Top Stories

• Sale in Aisle 6
  
  Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  With wireless technology, shoppers can learn which items are on sale without having to search for price tags or shelf labels.
  
• Is The Door Locked?
  
  Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  No matter where you are, wireless technology can bring peace of mind. Homeowners who think they left a door open can easily tap networks to see if locks are set.
  
• Checking Truck Doors at 60 mph
  
  Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  As large trucks use more electronics, it's becoming easier to monitor things like tires, door latches, temperature sensors and cargo sensors.
  
• Zero Motorcycles Launches Electric Bike
  
  Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  Zero Motorcycles' Zero DS dual-sport motorcycle runs entirely on electricity.
  
• Insulation and Air Sealing Saves Energy at Home
  
  Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  Owens Corning's EnergyComplete™ home insulation and air sealing system is designed to combine savings, safety and affordability.
  
• Flexible, Eco-Friendly DVD
  
  Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor, November 1, 2009
  CD Digital Card has produced a new optical disc, the Flex DVD, that is lightweight, flexible and uses only half the polycarbonate chemicals of a standard DVD-5.
  
• Dassault to Acquire IBM's PLM Sales And Consulting Arm
  
  Beth Stackpole, contributing editor, October 29, 2009
  IBM is selling its PLM sales and consulting arm to long-time partner Dassault in a deal both say will let the companies focus on their core competencies while giving users a more streamlined engagement and contract process.
  
• New Technology Yields Bioplastic Molding Blends
  
  Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, October 26, 2009
  There are a growing number of realistic options for use of bioplastics for design engineering applications. The latest: starch blended with high-impact polystyrene.
  
• Study Says EVs Won't Sell if Oil Prices Don't Rise
  
  Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, October 23, 2009
  A new study from Lux Research contends that battery-powered electric cars and plug-in hybrids will struggle during the next decade unless gasoline prices triple.
  
• Plastic Radio Case Slashes Assembly Costs
  
  Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, October 21, 2009
  Weight and assembly time are reduced with a patent-pending system of embedding a Farraday cage in a molded plastic radio housing.
  
• Rechargeable Batteries Extend Their Reach
  
  Maury Wright, Contributing Writer, October 21, 2009
    New battery chemistries, recipes and packaging are powering a wide range of new applications, from miniature electronics to industrial vehicles. Selecting the right battery for the design is key.
  
• COMSOL Makes Multiphysics More CAD-Like
  
  Beth Stackpole, contributing editor, October 20, 2009
  COMSOL Multiphysics Version 4.0 borrows from the familiar CAD tool users interface to put multiphysics simulation within reach of mainstream engineers.
  
• LEDs Brighten New Mustang
  
  Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, October 19, 2009
    Ford's new 2010 Mustang has broadened its use of LEDs, placing the technology in the rear seat, as well as in map pockets, cup holders and even in the door sill plate.
  
• Consider High-Performance Films to Solve Engineering Problems
  
  Doug Smock, October 16, 2009
  High-quality, thin-gauge films made from high-performance plastics are relatively new tools in the design engineering arsenal that can solve a wide variety of problems.
  
• Siemens NX 7.0 Goes HD with Visual Analytics
  
  Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor, October 15, 2009
  Siemens PLM Software's NX 7.0 upgrade sports enhancements to the Synchronous Technology modeling environment along with HD3D, a new visual analytics tool.
  
• Lamborghini Gives Auto Composites a Huge Boost
  
  Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, October 15, 2009
    The Seattle area is rapidly becoming an American and global center for carbon composites research and development.
  
• Cataloging Reasons to Stick with Paper
  
  Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor, October 14, 2009
  Print catalogs aren't surrendering their role to the Web yet, and that makes both engineers and distributors quite happy.
  
• Intelligent Air Valve
  
  Al Presher, Contributing Editor, October 13, 2009
  Proportion Air's MizAir^® technology shuts off air supply to the pump at the midpoint of each stroke, creating energy efficiency.
  
• All Engineers Need to Understand Electronics
  
  Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, October 13, 2009
  2009 Design News survey shows that all engineers - mechanical, electrical, manufacturing and software - need to be comfortable in the electronic realm
  
• Do the Math: Improve Power Losses in DC-DC Converters
  
  Design News Staff, October 13, 2009
  Power systems industry expert Alan Elbanhawy found a way to optimize battery life in notebook computers using mathematics software Maple.