Category: News & Updates

In the world of engineering, improving people’s lives through advanced technology is always a big concern. Researchers across the world continuously innovate and create small-scale robotics and particles that will ensure accurate targeting in future treatments.

Soft Robotics Advancements

Soft robotics have been emerging as of late, with major institutes and universities researching and developing robots capable of moving more efficiently and transforming themselves to fit into smaller spaces or perform tasks difficult to humans. In 2007, Professor Cecilia Laschi of the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Italy introduced a soft robot that moved like a mollusc. It has an internal structure based on springs and an external surface composed of silicone. Although the reception at the time wasn’t positive, recent innovations are seeing the field of soft robotics expand.

At Stanford University, a team of researchers has developed a ‘soft robot’ composed of polyethylene, which gives it a transparent look. Resembling a tube, the robot can move forward through extending itself to a maximum length of 72 metres, or 236 feet. After it has been fully inflated, the robot can lift objects weighing as much as 100kg, or 220 pounds.

This development can aid rescuers during emergency situations, easily locating and reaching survivors who rescue workers can’t reach. Laura Blumschein, one of the co-authors and graduate students of the paper introducing this robot, stated that “the applications we’re focusing on are those where the robot moves through a difficult environment, where the features are unpredictable and there are unknown spaces.”

A robot capable of folding itself into origami has been developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The robot can also be swallowed in capsule form, unfolding as it travels within the body. Controlled externally, it can help to remove foreign objects, deliver medicine, and patch wounds. Other industries, such as construction and machinery, can also make use of this robot to fix small cracks.

Nanoparticles to Attack Cancer Cells

Developed in collaboration with the Dalian University of Technology in China, researchers from Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute have created ferrite nanoparticles (Zn-co-Cr) that can reach temperatures of 45°C and then stop the heating process by themselves. These nanoparticles will be able to aid with hyperthermic therapy, which utilises heat to target cancer. This therapy, however, damages non-cancerous tissue, as temperatures need to be controlled between 42°C and 45°C.

Head of the Advanced Technology Institute at the University of Surrey, Professor Ravi Silva, stated that “this could potentially be a game changer in the way we treat people who have cancer.

“If we can keep cancer treatment sat at a temperature level high enough to kill the cancer, while low enough to stop harming healthy tissue, it will prevent some of the serious side effects of vital treatment.”

Magnetism heats the nanoparticles as they are injected into the body for hyperthermic therapy. The treatment’s temperature is controlled by inducing the Curie temperature, the point at which the materials’ permanent magnetic properties are lost. As the nanoparticles have very low toxicity, they are also very unlikely to cause any permanent damage to the body.

Associate Professor at the Dalian University of Technology, Dr Wei Zhang, said that “Magnetic induced hyperthermia is a traditional route of treating malignant tumours. However, the difficulties in temperature control have significantly restricted its usage.

“By making magnetic materials with the Curie temperature fall in the range of hyperthermia temperatures, the self-regulation of therapeutics can be achieved. For the most magnetic materials, however, the Curie temperature is much higher than the human body can endure. By adjusting the components as we have, we have synthesised the nanoparticles with the Curie temperature as low as 34°C. This is a major nanomaterials breakthrough.”

Here at European Springs, we are always excited about the developments in the different sectors of the engineering industry. The future of engineering is looking bright, with robots and nanotechnology being developed to improve people’s lives.

You can get in touch with us to find out how we can help you with your projects.

2040, the year where sales of new petrol and diesel cars are banned, might seem a long time off and yet we’ve been working behind the scenes as Electric Vehicle component manufacturers supplying to the EV chain for some time.

Positioning ourselves as a collaborative partner alongside a number of leading electric car innovators, engineers and manufacturers, we have diversified our product portfolio and invested in future technologies to continue improving our service and expertise in this developing market.

Supplying components for EV transmissions, electric drive motors, electric drive modules and thermal management, comprising of key technologies and advanced materials across a range of electric capabilities, we have achieved rapid growth in a rapidly advancing market.

Hyundai recently joined a number of other established brands that have committed to developing EVs, including Volvo (who have said every vehicle it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor) Volkswagen, Chevrolet, Porsche, Toyota and Nissan and with EV sales up by 45% this year from 2016, and prices generally dropping, it’s easy to assume electric cars may soon dominate the auto industry.

The National Grid predicts that by 2050, there could be up to 26 million electric vehicles on the road in the UK. Growth in electric vehicles alone could save 2m barrels of oil per day by 2025.

European Springs & Pressings is proud to be part of a network of EV engineers and manufacturers supporting a cleaner, more energy-efficient world.

The engineering industry is always changing and modernising, updating their technology and keeping with the fast paced world we live in. Here at European Springs, we like to keep on top of the latest engineering news, and with this year being very tech and science heavy, we aren’t short of a news article or two. Want to know whats been going on lately?

Custom Robots in Minutes?

Researchers have created a new system under the name of ‘Interactive Robogami’, but what does this allow you to do?

Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence laboratory are getting extremely close to being able to easily and quickly craft working robot designs, allowing you to design a robot in minutes and then 3D print it in less than 4 hours.

The technology allowed users to focus on high-level conceptual design, letting the designer choose from over 50 bodies, wheels, legs and peripherals and well as different steps or gaits. It also analyses factors of speed and stability so that when moving the robot won’t fall over. Once designed, the 3D Printing connects the joints and folds the design into a final shape.

Charging Ahead with Zinc-Air Batteries

Researchers in Australis have found a possible solution for one of the biggest falling points which prevent zinc-air batteries from overtaking conventional lithium-ion sourced batteries.

While zinc batteries are currently used in many useful products such as film cameras and railway signal devices, up until now they have been hindered by the recharging factor. They have a lack of electro catalysts which reduce and generates oxygen during charging and discharging.

The new catalyst for the batteries is produced through control of composition, size, and crystallinity of metal oxides, which can be applied to lithium Ion rechargeable batteries. Will this be the less expensive solution for previously used batteries,?

Do You Understand the Nature of a Tiny Particle?

Research from the University of New Hampshire has developed a new technique to determine the surface area, the volume and the size of the grain, but how?

Due to the nature of their tiny size, irregular shape, and limited viewing possibilities, our technology can’t always capture the entire objects shape of a particle, usually leaving out valuable information. The study reveals that the technique uses 3D models to mathematically estimate the extent of the object and measure it more accurately.

This technique could be most vital for medicine, where new blood tests require assessing the shape and property of specimens and samples which is challenging.

Healing Organs with a Single Touch

Researchers have been busy developing a device which can switch cell function to rescue a failing body function, with a single touch. What is this technology and what will it do?

This process is referred to as Tissue Nano transfection, where through lab testing the process healed badly injured legs of mice in a mere three weeks, by the touch of a chip.

It works by converting normal skin cells into vascular cells, which assists the wounds in healing. Even though the researchers tested this method on mice and pigs it still proved successful in reprogramming the skin cells that lacked blood flow. It also showed to reprogram skin cells in the live body into nerve cells which were injected into mice who were brain injured, helping them to recover from a stroke. They are planning to begin human tests next year.

Here at European Springs, we are always getting excited about new and innovative technologies in the engineering industry and when the updates are as positive and forward thinking as these recent ones, we can’t help but share it with you. As leading experts in the design and manufacturing of springs, we understand the importance of new research and solutions. If you would like to know any more information regarding our services and bespoke solutions, please get in touch with our team.