Designing a soft robot to move organically – to bend like a finger or twist like a wrist – has always been a process of trial and error. Now, researchers have developed a method to automatically design soft actuators based on the desired movement.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219161606.htm
Researchers have announced a transformative development in the race to produce batteries that are at once safe, powerful, and affordable.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219151842.htm
Scientists have discovered the secret behind the toughness of deer antlers and how they can resist breaking during fights.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219134407.htm
A flexible transparent conductor free of reflection and scattering has been developed by researchers.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219134431.htm
New composite technology will see enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity of conventional composite materials that has previously been lacking, say scientists. Novel functionality including sensors, energy harvesting lighting and communication antennae will now be integrated into the structure of the composite material. The new technology will have wide-reaching benefits in the aerospace industry, they say.
from Engineering and Construction News – ScienceDaily https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161219085025.htm
JCB shop floor employees have voted to accept a 2.2% pay rise for 2017 as part of a newly-agreed three-year wage deal.
The agreement on pay was reached following a vote by GMBunion members and will see around 3,200 shop floor worker receive the rise from January.
The rise is linked to November’s Retail Price Index, which was announced on Tuesday last week. Increases in 2018 and 2019 will also be linked to those years’ November RPI figures.
The new deal affects employees at JCB’s plants in Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle, Rugeley, Wrexham and Foston, Derbyshire.
Chief executive officer Graeme Macdonald said: “I am pleased an agreement has been reached on a long-term pay deal for JCB’s UK shop floor employees. It gives us the stability we need to plan for 2017 and beyond as we seek to grow the business in the next few years.”
GMB Works Convenor Gordon Richardson said: “2016 has been a year of steady growth tinged with a modicum of uncertainty. Hopefully 2017 onwards will see increases in the volume of machines manufactured, generating more job security for GMB members.”
BAM Design and BAM Construction have been appointed to design and build the £25m Nishkam School in West London.
The all-through school with a sixth form will provide places for 1,400 pupils and be set over two and three storeys with four wings radiating from a central hub.
The works include a four-court sports hall, two dining halls, main assembly hall, and a central faith area with an ETFE dome.
An extensive solar array on the roof will allow it to meet the requirements of the London Plan. There will be electric charging points in the car park, and the football field will be used for storm attenuation.
BAM Design has provided the concept architecture mechanical, structural, and fittings expertise.
Mick Kelly, BAM’s Construction Director, said: “We know that we’ll need to build this scheme considerately and sensitively and that success hinges on the quality of our partnership with the Nishkam team.”
