Safe hydrogen gas?

Scientists and engineers are always looking for new ways to improve things. From improving technology to the process behind creating something, they always look for ways to make things more efficient or safe.

Something clever was developed in a research facility in Japan that could easily improve the way humans can obtain energy. We've known for a while now that hydrogen gas was an excellent energy source. However, the storing of hydrogen gas is very difficult and dangerous because of its flammability.

http://footage.framepool.com/en/shot/103463576-electron-molecular-structure-hydrogen-atom

The research team in Japan developed a compound that...

• Takes the form of a lightweight, thin sheet
• Can absorb hydrogen gas through a relatively simple chemical process
• Lasts a long time
• Doesn't release a lot of the gas

This new sheet is easily moldable and extremely safe to handle. It's non-toxic and non-flammable, which makes it appealing to anyone looking to work with hydrogen gas safely.  

This is one of many inventions, developed by engineers and scientists, that attempt to improve the world in a small way.

-Danny

Waseda University. "Hydrogen in your pocket? New plastic for carrying and storing hydrogen: Polymer addresses safety and energy loss." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 November 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161128131524.htm>

Prompt #5

N.S.B.E

NSBE stands for - National Society of Black Engineers.

These engineers were just like us at one point young engineers. The community predominately black and all attended Michigan State.  During the meeting, they were explaining the meaning of this organization. They said, there mission is to increase the number of culturally responsible Black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community.

  The National Society of Black Engineers strives to accomplish,

• Stimulate and develop student interest in the various engineering disciplines
• Strive to increase the number of minority students studying engineering at both the undergraduate and graduate levels 
• Encourage members to seek advanced degrees in engineering or related fields and to obtain professional engineering registrations
• Promote public awareness of engineering and the opportunities for Blacks and other minorities in that profession
• Function as a representative body on issues and developments that affect the careers of Black Engineers 

  NSBE has given engineers good job opportunities. 20+ companies had internships from this organization.

 

Prompt #6

There aren't too many arguments about the importance of engineering as a whole. However, ethical debates can arise in specific engineering subjects.

Weapons engineering and developing government spy technology is among the most widely argued aspects of engineering. There are plenty of supporters looking to invent and improve upon military firearms, bombs, and other types of weaponry. They argue the importance of strengthening our military and police force, stating that better weapons in their hands would make the world a safer place. They also promote the idea of developing drones and specialized satellite technology to monitor other nations. This is to prevent and/or catch obvious terrorist threats and to possibly monitor the internet interactions of terrorist groups, such as ISIS, that recruit people outside the middle east.

On the other hand, some argue that increased weaponry will only lead to more violence. They would not support engineers that look to improve weapons of any sort. Generally, they view war as extremely unethical and that improving guns or military vehicles only encourages the thoughts of war.

There's also argument about the spying of other nations. Many see this as a breach of privacy to other nations. Conducting drone surveillance would have to require the permission of those nations, according to these supporters. There are engineers looking to develop faster, less noisy drones and possibly even ones that are difficult to detect in the air. Opponents of this type of development see that as a major breach of ethics because they believe governments should be aware of the surveillance conducted on their soil.

Plenty of engineers are faced with moral dilemmas such as these. We see arguments that prevent engineers from improving certain kinds of technology every day. There's always arguments that "they're just doing their jobs" and plenty of support and disagreement with so many different subjects. Yet, no matter how they choose to proceed engineers must realize that many of their actions can cause real political and social consequences.
-Danny


El-Zein, Abbas. "As Engineers, We Must Consider the Ethical Implications of Our Work | Abbas El-Zein." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 05 Dec. 2013. Web. 27 Nov. 2016. <https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/05/engineering-moral-effects-technology-impact>.

Uber Ready

While autonomous cars have not exactly taken over, there is one company that is looking to be a catalyst. The leading Stranger-Aren't-Dangerous transport company, Uber, is looking to eventually replace all of their barely-qualified drivers with, well, no one. The self-driving cars would be cheaper for the company, safer for the passengers, and better in terms of insurance, legality, and taxes.

Are We There Yet?

Uber's first Self Driving delivery in Pittsburg, PA

The science behind the autonomous driver is still in its puppy stage. The technology uses sonar camera's, and GPS to maneuver the car to its desired destination. Electric car manufacturer Tesla already have self-driving technology in their cars, but its not the "real-deal". Tesla cars are able to drive for a maximum of 15 minutes, before human input is requested and required to continue.


Should Uber Slow Their Roll?
Uber brush over the fact that technology may not be ready, and have set a goal to have all Uber vehicles be self-driving by the end of 2017. Other than the fact that this will leave a lot of people without a second (or only) job, it will require an investment in autonomous cars to get the technology in a position where such a thing can happen.



Under the Hood
The cars have at least 8 sonar detection cameras that are all placed in a location to do different jobs. Some cameras are used collaboratively with GPS to assure the car is between the yellow and white line on the road. Others are used to detect other cars, street sings, pedestrians, and other objects. All data gathered from the cameras are sent to the main computing hub onboard the car. The automated steering wheel and gas pedals are then told what to do.

Writer: Pat Wilkinson

Parrish, Kristen. "LIDAR, Cameras, Radars, ACTION! The Road to Autonomous Vehicles." LIDAR, Cameras, Radars, ACTION! The Road to Autonomous Vehicles - TI Live @... - Blogs - TI E2E Community. Texas Instruments, 17 Mar. 2015. Web. 27 Nov. 2016.

Beating the Clock

Rallying.

A form of motorsport respected all across the world. It involves race-spec street cars ripping through forests, over mountains, across desserts, and in snow in a race against the clock. The Professional level of this sport is called The World Rally Championship, or the WRC. This series takes the best rally drivers in the world to the most difficult roads in the world, in an all out battle against the clock, and overall, against each other.

The cars usually average over 80mph on the most difficult roads in the world, but that speed is about to get higher. All Rally cars are mandated by the governing body of the WRC. The cars are only allowed to produce a certain amount of power, and a certain amount of downforce. This limits the speed, and regulates the safety of the sport.

For the 2017 WRC Season, the limits on power and downforce is being loosened. The cars will now be able to produce up to 380bhp (Up from 320), and will be allowed to be 55cm wider. This leaves more space for more wing, adding more downforce, making the car go faster. On top of this, cars will also be 25 kg (about 55lbs) lighter, again, increasing speed.

The Difference

The difference is seriously noticeable. Through 9 tests that the Citroen WRC Team has conducted so far, the cars are about 5 seconds faster per mile.

With this new speed, comes increasing concern in the safety of the sport. The cars today are already drifting and jumping at dangerous speeds  on roads only as wide as the cars themselves are long.

One thing is for sure, the 2017 WRC season will be something to see.

Writer: Pat Wilkinson

wrc.com

Not Your Average Prius

It is no secret that when you here the word "Hybrid", the picture below is the first thing that comes into mind. This is the case because the Prius (Pictured below), was the first mass-produced, record-breaking, cheap, hybrid vehicle.

This car is heavily criticized, and is the center of many jokes. This is because of its lack of power, its less-than-aggressive styling, and its super economical ("green") ways.

For many people, this car is exclusively driven by Environmentalists, and people who could care less about their vehicles sex appeal.

A common slogan for the Prius is, "I'd rather be dead than seen in one of those". But really, what is everyone so upset about?

What is a Hybrid Car?
A Hybrid car is a vehicle that has both a gasoline engine, and an electric engine onboard. The Gasoline engine is small, and extremely efficient, but lacks any sort of power. Luckily, this engine is only used to assist the electric  motor. The engine is only used at certain times, maximizing efficiency. Often, the electric motor is charged automatically, making hybrid cars require only small amounts of gasoline.


The electric motor is charged by recovering energy lost under braking. When a car is attempting to break, all engine power is going to waste as it is not needed. In hybrids, this energy is taken and stored in a battery that the electric motor can then use.

While this car may be slow, un-appealing, and the center of jokes, it was a breakthrough in modern engineering that opened the door for many new designs.

What the Prius Inspired
The Prius broke new ground, and the exact same technology in the Prius is used in car that may shock you...

 McLaren P1
The P1 is a 903bhp Hybrid Supercar made by British automaker and F1 Team McLaren. Like the Prius, the P1 uses a gasoline engine and an electric motor at different times, but this time, to maximize speed. Again, the electric motor is kinetically charged under braking, but produces 177bhp on its own, more than the amount produced by both engines in the Prius.

 Porsche 918
It's the same story at German automaker Porsche. The 918's gasoline engine produces 608bhp, less than the P1. But, the Porsche, has two electric motors, used the same way, but producing 279bhp. Like the McLaren above and the Ferrari below, the Porsche can break 210mph, and can corner as hard as a typical airplane.



Ferrari La Ferrari
Named after.. uh... itself, the La Ferrari (from Italian automaker Ferrari) carries a 789bhp gasoline engine, but uses its onboard electric motor slightly differently. The motor is charged just like the others, but instead of being automatically implemented, it is accessed by a button that says "KERS" on the steering wheel. Which stands for "Kinetic Energy Recovery System". This provides a boost of 161bhp from the electric motor at, literally, the touch of a finger. Technology taken from both the Prius and Formula 1. Never thought those two names would be included in the same sentence, did you.

Writer: Pat Wilkinson

topgear.com
wikipedia.com

Airplane Maintenance Documentary

Surprisingly, most of the construction for aircrafts is not done by mechanics/technicians that work for airplane companies themselves. The majority of the work is usually done by small, family-owned businesses. Along with mechanics and technicians, plenty of different types of engineers work together to assemble various parts of the plane. Some of those engineers include...

• Aerospace
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Computer Systems
• Materials Science

There are over 4700 of those small repair facilities around the world, employing almost half a million people. The job of these maintenance employees is extremely important for the safety of every single passenger that flies on a plane. 

Each plane has to be constructed perfectly to ensure nothing goes wrong during its flight. Basically every individual part of the plane is constructed separately, designed and put together by several engineers and mechanics. They have to take extreme caution and test their work many times. The process is similar to that of building an automobile, and maybe even more significant considering larger planes can carry hundreds of passengers on board. 

The work of these engineers are extremely important, and a lot of the specific designing and product testing is extremely complex. Without the knowledge and care of these people, flying would be completely unreliable and unsafe. I encourage anyone interested in learning how planes are made to watch the short documentary. 

-Danny

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OEt6SkdA4M