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ENGINEERING NEWSLETTER

Index Message from the Dean Artificial Heart Receives 2 US patents & is successfully trialled on sheep A collaboration between UTS, Micromedical industries and The Alfred Hospital Melbourne to develop a miniature implantable blood pump commonly known as an ?artificial heart? has taken a large step forward this year with the signing of 2 US patents and successful animal trials. In partnership with Alcatel Alcatel, a world leader in data and voice converged communications solutions, has formalised its longstanding relationship with UTS under a pioneering agreement..... Industry Advisory Network Activities in 2001 National 'Supernet' on the way A new ?super? Internet - hundreds of times faster than the current one - being designed by an Australian consortium will have huge ramifications for tele-health, media systems, information brokering, tele-collaboration and distance education. Ever thought of employing an intern ? New device 'Hypomon' to detect Hypoglycaemia Engineers at UTS have invented a device that will predict the onset of hypoglycaemia in diabetics and alert the patient, or someone who can help them. New Telecom Chairs Engineers must face the risks or face the costs Engineers as risk managers was the central theme at a University of Technology Sydney forum for engineering students and their industry partners recently. 2001 Sponsors & Scholars New Technologies for assessment of bridges Engineers at UTS have commenced a collaborative research project with the RTA and AustRoads to develop new technologies for cost-effective assessment of highway bridges. Engineering Consultants Facility to Research Mobile Phone Positioning Breakthrough research by UTS on the tracking and location of mobile phones is paying off with a new research and development facility in Sydney. Inaugural Hong Kong Graduation Internet Home Control system wins industry prize A home control system accessed via the internet, designed by two final year Engineering students, has won the UTS Industry Advisory Network Prize for Innovation. Prize-winning students proposes Waste Management changes A graduating Engineering student has produced recommendations for better management of hazardous household waste (HHW) in the Waverley area. Research Grants 2001 Students race to the front Students in the engineering faculty are designing and constructing a 600cc Formula SAE-A race car to compete against university teams from Australia and overseas in December this year. Kerb and Gutter Education Switching from conventional kerb and gutter drainage systems to more environmentally sensitive stormwater infiltration systems. Accelerated Masters programs for UTS graduates UTS Engineering graduates are now eligible to apply for an accelerated Engineering Research Masters degree at UTS. Prizes and Awards IAN Chairman receives honorary doctorate, Solar Sailor wins Australian Design Award, Teaching Award, Engineering Students receive the University medal. Power and Propane Powered by propane gas, the UTS boat "Go Bio" has won first place in the reduced emissions category of the Solar and Advanced Technology boat race held recently at Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. Contact Details

Artificial Heart Receives 2 US patents & is successfully trialled on sheep A collaboration between UTS, Micromedical industries and The Alfred Hospital Melbourne to develop a miniature implantable blood pump commonly known as an ?artificial heart? has taken a large step forward this year with the signing of 2 US patents and successful animal trials. Prime Minister John Howard unveiled the artificial heart as one of the Australian innovation success stories at the Questacon exhibition in Canberra in January. The heart is part of the "Our Clever Country" exhibition celebrating Australia?s science and technology achievements over the past 100 years. The first US patent covered all aspects of the "VentrAssist" rotary blood pump which was a significant milestone for the project. The market for VentrAssist Devices has been estimated at US$12 billion per annum with over 800,000 people in the US alone suffering from end stage heart failure. The US will be MicroMedical?s major market for the artificial heart. The second US patent has broadened the scope of the artificial heart?s unique bearing system to include exclusive hydrodynamic support. "The US patent is a milestone that protects our intellectual property rights in our largest potential market," said Micro-Medical?s CEO, Dr John Woodard. "It is an endorsement of the world-class research team we have." Research is continuing at UTS with Michael Chung, a UTS PhD student currently studying bearing systems and modelling the blood pump rotor dynamics under an APAI research grant. His research supervisor is Dr Nong Zhang and co-supervisor Dr Geoff Tansley (formerly of UTS now with MicroMedical industries). A sheep implanted with an artificial heart in Melbourne?s Alfred Hospital has given birth to a healthy male lamb. The birth is an Australian first and is one of a series of sheep to be implanted with the revolutionary artificial heart. Animal trials have been taking place over the past 18 months and are at an advanced stage, it is expected that the heart will be ready for human trials later this year. The original UTS research took place between 1997 to 1999 and was a collaborative project between the engineering faculty and Micromedical Industries, where they successfully designed and constructed a specialised centrifugual pump to act as an implantable left ventricular device (LVAD). The artificial heart is based on a rotary pump design. Unlike other artificial hearts it has no valves, seals, shafts nor bearings, which can cause serious side effects. Instead, VentrAssist has only one moving part, a suspended rotor, which directs the flow of blood. This allows substantial improvements in size, performance and cost over other devices. The principal designer at UTS was Dr Peter Watterson advised by Prof Vic Ramsden and John Reizes. Geoff Tansley optimised the blade shape and the sensorless electronic controller was developed by Bill Holliday. Charles Evans worked out how to make the pump and drew it up, then Stewart Gordon completed most of the accurate machining. back to top	Message from the Dean Developments within the faculty during the first 6 months of 2001, have seen an expansion of our links with industry and the securing of new collaborative research projects. It is my pleasure to provide a snapshot of some of these successes. ARCHIE JOHNSTON

In partnership with Alcatel Alcatel, a world leader in data and voice converged communications solutions, has formalised its longstanding relationship with UTS under a pioneering agreement that will provide a timely foundation for the growth of IT&T industry skills in Australia. The two organisations have announced a special "Education and Research Partnership" which highlights Alcatel?s commitment to research and development in Australia. For UTS, the deal reinforces the university?s focus on applied and professionally oriented scholarship, research, education, staff development and training. The agreement will provide critical postgraduate educational programs, corporate sponsorships, engineering scholarships and internships, staff exchanges and workplace R&D, designed to keep the Australian workforce abreast of the latest telecommunications technology. Part of the agreement is the establishment of an innovative Centre for Telecommunications Systems (CTS) signalling an Australian first in collaborative research and development. UTS Vice-Chancellor Professor Tony Blake said the partnership was an excellent example of the way UTS collaborates with industry. "It will provide our students and staff with the opportunity of working closely with a major international player in the telecommunications industry," he said. "By partnering in this way both the University and Alcatel will benefit enormously." The partnership was facilitated by the Faculty of Engineering through its Industry Advisory Network (IAN). The IAN brings together industry leaders, practising engineers, Faculty staff and students to discover and act on opportunities best tackled cooperatively. back to top	Industry Advisory Network Activities in 2001 The Faculty?s Industry Advisory Network (IAN) have had a busy start to 2001 providing advice and participating in a number of faculty activities including: ? Implementation of strategies to strengthen the Faculty?s Internship and Scholarship programs in 2001 and 2002. ? Provided advice on research capstone project proposal and the development of a Research Capstone Incubator. ? Establishment of sponsored Industry Leader Lecture Series. ? Advice on Industry Partnering initiatives. ? Participation in Orientation Camp for commencing students and in Scholarship Forum. ? Provided input to the selection processes of the Telecommunication and Kirby (Mechanical/Mechatronic) Chairs.

National 'Supernet' on the way A new ?super? Internet - hundreds of times faster than the current one - being designed by an Australian consortium will have huge ramifications for tele-health, media systems, information brokering, tele-collaboration and distance education. Senator Richard Alston, Federal Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, announced that The CSIRO led consortium will receive funding to establish a Centre for Networking Technologies for the Information Economy (CeNTIE). "These projects will establish leading-edge network infrastructure to bring research and industry development benefits to Australia," Senator Alston said when he made the announcement. The CeNTIE team is being led by CSIRO, other members of the team include Nortel Networks, AMCOM Telecommunications, the University of Technology Sydney, UNSW and the Western Australia Interactive Virtual Environments Centre. Professor Robin Braun, head of the Telecommunications group at UTS, will lead the Tele-collaboration work for CeNTIE. This project will bring in approximately $1m to the University over the next three years. Technologies for Tele-collaboration and distance education have long been promising to reduce the need for travel. "The network will deliver performance at a level not expected in commercial systems for five years, so we are bringing the future forward. Participants will be part of technology in the making. They will be using the network while new features are being developed and added to the system," says CeNTIE?s director Dr Terry Percival. "We are aiming to create the network capacity to make interactive surgical training possible, for example," says CSIRO business manager Gary Doherty. "This will mean that a student can practise surgery in Sydney, with an expert giving them guidance from Perth. Or you will be able to have more than one student connected, so that what you have is a virtual classroom with students in different cities." Mr Doherty says that it will help to make interactive telemedicine possible. "We can?t do these things using current technology because the capacity and performance needed is too great," says Dr Terry Percival. "The challenge is overcoming physical distance and time, capacity and expense are key considerations. We aim to develop the technology to continue to compete worldwide. Other countries such as the US and Canada are already developing their next-generation networks." back to top	Ever thought of employing an intern ? All Engineering students at UTS undertake two 6 month internships during the course of their BE studies. The course takes 5 years compared with 4 years at other universities and all students graduate with the combined award BE DipEngPrac UTS Interns represent an opportunity for your organisation to recruit a highly motivated, fast learning student to relieve pressure on your full time staff or undertake short term projects. Having a stream of interns also provides many opportunities to assess potential future full time employees. UTS makes it very easy for you. Simply fax in the job description and company registration forms which you can obtain from the web address below and we will send you a set of resumes of students interested in the position. You do the interviewing and selecting. Interns are available to start twice a year - in the period December to March, and in the period July to September. Internships are usually for between 6-8 months. For further information look at the web page on www.eng.uts.edu.au/internships Or call the Industry Partnering Unit on Tel: 02 9514 2592 or Tel: 02 9514 2026.

New device 'Hypomon' to detect Hypoglycaemia Engineers at UTS have invented a device that will predict the onset of hypoglycaemia in diabetics and alert the patient, or someone who can help them. Hypoglycaemia occurs when there is not enough glucose in the blood. UTS has invented a non-invasive device for measuring blood glucose levels in people with diabetes which could supersede painful traditional ways of sampling blood. Professor Hung Nguyen of the Faculty of Engineering and his team have named the ground-breaking hypoglycaemia monitor Hypomon. According to Professor Nguyen most severe hypoglycaemia episodes occurred during sleep and that early detection was vital for saving lives. He said Hypomon now offered patients with diabetes a painless way to identify hypoglycaemia episodes early. "Hypoglycaemia, or abnormally low blood glucose, is a potentially life-threatening diabetic condition that left untreated can lead to coma and death," Professor Nguyen said. It is the most common complication experienced by patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or Type 1 diabetes. Many IDDM patients cannot recognise the symptoms of hypoglycaemia, particularly at night. Our device is ideal when continuous monitoring is required. "What happens when you have low blood sugar is that your heart rate may increase, you become sweaty and your brainwaves shift slightly,"says Professor Nguyen. Hypomon is attached to a sleeping patient by means of electrodes while a portable microprocessor monitors physiological indicators such as sweating and heart rate. When these vital signs change in response to hypoglycaemia, an alarm alerts the patient, carer or parent. "There is no comparable non-invasive monitor currently in the marketplace that identifies hypoglycaemia conditions using physiological parameters such as skin moisture and heart signals." Professor Nguyen said plans were underway for a more advanced "wireless" model that would also include electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring of brain activity. With minimal modifications, Hypomon could also be used for monitoring babies susceptible to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome." back to top	New Telecom Chairs With the considerable expansion of the Telecommunications research area at UTS, the faculty has appointed 2 new chairs in Telecommunications. These Chairs will develop the existing research projects in the faculty and strive to attract new investment and collaborative projects with industry. Congratulations to the successful candidates who were: Professor Robin Braun, Group Head of Telecommunications at UTS who came to UTS from the University of Cape Town in South Africa in 1998. Peter White, previous Director of the Telecommunications Research & Development Group at the Illawara Technology Corporation (the commercial arm of the University of Wollongong).

Engineers must face the risks or face the costs Engineers as risk managers was the central theme at a University of Technology Sydney forum for engineering students and their industry partners recently. More than 20 major industry players attended the forum, which was held at the Australian Technology Park and sponsored by Rail Infrastructure Corporation (RIC). According to RIC Group General Manager for Safety and Standards Mike Hickey, "For engineers the consequences of not assessing or managing risk effectively could be possible prison terms, destroyed reputations and loss of livelihood." "Thinking in terms of risk means thinking in terms of consequences and the likelihood of something taking place that could wind up with people?s lives being ruined or lost." UTS Faculty of Engineering Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning Professor Warren Yates said society trusted that engineers "would get it right", in spite of being under pressure to experiment with new materials and improve performance, while also cutting costs. "Most of the time engineers do get it right, but sometimes there are unintended consequences and sometimes systems fail - whenever this happens the incident must be analysed, models altered and practice modified," Professor Yates said. "Perhaps engineers have been negligent in not raising the community?s awareness of the risk debate. People need to realise that there are always trade-offs. How much should safety be compromised to make sure trains run on time? How much should reliability be sacrificed to supply electricity more cheaply? "The community then could be in a position to learn from failures rather than give in to the tendency to look for a scapegoat." While the discussion about risk assumed a serious tone at the forum it did not overshadow the enthusiasm of participants for an unprecedented 27 engineering cooperative scholarships UTS had secured for 2001. Professor Yates said UTS engineering had seen the number of scholarship recipients more than triple in the past four years. back to top	2001 Sponsors & Scholars Congratulations to the 2001 scholars and a big thank you to this years sponsors who were: ADI Alcatel BAE Barclay Mowlem BT Financial Cardno/Ove Arup & Partners CI Technologies CISCO Systems Email Metering Insearch IPWEA Keycorp NDC Raytheon Rail Infrastructure Corporation Sydney Water Transgrid Vodafone

New Technologies for assessment of bridges Engineers at UTS have commenced a collaborative research project with the RTA and AustRoads to develop new technologies for cost-effective assessment of highway bridges. With approximately 40,000 road bridges in Australia, it is essential to have a low-cost versatile method to assess the degree and rate of their deterioration. The project will develop a process and suitable tools for dynamically determining damage to bridges, and will enable maintenance priorities to be determined. The innovative method to be used will reduce the time and resources needed to a fraction of that required for the costly and complex methods currently available, as well as offering a reliable damage detection technique. With some bridges over 100 years old, the Australian bridge stock is a legacy of materials, methods of construction, design and loads of the past. The load capacity and structural adequacy of a significant proportion of these bridges have been impaired over time, as a result of being subjected to more intense traffic loading than they were designed, and due to the aging process, often under adverse environmental conditions. A major challenge facing road authorities nationally is to develop effective strategies for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the extensive bridge stocks that form a key component of the road network under their control. Raising the efficiency and reliability of bridge maintenance practices has the potential not only to minimise costly unscheduled emergency repairs, but also to reduce the overall maintenance costs, whilst improving the operational effectiveness of the road network. The collaborative UTS research will be led by Professor Bijan Samali of the engineering faculty. Commencing in June 2001 the project is expected to bring approximately $100,000 to the faculty over the next two years. back to top	Engineering Consultants A new register has been compiled of UTS engineering consultants endorsed and supported by the Faculty. Consultants can provide services to clients in many sectors of industry, including: ? Feasibility Studies ? Expert opinions ? Product testing & design reviews ? Customised research If you would like a copy of the Register or would like to contact a consulting engineer, please contact: EXPERT ACCESS CONSULTING Tel: 02 9514 2151; Fax: 02 9514 1433 Email: consulting@insearch.edu.au.

Facility to Research Mobile Phone Positioning Breakthrough research by UTS on the tracking and location of mobile phones is paying off with a new research and development facility in Sydney. Cambridge Positioning Systems (CPS) will establish an Australian R&D arm to be headed by a world-leading expert in radio positioning techniques Professor Chris Drane of the UTS Faculty of Engineering. The aim of the work is to accurately locate phones within the complex webs of mobile networks, most importantly allowing emergency services to respond quickly to calls for help, but also as the basis of delivering other high accuracy location-based services. A year ago CPS acquired patents and recruited two members of the UTS research team that was one of the first in the world to demonstrate accurate location in Global System Mobile (GSM) networks. CPS was launched on the basis of parallel research undertaken at Cambridge University in the UK and is the world?s leading developer of the Enhanced Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) method of mobile location technology, called Cursor. Based on trials of CPS Cursor location technology, E-OTD has already been adopted by major network operators in the US. The US Federal Communications Commission has mandated that technology be in place by October 2001 to pinpoint emergency calls made from mobiles. back to top	Inaugural Hong Kong Graduation The first UTS graduation ceremony in Hong Kong was held on 7 July 2001. Archie Johnston, Dean of Engineering participated in the awarding of degrees to 39 Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) Graduates who studied under the Faculty?s arrangement with the Hong Kong Management Association. A further 10 engineering students graduated at the inaugural ceremony, who studied in Sydney but wished to Graduate in Hong Kong. The Dean hosted an Alumni event on Friday 6 July for all Engineering alumni in Hong Kong.

Internet Home Control system wins industry prize A home control system accessed via the internet, designed by two final year Engineering students, has won the UTS Industry Advisory Network Prize for Innovation. Peter Robbins and Shane Sluiter designed a user-friendly system for controlling household equipment, such as lights, kitchen appliances and heating units, remotely via the internet. "Our system is designed to utilise computing platforms that already, or will soon, exist in the home, such as set-top boxes, home gateways and the personal computer," said Mr Sluiter. "Our research indicated the need for a user-friendly system that provides seamless, integrated access to the home from any internet connected device," said Mr Robbins. Mr Robbins and Mr Sluiter were chosen as the winners from seven finalists selected from the final year UTS Engineering students. "I think this is a fairly prestigious prize, and that winning it will help us in finding future employment. I felt that all our hard work had paid off," said Mr Robbins. "We are also investigating the potential for commercial development of our research." back to top Prize-winning students proposes Waste Management changes A graduating Engineering student has produced recommendations for better management of hazardous household waste (HHW) in the Waverley area. Mark Alexander won the Dean?s Prize for the Best Oral Presentation of a final year project. HHW includes products such as paints, motor oil, batteries, cleaners, pesticides and aerosols. Mr Alexander proposed changes to waste collection services for the safety of the community, the environment and to increase community education about waste disposal. "I found that Waverley residents commonly dispose of HHW with the garbage or down the sink," said Mr Alexander. "This can result in injury to waste collectors, damage to sewage treatment plants and problems with landfill management. It also prohibits incineration as an alternative to landfill because of the potential for toxic emissions. "Waverley residents would like to properly dispose of their HHW, but do not have the opportunity," explained Mr Alexander. "From my survey, I concluded that the most favoured option was kerbside collection of HHW every 2 to 4 weeks using lockable collection containers for safety reasons. Only a single collection vehicle would be required for the whole area. A similar system has been successfully implemented in Belgium," said Mr Alexander. "Funding is the main barrier to establishing such a program". Mr Alexander was thrilled to be chosen as the winner of the Dean?s Prize for the best oral presentation. back to top	Research Grants 2001 ARC LARGE GRANTS ? Measurement and modeling of 3D magnetic properties of soft magnetic materials. Dr J. Zhu & Dr J.D. Sievert -$204,000 ARC SPIRT GRANT ? Mind Switch control of implantable stimulators for the profoundly disabled. Prof. A. Craig & Prof. H. Nguyen - $133,860 ARC FELLOWSHIP GRANTS ? Novel antenna techniques for high performance indoor wireless comm-unication systems for home and business. Dr A. Sanagavarapu - $66,876 ? Transient characteristics of automatic transmissions. Dr N. Zhang - $250,876 UTS INCENTIVE GRANTS ? Waste clay brick as a renewable resource material for the building and construction industry. Prof. Steve Bakoss - $25,000 ? Early detection of breast cancer: reduction of missed cases. Prof. Hung Nguyen - $25,000 UTS ATN SMALL GRANTS SCHEME ? Design of a novel microfiltration hybrid system in wastewater reuse. Professor Saravanamthu Vigneswaran - $ 15,000. ? Control effect of a synthetic jet actuator on boundary layer flow under adverse pressure gradient. Dr Guang Hong, S. Mallison & M. Gaston - $ 10,000. ? Improving relevance of web search results using semantically related content and structures to provide a search context. Dr David Lowe - $ 10,000. ? Experimental investigation on performance of reduced models of tall buildings used for structural control. Dr Nong Zhang & Bijan Samali - $ 15,000. ? The fundamental study of bubble dynamics under Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) effects. Dr Jafar Madadnia & John Reizes - $ 8,000. INTERNAL RESEARCH GRANTS ? Robust Control and Estimation using Variable Structure Systems. Dr Q. P. Ha - $ 15,000 ? Multilevel Design Models, Algorithms and their Applications. Dr Dikai Liu - $20,000 LOCAL GOVERNMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM ? Timber Bridge Testing Project 2nd stage $100,000 to IPWEA with Prof?s Bijan Samali, Keith Crews & Steve Bakoss attracting the majority of this grant to UTS.

Students race to the front Students in the engineering faculty are designing and constructing a 600cc Formula SAE-A race car to compete against university teams from Australia and overseas in December this year. The building of a high performance vehicle capable of 0-100 kph in approx. 5 seconds and generating cornering forces in excess of any car found on the road will present a challenge to the students. UTS will compete for the first time in the competition against teams from overseas including the USA, UK, Canada & Japan. The team must design and construct the car, consider the costs of construction and present a sales presentation on the vehicle. Team leader Aaron Burke feels, "The competition extends the UTS engineering idea of in-depth work experience, by effectively having the students? run their own company. The students will use the skills they have learned at university, and develop their hands-on skills as they are required to fabricate as much of the car as possible. Finances for the project must be raised by the team through industry sponsorship. Some current sponsors include, amongst others, Kawasaki Australia, who have rebuilt an engine for the team, Haltech (Engine Management Systems), M & W Ignitions (Electrical Components) and Kelray (Fuel Systems) who have donated both parts and their time and services. The SAE-A group has organised a group of in-kind sponsors such as OneSteel, Unbrako & Utilux who are providing their products at cost or for free. The UTS team would like to eventually take the car to compete in the US after the Melbourne event. The US event has become so well known in the industry that major employers have been known to head hunt the top students at the competition. Organisations interested in becoming involved with the UTS Formula SAE-A team, can contact the student team captain, Aaron Burke on: Mob: 0417-216-218 or email: akburke@ozemail.com.au back to top	Kerb and Gutter Education The NSW Environment Protection Authority commissioned Simon Beecham of the Faculty of Engineering to produce a web-based community education package dealing with the switch from conventional kerb and gutter drainage systems to more environmentally sensitive stormwater infiltration systems. These systems were initially installed in Woy Woy. They have been monitored for several years to determine their efficiency and contaminant capture by capstone project students of Simon Beecham and Pam Hazelton. The kerb and gutter system transports a host of pollutants from our urban catchments to rivers, lakes and oceans. Blue-green algal blooms, beach closures and littered waterways are just some of the resulting social and environmental impacts caused by piped stormwater drainage systems. The project is funded through a $66,000 grant and is due to be completed by mid-June.

Accelerated Masters programs for UTS graduates UTS Engineering graduates are now eligible to apply for an accelerated Engineering Research Masters degree at UTS. Eligible students will be able to complete their work-based masters in just one additional year after their U/G degree. In a normal program students would receive a BE DipEngPrac in 5 years. A Masters would take at least an additional 2 years. With this new accelerated program, it takes only 1 additional year. For many graduates, the normal scenario does not consider the quality of their capstone project reports. These frequently demonstrate achievement allowing much quicker completion of the requirements for a masters. For UTS graduates in full time employment, the new program means the ME (by Thesis) could be completed, on the basis of research undertaken at work, within one calendar year. Recently, various employers of UTS interns and graduates have expressed strong interest in articulating capstone projects. Some have indicated an immediate willingness to sponsor capstone projects which integrate work and study, and allow a research degree to be completed as a component of the R&D work assigned to their graduate engineers. Employers or graduates seeking further information on this program should contact the faculty. back to top

PRIZES AND AWARDS IAN Chairman receives honorary doctorate At the recent UTS graduation ceremony, former Chairman of Ove Arup & Partners, Dr John Nutt, was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree. He told Engineering graduates that many envied the UTS practice-based curriculum. "Students undertake engineering internships and work in industry for a year before graduation. This contiguous mix of academic requirements woven into a structured application of practice is a powerful formula," he said. "It is a three-way partnership: student, university, industry. It shapes attitudes. "The students who go to UTS make a conscious choice. The course is a year longer. They are already business oriented through background or necessity. They have the qualities of leadership and entrepreneurship. But the cost of implementing the curriculum is more expensive. "It seems to me that there is a strong case for financial recognition of what UTS is doing in the next round of defining the national research and development initiatives. "If we as a nation wish to win work overseas, we must invest in research and innovation now. If we delay, we will follow the route of many of our manufacturing industries, owned and controlled from afar, using imported technologies. "UTS has it successes and its supporters in industry who share the ideals of the Engineering Faculty. Industry can help UTS forge networks through in-depth partnering, by scholarship and internship program support, and by Capstone Program development. The future is ripe with opportunities." back to top	Solar Sailor wins Australian Design Award Solar Sailor has won the Australian Design Award for the Engineering Design category for 2000-2001. UTS collaborated in the design of the high efficiency electric motors for marine applications. The motors have only one moving part and high torque enabling direct drive to the propeller without the need for a gearbox. The motors were one of the three reasons Solar Sailor stated as representing design excellence in order to win the award. Solar Sailor has exceeded the operator? expectations and received universal positive feedback from customers. Over 50 expressions of interest have been received in the product for the tourism, eco-tourism and passenger transport markets.

Power and Propane Powered by propane gas, with about half the CO2 emissions of petrol, the UTS boat "Go Bio" has won first place in the reduced emissions category of the Solar and Advanced Technology boat race held recently at Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra. The race formed part of the Australian Science Festival and the UTS team received three awards on the day: first place and fastest lap time in the reduced emissions category, and "Best Tertiary Performance." Most competitors employed solar cell and/or battery driven electric boats. However, these can be cumbersome in small craft and a total environmental impact analysis reveals that they are not perfect. "Our idea is that biomass-derived fuels are worthy of promotion in this race," Engineering Lecturer Mr John Dartnall said. Most people think of methane gas as being the only available gas derivable from biological sources. Methane is naturally produced from animals and the normal decomposition of biological materials. It therefore does not increase the total carbon (carbon dioxide) on the surface of the earth or in the atmosphere, unlike mined fuels that bring extra carbon to the surface. "Research now indicates similar biological production of propane may be possible, justifying our use of propane as a renewable bio-fuel. Propane is a practical fuel because it is liquifiable and stored in normal household gas cylinders. "We have students studying here from Bangladesh who are looking into alternative fuel solutions. In countries like Bangladesh solar-powered boats are just not a practical solution at the current stage." back to top	Teaching Award Professor Hung Nguyen, Faculty of Engineering has received a UTS Teaching Award for 2000, the award was presented at the May 2001 Graduation ceremony. UTS recognises its responsibility for providing the highest quality education for its students. One of the most significant factors in achieving this is the provision of excellent teaching. The University has therefore introduced this competitive scheme to encourage and reward teaching excellence. Engineering Students receive the University medal ? Peter Daniel Robbins ? Christopher Scott ? Daniel Robert Judson Certificate of Recognition Has been awarded to Ian Hutchings for his initiatives in reducing health and safety risks and changing H&S practices in the Faculty.

Contact Details This newsletter was compiled with the assistance of staff in the faculty and the UTS Media office. Editorial: Rona Booth Comments and Enquiries: Tel: 02 9514 2637; Fax: 02 9514 2611; Email: Rona.Booth@uts.edu.au back to top