Image Credit: Sikorsky/Boeing
When it comes to military aircraft, vehicles and other emerging technologies, the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant is the future. This next-generation military helicopter shows just what today’s technologies and advanced systems are capable of. After years of research and development, Sikorsky and Boeing have revealed their master plan for the latest in military aircraft.
Another year has gone by and what better way to end it off than reflecting on the last 12 months. As a specialist engineering company, we work with a wide array of industries and our experience has enabled us to deliver interesting, relevant and informative articles. From engineering and manufacturing to new technologies, defence updates and future combat vehicles, we publish new content every week. After all, you can’t grow unless you learn something new every day.
With Christmas behind us and the focus shifting to the New Year, let’s take a look at some of the PRV Engineering blog highlights from 2018. Most articles focus on PRV Engineering services but we also added a few very interesting developments from around the world.
Img credit: sputniknews.com
The defence sector is forever changing and Russia’s new Peresvet laser weapon gives a terrifying glimpse into the future. Russia announced the launch amidst some controversy after the US threatened to withdraw from an arms treaty between the two military powerhouses. Could this be a coincidence? Many people think not. Chances are that it probably fits perfectly with Russia’s plans as tensions between the two countries have increased in recent times.
President Vladimir Putin already promised to deploy several high-tech weapons in the near future when he made his annual address to Russia’s Federal Assembly in March 2018. He wants the West to know that Russia is developing new weapons and should be considered a real force if a New Cold War erupts.
While there is no magic trick to change common chemical elements into rare and valuable ones, electroplating is as close as it gets. Electroplating is similar to electrolysis which is the opposite of the process batteries use to produce electric currents. The earliest form, which became the modern electroplating process, occurred in the early 19th century.
The development of bigger electric generators meant higher currents which drastically improved the process. Advancements in industrial and manufacturing practices over the past two centuries have changed this process considerably.
While some of you may already know what electroplating is, what about how it works?
Credit: New Atlas
We can never get tired of reading and writing about engineering developments, emerging technologies and the flying taxi. This year has already seen a few interesting concepts from Uber signing with NASA to the CityHawk and Pal-V. And now it is time for Audi to step up to the plate.
The German automaker is living up to their name with the new Pop.Up Next, a hybrid quadcopter and compact two-seater electric vehicle. This is certainly an ambitious attempt but one that seems well worth it considering their partnership with Italdesign and Airbus.
In modern-day manufacturing, technology is forever advancing and it is essential to keep up with the all latest trends. Throughout our history, we have seen a number of methods implemented to manufacture custom parts. Today, CNC machining and 3D printing are seen as two of the most widely used manufacturing processes.
With the rapid growth of 3D printing technology, some believe it has become the first choice for many industries. On the other hand, CNC machining is still considered a reliable standard and there really aren’t many things that don’t involve CNC machined parts somewhere in the process.
Looking at the available technologies and industries utilising CNC machining and 3D printing, how do they work? Which industries prefer one or the other and how do they compare?
Military vehicles and robots date as far back as WWI with small, remote-controlled and tracked, disposable explosive devices. WWII saw even more innovative designs with the Soviet Army developing full-sized remote-controlled tanks between 1930 and 1940. Even the Brits had a hand in remote controlled tanks with their Matilda MK2 Infantry tank, the ‘Black Prince’.
While nothing compares to modern day military vehicles and autonomous systems, our history is filled with incredible engineering feats. With so many different autonomous military vehicles and systems, we’re only focusing on a few of the standouts.
As a manufacturer, you’re likely looking to save costs in several areas but none more so than fabrication. And this refers to everything from materials and labour to the shipping of fabricated components.
Everything boils down to identifying cost saving ideas that can really help improve your bottom line for optimal business growth. However, rushing into a decision and making big changes in a specific area may not be the right approach. Instead, implement several smaller methods to cut costs as it will ultimately lead to significant savings on your fabrication project.
While it is challenging to effectively reduce the cost of a fabrication project, it certainly is possible. The most important question here is, “How to minimise cost without sacrificing quality?”
The world of construction and technology is advancing at a rapid pace achieving what no-one thought possible only a few years ago. A split-pylon concept bridge is the focus of an EPSRC-funded project at Sheffield and Brunel University. Partnering with a long span bridge expert, Ian Firth, the team of UK engineers used mathematical modelling techniques to identify new bridge designs. They claim that it could beat the current record of a 2 km single span bridge.
Newly identified bridge structures could allow for the construction of significantly longer bridges in the near future. The possibility to make a crossing over the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Iberian Peninsula to Morocco is very real.
The Farnborough Air Show in July 2018 featured several new projects, concepts and prototypes but one that stood out was the Tempest, UK’s new combat aircraft. A number of companies are involved with this project including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Italy’s Leonardo and missiles expert MBDA. Reports suggests that the UK will invest £2bn in the project with the aim of a first flight in 2035.
There is no denying that the UK has been a leader in aerial combat for over a century with a wide range of skills and technology. This latest project sends a clear message that they are determined to make sure they remain at the top.
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