DESIGN IDEAS


ARTIFICIAL TONGUE HAS BOOTLEGGERS LICKED


Taste sensing device uses nano-technology to detect subtle differences in flavour and identify counterfeit whisky products


An artificial “tongue” that can taste subtle differences between drams of whisky could help cut down on the trade in counterfeit alcohol, according to a team of scientists from the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde. The miniature taste sensor exploits the


optical properties of gold and aluminium to test different whisky samples. Sub-microscopic nano-scale slices of the


two metals, arranged in a checkerboard pattern, act as “tastebuds” on the team’s artificial tongue. The researchers poured samples of whisky over the tastebuds – which are about 500 times smaller than their human equivalents – and measured


differences between different premium brands of whisky with greater than 99 per cent accuracy. It was capable of picking up on the subtler distinctions between the same whisky aged in different barrels, and tell the difference between the same whisky aged for 12, 15 and 18 years. Dr Alasdair Clark of the University of


❱❱ Nano-scale metallic slices can distinguish between premium whisky brands with greater than 99 per cent accuracy


how they absorb light while submerged. Statistical analysis of the very subtle


differences in how the metals in the artificial tongue absorb light –what scientists call their plasmonic resonance – allowed the team to identify different types of whiskies. The tongue was able to taste the


Glasgow’s School of Engineering explains that it is called an artificial tongue because it acts similarly to a human tongue. “Like us, it can’t identify the individual chemicals which make coffee taste different to apple juice but it can easily tell the difference between these complex chemical mixtures. Although the research was focused on


whisky, the artificial tongue could easily be used to “taste” virtually any liquid, which means it could have a variety of applications. “In addition to its obvious potential for


use in identifying counterfeit alcohols, it could be used in food safety testing, quality control, security; really any area where a portable, reusable method of tasting would be useful,” says clark.


DRONE INTERCEPTORS GO IN FOR THE KILL


An interceptor drone has been developed as part of a counter unmanned aerial system (UAS) project to detect and intercept unmanned aircraft or autonomous drone systems. Counter drone technology provides an additional dimension of force protection for military personnel as well as civilian installations and critical infrastructure. The system can be integrated with other


defence systems or can be manually initiated for target verification and for the interceptor drone to be launched to disable rotary or fixed-wing threats autonomously in any environment, day or night. According to Brian Schimpf, CEO of the


system developer, Anduril, unmanned aerial systems have long been notoriously difficult to defend against: they are widely available, inexpensive and dangerous in the wrong hands. “To counter this threat, our counter-UAS system applies automated target acquisition to give human operators the capability to quickly and effectively neutralise these growing aerial threats,” he says. As widely available consumer drone


technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, traditional radio frequency-


A counter-drone system with autonomous control takes a direct approach to disabling drones that pose a threat to critical infrastructure or air operations


❱❱ Autonomous interceptor drone designed to identify and disable other drones posing a threat


based counter UAS approaches are already becoming obsolete. Meanwhile, the number of credible threats reported by government agencies has risen as military bases,


forward deployed units, critical infrastructure and designated airspace are exposed to a growing asymmetric drone threat.


December 2019 /// Testing & Test Houses /// 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52