Technology post 2/28

There is a competition seeking designs for the Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge that was launched in early December last year as part of a regeneration plan for the Nine Elms area. Around $40 million has already been committed to the project as part of the regeneration process, with plans for the chosen design to be used as a means of attracting additional funding. The total cost is expected to be around $62 million. The submitted designs are being exhibited anonymously in London this week. They have also been made available to view on the competition website.  In March, a jury will shortlist up to four designs to take forward to the next stage. The winning design is expected to be revealed later this year. 

Technology Post 2/12

Students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California designed the ultimate rubber band race car known as Cirin. They created it to compete in the school's Formula E Race. The car's mechanical layout was arranged using SolidWorks software, after which several physical prototypes were built and tested. Construction of the final version's body was sponsored by the 3D printing company SolidConcepts. The single elastic band that powers Cirin is wound into 8-inch loops, and runs within a carbon fiber tube between two bolts – one located at the car's front, and the other in the geared drive mechanism at the rear. That band is manually wound by removing the nose cone, and then held tight until go-time via a servo motor.