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27 Dec 2014

Robotic arm controlled by thoughts

The sight of a paralysed woman controlling a robotic arm, using just her thoughts, was enough to dominate the headlines in 2012.

At the time, experts in the field said it was an “unprecedented performance” and a “remarkable achievement”.

Two years on, the same woman has taken another significant step towards restoring her natural movements by controlling the arm with a range of complex hand movements.

Jan Scheuermann, who has longstanding quadriplegia, is now able to give high fives and thumbs up.

The plaudits go to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, who have increased the manoeuvrability of the robotic arm from seven to 10 dimensions.

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12 Dec 2014

Developments in Driverless Cars

When plans for the state-of-the-art Driverless Cars were first mooted, there were plenty of raised eyebrows and an equal number of genuine sceptics. However, the plans went ahead with experts claiming that driverless car would be an important step for road safety.

They could take over driving on roads, just like autopilots take control of airplanes, while the pilot often has nothing to do but just sit and wait for landing. There would be fewer car accidents and road fatalities.

Experts also believe cars that drive themselves would represent the most significant transformation in road travel since the introduction of the internal combustion engine.

Five years on and four sites in England have been earmarked for trials of driverless cars. The process will begin in the New Year. The trials have been made possible with £10m of funding from Innovate UK, the government’s Technology Strategy Board.

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26 Sep 2014

What’s the future for electric cars?

Years ago when we first started talking about electric cars, we all envisaged small bubble cars that could be plugged in at your front door. While we may not be able to plug in at the front door the engineering developments in electric cars have come a long way.

This year motor sport saw the introduction of the Formula E series which was watched by thousands and attracted the well recognised racing names of Prost, Senna, Andretti Piquet and Trulli.

Obviously you can’t compare it to F1; the sound, speeds and handling are very different but FE is only just beginning and who knows where it will be in 10 years?

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19 Sep 2014

Robots taking the next step

We all know that Robots have replaced humans in performing those repetitive and dangerous tasks which humans prefer not to do.

It might be in outer space or at the bottom of the sea where humans could not survive the extreme environments. But in many other areas of industry, robots are developing almost out of all recognition.

Not only are robots here to stay, but with the ever-evolving world of technology in full swing, there have been a number of key developments in recent times. Many of those developments are taking place in the United States. However, the UK’s Robotic and Autonomous Systems are gathering pace too.

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12 Sep 2014

Tidal energy is the future in Wales

The benefits of using various natural energy resources, like tidal energy, cannot be overemphasized.

Whilst burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil for creating electricity has led to global warming, the use of natural energy resources will not only ensure that air pollution is reduced, but will lead to a cutting of costs.

The latest development in natural energy resources comes off the coast of south Wales where the first underwater turbine in Ramsey Sound will run for a 12-month trial.

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28 Aug 2014

3D printing to help aerospace industry

Most engineers will tell you that 3D printing represents another significant development within the manufacturing industry.

How does 3D printing work?

Rather than making something by sticking lots of small parts together, a 3D printer can build complicated items in one piece. The printers use a variety of very different types of additive manufacturing technologies but they all share one core thing in common. They create a three dimensional object by building it layer by layer.

3D printing technology could now offer a new way for engineers to think about how to join and fasten components and the technology is moving away from its prototyping roots. Aerospace engineers are now hoping to prove its potential, one component at a time. Some experts claim 3D printing could even create new capabilities in the fasteners and joints that hold together an aircraft.

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7 Aug 2014

Engineering genius – driverless cars

Whatever next? First, they put a man on the moon, then came the Internet and now, driverless cars could be on the UK’s public roads by next year!

Since the story broke, most of us have either commented on or thought about the concept and how it will or might not, work.

Of course, there are significant legal barriers which must be overcome before this can happen. However, once those hurdles have been negotiated, we should all brace ourselves for the latest innovation in the automobile industry.

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30 Jul 2014

McLaren’s GT3 is a design success

PRV engineering has always been intrigued and excited by McLaren’s latest developments, new models and design improvements.

Little wonder, therefore, that here at PRV we were all intrigued, once again, to see McLaren under the spotlight with the unveiling of the new McLaren 650S GT3 at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The latest generation track race car is a design success story and has been built to contest the GT3 championships across the globe from the 2015 season. And despite having significant shoes to fill, McLaren GT’s top designers have made sure that it’s built to achieve exactly that.

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28 Jul 2014

Scammers – The dark side of the web!!

Scammers try every avenue available to obtain money from people and companies. Today we experienced the dark side of the web first hand.

In this morning’s post was a letter returned by the Royal Mail as address unknown, it was addressed to one of our customers, but obviously at an incorrect address. When my FD opened it she was stunned by the contents. It was fake letter that looked as though it was from us informing our customer that we had changed our bank details and that all future payments should go to this new account. It was even signed by someone pretending to be the company secretary.

We have obviously informed all our customers that this is a scam along with the police in both Cardiff and London who are investigating the origin.

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22 Jul 2014

Solar powered aircraft ready for flight

Here at PRV Engineering we have always kept a keen eye on developments in the aerospace industry.

Therefore, it was with great interest when recently, we read about the first attempt to circumnavigate the globe in an aircraft powered entirely by the sun.
After 12 years of research and testing, the Swiss engineering team Solar Impulse has unveiled the craft that will undertake the mission, next year.
Having already demonstrated the ability to fly non-stop for 24 hours in their first solar powered aircraft, engineer Andre Borschberg and psychiatrist Bertrand Piccard have unveiled a second, more efficient single-seater craft that will enable them to take turns flying for up to five consecutive days and nights at a time — including flights over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

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