Engineering news
Hydrogen plane takes off in ‘world first’ eight-minute flight
Professional Engineering
A hydrogen fuel cell-powered passenger aircraft has flown for the first time, on a “momentous” day for the aerospace sector. ZeroAvia’s converted commercial-grade Piper M-class six-seater flew for eight minutes above Cranfield University’s airport in Bedfordshire yesterday (24 September). The aircraft reached 1,000 feet (305m) and 100 knots (185km/h) during its flight, ZeroAvia told Professional Engineering.
The inside story of Ventilator Challenge UK
Professional Engineering
The Ventilator Challenge UK consortium was the country’s most ambitious collaborative engineering project since the Second World War. We spoke to engineers and leaders involved about how they assembled the team and built thousands of ventilators, overcoming huge challenges.
Tesla unveils battery with more than 500 mile range
E&T
Elon Musk has unveiled a new battery for Tesla cars, promising an extra 56% range on existing batteries – yet coming in at half the price. The batteries will not be commercially available for three years, however.
Government urged to publish hydrogen strategy
Professional Engineering
A fantastic opportunity to lead the world on ‘green’ hydrogen could “slip through our fingers” without detailed government planning, a renewable energy organisation has warned, threatening a promising source of clean energy and significant economic benefits. RenewableUK urged the government to publish a hydrogen strategy to support the rapid development of technology for green hydrogen, generated using renewable energy.
Airbus reveals three new hydrogen aircraft concepts
Professional Engineering
In further hydrogen related news this week, Airbus set out its bold ambition to develop and fly the world’s first large scale zero-emission commercial aircraft, revealing not one but three hydrogen-fuelled plane concepts. While two of the Zeroe concepts have a similar profile to conventional airliners, the ‘blended-wing body’ concept offers a striking alternative.
Deep sea metals could make more sustainable batteries
Energy Live News
Producing battery metals from deep sea ‘nodules’ could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by three-quarters compared to land mining, a new study has found. The report from DeepGreen said the ocean floor could supply ‘hundreds of millions of tonnes’ of metals such as copper and nickel.
3D-printed prosthetics society wins engineering award
Process Engineering
Handprints e-Nable society at the University of Glasgow received the Overall Excellence award at EqualEngineers’ inaugural Engineering Awards. The group uses 3D printing to build elbow or wrist-controlled prosthetic hands, providing them free of charge for people that need them.
Deep sea sponges could hold key to taller buildings and lighter spacecraft
Professional Engineering
Taking inspiration from soft, squishy sponges to build stronger buildings or lighter spacecraft sounds counterintuitive – but it could be a promising route for future development. Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (Seas) showed that the diagonally-reinforced square lattice-like skeletal structure of Euplectella aspergillum, a deep-water marine sponge, has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than the traditional lattice designs that have been used for centuries in the construction of buildings and bridges.
Ring security camera could fly around the home
New Atlas
Home security specialist Ring has revealed the Always Home Cam. Unlike its static doorbell cameras, the company’s new device is a miniature camera drone that can be programmed to follow set routes around the home before returning to its dock.
’Onshoring’ offers UK firms vital opportunity amid pandemic
Professional Engineering
Onshoring – returning manufacturing and supply chains to the UK – could offer a vital opportunity for engineering companies amid the Covid-19 pandemic and protectionist trends around the world, according to Dafydd Evans from Duff & Phelps.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.