University of California - Los Angeles(UCLA)
June 1, 2011
Research Promises Semiconductor Manufacturing Cost and Production Savings Up to 15 Percent, Potentially Increasing Profit Per Chip Significantly.
Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), the world's leading university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies, and researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have developed a new method of design-dependent process monitoring for semiconductor wafer manufacturing. The advance promises to provide semiconductor chip manufacturing cost and productivity savings up to 15 percent, potentially increase profit per chip by as much as 12 percent and ultimately lead to less expensive and higher performing electronics devices.
The complexities of semiconductor manufacturing and the challenges of keeping pace with Moore’s Law are well known within the industry. Modern manufactured chips exhibit wide power and performance variation that necessitate careful screening, and frequency and power tests to screen for defective chips after chip packaging has been completed are expensive and time consuming.
Therefore, the industry has significant incentive to prune failed wafers and chips during early stages of manufacturing wherever possible. While increased attention has been given to the design-manufacturing interface, little has been done to drive design intent into manufacturing.
That’s where UCLA Engineering research comes into play. By using process monitors on wafer lines tested after the initial manufacturing steps, manufacturers would be able to evaluate early die performance and wafer yield estimation. Avoiding going through all the manufacturing steps for a bad wafer can realize the significant cost savings. Avoiding testing failed die later in the process by leveraging the pruning approach is expected to save manufacturing costs further, with nearly 70 percent of failed chips pruned with less than a 1 percent yield loss. Though the results will depend on the design as well as the manufacturing process, the approach is especially useful in early stages of yield ramp for a product. An early version of this work appeared in the International Conference on Computer-Aided Design in 2010.
To read more click here...
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Government of Canada Helps Science and Engineering Graduates Enter the Workforce
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
June 01, 2011
An investment by the Government of Canada will give young researchers in universities across the country an opportunity to expand their skills and help them transition from trainees to productive employees in the Canadian workforce. The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), made the announcement while speaking at Queen's University.
"Our government is focussed on what matters to Canadians—the economy and jobs," said Minister Goodyear. "To remain at the forefront of the global economy, our government is investing in the people and ideas that will produce tomorrow's breakthroughs."
The projects announced today are being funded through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)'s Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program.
Eighteen projects will receive a total of $29.6 million over six years to help science and engineering graduates add job skills to their academic expertise. The projects explore a variety of research areas, including neurotechnology, clean energy, freshwater conservation and bionanotechnology.
"Our government is focussed on what matters to Canadians—the economy and jobs," said Minister Goodyear. "To remain at the forefront of the global economy, our government is investing in the people and ideas that will produce tomorrow's breakthroughs."
The projects announced today are being funded through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)'s Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) Program.
Eighteen projects will receive a total of $29.6 million over six years to help science and engineering graduates add job skills to their academic expertise. The projects explore a variety of research areas, including neurotechnology, clean energy, freshwater conservation and bionanotechnology.
MENA Region to Invest $250bn in Rail Projects
Engineerblogger
June 02, 2011
Investment in rail projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions are expected to reach $250bn as the region doubles its rail network to 33,000km, according to a new report.
According to the Mena Rail Report 2011 by Meed Insight metro, tram and monorail track lengths are expected to increase tenfold in the region.
More than half of the money will be invested in the Gulf countries where the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, together with Iran and Yemen, are expected to spend around $145bn in rail projects.
The investment will mainly be aimed at improving logistics infrastructure in the region as the countries try to reduce their current reliance on the oil and gas sector as well as improving urban transport to cater to the needs of rapidly growing cities.
The investment is also aimed at improvement in fright movement in the region as countries in the region are planning major fright lines, which include the North-South line in Saudi Arabia, the Shah-Ruwais line in Abu Dhabi, and the new national network in Jordan.
Qatar will be one of the big spenders in rail projects, which plans to complete its $35bn rail projects by 2020, two years ahead of when the country hosts the World Cup.
Qatar plans to build a 358km of rail line, including 119km underground tracks and the project will have more than 100 stations and allow trains to run at a speed of 350 km/h.
June 02, 2011
According to the Mena Rail Report 2011 by Meed Insight metro, tram and monorail track lengths are expected to increase tenfold in the region.
More than half of the money will be invested in the Gulf countries where the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, together with Iran and Yemen, are expected to spend around $145bn in rail projects.
The investment will mainly be aimed at improving logistics infrastructure in the region as the countries try to reduce their current reliance on the oil and gas sector as well as improving urban transport to cater to the needs of rapidly growing cities.
The investment is also aimed at improvement in fright movement in the region as countries in the region are planning major fright lines, which include the North-South line in Saudi Arabia, the Shah-Ruwais line in Abu Dhabi, and the new national network in Jordan.
Qatar will be one of the big spenders in rail projects, which plans to complete its $35bn rail projects by 2020, two years ahead of when the country hosts the World Cup.
Qatar plans to build a 358km of rail line, including 119km underground tracks and the project will have more than 100 stations and allow trains to run at a speed of 350 km/h.
Copyrighted from Railway Technology
DARPA HIGHLIGHTS NEW VIDEOS
DARPA
June 1, 2011
The DARPA Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program
The DARPA Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program is developing software that enables robots, given only high-level direction, to autonomously grasp, manipulate and perform complex tasks in unstructured environments. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, an ARM robot known as "Robbie" has been playing games with curious and intrigued visitors. The exhibit teaches visitors about how robotics can impact society and encourages young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. DARPA is also offering the public the opportunity to develop and test code to perform tasks in the robot simulator, then upload that code to an actual robot and watch it execute the task in real-time via the web.
To read more on ARM program and how to participate in the Outreach Track click here...
Project GreenVax is a research and development demonstration project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and conducted by the Texas Plant-Expressed Vaccine Consortium located in Bryan, Texas. The goal of this project is to develop a capability to produce 1kg (or approximately 10 million doses) of a recombinant vaccine candidate protein in one month. To succeed in this effort, the project GreenVax team created numerous innovative solutions to maximize efficiencies to both their upstream and downstream processes including new lighting systems capable of doubling plant biomass generated and use of mobile Modular Bioprocessing Facilities, which provide the flexibility to manufacture multiple products at the same time. If this effort is successful, it could provide a strategic resource for the United States and its ability to rapidly produce medical countermeasures against any biothreat.
To read more click here...
In 2005, DARPA announced the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) program and its goal to develop agile and flyers system that could fit in one hand. This video chronicles the development of a "hummingbird" flyer by Aerovironment from concept to prototype demonstration and introduction to the public. A number of difficult design and engineering challenges were overcome in the course of the program, particularly in the wing structure, propulsion and control actuators. Numerous complete prototypes were built and tested to assess and improve the performance of the systems shown in the video. The final prototype achieves the noteworthy milestone of 2-wing flapping hovering and fast forward flight with all power sources on the aircraft and all controls implemented through modulation of the wing strokes in a shape that resembles a real hummingbird and carries and on-board camera that relays video to the pilot in real time.
To read more click here...
June 1, 2011
The DARPA Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program
The DARPA Autonomous Robotic Manipulation (ARM) program is developing software that enables robots, given only high-level direction, to autonomously grasp, manipulate and perform complex tasks in unstructured environments. At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, an ARM robot known as "Robbie" has been playing games with curious and intrigued visitors. The exhibit teaches visitors about how robotics can impact society and encourages young people to pursue careers in science and engineering. DARPA is also offering the public the opportunity to develop and test code to perform tasks in the robot simulator, then upload that code to an actual robot and watch it execute the task in real-time via the web.
To read more on ARM program and how to participate in the Outreach Track click here...
Project GreenVax
Project GreenVax is a research and development demonstration project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and conducted by the Texas Plant-Expressed Vaccine Consortium located in Bryan, Texas. The goal of this project is to develop a capability to produce 1kg (or approximately 10 million doses) of a recombinant vaccine candidate protein in one month. To succeed in this effort, the project GreenVax team created numerous innovative solutions to maximize efficiencies to both their upstream and downstream processes including new lighting systems capable of doubling plant biomass generated and use of mobile Modular Bioprocessing Facilities, which provide the flexibility to manufacture multiple products at the same time. If this effort is successful, it could provide a strategic resource for the United States and its ability to rapidly produce medical countermeasures against any biothreat.
To read more click here...
DARPA Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) program
In 2005, DARPA announced the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) program and its goal to develop agile and flyers system that could fit in one hand. This video chronicles the development of a "hummingbird" flyer by Aerovironment from concept to prototype demonstration and introduction to the public. A number of difficult design and engineering challenges were overcome in the course of the program, particularly in the wing structure, propulsion and control actuators. Numerous complete prototypes were built and tested to assess and improve the performance of the systems shown in the video. The final prototype achieves the noteworthy milestone of 2-wing flapping hovering and fast forward flight with all power sources on the aircraft and all controls implemented through modulation of the wing strokes in a shape that resembles a real hummingbird and carries and on-board camera that relays video to the pilot in real time.
To read more click here...
Researchers cut machinery fuel consumption by half
Aalto University
June 1, 2011
Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have found a way to cut the amount of fuel consumed by non-road mobile machinery by half. This new technology captures energy, which up to now has been lost by the machinery when working, and uses it instead of fuel. The fuel consumption of construction and mining machines, agricultural machines and material handling machines is reduced significantly.
− These heavy duty machines are operated for long periods of time, so by the end of the day emissions and fuel consumption have added up. Being able to target them is a significant improvement, says Professor Jussi Suomela, who is in charge of the project at Aalto University’s HybLab research network in Finland.
The researchers have added an electric power transmission system into the machines. The machines then become hybrids with both combustion and electric engines. Similar technology has already proven successful in personal cars; however, hybrid cars only capture energy from wheels during deceleration, whereas work machines create most of the extra energy during work tasks. This energy has not been captured until now.
The researchers at the Finnish Aalto University are now analyzing the work cycles of different types of machinery in order to find out which work tasks allow energy to be captured. Deceleration and lowering a load are typical examples. This technology enables short-term energy storage, making it possible to store energy for later use during a peak in power demand. The electric transmission generates other side benefits such as better controllability, operator comfort, efficiency and more freedom in the machine structure.
The goal is to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Another benefit of hybridization is that it leads to lower operation costs as well. With electric power transmission, the machines may even be connected to normal wall sockets.
− Electricity from the power grid is very cost-efficient and creates no local emissions. If the machine can be plugged in, that is usually the best option. The future is likely to make fuel cells available, too, says Suomela. And the benefits do not stop here: the machines are even able to release stored electrical energy back into the grid.
June 1, 2011
− These heavy duty machines are operated for long periods of time, so by the end of the day emissions and fuel consumption have added up. Being able to target them is a significant improvement, says Professor Jussi Suomela, who is in charge of the project at Aalto University’s HybLab research network in Finland.
The researchers have added an electric power transmission system into the machines. The machines then become hybrids with both combustion and electric engines. Similar technology has already proven successful in personal cars; however, hybrid cars only capture energy from wheels during deceleration, whereas work machines create most of the extra energy during work tasks. This energy has not been captured until now.
The researchers at the Finnish Aalto University are now analyzing the work cycles of different types of machinery in order to find out which work tasks allow energy to be captured. Deceleration and lowering a load are typical examples. This technology enables short-term energy storage, making it possible to store energy for later use during a peak in power demand. The electric transmission generates other side benefits such as better controllability, operator comfort, efficiency and more freedom in the machine structure.
The goal is to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Another benefit of hybridization is that it leads to lower operation costs as well. With electric power transmission, the machines may even be connected to normal wall sockets.
− Electricity from the power grid is very cost-efficient and creates no local emissions. If the machine can be plugged in, that is usually the best option. The future is likely to make fuel cells available, too, says Suomela. And the benefits do not stop here: the machines are even able to release stored electrical energy back into the grid.
JPL-Developed Clean Energy Technology Moves Forward
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
May 26, 2011
A team of scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in partnership with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, developed a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell technology for future Department of Defense and commercial applications. Recently, USC and the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, which manages JPL for NASA, awarded a license to SFC Energy, Inc., the U.S. affiliate of SFC Energy AG. The non-exclusive license for the technology will facilitate the expansion of the company's methanol fuel cell products into the U.S. market.
This novel fuel cell technology uses liquid methanol as a fuel to produce electrical energy, and does not require any fuel processing. Pure water and carbon dioxide are the only byproducts of the fuel cell, and no pollutants are emitted. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells offer several advantages over other current fuel cell systems, especially with regard to simplicity of design and higher energy density. Current systems rely on hydrogen gas, a substance that is more difficult to transport and store.
"JPL invented the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell concept and also made significant contributions to all the facets of the technology. These contributions include: development of advanced catalyst materials, high-performance fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, compact fuel cell stacks, and system designs," said JPL Power Technology Program Manager Rao Surampudi. He explained that USC worked with JPL in the development and advancement of this technology for defense and commercial applications.
May 26, 2011
This novel fuel cell technology uses liquid methanol as a fuel to produce electrical energy, and does not require any fuel processing. Pure water and carbon dioxide are the only byproducts of the fuel cell, and no pollutants are emitted. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells offer several advantages over other current fuel cell systems, especially with regard to simplicity of design and higher energy density. Current systems rely on hydrogen gas, a substance that is more difficult to transport and store.
"JPL invented the Direct Methanol Fuel Cell concept and also made significant contributions to all the facets of the technology. These contributions include: development of advanced catalyst materials, high-performance fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies, compact fuel cell stacks, and system designs," said JPL Power Technology Program Manager Rao Surampudi. He explained that USC worked with JPL in the development and advancement of this technology for defense and commercial applications.
Stamping out low cost nanodevices
Vanderbilt University
May 31, 2011
A simple technique for stamping patterns invisible to the human eye onto a special class of nanomaterials provides a new, cost-effective way to produce novel devices in areas ranging from drug delivery to solar cells.
The technique was developed by Vanderbilt University engineers and described in the cover article of theMay issue of the journal Nano Letters.
The new method works with materials that are riddled with tiny voids that give them unique optical, electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. Imagine a stiff, sponge-like material filled with holes that are too small to see without a special microscope.
For a number of years, scientists have been investigating the use of these materials – called porous nanomaterials – for a wide range of applications including drug delivery, chemical and biological sensors, solar cells and battery electrodes. There are nanoporous forms of gold, silicon, alumina, and titanium oxide, among others.
May 31, 2011
The technique was developed by Vanderbilt University engineers and described in the cover article of theMay issue of the journal Nano Letters.
The new method works with materials that are riddled with tiny voids that give them unique optical, electrical, chemical and mechanical properties. Imagine a stiff, sponge-like material filled with holes that are too small to see without a special microscope.
For a number of years, scientists have been investigating the use of these materials – called porous nanomaterials – for a wide range of applications including drug delivery, chemical and biological sensors, solar cells and battery electrodes. There are nanoporous forms of gold, silicon, alumina, and titanium oxide, among others.
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