The Engineer - June 2022

52 Pages·2022·11 MB·English

11 66 66 YY EE AA RR SS OO FF TT EE CC HH NN OO LL OO GG YY AA NN DD II NN NN OO VV AATT II OO NN
JJUUNNEE 22002222
OOnn tthhee
ccchhhaaarrrgggeee
IIInnnsssiiidddeee UUUKKKBBBIIICCC,,, ttthhheee
ffaacciilliittyy ppoowweerriinngg tthhee
UUKK’’ss bbaatttteerryy
mmaannuuffaaccttuurriinngg
aammbbiittiioonnss
22 26 44 TheEngineerUK
theengineeruk
The Engineer UK
space:The Welsh technology firm net zero: decarbonising the UK’s late great engineers: atom bomb
hoping to kickstart a new age of industrial clusters in pursuit of engineer and video game pioneer
off-planet manufacturing net zero goals William Higinbotham
PPllaassttiicc IImmppaacctt MMaacchhiinneess
Tinius Olsen
Impact
The Tinius Olsen IT impact range can
plastics testing be configured for Charpy and/or
Izod tests, for manual or automated
specimen feed, from 0.5J to 50J.
Impact Accessories
solutions Available from Tinius Olsen; Test
specimen notcher and notch
verification stations.
Meet all your CFR21
compliance needs
HORIZON SOFTWARE
Tinius Olsen’s testing, analysis and reporting software.
Used when testing raw material such as rigid, reinforced
It’s all about... or high impact plastics, or structures and components
such as films, enclosures and devices. Whether materials
are moulded, extruded or 3D printed, Tinius Olsen’s
PRODUCTIVITY
Horizon plastics testing software provides the platform
to ensure the testing is accurate, to standard and
eeffffiicciieenntt.. NNooww wwiitthh vviiddeeoo ccaappttuurree ffuunnccttiioonnaalliittyy..
REPEATABILITY
MMeelltt FFllooww IInnddeexxeerr
TRACEABILITY
MMPP11220000
TThhee TTiinniiuuss OOllsseenn MMPP11220000 mmooddeell iiss ccoonnfifigguurraabbllee ffrroomm
aa ssttaannddaarrdd pprroocceedduurree AA ffoorrmmaatt tthhrroouugghh pprroocceedduurree BB
aanndd oonn wwiitthh aauuttoommaattiicc mmoottoorriizzeedd wweeiigghhtt aapppplliiccaattiioonn
Tinius Olsen offers solutions for testing the
ccaappaabbiilliittyy,, ppoosstt tteesstt ppoollyymmeerr ppuurrggee aanndd cclleeaanniinngg..
strength and performance of plastics through
tensile, flexural, compression, folding endurance,
impact, head distortion, vicat, melt flow, tear and
puncture tests. Our versatile benchtop polymer-
Video Extensometers
testing machines can perform tests in accordance with
ASTM, ISO and other international standards from test Epsilon One
configuration through to reporting and generating The Tinius Olsen Epsilon One is a new optical
non-contact extensometer performing high-
results immediately for your processes.
accuracy, high-resolution non-contacting axial
Contact us now for information on our full range and strain and displacement measurement, using
video to measure strain.
help with enquiries.
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
TENSILE FLEX IMPACT COMPRESSION VICAT MELT FLOW TEAR PUNCTURE
www.tiniusolsen.com [email protected] 01737 765001
ESTABLISHED 1856
166
C O N T E N T S
YEARS OF
TECHNOLOGY
& INNOVATION
VOLUME 302 • ISSUE 7937 • June 2022
44
46
12
40
22
30
26
4 Editor’s Comment 10 news 22 aerospace 40 Additive Q&A
Joined up action is getting Britain’s UK battery supply chain boosted by Welsh startup Space Forge plans Leading industry suppliers comment
battery ambitions back on track news of Trafi gura lithium plant to take manufacturing off planet on the trends shaping the AM sector
6 NEWS 12 Manufacturing 26 DEcarbonisation 44 late great engineers
Sheffi eld University-led project explores How UKBIC is helping to accelerate Decarbonising the UK’s existing The life and times of atom bomb and
future infrastructure challenges the UK’s battery making ambitions industrial clusters will be key to net zero video game pioneer William Higinbotham
7 NEWS 16 viewpoint 30 Green shipping 46 Archive
Liquid air storage technology Prof David Bogle on the importance Marine experts discuss the innovations In June 1919 The Engineer reported on
cuts cost of compressed air of embedding ethics in engineering that are helping to clean up shipping the technology behind the world’s fi rst
transatlantic fl ight
8 news 18 Mailbox 34 Automotive
48 Blog
REE Automotive launches West Readers discuss EV charging anxiety The technologies that are helping to
Midlands integration centre and the rise of the electric scooter cut down on industrial espionage EngineeringUK’s Dr Hilary Leevers on the
importance of practical learning
9 news 20 Additive technology 38 Sci-fi Eye
50 digest
Babcock and Edinburgh Uni join forces Dr Nick Simpson on using AM to Sci-fi writer Gareth L Powell ponders a
to launch FastBlade test facility produce functional electric machines future of self-confi guring spacecraft
COVER Image: UKBIC
Editor & Publisher Jon Excell Commercial director Justyn Gidley Art Director News 020 8076 0576
[phone] [phone] Calvin McKenzie Display 020 8076 0582
[email protected] [email protected] Production Recruitment 020 8076 0581
Larry Oakes
Features Editor Andrew Wade Business development manager UK subscriptions £75 pa UK/£117 pa overseas.
[phone] Tripura Patel Publishing director Paul Fanning Contact comments@ theengineer.co.uk.
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced in any form without prior
Mark Allen Group, St Jude’s Church,
News editor Jason Ford New Business Account Manager Subscriptions & Customer Services permission from the publisher.
Dulwich Road, London, SE24 OPB
[phone] Caroline Liffen [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected] Visit www.theengineer.co.uk
Part of www.markallengroup.com The Engineer is available for International for constantly updated news,
Reporter Melissa Bradshaw Recruitment Sales Manager licensing and syndication. products and jobs and to sign
ISSN 0013-7758. Printed by Pensord, [email protected] Jack Troutt For more information please email up for our FREE weekly email
Press Ltd, Blackwood, NP12 2YA [email protected] [email protected] newsletter and tailored job alert
3 June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk
EDNIOTVOERM’SB ECORM 2M01E9NT
JON EXCELL
5
READ MORE Electric dreams
ONLINE
Batteries, small modular
reactors and C2I 2022
T
winners he story of the UK’s relationship with the batt ery technology that’s now reshaping
the automotive sector is - almost - an all too familiar tale of missed opportunities.
Whilst the lithium-ion batt ery was invented by researchers in Oxford in the
www.theengineer.co.uk late 1970s and the EV batt ery plant next to Nissan’s factory was once Europe’s
follow us at largest, Britain’s batt ery sector has - in recent years - been sidelined by the rapid scale
THINGS
@TheEngineerUK up of development and production in Asia, the US, and continental Europe.
Many feared that the UK had missed the boat and - with batt eries accounting for so
theengineeruk WE’VE
much of the cost of electric vehicles - consigned its car industry to a murky future.
The Engineer UK Fortunately, and just in the nick of time, the UK is nearly back in the game, partly LEARNT
The Engineer UK thanks to an arguably rare example of coherent and targeted government support (The
THIS
Faraday Batt ery Challenge) which has seen funding targeted at both the R&D that will
deliver next generation batt ery technologies and the capabilities that will enable their
ISSUE
ENGINEER JOBS
high volume manufacture.
Find your next engineering job In this issue’s cover story we take a look inside a facility at the heart of this
online at The EngineerJobs reinvigorated push: The UK Batt ery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), an open-access 1 Summer 2022
facility established to help batt ery developers understand how to manufacture their is set to see the
technology and bring it to market. UK’s fi rst ever
commercial space
The impressive 20,000 square metre plant isn’t quite a “Gigafactory” but it contains
launch
many of the processes and technologies you’d expect to fi nd in one and - as such - off ers
a tantalizing glimpse of the UK’s not too distant industrial future.
2 The FastBlade
UKBIC, like many of the projects and initiatives covered by The Engineer, is a great tidal turbine
example of what can be achieved with joined up thinking and collaboration. And in centre will simulate
this issue we’re delighted to announce that The Engineer’s very own celebration of this the stresses of two
key dynamic - The Collaborate To Innovate awards - is now open for entries. decades at sea in just
three months
MISSION Now in its seventh year, C2I - which is sponsored and supported by some of the
biggest names in industry - was launched to uncover and celebrate great examples of
STATEMENT 3 Bp is to invest
engineering collaboration – which is critical to addressing many of the challenges and
£18 million in UK
The aim of problems faced by society. energy projects
The competition is open to innovative technology led projects which are
The Engineer
underpinned by collaboration between two or more separate organisations and which 4 Atom bomb
is to champion
have had, or are likely to have, a positive impact in their area of application. physicist
and promote William Higinbotham
Entries are invited from projects addressing challenges across eight categories,
also developed the
engineering including automotive; aerospace, defence and security; information, data and
world’s fi rst computer
innovation and connectivity; healthcare and medical; energy and environment; and manufacturing
technology technology. For more information visit htt p://awards.theengineer.co.uk 5 In 2019 the cost
of clearing the
development
UK’s backlog of
across all of
maintenance work
the UK’s key was valued at £6.7bn
engineering Jon Excell
sectors.
EDITOR • [email protected]
June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk 4

June 2022
NEWS
Read more online
Follow us at:
AUTOMOTIVE
@TheEngineerUK
• AI system has potential to end
theengineeruk
queues at traffic lights
The Engineer UK
• Oxbotica and NEVS team up for
The Engineer UK
self-driving EV fleet
www.theengineer.CO.UK
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
• Blue-green algae powers
microprocessor for over a year
Infrastructure improvements
AEROSPACE
• Hydrogen pipeline installed at
Academia and industry collaborate to protect UK infrastructure Cotswold Airport
• Orbex unveils rocket designed
for low-cost orbital launch
Jason Ford reports services
• Rocket Lab completes mid-air
A capture in 26th Electron mission
p roject is underway
to transform the way
DEFENCE & SECURITY
infrastructure assets
• Over £2bn for Dreadnought
including wind turbines and
bridges are monitored and Delivery Phase 3
maintained.  
Led by Sheffield University POLICY & BUSINESS
and funded with a £7.7m EPSRC • Bp signs offtake agreement for
Programme Grant, the ROSEHIPS circular naphtha
project unites experts from
structure.”  For the project’s sensing
academia and industry to solve Prof James Brownjohn, Exeter element, the ROSEHIPS framework MEDICAL & HEALTHCARE
the challenge of safely and
University, added that it is possible will accept whatever sensor data • AI-assisted digital twin could
economically safeguarding current
to use engineering judgment to has been collected on a given predict spinal column fractures
and future infrastructure.  
In 2019 the cost of clearing the identify potential similarities structure.  in cancer patients
UK’s backlog of maintenance works between structures, but subjectivity SHM has successfully
was valued at £6.7bn. ROSEHIPS can lead to a lack of consistency employed machine learning (ML)
(Revolutionising Operational between different analysts. A for certain condition monitoring
Safety and Economy for High-value significant element of ROSEHIPS and structural health monitoring
Infrastructure using Population- seeks to redress this with the applications, but there have been
based SHM (structural health
development and implementation few examples of ML effectively
monitoring)) aims to solve the UK’s Jobs online
of a formal mathematical approach managing large civil Infrastructure
infrastructure asset management
for calculating a ‘similarity score’ and even fewer - if any - examples
problem through research to
between structures.  for populations of structural types, LOOKING FOR A
automate health monitoring. 
Structures will be represented said Sheffield’s Prof Keith Worden.  NEW ROLE?
Instead of scheduled
inspections, diagnoses can be in mathematical graph form “So, the question is how can you
Visit jobs.theengineer.
provided by permanently installed and graph theory will be used to most effectively exploit and develop
co.uk to search hundreds
sensors that continuously collect calculate a similarity score between machine learning, or particular
of vacancies with leading
structural data and interpret it via them. Dr Hester explained that for aspects of machine learning such
computer algorithms that will help structures with a high similarity as transfer learning, for managing employers from across
inform the ROSEHIPS framework.  score it is likely that data from one large civil infrastructure,” industry
“A real challenge to monitoring
will be helpful in managing the continued Prof Worden. “The
large infrastructure is the lack
other.   combination of machine learning/
of data from these structures,
Prof Elizabeth Cross at artificial intelligence with physics
particularly damaged state data,”
Sheffield University continued: can offer a very novel and powerful
said Dr David Hester of Queen’s
“This systematic approach for approach, which will enable
University Belfast. “Even when
there is data available on a given comparison is a huge step in the informative and robust predictions
structure it is not obvious whether field, as for the first time it allows in the health monitoring setting.” 
it can be used to inform…decision the limited data that is available
support on repairs improvements to be leveraged, by exploiting it to Read more at
www.theengineer.co.uk
on another broadly similar manage other structures.” 
June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk 6
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Liquid air energy storage
NEWS IN BRIEF
cuts cost of compressed air ACCELERATING AUTONOMY
The government has set out
changes to The Highway Code
PRISMA system aims for savings in energy intensive industries
to ensure the safe introduction
of autonomous vehicles on UK
Jason Ford reports
roads. The changes clarify drivers’
responsibilities in self-driving
A
cement works in fl uid that doesn’t utilise the latent vehicles, including when a driver
Staff ordshire is hosting heat,” he explained via email. must be ready to take back control.
PRISMA, an industry-fi rst He added that the Prisma Britain’s fi rst vehicles approved for
application of liquid air demonstrator stores 200kg of liquid self-driving could be ready for use
energy storage technology. air and that the unit charges from later this year. Vehicles will undergo
PRISMA (Peak Reduction by empty to full in 100 minutes and rigorous testing and only be
Integrated Storage and Management discharges in 40 minutes. approved as self-driving when they
of Air) has been developed At Aggregate Industries’ “The larger commercial system have met stringent standards.
by Glasgow-headquartered Cauldon Cement Works, Prisma 2 currently in design will
Innovatium in partnership with the PRISMA system brings together store two tonnes of liquid air and REGULATING MICROMOBILITY
Birmingham University and has a latent energy cold storage tank, take three hours to charge and Warwick University has proposed
been described as a potential ‘game- fi lled with a phase change material the same time to discharge,” said regulations that will allow
changer’ alternative to traditional (PCM) to store thermal energy. Branch. micromobility vehicles such as
compressed air technologies. Along with a number of off -the- He added that the PCM for e-scooters to operate legally
PRISMA stores energy in liquid shelf components, this forms Prisma 2 is the formulation of a in Britain. The report - aimed at
air form to provide compressed air, a system that will work within novel mixture that increases the supporting regulatory change
allowing ineffi cient partially loaded, Aggregate Industries’ existing energy density by a factor of two. through parliament - looks at
variable-demand compressors to compressed air network. “That makes a huge diff erence ways to improve the quality and
be turned off , which improves the Simon Branch, co-founder and to the cost/kWh of the system,” he safety of models available, as
total system effi ciency by up to 25 CEO of Innovatium, said the PCM said. “It’s an example of what we’re well as providing guidance for
per cent. in the PRISMA demonstrator is a doing across the full design piece of authorities to deal with unsafe
UK industry uses over 10TWh of commonly available solvent that Prisma 2, cost engineering.” behaviour. Micromobility vehicles
electricity to compress air. PRISMA has a freezing point at cryogenic PRISMA has received funding represent low-carbon mobility
charges up using cheaper off - temperatures. under the Industrial Energy and manufacturing opportunities
peak electricity creating a store “When freezing, this material Effi ciency Accelerator (IEEA) that could move abroad without
of cold liquid air that can then be stores 80 times more thermal programme, and has recently legislative change.
discharged to provide hours’ worth energy - in our case cooling - in the received £900k investment funding
of compressed air, freezing process than a thermal led by Kelvin Capital.
SEVENTH ANNUAL COLLABORATE TO INNOVATE AWARDS OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Jon Excell reports
Collaborate To Innovate (C2I) – The environment; and manufacturing The Engineer’s editor Jon Excell NNNNEEEETTTT ZZZZEEEERRRROOOO NNNNEEEECCCCEEEESSSSSSSSIIIITTTTYYYY
Engineer’s annual search for the technology. said: “Collaboration is critical to solving AAAlllmmmooosssttt tttwwwooo ttthhhiiirrrdddsss ooofff UUUKKK
UK’s most innovative engineering Entries will be judged by a panel of some of the biggest challenges we manufacturers have taken positive
collaboration - is now open for entries. industry leaders including Alan Newby, face and the C2I awards was set up action towards their Net Zero target
Now in its seventh year, C2I is open director of aerospace technology and to celebrate this. Myself and the C2I in the past 12 months, research
to innovative projects underpinned future programmes at Rolls-Royce; judging panel are really excited about from Make UK has found. ‘COP26
by collaboration between two or more Professor Andy Wright, director of seeing what fascinating projects and 6 Months On’  shows 35 per cent
separate organisations and which have strategic technology at BAE Systems; innovations this year’s competition of businesses having Net Zero
had, or are likely to have, a positive and Dr Rachel Bishop, deputy director, uncovers.” strategies in place, whilst 14 per
impact. research base at EPSRC. The closing date for entries is 23rd cent have defi ned their Net Zero
Entries are invited from projects This year’s competition is supported September, with the winners revealed at strategy but not set it in motion.
addressing challenges across eight by EPSRC and EngineeringUK, and a drinks reception on Thursday 23rd Feb Over a third of companies said that
categories: including automotive; sponsored by HVM Catapult, Megger, at One Great George Street, London. achieving Net Zero is high priority.
aerospace, defence and security; Powerstar, The Science and Technology
information, data and connectivity; Facilities Council (STFC), Hays For more information visit: Read more at
healthcare and medical; energy and Recruitment and Mazak. awards.theengineer.co.uk www.theengineer.co.uk
7 June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
REE Automotive launches European THOR CONCEPT
VESSEL EMPLOYS
Integration Centre in West Midlands
MOLTEN SALT
REACTOR
Jason Ford reports
A
company reimagining the A sea-going vessel featuring a
future of electric vehicles Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (MSR)
is sett ing up its fi rst will generate electricity to replenish
European Integration Centre a new breed of battery driven cruise
in Coventry as it moves ships.
towards commercial production. This is the vision of Ulstein, a
Having proven its robotic Ulsteinvik, Norway-based company
assembly capabilities, REE that has launched Ulstein Thor, a
Automotive is bringing its highly- concept 149m 3R (Replenishment,
automated integration centre Research and Rescue) design that
manufacturing approach to the aims to make ‘zero-emission cruise
West Midlands where it will Integration Center in Austin, Texas, automated assembly, with the fi rst operations a reality’.
focus initially on the P7 electric which is expected to double global assembly line expected to become To demonstrate its feasibility,
platform for commercial vehicles capacity to 20,000 vehicle sets in operational in the second half of Ulstein has also developed the
that include walk-in delivery vans, 2023. 2022. ULSTEIN SIF concept, a 100m long,
buses, and recreational vehicles. Dow said: “The whole ethos REE said it is implementing 160 POB capacity, zero-emission
These vehicles will have more for REE is about modularity and line-side controls from Rockwell expedition cruise ship. This Ice
volume for passengers and freight fl exibility. Because we know we Automation and is also adopting Class 1C vessel would be designed
thanks to REEcorner technology know the footprint [and] we know Plex Manufacturing Execution to run on next-generation batteries,
that incorporates steering, braking, the process, we can pick and place System (MES), a cloud-based utilising ‘Thor’ to recharge at sea.
suspension, powertrain and that integration centre right next to capability that enables scalable Thorium has been identifi ed
control into a single unit positioned our customers. manufacturing locally and across as having huge potential for a
between the chassis and the wheel, “If we have a particular global Integration Centres. maritime industry seeking clean
allowing REE to build fully-fl at EV customer in a particular region Dow added that a prototype alternative fuels. MSRs work by
platforms. that we know we’ve got a volume build facility will be co-located with dissolving Thorium in liquid salt.
Peter Dow, REE VP of for it’s a low investment and quick the Integration Centre that will The ensuing chain reaction heats
engineering, said Coventry will application to put that [Integration include a pilot line with some of the the salt, producing steam to drive
have a capacity of 40,000 REE Centre] in.” assembly stations already present a turbine and create electricity.
corners, or 10,000 vehicle sets, To achieve its target volume in the Integration Centre. Although developments on land are
this year and that Coventry will in Coventry, REE has partnered “Even as we’re building fi rst well documented, its potential for
serve as the blueprint for all future with companies including engineering prototypes we can delivering clean maritime power has
Integration Centres globally. This Rockwell Automation and Expert understand how they will go down yet to be incorporated into a vessel
includes REE’s North American Technologies for robotics and the line,” he said. design. JF
REGISTER NOW FOR JULY’S ADDITIVE INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT Read more at
www.theengineer.co.uk
Jon Excell reports
Running from 13th – 14th July at aanndd iinndduussttrriiaall iimmpplleemmeennttaattiioonn aaccttiivviittyy.. consultant, TWI Ltd; Richard
Nottingham’s Albert Hall, the Additive Curated by the world-leading team Russell, Technical Fellow, NASA; and
International summit provides a unique ffrroomm tthhee UUnniivveerrssiittyy ooff NNoottttiinngghhaamm’’ss Stefanie Brickwede, Head of Additive
opportunity to hear from industry and CCeennttrree ffoorr AAddddiittiivvee MMaannuuffaaccttuurriinngg Manufacturing, Deutsche Bahn.
academic researchers at the forefront of tthhiiss yyeeaarr’’ss eevveenntt ffeeaattuurreess ssppeeaakkeerrss Attendees will also be invited to a
additive manufacturing technology. ffrroomm mmuullttiippllee sseeccttoorrss aanndd ddiisscciipplliinneess conference drinks reception and informal
This July, leading researchers from IInntteerrnnaattiioonnaall ((ffoorrmmeerrllyy kknnoowwnn aass tthhee aanndd wwiillll sshhoowwccaassee aaddddiittiivvee aaddvvaanncceess networking dinner on the evening of
the world of additive manufacturing International Conference on Additive in areas such as multifunctional and 13th July and will have the opportunity
will gather at Nottingham’s Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing) is a biofunctional materials as well as cutting to take a tour of the University of
International Summit to share insights two-day conference bringing together edge applications of AM in aerospace, Nottinghams’ world-leading Centre for
into the technologies that are shaping academic and industry experts from transport and healthcare.   Additive Manufacturing.
the future of the sector. across the world to share their share Speakers include Dr Carl Hauser, For more info visit:
Founded in 2006, Additive insights on the very latest in AM research Laser Additive Manufacturing www.additiveinternational.com
June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk 8
TTEECCHHNNOOLLOOGGYY NNEEWWSS
FastBlade stress
test facility open for
business in Rosyth
Jason Ford reports
C
omposite tidal turbine blades digital and hydraulic technology
can now be stress tested systems developed by engineers at
at FastBlade, a new facility Edinburgh University.
opened last month (May) in Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh,
Rosyth that will speed up head of School of Engineering enables structures to be tested Campus (AGIC) will work with
the development of marine energy at Edinburgh University, said more efficiently than existing companies in the marine, nuclear
technologies. FastBlade will help the emerging technologies. The system will power and energy-transition
In under three months tidal turbine industry to provide also recover energy between sectors to transform large-scale
FastBlade - a partnership between clean, reliable renewable energy load cycles, reducing the cost of manufacturing through innovation
Edinburgh University and Babcock at a reasonable cost to consumers testing. Babcock said that advanced and skills development.
International - will simulate the whilst helping to maintain the measurement systems will enable Neil Young, engineering
stresses placed on tidal turbine globally leading position of Scottish developers to understand damage director for Babcock, said the
blades during two decades at sea. tidal turbine developers. accumulation and optimise blade collaboration, and those like it, are
To do so, Fastblade’s 75-tonne The facility, funded by EPSRC structures using data-driven design. fundamental to helping Babcock
reaction frame will exert powerful and Edinburgh University, has FastBlade can also be used to and the wider engineering industry
forces on turbine blades over 50 received support from Edinburgh test lightweight bridge sections and create more research opportunities
feet long via a system of hydraulic Innovations, the University’s aircraft wing components. It is the and secure longer-term investment
cylinders. commercialisation service, first facility to open in a recently into digital and data skills.
In doing so, it will replicate throughout its development. launched multi-partner innovation The £4.6m facility was officially
the complex forces to which tidal Central to FastBlade is centre at Babcock’s Rosyth opened by UK government minister
turbines are exposed at sea using its hydraulic system that site. The Arrol Gibb Innovation for Scotland Malcolm Offord.
BAE SYSTEMS UNVEILS LITEWAVE HEAD-UP DISPLAY ROBOT CHEF
TASTES SEASONING
Jason Ford reports
Engineers have trained a robot chef to
BAE Systems has unveiled LiteWave, a new lightweight, taste food and assess whether it has the
compact Head-Up Display (HUD) for use in commercial and right amount of seasoning.
military aircraft. Working with Beko, researchers from
LiteWave is a laptop sized HUD mounted above the pilot’s Cambridge University trained their robot
head which presents information, such as direction, altitude chef to assess the saltiness of a dish at
and speed, directly in their line of sight. Being smaller and different stages of the chewing process,
lighter than a traditional HUD, LiteWave can be fitted in aircraft imitating a similar process in humans.
with even the most limited cockpit space. It’s also faster The texture and taste of food
to install and its design makes maintenance quicker and changes when it is chewed. The robot
cheaper. tasted nine variations of scrambled eggs
Lee Tomlinson, director of HUD products at BAE Systems’ and tomatoes at three different stages
Electronic Systems business said LiteWave uses the same of the chewing process, and produced
BAE Systems patented waveguide technology as LiteHUD, ‘taste maps’ of the dishes.
which is in service on multiple platforms. He added: “Another selling point is that LiteWave has an The researchers found that this
“The key difference is that whereas LiteHUD has been eye motion box at least three times the size of other HUDs, approach improved the robot’s ability
designed to be installed in the dashboard of a cockpit, making it much easier for the pilot to use. It is also 80 per cent to quickly and accurately assess
LiteWave has been designed to be installed and positioned faster to install and its simple design with fewer components the saltiness of the dish over other
above the pilot’s head,” he said. “Because LiteWave is 70 will save customers time and money in the future.” electronic tasting technologies. JF
per cent smaller in size and weight compared to a traditional LiteWave, manufactured at BAE Systems’ Electronic
HUD, it can be installed on aircraft with even the most limited Systems site in Rochester, is now available to begin flight
Read more at
cockpit space.” trials. www.theengineer.co.uk
9 June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk
Business NEWS
Trafi gura boost for Green Lithium FUNDING UPLIFT
FOR TRIBOSONICS
refi nery in UK
A Sheffi eld company has raised a
Jason Ford reports
£1.5m from NPIF – Mercia Equity
Finance to advance its ‘sensing as
G
reen Lithium has agreed a service’ solutions.
terms with commodity Tribosonics embeds sensors
trader Trafi gura that within the moving parts of
supports the development machinery to monitor factors
of a commercial lithium such as friction, pressure and
refi nery in the UK. temperature. The company’s
The new refi nery will supply systems – used by manufacturers,
European electric vehicle and utilities and transport - incorporate
batt ery manufacturers with advanced analytics and provide real
batt ery-grade lithium. Singapore- time data for companies to improve
based Trafi gura will supply lithium process effi ciency, extend plant
feedstock for the refi nery and energy and hydrogen in the refi ning demand for batt ery-grade lithium life and reduce maintenance and
invest equity in Green Lithium’s process to minimise CO emissions, chemicals will not be met by energy use.
2
development phase funding round. and will create circular economies global refi ning capacity that exists The investment will help the
Sean Sargent, CEO at London- in batt ery recycling whilst or is planned. Increasing and company to further develop its
based Green Lithium, said his eliminating process waste through diversifying supply will be vital ‘sensing as a service’ solutions
company’s refi nery will accelerate the re-use of by-products. for the commercial viability of the including polymerSENSE, which
the adoption of electric vehicles and “This landmark project has European batt ery supply chain, helps to reduce waste in the polymer
sustainable energy storage through the potential to revolutionise the which is reliant on China for batt ery and plastics recycling industry.
the increased supply of low-carbon, European supply chain for EV metals. Tribosonics has increased the size
batt ery-grade lithium. production and sustainable energy Commenting on the of its team to to 30, and expects to
In July, 2021 Green Lithium said storage at this critical time in the announcement, Charles Bond, a create a number of new jobs in the
its refi nery will create over 1,000 energy transition,” said Socrates natural resources partner at the year ahead.
jobs during construction, and 200 Economou, head of nickel and law fi rm Gowling WLG said: “This The latest funding round brings
jobs once operational. The 50,000 cobalt trading for Trafi gura. would be a welcome development the total raised to date to £2.6m
tonne per annum refi nery will Following its initial private for the nascent UK lithium industry and follows an initial round by NPIF –
produce enough lithium hydroxide funding round, Green Lithium is but will need long term fi nancial Mercia Equity Finance in 2020. JF
to enable the manufacture of more currently raising capital to fund its commitment from the government
than a million EVs per year. The development phase activity. to compete with the Chinese in an Read more at
www.theengineer.co.uk
company will utilise renewable It is forecast that the growing industry they currently dominate.”
BP SET TO INVEST UP TO £18BN IN UK ENERGY PROJECTS
1.5GW of hydrogen by 2030. H2 Teesside
has the potential to create over 600
operational jobs and another 1,200
Jason Ford reports
construction jobs by 2027. 
Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng
Bp anticipates investing up to £18bn in Württemberg (EnBW) are currently In North East England, bp is planning said government would support the
UK energy projects that include North developing two 60-year offshore wind to create two large-scale hydrogen North Sea oil and gas sector provided
Sea exploration and development, leases in the Irish Sea with a combined production facilities - H2 Teesside (blue it set out ‘a very clear plan…to reinvest
hydrogen production, and offshore potential generating capacity of 3GW, hydrogen) and HyGreen Teesside (green profi ts in the North Sea and…clean
wind. plus a lease option (potential generating hydrogen) – that will produce a combined energy technologies of the future.’
Set to be made by the end of 2030, capacity of 2.9GW) off the east coast of
bp said the investment demonstrates Scotland in the ScotWind round.
the company’s commitment to the UK Further investment will see funding
and the nation’s energy security, plus made available for infrastructure, ports,
efforts to achieve net zero. harbours and shipyards, including the
Company CEO Bernard Looney said conditional construction of four ships
bp’s plans will go beyond infrastructure to support the offshore wind projects
to support the economy, skills across the UK. These new-builds are
development and job opportunities.  expected to involve an investment of
Bp and partner Energie Baden- over £100m and support 500 jobs. 
June 2022 / www.theengineer.co.uk 10