Move over C-3PO, here comes Snakebot
Robots that look like snakes could be used for search and rescue operations of the future. Daniel Barrett, a robotics engineering student from UNSW working at CSIRO during the university break, was one of 72 vacation students participating in CSIRO's Big Day In.
Mr Barrett's project, part of a CSIRO collaboration with Doshisha University in Japan, has taught him that C-3PO, Marvin the Paranoid Android and the robot from 'Lost in Space' wouldn't work well in real life.
"They were developed for TV and movies to cater for what people thought a robot should be like," he says. "But Snakebot is modular, so it's less likely than C-3PO to trip over rubble. And unlike Marvin, Snakebot can fix itself if it needs repairs. Snakebot is a currently only a computer simulation but, when fully tested, a prototype may follow."
The Big Day In, which was held in Sydney on 14 and 15 February, is the culmination of 2 to 3-months' work by top students on real research projects with CSIRO experts in maths and stats, IT, materials science, manufacturing and physics. During the two days, students from CSIRO and the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute presented their findings and heard about science careers.
Background information on the vacation research program can be found at: www.csiro.au/resources/200708VacationProjects.html
More ideas from the Big Day In, will be in next week’s column. Images and Snakebot animation available at: www.scienceimage.csiro.au/mediarelease/mr08-26.html
Stop fouling my membranes!
"New discoveries in microbiology and nanotechnology applied to reverse osmosis (RO) membrane technology will allow increased energy efficiency of desalination and water recycling plants around the world", said Dr David Garman, Environmental Biotechnology Cooperative Research Centre (EBCRC) executive director and the president of the International Water Association.
"Membrane fouling is one of the greatest contributors to increased energy usage and cost in the desalination and water recycling processes. Reducing fouling will significantly decrease operating costs through reduced energy consumption, a reduction in chemical usage and an overall reduction in a plant's environmental footprint."
Bacterial slime known as a biofilm is the main contributor to fouling in membrane systems and causes corrosion of pipes. EBCRC has discovered an effective natural cell signalling system that initiates dispersal in established biofilms and prevents the formation of new biofilms.
Using knowledge of cell-to-cell signalling within biofilms, EBCRC is developing a range of biofilm control formulations that will stimulate natural bacterial dispersal events. The technology is applicable across many industries including pipe and membrane fouling control, cleaning and disinfection solutions, fresh produce washing, medical implant coatings and for use in infection control.
Story from www.sustainabilitymatters.com.au
More on the CRC from www.ebcrc.com.au
Coal drying to harvest water and cut CO2??
A coal drying technology developed by a Victorian company that halves the moisture content of brown coal is creating cleaner energy, with the water harvested during the process reused for power generation. The company is hoping to export the technology to markets in northern Europe and Asia.
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The coal drying process developed by Environmental Clean Technologies (ECT) at the Maddingley Brown Coal mine in Bacchus Marsh, mid-way between Melbourne and Ballarat, generates 1kL of water and one tonne of 'Coldry pellets' for every two tonnes of brown coal. The technology changes the molecular structure of raw, porous brown coal into a dense, dry hard pellet with the energy equivalent of high-grade black coal.
"The Coldry pellet can reduce emissions by around 10 per cent in existing brown coal generators. When deployed in a modernised brown coal boiler, the emission reduction may rise to around 40 per cent," said Victorian Resources Minister Peter Batchelor, when he visited the site.
"ECT's innovative process improves the thermal efficiency of Victorian brown coal to create a product comparable with black coal from Queensland and NSW, reducing emissions and costs."
Removing this water improves the environmental performance of brown coal in generating electricity. The water can be returned to the generation process or returned to the environment for other purposes. The development of the process has been supported by a $238,000 grant from the Victorian Government.
Story from www.EnvironmentalManagementNews.net
Reflection on a leader’s legacy?
“Great leaders—whether they lead entire organizations or groups within them—leave a legacy that transcends them and cements their contribution to the growth and transformation of their organization. How they close out their tenure has a lasting impact. As their term of influence grows shorter, leaders must channel their energy, hopes, and fears toward helping their successor and the team they leave behind. This will help the next leader be ready on Day 1” says Steve Krupp.
Steve Krupp leads the executive talent management business for Oliver Wyman – Delta Organization and Leadership in the USA, where he advises companies on leadership strategy and transitions. Steve is the author of "Talent at the Top: The CEO's Focus".
Story from ASQ (American Society for Quality) weekly. www.asq.org
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