A team of researchers from Loughborough University’s Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering has used 3D printing to develop a new nanogenerator technology that could be used to create affordable ‘smart clothing’ that could be used for health monitoring. The new triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) design can be customised using different liquids to … [Read more...] about Smart clothing a step closer thanks to nanogenerator advances
Technology
New research reveals how sound is produced by next-generation aircraft engines
The mystery of how futuristic aircraft-embedded engines make noise has been solved by researchers at the University of Bristol. The new study reveals for the first time how noise is generated by and propagated from engines known as boundary layer ingesting (BLI) ducted fans. BLI ducted fans are similar to the large engines found in modern airplanes but are partially embedded … [Read more...] about New research reveals how sound is produced by next-generation aircraft engines
New plastic coating discovery gives greater functionality to 3D printing
A team of scientists and engineers from the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry and Faculty of Engineering has developed a new coating for plastic particles that are used in 3D printing that significantly increases their functionality and opens up new possibilities for commercial applications. The researchers used supercriticial carbon dioxide to create an … [Read more...] about New plastic coating discovery gives greater functionality to 3D printing
Student engineering team first to build and run a hydrogen-powered engine
A team of engineering students at the University of Bath have achieved a world first by becoming the first undergraduates to build and successfully run a hydrogen-fuelled engine. Members of the Bath Hydrogen team, who are aiming to set a land speed record, switched on their prototype engine in March, when it ran at the first attempt. The achievement makes them the world’s … [Read more...] about Student engineering team first to build and run a hydrogen-powered engine
Making conversations with robots feel more natural
New research from the University of Waterloo has improved the way that humans communicate humanoid robots, using clever design to make interactions feel more natural. Talking to a robot often feels stilted or delayed, because the underlying software oftens struggles to keep up with the conversation and the robot doesn’t track the person it’s speaking to. The Waterloo … [Read more...] about Making conversations with robots feel more natural