirrors onto liquid cooled receivers which convert the solar energy into electricity.  The system could be used to deliver electricity, fresh water and cool air in remote locations. Current concentration photovoltaic systems only collect electrical energy and then dissipate the thermal energy to the atmosphere. However, with the HCPVT the heat collected by the coolant in the receivers will also be reused for water desalination and to provide cooling via an absorption chiller.

NAND flash memory is a type of non-volatile storage technology that does not require power to retain data. An important goal of NAND flash development has been to reduce the cost per bit and increase maximum chip capacity so that flash memory can compete with magnetic storage devices like hard disks. NAND flash has found a market in devices to which large files are frequently uploaded and replaced. MP3 players, digital cameras and USB drives use NAND flash.  NAND has a finite number of write cycles. NAND failure is usually gradual as individual cells fail and overall performance degrades. To help compensate, some vendors over-subscribe their systems, by including more memory than is actually claimed. When a NAND card wears out, the user simply buys a new one, and the device continues to function. By passing the expense of additional storage on to the consumer, manufacturers have been able to lower the price of consumer electronic devices significantly.  New developments in NAND flash memory technology are making the chips smaller, increasing the maximum read-write cycles and lowering voltage demands. Such improvements will continue make the technology even more common.  

We all go through phases where we feel like we’ve seen every possible Kickstarter project that we’d ever want. And then one like Mycestro comes along and reminds us that this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s a 3D mouse that you strap to one of your fingers and it looks like it could become a huge asset for multi-tasking. If you think about how you use your computer, be it a desktop or laptop, you know that your hands move from the keyboard to the trackpad or mouse constantly, over and over again. It’s wasted movement for the most part, especially when you see the possibilities that Mycestro unlocks. The only thing left is for it to get funded, because it looks like all of the prototypes work perfectly. Features include touch buttons that allow you to navigate your computer without the need for moving your entire hand to a dedicated area on a computer, thanks to 3D technology and space recognition: Specifications for the 3D Mouse: – Size of a wireless earpiece. – Light, weighing next to nothing. – Internal battery can be charged via USB. – Battery life is estimated to be eight hours depending on usage. – Two different replaceable clip sizes. This isn’t a completely perfect situation though, as you’ll have to re-learn how to use a mouse. The other thing is that if you’re in a coffee shop or somewhere in public, people are going to look at you like you have some issues. The thing is called the Mycestro for a reason; it looks like you’re conducting your own private orchestra. In other words, you’re going to look weird. If you’re okay with that, then the benefits outweigh the public shame and looks you might receive. The device works from 30 […]

The Allen-Bradley PowerFlex 525 AC drive is to help machine builders and end users simplify equipment design and operation, and speed installation and configuration. The PowerFlex 525 AC drive features a modular design in power ranges from 0.5 to 30 horsepower or 0.4 to 22 kilowatt at 100 to 600 volt input. Its embedded EtherNet/IP, safety, USB programming, energy savings and a variety of motor control options are ideally suited for machine-level and stand-alone applications or simple system integration. Machine builders and end users want drives that deliver more flexible control, offer better communication, and help them simplify startup. This new drive portfolio is designed to give customers the performance they need, while helping to lower their Total Cost to Design, Develop and Deliver machines. Suitable for a wide range of applications, including conveyors, material handling, compressors, fans and pumps, the PowerFlex 525 AC drive provides a variety of motor control options to accommodate open- and closed-loop applications. To help simplify and streamline setup, users can configure the PowerFlex 525 AC drive through its human interface module (HIM), Rockwell Automation Connected Components Workbench software or Rockwell Software Studio 5000 Logix Designer. The PowerFlex 525 AC drive offers time-saving application sets, which are groups of pre-defined parameters for common drive applications that users can apply Òas isÓ or customise for a machine. Using a standard USB connection, machine builders can easily download the completed configurations and share with multiple drives, which greatly speeds up commissioning time. Removing the control module from the power module further reduces startup time because configuration and installation can be done simultaneously. MainsFree programming through a USB connection removes the need for main power during drive configuration, as well as the need for special adapters to communicate between the drive and the programming tools.  Function-rich AC drives […]