Engineering & Technology
Anamorphic cryptography: How can we ensure private communication?
Cryptosystems have been developed to send secure messages with the assumption that the receiver’s key – what the intended recipient needs to read the message – is secure from adversaries. However, there have been tensions, dubbed as ‘Crypto Wars’. Friction has arisen between governments, hoping to access encryption keys to learn about potential threats, and industry, which believes that the […]
Urban Drone Operation: How wind in cities could affect air taxis of the future
In cities, many companies are now considering urban air mobility vehicles, from drones for parcel delivery to air taxis for travel. However, gusts of air, especially around buildings, can create pockets of wind with different properties, which could cause areas of turbulence and affect the stability of the aircraft. A research team led by Dr Abdulghani Mohamed, senior lecturer at […]
Inclusivity, diversity, and gender equality in cybersecurity
Digital and communication technologies have revolutionised humanity; however, cyber attacks pose a constant threat that transcends national boundaries. As such, collaborative international approaches to cybersecurity are needed. Cybersecurity has traditionally been a male-dominated field. However, at Cardiff Metropolitan University in the UK, Dr Liqaa Nawaf and her colleagues have established a new, British Council-funded initiative to promote improved gender equality […]
Understanding field scattering in AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors
Field-effect transistors featuring stacked layers of semiconductors are important elements of many electrical devices, especially in wireless communication systems. Through a series of studies, research led by Professor Zhaojun Lin at Shandong University, China, has identified one particular mechanism driving an unavoidable limitation in these devices. By drawing from their new theoretical description of ‘polarisation Coulomb field scattering’, the team […]
Tonic thermoelectric materials – powering future technology
Are you wearing a smartwatch? If so, what powers it? Chances are, it’s charged using mains electricity. But soon your body’s heat could be powering your wearable devices, using thermopower. Thermoelectric (TE) generators convert thermal energy into electricity. However, conventional TE generators typically can’t provide the voltage levels needed in small, wearable devices. But ionic thermoelectric materials (i-TE materials) can. […]
Scaling down electronic components with diamond films
Diamonds are an engineer’s best friend. As well as their incredible hardness, diamonds have several physical properties that make them excellent for electrical devices – like light-emitting diodes (LEDs). One of the big challenges in electronics is continually trying to miniaturise devices: the smaller they become, the more heat is generated which reduces their lifespan, reliability, and efficiency. Effective thermal […]
Digital twin for integration of design, manufacturing, and maintenance
Design, manufacturing, and maintenance of industrial equipment are usually managed separately, making them inefficient in terms of time and cost. Dr Ming-Liang Zhu, Dr Fu-Zhen Xuan and colleagues at East China University of Science & Technology develop the concept of digital twin technology to increase the efficiency of all phases that make up a product’s lifecycle. Their research offers a […]
Trifluoromethylpyridine: Its chemistry and applications
Trifluoromethylpyridine (TFMP) and its intermediates are important ingredients for the development of agrochemical and pharmaceutical compounds. The presence of a fluorine atom and a carbon-containing pyridine are thought to bestow many of the distinctive physical–chemical properties observed with this class of compounds. Dr Masamitsu Tsukamoto and Mr Tadashi Nakamura, of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd, Japan, take a closer look at this […]
A divide-and-conquer strategy for the vehicle routing problem
Solving the vehicle routing problem is vital for distribution and transportation businesses needing to ensure timely distribution and minimise costs. The multivehicle routing problem is a complex variation involving multiple vehicles and numerous destinations for goods. Jiaqi Li, a graduate student at The University of Hong Kong, Yun Wang at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, China, and Professor Ke-Lin Du at Concordia […]
Manufacturing on the nanoscale: Optomechanical sensors with multiphoton polymerization
Sensors are the eyes, ears, and noses of autonomous devices. Whether it’s designed to operate on land, in the air or on ground, any autonomous device needs a huge array of sensors to provide real-time information to maneuver or perform more complex tasks. The challenge is making sensors small and light enough that they do not add bulk to the […]