March 2019 - Global Engineering

4 Classified Engineering Projects From History

Posted on March 25, 2019October 27, 2020 by Ronna Landau

Since the start of the 20^th century, governments from all over the world have worked on countless classified projects. These were mainly based on war-related experimentation, and gave rise to some of the most advanced technologies in the world.

These range from truly destructive weapons to modern jet fighters and more, and for year were hidden from public knowledge.

But many of the once-classified projects have been released to the general public, and for the first time in decades, we can learn about the testing that was done by governmental engineering teams over the years.

1. The Baker Test

The Baker Test was part of Operation Crossroads, and saw the detonation of a 23-kiloton nuclear weapon that was set off before the surface of the ocean. The test was conducted in the Marshall Islands, and has given rise to one of the world’s most famous recordings.

The US battleship Arkansas was completely flattened by the blast and pushed out of the water. In the pictures we have today from the event, some believe it’s possible to see the ship in the blast, although the US government has yet to release any more information about the tests conducted.

It set the scene for much of what we know of modern nuclear weapons, which have become part of every day life, from the energy we produce to the games we play, such as slots NZ.

2. The U-2 Projects

The Advanced Development Program of Lockheed Martin known as Skunk Works, was in charge of a number of secret projects over the years. Lockheed Martin is one of the US government’s leading contractors, and has introduced countless aircraft technologies into the world, both for use in war and commercial transportation.

The U-2 is one of their most well kept secrets, and was designed as a high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. The plane, which is able to hang around 21 kilometres in the air, made world news when it was shot down by Russia in 1960 while it was carrying Francis Gary Powers.

3. The B-2 Stealth Bomber

One of the most formidable aircraft in the sky today is the stealth bomber. These planes are almost completely undetectable by radar, they’re incredibly fast, and they’re able to fly at altitudes that keep them safe from most forms of danger.

They’re also some of the only vehicles in the world that are equipped with nuclear weapons, making them also one of the most dangerous war machines right now. The development of the B-2 was done in secret, and was created as a replacement for the B-1.

The plane was designed to be almost invisible to all forms of radar, and saw the green light during the Cold War as the US and Russia attempted to build better and more powerful war machines.

4. The Manhattan Projects

Before World War 2, our understanding of the atomic world was extremely limited. Scientists were aware of the power trapped within atoms, thanks to work done by Albert Einstein, and it didn’t take long for a project to start to try and harness this power.

The Manhattan Project was perhaps the best kept secret of the war, and by 1945, the US famous took the results of the project to Japan in the from of two nuclear weapons, changing history forever.

Fascinating Engineering Projects from MIT

Posted on March 25, 2019September 23, 2019 by Ronna Landau

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is known worldwide as a hub of learning, innovation, and invention. Often considered the forefront of modern and future technology, MIT has long been known as a bastion for those gifted among us to work on the incredible technologies that have been defining the world for over a decade.

It’s also one of the most prestigious schools in the world, attracting only the best and brightest as they debut new and fascinating projects aimed at bettering humanity as a whole. From furniture, vehicles, and new ways to generate electricity, MIT has been the site for some truly astounding feats of engineering.

1. Martian Cities

A group of MIT students revealed designs for a Mars City design competition, where they weighed in on how they would create and implement habitable cities for the red planet. Titled Redwood Forest, featured designs of domes that were connected by tunnels. Each one of the domes was home to a lush forest, and the city would be able to house up to 10000 people.

The team wanted to make use of every part of the Mars landscape, and to create a symbiotic relationship between humans and the planet, which included the generation of electricity through solar power thanks to the high amount of sunlight the planet receives.

2. Morphing Surfaces

Some years ago, researchers at MIT began creating a new type of smart surface, which was unique in the fact that it was able to morph in order to reduce drag. The material responded to external pressures, and was able to take on a dimpled form not unlike a golf ball in order to alter the object’s aerodynamic properties.

The researchers hope to implement the technology into vehicles, but also into the construction into buildings in areas that suffer from high winds. This would give the buildings the ability to withstand weather extremes, resulting in far less damage.

3. Self-Repairing Electric Vehicles

Another high profile project currently in the works between MIT and a car manufacturer involves work on the Lamborghini Terzo Millenio. The electric super-car, while similar in many ways to other modern super-cars, is different in that it doesn’t contain a battery.

The project instead makes use of super-capacitor technology that’s build directly into the body of the car as a method of storing electricity. Carbon nanotubes run throughout the body, and are able to self-heal any fractures and imperfections without any maintenance.

We may start to see these same cars with powerful computing systems installed, allowing for advanced GPS navigation, and the chance to enjoy some other features and games, such as online pokies NZ.

4. Graphene

We’ve long heard the incredible qualities of the super material graphene, but MIT students have been pushing the boundaries of what the material can do. Graphene is a pure carbon material, and is considered the strongest material in the world.

MIT researchers have found success in making the material stronger than steel while only a fraction of its density. Before the breakthrough, the material was only strong in a 2-dimensional form, but their research has seen a new wave of 3D graphene structures, creating something entirely new.

4 Great Project Ideas For Engineering Students

Posted on March 25, 2019February 15, 2022 by Ronna Landau

Electrical engineering is often seen as the basis of all other types of engineering. Every piece of technology in the modern world runs off of some type of electricity, be it light, sound, electro-magnetic fields, and more. It’s an incredibly important field that new and fascinating projects every year as engineers attempt to make technology for the betterment of humanity.

For those students that want to start a new project in electrical engineering, these are some of the top ideas at the moment.

1. Automated Solar Trackers

Automatic solar trackers are an ambitious project that would allow solar panels to automatically shift toward the sun. Most modern solar farms are set in one direction in order to gain the most light at the brightest points of the day, but they are unable to follow the sun as it moves through the sky, and their total energy output is much lower because of this.

Creating an automated solar tracker would see the panels follow the sun from morning to evening, allowing them to increase their energy output tenfold throughout the day.

2. Automated Anchor Light

Most international regulations require that boasts carry lights during sunset and sunrise, as well as when there is restricted visibility due to weather conditions. The number and colours of the light depend wholly on the vessel they’re attached to.

The idea behind this project is to create a masthead anchor light that turns on and off automatically, and allows other vessels to see exactly where the boat is sitting, even in pitch-black anchorage.

3. Finger Print Security System

Biometric security technology is being heralded as the next stage of modern security. Fingerprints have always been at the forefront of security due to the fact that every human being on the planet has a unique fingerprint.

The idea behind the project is to make a home-based security system that works directly with the person or persons whose fingerprints match with the system. It may first see light in the work place, where employees would simply have their fingerprint scanned when starting the work day, essentially making it a modern version of signing a work ticket in, but with much more flexibility and practicality.

4. Electronic Notepad

The intention of this project is to create an electronic note pad that will be made up with a touchscreen and basic storage memory. The notepad would be used as alternative to paper and as a call against deforestation. It may also be advanced enough for simple games and applications, such as a no deposit casino suite or solitaire.

Not only would the user be able to carry it around with them wherever they go, it would also be able to transfer data between computers and other devices, allowing for notes to be transferred and saved instantly.

It would have a fast sampling rate and high accuracy, making it perfect for both writing and drawing. An SD card will be interfaced directly, along with a microcontroller, allowing the user to use for a number of tasks.