Search

This article reports that a decade ago, vision boosters predicted a market that would top 1 billion dollar by 1990. When the books are closed, the actual figure is expected to be a little less than half of that-about $415 million, according to industry analysts-but a 7% growth for each of the last two years still represents a technology on a solid growth pattern. The names in todays vision marketplace are as diverse as the uses machine vision is finding. Leading the list are such pillars of the automation world as Allen-Bradley, which can offer not only vision products, but other pieces of the automation puzzle. The steel cutting application has direct profit implications for steel manufacturers. INSETS: MACHINE VISION SYSTEM;ON-SIGHT SYSTEM.

The article discusses the designs of Chicane automobile developed by Bruce Emmons, a Detroit engineer. Chicane is the dream car of Emmons and envisions it as a club racer. It is based on number of advance concepts that will reduce weight, increase stability and lower the cost of manufacture. The Chicane will weigh in at about 1,500 pounds. The car has no doors and the radio and air conditioning will also be eliminated. Body panels will be constructed of thermoplastic sheets made in a vacuum molding process.

The article discusses the field of laser welding. A research engineer at the Edison Welding Institute Jim Hurley states that the laser welding has become an attractive to industries outside the traditional small-scale electronic firms. A newer development of the laser beam is the appearance of fiber-optic delivery. Lasers allow automakers to piece together close shapes and save money in scrap. INSETS: Inverters: More power, smaller size;Space-age cooling for better welds.

The article focuses on largest and most lucrative peacetime military buildups, which is making defense contractors worry. The breakup of the Eastern bloc and warmer relations with the Soviet Union are spurring calls for decreased defense spending. Those companies that can are looking for other ways to support the bottom line, and that's not always an easy task. A company that makes battleships or jet fighters has limited options in finding civilian markets. For other companies, being big and firmly entrenched in the military-industrial complex is a definite drawback. Despite the difficulties, even these firms are beginning to shift. A number of firms have succeeded in taking military technologies and finding peacetime uses, some of them lifesaving.

Discusses several engineering strategies that will help companies in the U.S. to be competitive in the 1990s. Computer-aided engineering tools; Automation of the design process; Computerized cost control.

The article profiles William E. Layman, a mechanical engineer who has worked on interplanetary spacecraft since 1961 and recipient of the Special Achievement Award. Layman is a mechanical engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, wherein he has worked on nearly every spacecraft that has gone on study to the planets of the solar system. INSETS: Mission: Galileo;Mission: Voyager;Coming Attractions.

Features new fastening solutions developed by corporations from various industries in the U.S. Applications of the Macintosh IIcx Central Processing Unit developed by Apple Computer Inc.; Concept of the Mitek Anchor System developed by Mitek Surgical Products Inc.; Functions of the new pneumatic artificial heart system developed by Cardiac System Inc.

Discuses why personal computer and finite element analysis (FEA) make good partners. Usability of FEA; Approaches of testing FEA; Factors on the growing affection for PC-based analysis.

Reports on the water supply options of manufacturers in the United States. Use of artificial intelligence and expert systems by Lone Star Steel. to help other manufacturers keep track of their own process water; Excellence of the wastewater treatment facility of GE Plastics; Efficiency of the recirculating process at Calgon Corp. INSET: G E PLASTICS WASTE HANDLING OPERATION.

This article examines the concept of paperless office in future. Barring any breath taking revolutionary invention which is by its very nature impossible to predict the office of the future will hinge on three concepts: imaging, communication, and integration. According to Ron Arenson, senior manager of applications marketing of Wang Laboratories Inc. its incredible when one thinks that 90 to 95% of data processing budgets are dedicated to managing only about 5% of the information in the office. The rest is still on paper. The next office automation task is to get that other 95% into a usable form in a data base. INSETS: Equipment to fit the network;High-volume image system for engineers;The birth of the electronic desk.

This article examines how four manufacturers, producing products as diverse as apple juice and jet fighters found ways to cut costs and increase productivity through piecemeal automation. The goal of a push-button factory is no longer a dream, but for many manufacturers it's not quite a reality, either. Converting an entire factory is possible only for those who are building from the ground up or who have a lot of money to spend. For others, the path to automation involves pieces of the organization: Automating individual cells, workstations, and production lines without creating the "islands of automation" that have plagued industry in the past.

Focuses on the role of GRAFCET, a programming language developed by French engineers, in Tomatoes of Ruskin. Objectives of the program; Strength and weaknesses of the program; Benefits for the company.

Features the CalComp Inc., producer of digital imaging plotter in Anaheim, California. Mission statement; Product developments; History of the company.

Focuses on the growing trend in designer steel in the U.S. Advantages offered by cold-drawn electric resistance welded tubing to designers and manufacturers; Popularity of special grade tailored steels in the market; Improvements in non-destructive testing for tubings. INSET: How steel becomes specialty tubing.

As automobiles continue to become electronic marvels, service technicians have to pedal faster to keep up. Fortunately, automakers are providing computers to help them. The most extensive existing diagnostic tool, the General Motors Computerized Automotive Maintenance System (GM-CAMS), has been available to dealers since 1986. GM-CAMS integrates a technical terminal in the service bay, a communications network over dedicated phone lines, and a mainframe in the data center in Detroit, Michigan. One function of the technical terminal is to provide up-to-date service information, such as technical bulletins and parts specifications for the technician.

Reports that increasing world competition is forcing the United States engineering industry to find novel ways to excel in the expanding global economy. Concurrent engineering involves a radical change in the way companies develop products and new business; Shorter lead times; Better quality; Improved customer satisfaction; Increased sales.

The article presents information related to new technological innovations. Bell Communication Research has developed an experimental software that computerizes the entire form process, from selecting the form, filling it out, routing it for approval to signing it. This system, called SuperForms, can selectively unveil sections of a form to each reviewer, showing them what they need to know. This enhances security and privacy. Signing off on a form is accomplished with a "smart card" that provides half of a cryptographic key that marks the form with a forgery-proof digital signature.

This article presents information related to latest developments in the field of science and technology. A non-nuclear, non-polluting power plant is one step closer to reality. The Department of Energy is moving ahead with full-size molten carbonate fuel cell stacks, expected to produce up to 2 MW of power. If lasers can become smaller and more efficient, they could revolutionize computer technology by providing a link between electronic components, now limited by the speed of modern electronics. Engineers at Bell Communications Research have made an important breakthrough with a working prototype of a "quantum wire" laser, one of the smallest devices ever.

Reports on developments involving industries in the field of engineering. Plan of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to investigate a system that will allow tires to inflate and deflate to match road conditions; Examination of an airline satellite navigation system by Honeywell and Northwest Airlines; Introduction of a new accelerator construction project at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois.

Reports developments related to technology and engineering design in the U.S. Indication of the study conducted by the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory that landfill decomposition could be speeded up by adding water to the refuse; Development of a computer-based system by International Business Machines Corp. that permits hearing people to communicate over the phone with the deaf; Advancement of a photonic integrated circuit with a capacity of 2K bits from AT&T Bell Labs.

Presents updates related to engineering in the U.S. Launch of a sensor by Allen-Bradley Co. Inc.; Release of Eye Relief, a word processing program designed for people with poor vision, from Skisoft Publishing Corp.; Development of a military night vision equipment by the Army.

Reports developments related to industrial engineering in the U.S. as of July 1989. Installation of computer network by Agilis Corp. Features of Onboard Structural Computer, a system that provides information about the airframe of Lockhead Electronics Co.; Introduces a family of hand-held modular workstations from Agilis Corp.; Details of an injection technique to strengthen poles.

Reports global developments in the engineering industry as of July 23, 1989. Establishment of series of plastic waster recycling facilities across the U.S. country; Initiative of three consortiums in research for superconductivity; Ideas of Japan's national television network in starting to transmit daily programming in an high definition television format.

Presents news briefs regarding late developments that shape engineering. Development of a drill by Allen Bradley's Rockwell Industrial Tools in Columbia, South Carolina; Delivery of a sophisticated computer system to the Army network by the Batelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio; Development of a neutral network robot by Neurogen Inc. in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Reports developments related to technology in the U.S. as of May 1989. Development of combustor for gas turbine engines from Turbo Energy Systems; Introduction of Advanced Compatible Television from National Broadcasting Co. Inc..; Plan of National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop a radio astronomy observatory.

Reports developments related to engineering in the U.S. Display of the Pyramid Integrator Modular system of Allen Bradley Co. at the International Programmable Controllers (IPC) show; Introduction of series 90 line of computer software offerings by GE Fanuc Automation at IPC; Features of the industrial computers launched by International Business Machines Corp. at the show.

Reports developments related to engineering in the U.S. Significance of the electronic ignition key that will send a unique signal to the engine control system, developed by GTE Laboratories; Features of the new copier from Xerox Corp.; Collaboration of steel companies with the U.S. Department of Energy and researchers at Carnegie-Mellon University to find a new way to make steel.

Reports on developments related to design engineering in the United States. Impact of the collision detector rule on airliners; Improvement of design time by application-specific integrated circuits; Recycling of polystyrene food containers.

Looks at late developments that shape engineering. Mission which aims to deploy a class of radar imaging satellite that can take accurate pictures despite adverse weather conditions; Mileage Validation Inc.'s Odometer Data Computer; University of Arizona researcher Ben Sternberg's use of electromagnetic imaging to see through soil and rock and pinpoint and track hazardous material; Fujitsu's 4-Gflop supercomputer.

Reports on developments in the engineering industry in the U.S. as of December 1988. Introduction of new models of laptop computers by several companies; Statement of W. J. Warwick, president of AT&T Microelectronics, regarding the importance of partnership in businesses; Launch of the SpaceGraph, a display that shows drawings in space rather than on a flat screen, manufactured by BBN Laboratories.

Reports on developments in engineering as of November 1988. Visions of the UNIX future; Way to make natural gas competitive with high-carbon fuels in industrial processes; Career trends in the engineering sector; Advantages of in-car breath analysis machines.

The article presents news about the latest developments in the field of engineering, as of July 11, 1988. The treatment for muscle strain and pain may soon be going hi-tech. Pacc Medical Corp. is testing an electric bandage with no outside power source, that it says can relieve aches and pains in less time than conventional therapies. One of the tears of security experts is that plastic weapons now appearing on the scene will escape detection by airport and other scanning systems. However, Heimann Systems Co., Iselin, New Jersey, has developed a scanner that can detect not only plastic pistols, but also other soft objects, even when obscured with a metal plate.

If you want to blend anonymously into the roadscape, then the new Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme probably isn't the car for you. Oldsmobile made a bold decision to redesign the car around its familiar nameplate, and the boldness paid off. The most striking thing about the new offering introduced in the spring, is the body styling. Hush glass, subdued "C" pillars, and flush-mounted door handles in the "B" pillars, all contribute to a new aerodynamic look. Scaled down ever so slightly from the 1987 version, the new Cutlass Supreme also offers improved fuel economy. INSET: WHAT OTHERS SAY.

The article presents information on some latest developments from the field of automobile industry. The possibility of using a two-stroke engine for automobiles is causing a stir among manufacturers. At the center of all the attention is a two-stroke version from an Australian company. Developed by Orbital Engine Corp. Ltd., the power plant offers good fuel economy, low emissions, improved low-speed operations, low cranking torques, and less-costly pollution equipments. Problems with the stability of the Suzuki Samurai may have come from upgrading the engine without changing the basic design of the vehicle. That's the contention of a Japanese consumer advocate, who is also a mechanical engineering specialist. Samurai has come under fire from the Consumers Union in the U.S. for a rollover problem: company officials have denied the allegations.

The good news is that the Cadillac automobile has great plans for the Allanté's future. The bad news is that currently things aren't going as well as expected. With the 1987 model year, Cadillac entered the Allanté in the luxury sport model sweepstakes, trying to edge out the Mercedes-Benz SL. Even allowing for new car blues, sales have been disappointing. In fact, Cadillac announced earlier this year it was cutting back production. Warren Hirschfield, the former chief engineer at Cadillac, still thinks the car "will gradually become a success." He pointed to several improvements, such as replacing the 4.1-liter engine with a 4.5-liter version in the 1989 model. A major sticking point, Hirschfield says, was the price. Planning to come in just under the Mercedes SL price tag, Cadillac may have been a "little aggressive in its pricing," he admits.

The article focuses on the development of the seismic monitoring system Deployable Seismic Verification System at Sandria National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The system is use to detect nuclear tests due to its sensitivity to high-frequency pressure waves. It relies on horizontal and vertical sensors. The sensors measure signals between 0.01 and 50 Hertz.

The article provides information on the trade show "AUTOFACT," which was held in Detroit in November. The article features the latest from companies specializing in design, analysis, and control. It also presents a sampling of some of the packages announced or demonstrated at the recent show. It states that MARC/Linear, a linear finite element package from MARC Analysis Research Corp. provides techniques to solve linear, static, dynamic, buckling, and heat transfer problem. The article informs that MacNeal Schwendler Corp.'s MSC/pal 2, which has been offered on DOS based computers for the past five years, now has a version that runs on 80386 and 80486-based platforms.

Features Ami Professional, a powerful word processing software package, developed by Samna Corp. in the U.S. Product features; Design of the software; Price offering.

Highlights the products launched at the 1990 Autofact trade show in Detroit, Michigan. Crystal-Eyes stereo glasses for personal computers from StereoGraphics Corp.; NC and OMNISOLIDS modules from Manufacturing and Consulting Services Inc.; PROFESSIONAL CADAM Interactive Design Release 2 from CADAM Inc.

Reports on the development of Superconducting Flux Flow Transistor by the Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Features of the transistor; Product design and specifications; Applications of the transistor.

Provides information on the 1992 America's Cup in San Diego, California. Inclusion of computer contest in the program of the event; Participation of Computervision Corp. in the computer contest; Sponsorship of the event by Computervision.

Reports on the formation of DuPont Aerospace Co. by E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. in the U.S. Reason for the establishment of DuPont Aearospace; Mission statement of the newly established company; Comments of William McCabe, director of Dupont Aerospace Co., regarding the business venture.

Reports on the announcement of Charles M. Vest, president of the Michigan Institute of Technology, on the changes in the engineering curriculum of the school. Reason for the alteration of the curriculum; Goals of Vest in terms of educational standards; Assertion of Vest that the educational system is broken and need to be fixed.

Reports on the formation of the Manufacturing Practice Group by Lotus Development Corp. in the U.S. Mission statement of Manufacturing Practice; Announcement of the formation of Manufacturing Practice at the 1990 AUTOFACT show; Comments of Nick Losole, director of the group, on the implementation of production and process monitoring systems.

Reports on the fabrication of an experimental transistor made from thin-film diamond by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University. Product features; Design of the transistor; Methods used in the creation of the device.

Reports on the joint collaborative study between Ernst & Young Inc. and the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation of University of Michigan on the future of the automobile industry in the U.S. Number of respondents included in the survey; Scope and coverage; Schedule on the start of data collection.

Reports on the launch of CAD Conferencing, a CAD networking solution, at the 1990 AUTOFACT show by Intergraph Corp. in Detroit, Michigan. System features; Advantages of the system; Inclusion of a telecommunications card in the DataBeam CAD Conferencing Module.

The article discusses the development of a software program at Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico. The program uses an expert system to direct a CAD/CAM package to develop numerical control tool paths. The program is called Milling Assistant and it works with ANVIL-5000 from Manufacturing and Consulting Services Inc. Each feature of the system is processed by a geometry analysis program,an expert system and an action program.

The article reports that manufacturing processes for the electronics industry is the initial focus of a Manufacturing Resource Center at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Georgia. Four members of the effort are Motorola, International Business Machines, Digital Equipment Corp. and Ford Motor Company's Electronics Division. The institute is developing and equipping a laboratory and office building to house the center.

The article discusses the forecast that enhanced facsimile products incorporated into local area networks will take care of sending and receiving faxes for all users of the local area network. The forecast comes from the International Resource Development Inc. consulting firm in Connecticut. The worldwide fax boom will spawn a host of fax-related products and the market for these products is expected to rise. The leading supplier at present is 3M Co. of Minneapolis.