NEWS | EUREKA!
3PADR PTRSIN KTILELD BACTERIA
RESEARCHERS FROM THE
University of She eld have
manufactured 3D printed parts
that show resistance to common
bacteria. This could stop the
spread of infections such as MRSA
in hospitals and care homes.
The research combined
3D printing with a silver-based
antibacterial compound.
Results have shown that the
anti-bacterial compound can be
successfully incorporated into
existing 3D printing materials
without any negative in uence
on processability or part
strength, and that under the
right conditions, the resultant
parts demonstrate anti-bacterial
properties without being toxic
to human cells. Further work is
ongoing to investigate the full
extent of this capability.
The compound is suitable for
applications including medical
devices, general parts for hospitals
which are subject to high levels
of human contact, door handles
or children’s toys, oral health
products (dentures) and consumer
products, such as mobile phone
cases. Further projects are planned
in each of these areas, with an aim
to work with leaders in industry
and the potential to bring some of
these products to market.
Dr Candice Majewski, lead
academic on the project, said:
“Managing the spread of harmful
bacteria, infection and the
increasing resistance to antibiotics
is a global concern. Introducing
antibacterial protection to
products and devices at the
point of manufacture could be an
essential tool in this ght.”
aEunthoannocminogu s vehicle safety
FLIR SYSTEMS AND ANSYS are
collaborating to improve hazard
detection capabilities for assisted
driving and autonomous vehicles
(AVs) — which could increase safety.
FLIR Systems will integrate a fully
physics-based thermal sensor into
ANSYS’ driving simulator to model,
test, and validate thermal camera
designs within an ultra-realistic
virtual world.
Paul Clayton, general manager
at FLIR Systems, said: “Enabling
engineers, automakers and auto
suppliers to rapidly simulate and test
countless scenarios greatly reduces
reliance on physical prototype
testing while cutting development
costs and the time required to
test. This results in increasing the
adoption of thermal technology in
automotive safety to help save lives
and livelihoods.”
Current AV and advanced driver
assistance systems (ADAS) sensors
cannot dependably identify objects
in darkness and through smog,
inclement weather, shadows and sun
glare. Thermal cameras, however,
can e ectively detect and classify
objects in these conditions.
Eric Bantegnie, vice president and
general manager at ANSYS, added:
“FLIR Systems’ automotive thermal
cameras enhance the safety and
reliability of ADAS, creating smarter
AVs that improve decision making in
challenging road environments.”
8 WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK | MARCH 2020
/WWW.EUREKAMAGAZINE.CO.UK