Complete the text. Use the following words (electricity, driven by compressed air, consist of, feasible, breaks down, provide, need of an external power supply, on strike)

A broken cable or a soiled connector? If a machine in a factory goes (1…), it could be for any of a thousand reasons. Self-sufficient sensors that (2…) their own power supply will soon make these machines more robust.

When a factory machine (3 …), it’s hard to know what to do. Production often comes to a standstill until the error has finally been pinpointed – and that can take hours. The causes are legion; in many cases it is all due to a single interrupted contact. Consequently, many manufacturers have long been hoping for a technology that will work without vulnerable power and data cables. The idea is basically (4 …), using small devices that harvest energy from their surroundings and provide their own power supply rather like a solar calculator.

Experts speak of energy self-sufficient sensor-actuator systems. These high-tech components normally (5 …) a sensor, a processor and a radio module. They measure position, force or temperature and transmit the data instantaneously by radio. In this way, vital machine data reach the control center without using cables at all. Is the machine overheating? Is the drive shaft wearing out?

So far, however, there are hardly any off-the-shelf solutions with their own energy supply. Research scientists from the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group TEG in Stuttgart have now joined forces with industrial partners and universities in the EnAS project, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, to build a transportable demonstrator. This is a miniature conveyer system (6 …) that transports small components in an endless cycle.

The round workpieces are picked up by a vacuum gripper, transported a short way and set down on a small carrier, which conveys the parts back to the starting point. All steps of the process are monitored by sensors as usual. The special feature of the demonstrator is that the sensing elements have no (7 …).

The machine uses photo diodes, for instance, to check whether the carrier has been correctly loaded – if so, the light from the diodes is obscured by the workpieces. Solar cells supply the energy for this workpiece detector. Another example is pressure sensors which monitor the work of the vacuum gripper. In this case, the power is supplied by piezoelectric flexural transducers. The piezoelectric elements contain ceramics that generate (8 …) on being deformed. This deformation happens when the vacuum pump is switched on and off. The electricity thus generated is sufficient to send an OK signal to the central control unit. The sensor thus draws its power from pressurized air that is present anyway.

Within the next two years, the various system components are expected to make their way into everyday industrial use.

1. Read the texts about Rolls-Royce Company. Find additional information about this company. Make a presentation ‘ Rolls-Royce. Company overview’.

The texts are taken fromhttp://www.rolls-royce.com/

http://www.rolls-royce.com/investors/company_profile/company_overview/index.jsp

Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce, a world-leading provider of power systems and services for use on land, at sea and in the air, operates in four global markets – civil aerospace, defense aerospace, marine and energy. It continues to invest in core technologies, products, people and capabilities with the objective of broadening and strengthening the product portfolio, improving efficiency and enhancing the environmental performance of its products. These investments create high barriers to entry.

The company has established strong positions within programmes that will shape the power-systems market for many years to come. The success of its products is demonstrated by rapid and substantial gains in market share. The company now has a total of 54,000 gas turbines in service worldwide and they generate a demand for high-value services throughout their operational lives.

The company seeks to add value for its customers with aftermarket services that will enhance the performance and reliability of its products. Services revenues have grown by ten per cent per annum compound over the past ten years.

Rolls-Royce has a broad customer base comprising 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces, more than 2,000 marine customers including 70 navies, and energy customers in 120 countries. Rolls-Royce is a technology leader, employing 38,000 people in offices, manufacturing and service facilities in 50 countries.

Annual sales total £7.4 billion, of which 53 per cent are services revenues. The firm and announced order book is £26.1 billion, of which aftermarket services represent 38 per cent, providing visibility of future levels of activity.

Our strategy

The text is taken fromhttp://www.rolls-royce.com/about/what_do/strategy/index.jsp

Address four global markets. We are a leading power systems company operating in the civil and defense aerospace, marine and energy markets. Invest in technology, capability and infrastructure. Over the past five years, we have invested £3.5 billion in research and development. We invest approximately £30 million annually on training and some £300 million a year on capital projects.

Develop a competitive portfolio of products and services.

We have more than 50 current product programmes, and we are involved in many of the major future projects in the markets we serve. These key projects will define the power systems market for many years. Grow market share and installed product base.

Across the Group, the installed base of engines in service is expected throughout their long product lives to generate attractive returns over several decades.

Add value for our customers through the provision of product-related services.

We seek to add value for our customers with aftermarket services that will enhance the performance and reliability of our products.

LESSON 18

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16