With cars becoming more and more complicated everyday, it is becoming increasingly difficult for mechanics and owners to work on them. But the same advancements in technologies that make it difficult to repair modern day cars can also help us figure out what’s wrong and fix the problem.



With a plethora of sensors, electronics and computers incorporated into modern day cars, it is difficult for people to ‘fiddle around’ with the cars because of the complexity of the technology involved. There was once a time when mechanics and even car enthusiasts could understand the internal working of an automobile, but the new tech savvy age has made it difficult for even these people to know what goes on inside. Luckily, auto and tech companies are developing way to allow people to know what to do with modern day cars without even touching a tool.



BMW has developed a pair of sunglasses with attached earbuds that shows the mechanics all the components of the engine in highlighted form. It also displays computer generated information on which components are problematic and gives instructions on how to disassemble and repair the parts. The glasses contain small screens which display computer generated images of the real world.



This technology is called Augmented Reality (AR) and is the key to the future of auto repair where you can know the problems in the car before even handling any tool. Google Glass and contact lenses with integrated displays are finally making AR possible. The technology has also been made easily available with the accessibility of smartphones and the only limitation now is for people to come up with new applications to implement it into our daily lives.



Augmented windscreens and seats could allow the driver to see the whole car as one transparent vehicle and give greater visibility of the road and surroundings. Though this tech may become a reality far off in the future, AR is here to stay. Volkswagen’s XL1 concept uses a service support system named Marta (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance), that provides instructions to identify and label components of the car.



While some automakers are integrating these systems into new models and gadgets, other companies like Audi are making the tech available to the masses today. The German automaker has released a mobile app in Europe which helps users identify over 200 components in a car. The app is a user manual which allows the user to point their smartphone camera towards the problem and it tells them how to fix the issue. The app can help people make simple fixes without having to worry about taking their car to a mechanic.

AR could someday help us connect our cars to our smartphones and simply feed us all the information in a step-by-step manner and allow anyone to maintain their car without ever having to visit the mechanic again. This may sound like bad news for mechanic shops, but it is an opportunity for them to adapt and evolve for the modern era. The future of Augmented Reality surely sounds exciting, Doesn’t it?

Smartphones were a big breakthrough when they were launched. It gave users the freedom that they craved for. Unlike other mobile phones which were present at that time, smartphones made it possible for the users to experience something completely new and exciting. However, as is with human nature, we want improved versions of everything. The screens keep getting bigger and the smartphones keep getting slimmer but we still stay unsatisfied. Currently, using iPhone for playing or reading a document is considered to be a bit tenacious since your fingers take up the screen and you are left with very little space.

This issue is what led Minneapolis based inventors to come up with a solution to this problem. They have proposed and executed a solution which allows the user to transform the back and sides of their smartphone into pads that are pressure sensitive and hence, render the whole phone touch sensitive. Known as the ‘Sensus’ protective case, it will be able to work in conjunction with a number of apps, allowing the user to get the full view of screens without compromising on screen space.

This invention was revealed at the CES 2014 in Las Vegas and its creators say that this case offers the ‘best of protections and functionality’ and the best part is; it is still quite slim. The gadget’s version for iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S will up for sale in summers for a price of $99. However, there is no news for sale in the UK yet.

The gadget has been designed by keeping gamers, social media addicts and business people in mind. This design will also facilitate those who are disabled. Let’s see what the gadget can do; you can take pictures by squeezing its sides and game maneuvers can be carried on the back of the case. There are two different kinds of sensors present on the case which are either capacitive or resistive.

The capacitive sensor relies on the change in capacitance of surface due to individual’s skin touch to pinpoint the touch location whereas the resistive sensor relies on the pressure. When used in conjunction, they render the case as sensitive as the phone’s screen itself.

User’s touch is recorded by the sensors and the information is relayed to the compatible apps which then react according to the touch. According to company; ‘Sensus gives interaction with apps a whole new variable and dimension that developers and users alike have never experienced before’

So folks, it will not only be protecting your smartphone from bumps and falls, but will also imparts the touch capability to the whole of your phone! As far as Android users are concerned, do not feel left out. The company has plans for coming up with cases for the Android and Windows phone as well.

 

 

 

 

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com

Did we not tell you how awesome this 3D printing is going to be? Here’s another fantastic feat which has been pulled off by 3D printing and well, we are amazed to say the least. The gadget in question is a Giant 3D printer which prints concrete and is able to – Get this – build a home, 2,500 Sq. ft, in only one day while printing it layer by layer. This research is being carried out in the University of Southern California with a huge 3D printer.

Meet Professor Behrokh Khoshnevis, who is the designer of this awesome gadget. According to him, what they are doing is ‘basically scaling up 3D printing to the scale of building.’ Well, bravo professor! The technology is being called Contour Crafting and this will no doubt revolutionize the construction industry and how it operates.

The uses of this are immense of course. Imagine how the cost of owning a house would reduce and the miracles this technology will be able to perform in case of a disaster. Replacement homes would be built in days to cater for the need of victims. This could also be used to come up with shelter buildings for those who are trying to survive in severe conditions. Khoshnevis said; ‘At the dawn of the 21st century [slums] are the condition of shelter for nearly one billion people in our world. These buildings are breeding grounds for disease a problem of conventional construction which is slow, labor intensive and inefficient.’ He also pointed out how everything is being made via automated systems and said; ‘Your shoes, your clothes, home appliances, your car. The only thing that is still built by hand are these buildings.’



So how does this Contour Crafting work really? Basically the Contour Crafting system is a robot which has an array of tools that are used by workers and they allow it to build 3D objects. Brad lemley from Discovery magazine said; ‘Ultimately it would work like this; On a cleared and leveled site, workers would lay down two rails a few feet further apart than the eventual building’s width and a computer-controlled contour crafter would take over from there. A gantry-type crane with a hanging nozzle and a components-placing arm would travel along the rails. The nozzle would spit out concrete in layers to create hollow walls, and then fill in the walls with additional concrete… humans would hang doors and insert windows.’



Khoshnevis further elaborates; ‘It’s a CAD/CAM solution; designed on computer and built by a computer. Contour Crafting hopes to generate entire neighborhoods built at a fraction of the cost, in a fraction of the time, far more safely, and with architectural flexibility that is unprecedented.

Those of you who are wondering what quality structures are we looking at here; a wall generated by Contour Crafting has strength of 10,000 psi. A conventionally built wall has strength of 3,000 psi. Professor Khoshnevis said; ‘You can have multi-nozzle machines and even have the structure climb the building.’ So that means we can also build multi-storey buildings.

No, the structures built by Contour Crafting won’t look alike. Remember, the building is built as per design so all you need to do is to alter the design and there you go.

Khoshnevis, in this context, said; ‘every [Contour Crafted] building can be different. They do not have to look like track houses because all you have to do is change a computer program.’ Furthermore, this Contour Crafting will allow for more complex structures to be built quite easily, like Khoshnevis told us; ‘The walls can be curved. You can have very exotic architectural features without incurring additional costs.’

One may argue that this technology will put out a lot of workers from their jobs and Khoshnevis responds with this; ‘There is concern about people being put out of construction jobs. The reality is that a lot of new jobs can be created in this sector as well. Construction is a hazardous job. It is more dangerous than mining and agriculture. It kills 10,000 people every year [and] because of all the different trade and managements structures, the process is pretty corruption prone. It is very costly and always over budget.’ Nasa and Cal-Earth Institute are funding the research and Khoshnevis seems quite hopeful about this technology making it to the top when he says; ‘This technology is like a rock that we have rolled to the top of a cliff. Just one little push and the idea will roll along on its own. 

 

 

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com

Sometimes the only thing betweem you and the engineering job of your dreams is the job interview. Many engineers struggle with the interview, either because they are unsure how to answer the questions asked or they are too nervous to know what to say.



Clearing the interview could mean getting the job you’ve always wanted. By following these tips, engineers are sure to impress the interviewers and increase their chances of being hired into their dream job.
Research the prospective employer so they know that you are aware of what is happening at their firm. Having background info about the company helps you connect with the interviewer at a greater level.
Prepare a solid two-minute introduction which highlights your relative strengths and recent projects that you have worked on. Remember, the interviewer is more interested in ways you can fulfill the company’s need than your strengths.
This one is rarely done, asking the interviewer for the specification and responsibilities of the role you are being hired for right after you have given your introduction. The answer will give you a base for presenting yourself as the perfect fit for the job.
Prepare for several of the basic and common behavioral as well as “trick” questions before the interview.
When discussing your weaknesses, always make sure you mention that you have begun to improve them and include how you are doing it and how you plan to improve further in the future.
Make sure to bring a list of references and share it with the interviewer before leaving.
To reduce nervousness, take deep breaths and picture yourself giving a successful interview before you even enter the room.



These techniques will help you stand out among the crowd of applicants who hope to be hired for the same position as you. Obtaining the perfect job is not easy, but by following these simple tips, you are sure to be noticed and remembered in good terms by the interviewer, which means you are one step closer to the job you have always desired.
Organizing your thoughts based on the chart below will increase your chances of getting hired:

Alfred Boyadgis, a design student of UNSW and 23-years of age has brought Robocop to life. Mr Boyadgis is presently enrolled as a student for honours in industrial design at the University of NSW. This prototype design of the helmet is his final year project. Boyadgis has designed a futuristic motorcycle helmet for police officers. It not only shows information in the visor but is a conglomeration of various high level technologies that presently seem impossible to exist.

The helmet is called Forcite and includes various amazing properties like having turn-by-turn GPS by voice and a display showing critical information right in front of the cops’ eyes. It can also link to and identify number-plate with an automatic recognition system; just stare at it for 5 seconds and the officer will know if the vehicle is registered or not. A built in radio channel and frequency tuner enables an officer to connect to the local area command, a nearby hospital or the fire brigade; a semi-modular visor system, helps increase vision and impact safety by more than 65 per cent.

With its amazing profile, the helmet has already gained popularity with the Chief of Police in Coral Gables in the US state of Florida, who wants to test it in the field and look for its potential for positioning of tactical response as well. The helmet is designed to take care of emergency response times in emergencies to save lives.

In his discussions with the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, Mr Boyadgis says,”The way that helmets are designed at the moment is quite archaic,” he further added, “There’s no direct electronics in there and, if you think about it, everyone has a smartphone, and all the luxuries of smart technology aren’t with riders. They’re still using strap-on GPSs and they have no ability to communicate with each other in a safe manner with something that’s integrated.” Boyadgis thinks that the helmets, as made and used today, were made incorrectly however Forcite uses a material called D3 polyurethane which is much stronger and thus safer.

What inspired him to make this design was the hard work of the officers that went through a lot of stress wearing the usual helmets. They wanted better ways to deal with emergency situations and connect back to the control rooms. In order to celebrate ingenuity, creativity and sustainable engineering, Forcite is in the running for the James Dyson Award. It is on display at the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore as part of the Red Dot Design Awards being in the top 30 out of 300,000 entries; it was also presented at UNSW’s LuminoCITY design exhibition in November. According to Mr Boyadgis,”It’s probably about a year off from being an actual, viable prototype”. It is estimated to cost around $790 and commercializing it will cost around $1.5 million.

The Chief of Police in Coral Gables, Dennis Weiner, told Fairfax Media that he was interested in field testing the helmet and said, “As designed, this helmet offers significant additional capabilities to the motor officer. Besides improved radio communications delivery, it also provides for two-way flow of data between the communications centre and the officer.” Mr Weiner added that the improved field of vision will be able to help with the comfort issues experienced by officers wearing such helmets.

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com

Brilliant engineers in China have become the world’s first to build part of a massive overpass and rotate it into place so as not to disturb railways passing under the bridge. The 17,000 ton section at Wuhan City, was swung into place on January 15 after being constructed parallel to the high speed railway track.

The whole process took only 90 minutes as engineers rotated the section 106 degrees on a 15 meter high axis. This intuitive solution was a first for China, but was necessary because this part of the railway was considered too important to be shut down temporarily. Upon completion, the 256-meter long overpass will span 11 railways including the 1,428 mile long Beijing-Guangzhou service.

The bridge will be open for traffic by the end of this month. With the country’s high speed rail network being the largest in the world, it is no wonder that the engineers did not deem it feasible to halt the track beneath the bridge. The necessity pushed the engineers to come up with a creative and innovative solution, proving that engineers can make anything possible.

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com/

 

 

Why is James Bond so cool? Sure he has that class but you can’t deny that his gadgets do add a lot to his persona. One particular gadget is the ‘Rebreather’ which enabled Mr. Bond to breathe underwater and has helped Bond in many life threatening situations. While many are fine with just fantasizing about such gadgets, there is one particular South Korean designer who decided to build one and has finally come up with a concept gadget which will enable you to breathe underwater like fish.

 

 

This invention by Jeabyun Yeon is known as Triton and has been designed to carry out extraction of oxygen from water so that the user is able to breathe underwater just like fish. The inventor is hopeful that this gadget will help change how many people approach water.

 

 

So, let’s talk about how this whole system works! The idea is for the swimmers or the wanna-be-Bond to bite down on the mouth piece made of plastic. There are two arms which reach towards the sides of the scuba mask and are able to work just like gills of a fish; delivering oxygen from water. The texture of these arms is scaly and it covers tiny holes from where water is sucked in into the arm.Here, chambers are used to separate oxygen from water and provided to the user while allowing for the water to move on, hence enabling the user to breathe underwater. Next comes the process of compressing; a micro compressor, which is powerful enough is employed to compress oxygen and enable storage in tanks.

 

 

The gadget will be provided power via a micro battery which is considerably small when compared to a common battery (30 times smaller in fact) and can charge at a much fast rate (1,000 times faster). However, like we said in the start of the article, this all is in concept phase and therefore, you might have to wait for some time before you can go out playing Bond!

 

 

 

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com

Needles are a somewhat dangerous form of vaccination. The hazard involved is sometimes greater than the disease for which the vaccination is taking place. Unhygienic needles or those used more than once cause 1.3 million deaths every year. Besides this, twenty percent of the population has a phobia of needles which keeps them from getting themselves vaccinated at all. This may lead to disease and death in some cases.



With the needle facing so many problems, it would seem that the time has come for a new and better medium for vaccination. Mark Kendall, a professor at the Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, has developed a Nanopatch that vaccinates people without the need of any painful needles. Kendall hopes that this amazing patch will help in reducing the 17 million deaths caused by infectious diseases every year. The Nanopatch is made using a technology that has been used for years in the semiconductor industry, which makes it cheap to produce. The process is called deep reactive ion etching and Kendall and his team have also developed an applicator which allows the nanopatch to be placed in the skin.



Animal testing has shown that the patch outperforms needles. Interestingly, a discovery was made which showed that the Dosage vs. Response curve was completely different in the case of the Nanopatch. It is now more easy for developers to tell how much of a vaccine will create a greater or lower response.



Another problem with needle vaccinations is that they require a continuous cold chain for optimal performance. The vaccinations must be kept chilled and if at some point the cold chain requirement is not met, the vaccination will not perform as desired. This is a major issue in Africa where the World Health Organization estimates that half of the vaccines are not performing at the maximum potency. Kendall’s patch stores the vaccine in a dry form which gives them the capability of being stored at 23 degrees Celsius for a year without any loss in effectiveness.



With testing underway at Papua New Guinea, where the Nanopatch is being used against the HPV virus, Kendall claims that his three biggest targets to eliminate using the Nanopatch are HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. He hopes that the advancement in the Nanopatch will help him fight the 7 million deaths caused by these three diseases every year. There is no doubt that this little patch will revolutione the medical industry. 

 

 

 

 

sorce : http://wonderfulengineering.com