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“The virtue of a man ought to be measured not by his extraordinary exertions, but by his every-day conduct.” ―Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal
Born: June 19, 1623
Died: August 19, 1662 (aged 39)
Nationality: French
Occupation: Philosopher
Bio: Blaise Pascal, was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen.
This earthbound version of the CF6 engine, which GE calls the LM6000-PF SPRINT gas turbine for power applications, will produce heat and more than 45 megawatts of electricity for Oradea. The city partnened on the the project with the Italian power developer STC SpA. Image credit: GE Distributed PowerThe picturesque Romanian city of Oradea dates back at least 900 years. Some locals joke their heating system is just as old. Large portions of the city, which sits near Romania’s western border with Hungary, have relied on a district heating plant that opened in 1966, one year after Nicolae Ceaucescu consolidated power. The plant has been mostly fueled by low quality brown coal and oil. (Only recently it also started using cleaner-burning natural gas.)
The pipes of the city’s heat distribution network are feeling their age, too. They leak more than a quarter of the thermal energy that flows through them before it reaches customers, almost four times the norm.
But Oradea’s power sector is now moving into the jet age. The city will start using a new gas-fired turbine based on technologies originally developed for jet engines to produce lower-emissions heat and electricity for more than a quarter of its residents, or 140,000 people.
The combined electricity generation and heating unit will have a sky-high efficiency of 92 percent at the output from the power plant. This is the first installation of such jet engine-based power plant in Romania.
The technologies at the heart of Oradea’s new power plant will come from GE Aviation’s CF6 jet engines, the same engines that power Air Force One. Image credit: GE AviationIn a nod to the technology’s aviation history, GE calls the machines “aeroderivatives.” They are using the compressor, combustor and turbine from the CF6 jet engine to generate power. (The CF6 powers many Boeing 747 passenger jets, including Air Force One). The earthbound version of the engine spins a shaft attached to the generator to produce electricity.
Many cities and businesses around the world are using aeroderivatives to efficiently generate reliable heat and power. For example, in October 2012, when Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast of the U.S. and knocked out power to 2.6 million people, several aeroderivatives rode out the storm.
In 2012, MIT’s Technology Review selected aeroderivatives as a “key innovation” for “building flexible and efficient natural gas power plants,” and the technology is at the core of GE’s Distributed Power business. There is also a mobile version of the technology that can be quickly deployed anywhere and moved around on a plane and a trailer.
The company says some 2,100 GE aeroderivative gas turbines are generating electricity and keeping people warm in 73 countries, from Sakhalin Island to South Africa.
The very idea is enough to send Apple faithful and fanbois into a frenzy: an iCar! It appears Apple is working on its own electric-car project – code-named “Titan” – and is intent on giving Tesla “a run for its money”.
There is no doubt about it, cars are the next frontier of tech after smartphones, cloud and tablet computers. Every tech company is clamouring to interface with existing car companies, while some – note Google and Apple – are slyly working to reimagine the personal transport of the future.
In recent weeks evidence emerged that Apple was working on some kind of vehicle experiment as Apple-registered SUVs were spotted in California and New York festooned with cameras and LiDAR sensors, giving rise to speculation it was either working on a Street View mapping exercise for Apple Maps or even a self-driving car.
Now it looks like Apple could be working on an Apple-branded electric vehicle that would compete with Tesla. An even more tantalising vision is an electric self-driving vehicle.
The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Apple has several hundred people working on an Apple-branded electric car.
Code-named “Titan” the initial prototype resembles a minivan and the project is being spearheaded by Apple’s product design vice president Steve Zadesky, a former Ford executive.
Zadesky, it is understood, has been given permission to create a 1,000-strong team and Apple has hired the president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz R&D Johann Jungwirth and other seasoned auto industry execs to work at a top secret automotive research lab.
Apple is also believed to be locked in a poaching war with Tesla, one that Tesla is currently winning through 60pc salary increases and US$250,000 bonuses.
Tesla is currently riding on a wave of triumph, as orders for its new P85D – which comes with a beguiling new “insane mode” – skyrocket and the Elon Musk-headed company builds a gigantic mega factory to keep up with orders. It has even emerged that Musk – often compared to Steve Jobs – is pushing Tesla to create giant batteries to power homes.
Road to ruin or highway to heaven?
Tesla's new P85D saloon
But in moving towards electric cars, does Apple realise what it is taking on?
Elon Musk is often compared to Tony Stark, the Iron Man hero, but in reality he’s a gutsy entrepreneur with a boundless imagination that involves not only electric vehicles but space exploration and trains that can zoom between mega cities in a matter of minutes.
As we all know the road to success is littered with failures and Musk in bringing Tesla to where it is today has had more than a few close scrapes.
Near run things include successive last-minute funding rounds and bailouts, re-imagining the idea countless times, problems with drive trains, product recalls, to even laying off 10pc of the Tesla workforce in 2007 to get the project on the right track.
The interior of Tesla's new P85D saloon
Today the company is bringing in revenues of US$3bn and more but is still operating at a loss. But either way, it is heading in the right direction with quality cars that run on lithium-ion batteries and which are capable of ranges of 320km and capable of top speeds of 249km per hour.
Not only that, but the cars are equipped with the latest in hi-tech gadgetry including radar and sonar technology.
Tesla is beginning to dabble in autonomous driving experiences and its Model S can detect road signs, lane markings, obstacles and other vehicles and new vehicles are capable of semi-autonomous drive and parking capabilities.
Tesla’s success has been hard fought, and it is nowhere near its destination.
Imagining the future of transport
Renault's Twzy electric city car
Traditional car manufacturers like Ford, Audi, BMW, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz are all trying to imagine what the future of transport, indeed car ownership will look like in the decades to come.
Eventually, the vision is autonomous driving within just a few short years of now.
A recent conversation with the chief digital officer of Renault Patrick Hoffstetter indicated that car makers know there is an intrinsic link between smart devices and vehicles and the manufacturers are coming up with all kinds of ways of marrying the two, from apps that can unlock and start your car with your phone to cars that allow you to switch between driving and autonomous driving whenever it suits you.
“We see the car as the sixth screen,” Hoffstetter said. “Our vision of the autonomous car is not so much about a car that will drive you through the city, but more about giving you time with your infotainment. You are still driving the car but in some instances you will be able to be autonomous and retrieve your focus from pure driving in order to consume services.
“We don’t talk about autonomous driving the same way most people in the media are talking about it. We believe you should also have the capacity to go back to driving much like an airline pilot or a train driver can enjoy automated functions but switch back to manual at any time.”
Google's latest self-driving vehicle prototype
Late last year Google revealed just how advanced autonomous vehicles had become proving vehicles could not only sense other vehicles but also pedestrians possibly about to cross the road.
It is in discussions with motor giants Ford, Toyota, Daimler, Volkswagen and General Motors to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020.
In recent weeks, Google revealed its latest autonomous vehicles with built-in intelligence and sensors that take note of pedestrians likely to cross the street, for example.
Not only that but Google is also about to take on Uber at its own game with a ride-sharing app that will actually link with its self-driving cars, so with an app you can summon a robot car to take you to the shops, work or home.
Uber is also working on R&D for its own self-driving vehicles and has established a lab in Pittsburgh to build its own fleet of autonomous vehicles. The lab is staffed by 50 scientists from Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute who had a hand in building the Mars Rover.
Why Apple might be right on the money about electric cars
One of the mysterious Apple-registered minivans spotted in San Francisco and New York. Photo via Claycord.com
Apple has money. Lots of money. Having brought itself back from the brink in 1996 through deftly and correctly guessing the right trends in tech and creating quality products like the iPhone, the company recently recorded the highest profit in business history with profits of US$18bn arising from revenues of US$75bn during which it sold 74.5m iPhones and 21.4m iPad devices.
Not only that but the company is the most valuable on the planet, with a market capitalisation that has just surpassed US$700bn.
The company has even commenced the construction of a giant US$848m, 130 megawatt solar farm in California that will produce enough energy to power its new spaceship headquarters and all of its retail stores in California, equal to 60,000 homes.
So what is the next frontier for Apple?
The very notion of an Apple Car, or an iCar if you will, is a tantalising one. When Apple builds something, it takes its time to get it right. The forthcoming Apple Watch is a case in point and Apple Pay comes at least two to three years on the heels of Google Wallet, for example.
Apple’s focus on quality industrial design thanks to luminaries like Jony Ive is celebrated.
The company’s unique approach to interface design and user experience is exemplary.
So an iCar is not totally out of the question, but building one and testing it and eventually bringing a vehicle to market is something that could take years and could prove very expensive to accomplish.
But saying that don’t forget Apple dabbled briefly with an alliance with Motorola before going it alone and changing technology history forever in 2007 with the iPhone, despite never having made a phone of its own before and in turn displacing the established computing and mobile phone giants forever. The iPhone was the ultimate disruption.
Therefore Apple has the means, the know-how and the guts to try something truly disruptive with cars.
It’ll be transport Tim, but not as you know it
You could picture Del Boy and Rodney in one of these - the driverless Lutz 'Pathfinder' Pod which is being tested by the UK government
To date – with the exception of Tesla – electric cars have lacked style, even substance. Many of them look like golf carts, something Mr Bean wouldn’t look out of place in or even that Trotter’s Trading three-wheeler from Only Fools and Horses.
Self-driving vehicles haven’t fared much better in the design stakes. Google’s self-driving vehicle reminds me of Noddy’s wheels while the driverless Lutz ‘Pathfinder’ Pod is positively poxy looking.
Most of these vehicles are small, two-seater things that for now miss the potential of what autonomous driving could be all about. That’s why reading of Apple’s use of minivans sparks the imagination a little.
In the future we may not even own vehicles. Much like today with Uber and Hailo we may just have accounts or apps that we will use to summon vehicles to bring us from A to B.
Most people, freed from the need to propel themselves on long, lone journeys in saloon cars to work, will probably spend more time at home being productive or at leisure with their families.
They may travel alone if the need requires and a two-seater is fine or they may travel in groups and hence proportionately bigger and safer electrical or autonomous vehicles that can be summoned to carry groups on nights out or take entire families to and from the airport by tapping on a smartphone app would be ideal.
Perhaps Apple has seen this future and is working on a bigger and broader strategy. The Cupertino tech giant could be biting off more than it can chew, or it could be embarking on the journey towards its biggest disruption yet.
Today's Engineering Newswire looks at hovering over land and sea in the navy’s newest ship-to-shore connector, 3D printing a comfortable dress, and giving a dog the opportunity to run free for the first time.
At the Shot Show in Las Vegas, a new trend in gun manufacturing was made clear: gun sales for women and by women are on the rise. As a result, the industry is beginning to make guns that are more aesthetically appealing to women and are better suited for women's specific needs.
One of the key technology trends in the manufacturing sector at the moment is 3d printing, or additive manufacturing. It has been recognised as a potential industry game changer due to its innovative nature but also because of its lean characteristics. 3d printing has the capacity to reduce waste, save time and thus save money and in a sector, which is constantly being challenged in those areas, it’s no wonder it’s garnering a lot of attention.
Lean manufacturing best practice and 3d printing go hand-in-hand. Manufacturing Global finds out why.
1. Easier prototyping Prototyping in its traditional sense is a wasteful process and one that is prone to errors. It involves drilling, cutting and removing materials, which is also very time consuming and labour intensive. Furthermore, prototyping is often outsourced to a third party, which results in marked up prices and delays. 3d printing provides an alternative solution, which is less expensive, less wasteful and quicker. Manufacturers are also more likely to complete this process in-house.
2. Easier customisation Manufacturers constantly have to adapt to changing consumer demand and the days of one-size-fits-all are behind us. 3d printing gives manufacturing companies much greater flexibility because it does not require molding and cutting like traditional methods – 3d printing machines can also be easily reconfigured so each product on the same production line can vary as needed. The ability to customize the production line allows manufacturers to diversify and meet consumer demand, while running a leaner operation.
3. Greater creativity and efficiency 3d manufacturing allows for greater flexibility and thus creativity. Due to the fact it is cheaper to ‘take risks’ and create new products, manufacturers are experimenting more, which in-turn leads to new processes, products and greater levels of innovation. 3d printing gives manufacturers creative freedom to design while still in the concept stage, before a prototype even enters the equation. As a result, they are wasting less time with trial and error, which is traditionally associated with prototyping. They also reduce the amount of materials that fall by the wayside, and they make much more efficient use of their time.
4. Improved consistency Once properly programmed, a 3d printer can create a consistent product time and time again. Not only does this improve product quality, but will also ensure complete efficiency along the production line.
5. Reduced lead times Inflated lead times are anything but lean. Wasted time often results in corner cutting further down the production line, which in-turn leads to wasteful mistakes. Due to the consistent nature of 3d printing, manufacturers know what to expect and can set more accurate and reduced lead times.
6. Lower prices Manufacturing firms are constantly under pressure to produce goods at lower prices. 3d printing makes this possible owing to a reduction in the number of steps required to see a product from concept to production. 3d printing also reduces the amount of material needed. Those savings of both time and material can be passed onto the end consumer.
The debate between direct current and alternating current isn’t confined to the pages of history, and between the renowned thinkers, Einstein and Tesla. The debate is still prevalent on the plant floor when the choice whether to utilize an alternating-current (AC) drive or a direct-current (DC) drive arises. In an effort to more clearly highlight the differences between the two, here is a breakdown of some of the advantages and disadvantages of AC and DC drives.
Alternating-Current (AC)
There are a few significant benefits to the use of AC drives. First, AC drives require very little maintenance and upkeep. One reason for this, is that AC drives do not have brushes, so there are never issues with motor brush wear and the inconvenience and cost of replacements, as well as the resulting downtime. They are also typically a more cost effective motor option, due to their size and more simplistic design.
The speed of operations is important to consider when choosing a motor. The AC drives are particularly effective when working with higher speeds, such as 2500 rpm or higher. The AC drive also provides more controlled acceleration, as well as allowing for adjustable operation speeds and adjustable torque.
The AC drive is not without disadvantages, however. The most significant being difficult speed control and control complexity. An AC drive is not able to operate at speeds less than one third of the base speed. Therefore, the speed necessary for a motor is an extremely important factor to consider when deciding between an AC drive and a DC drive.
Direct-Current (DC)
Some of the most notable advantages to using a DC drive is high starting torque, control over a wide range of speeds, quick starting, stopping, acceleration, and reversing, as well as accurate step-less speed with constant torque.
Also according to Joliet Technologies, “DC regenerative drives are available for applications requiring continuous regeneration for overhauling loads. AC drives with this capability would be more complex and expensive.”
When choosing a DC drive there are also some important potential pitfalls to consider. DC drives are often high maintenance, requiring care for various parts such as the mechanical interface, the commutator and the brushes. They are also particularly vulnerable to dust, as well as physically more cumbersome – thus, making the location of the motor a very important factor to consider. Location is also extremely important in regards to DC drives because some areas could prove quite dangerous. For example, DC drives cannot operate in explosive hazardous conditions because of the risk of sparking around the brush.
Industrial motors are crucial for many manufacturing enterprises, so selecting the right drive for unique and specific applications is extremely important. The two common options are AC drives and DC drives, however, it is important to distinguish between them. AC drives and DC drives are very different and better suited to different applications.
Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) – Beyond Meat, maker of plant-based "chicken" and "ground beef," will aim for the heart of the carnivorous market with a soy-protein-based hamburger patty called the Beast Burger. Beyond Meat Founder Ethan Brown says their meatless products taste and feel like the real thing and they believe they can revolutionize the way we eat. Bloomberg's Sam Grobart reports for "The Year Ahead: 2015"
NEW YORK (AP) — Those low gas prices on station signs aren't going away soon, the government says.
In a dramatic shift from previous forecasts, the Energy Department predicted Wednesday that the average price of gasoline in the U.S. will be below $2.94 a gallon in 2015. That a 44-cent drop from an outlook issued just a month ago.
If the sharply lower estimate holds true, U.S. consumers will save $61 billion on gas compared with this year.
Rising oil production, particularly in the U.S., and weak spots in the global economy have led to a sharp reduction in oil prices over the past four months. Not seeing much of a change ahead, the government cut its forecast for global oil prices next year by $18 a barrel to $83.
As a result, U.S. drivers will pay on average 45 cents less for a gallon of gas next year compared to this year. Based on expected gasoline consumption, that's a savings of $60.9 billion.
That may not seem like a lot in the context of a $17.5 trillion U.S. economy, but economists say it matters because it immediately gives consumers more money to spend on other things. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of the U.S. economy.
"It would be a reversal of the trend over the last few years where consumers can't stretch a dollar far enough," says Tim Quinlan, an economist at Wells Fargo.
Quinlan says the price of gasoline is one of the three big drivers of consumer confidence, along with stock prices and the unemployment rate. "Lately all three are moving in the right direction," he says.
After falling for 48 straight days, the average gasoline price in the U.S. is $2.92, the lowest since December of 2010, according to AAA. That was also the last full year when the average came in below $3 a gallon.
While it's not unusual for gas to hit its low for the year in late fall, the government is now saying that these prices aren't just a low point, but instead will be the norm next year.
Adam Sieminski, administrator of the Energy Information Administration, the Energy Department's statistical arm, attributed the lower pump prices to lower prices for crude oil and weak fuel demand. The EIA did hedge its bet on lower oil prices though, as it cautioned that OPEC could cut production in order to push prices higher.
The global price of crude has fallen by $35 a barrel, or 30 percent, since late June and closed at $80.38 Wednesday.
Oil production around the world has been strong in recent years. A boom in the U.S. has pushed domestic production up 70 percent since 2008. At the same time, demand for fuels is growing more slowly than expected in Asia and Europe because of weak economic growth.
The U.S. economy is faring relatively well, but more fuel-efficient cars and changing driving habits are keeping domestic gasoline demand low. The EIA expects demand to fall slightly next year despite the lower pump prices.
The EIA also slightly lowered its prediction for growth in U.S. oil production because lower prices will force some drillers to cut back. Production is expected to reach 9.4 million barrels a day in 2015, down from a previous estimate of 9.5 million barrels per day. Still, that would be an increase of 4 percent over this year and the highest domestic crude production since 1972.
