Nanotechnology And The Automotive Industry example essay topic

ABSTRACT This report was commissioned to investigate the current and future trends of nanotechnology in the automotive industry. Furthermore, its purpose is to ascertain whether it is necessary, and how it could be achieved for students undertaking a BSc (Nanotechnology) at Curtin University to be equipped to work in the automotive industry. To investigate this issue a wide and varied multimedia research task was undertaken to fully identify all the factors involved. A report was then compiled detailing the findings and the recommendations that arose from the research. The results indicate that there is a fast growing trend of nanotechnology in the automotive industry, that has started already and is moving rapidly. By 2010 nanotechnology will represent a significant portion of the industry, and will be vitally important to everyone involved, especially the large automotive companies.

There are many exciting job prospects in this highly profitable field for experts in nanotechnology, therefore it is recommended that the BSc (Nanotechnology) offered at Curtin University be adapted to include two new units. The first will be run in first year in collaboration with the Curtin Business School, and will offer students a chance to learn about the business side of the automotive industry. They will learn how to manage companies, and fit in with large ones, in a business sense. The second unit will be offered in third year, when students have a solid foundation of physics, chemistry and nanotechnology. It will be a unit shared with the appropriate engineering degrees and taught by the engineering staff.

The unit will give students a thorough understanding of conventional engines and car production procedures. They will then have a good idea of how to adapt their vast knowledge of nanotechnology to the process. The writer would like to thank Dr Drexler for giving up his precious time to answer our questions and Dr Abbs for providing a good base of support and help. 1 Introduction 1.1 Nanotechnology today is a very broad and varied field. It has ramifications across all many industrials areas, including the automotive industry. As the field develops and the technology advances, the applications in conventional areas will broaden.

Therefore, it is essential that those studying nanotechnology today be properly equipped to affect, and adapt to, these changes. The term 'nanotechnology' is not clearly defined. There are many different definitions, and meanings. However, it is often described as either, future, including na no assemblers and robots, or as a broad term meaning any current technology which deals with small systems. To be small enough to be considered as nanotechnology, the system must have at least one dimension of less than 100. The following definition of nanotechnology by Drexler, states,' There are two sorts of 'nanotechnology', which should not be confused.

The first is a long-term objective of productive, small devices that build complex structures, both large and small, with atomic precision. The second is a label for a broad collection of ongoing research activities, many in the area of materials science. My work is in the former area. ' (E Drexler pers comm. 2005) The automotive industry could see large benefits, from both areas in the present and near future. So if these changes are coming, how do we equip our nanotechnology students to deal with, or implement them?

There are many options discussed below, all have associated pros and cons, however it is clear that something must be done, and soon. 2 Automotive nanotechnology today 2.1 The second type of nanotechnology, as described by Drexler in the introduction, is already in use within the automotive industry. ' A plastic is being used for 'step assists' in the GM Safari and Astro Vans. It is scratch-resistant, light-weight, and rust-proof, and generates improvements in strength and reductions in weight, which lead to fuel savings and increased longevity. And in 2001, Toyota started using in a bumper that makes it 60% lighter and twice as resistant to denting and scratching. ' (Harper T, 2005) It is likely that when Toyota or GM were looking for employees to help develop and integrate this technology, those with education in both nanotechnology and the automotive industry would have a good chance of employment.

For this type of application, students would benefit from training with a business and industry perspective of the current automotive industry. 2.2 Initiatives involving this type of nanotechnology are constantly being researched and developed by scientists and engineers within the automotive industry. Automobiles are moving forward with alarming speed today. Every year a new edition will be released for virtually all makes and models, and every year new impressive technological advancements are integrated into them.

Drexler predicts, 'Large increases in strength of materials, hence lighter vehicles. ' (E Drexler, pers comm. 2005). Nanotechnology uses impressive today, to achieve drastic weight reduction in vehicles.

This works by integrated conventional materials with to increase strength. This means the new " " can be much less dense, therefore much lighter. 2.3 Broadly, a is simply a single manufactured particle with at least one dimension less than 100. Unfortunately the synthesis of such particles is not as simple as its definition. One Japanese research team spent over twenty years developing a, which as yet does not even have a practical use. (ref? ?) Two of the major problems being encountered by teams are what Smalley refers to as 'big fingers and sticky fingers'. (ref) Because atoms and molecules are so small, assembling na no sized devices and even particles has been likened to picking up grains of rice with chopsticks the size of skyscrapers, hence 'big fingers'.

Also, Smalley theorizes that even if individual atoms could be picked up, how would they be put down? This leads to the 'sticky fingers' analogy. So the research continues, but already useful and innovative have been incorporated into vehicles and it is only a matter of time before these initiatives become significant. 3 Automotive nanotechnology tomorrow 3.1 While there are some applications in use today, they are negligible compared with the massive impact nanotechnology will have in the future. ' There are a few major automobile companies in the stage of research and primary applications of nanotechnology today.

By 2010 all the automobile manufacturers and a large part of the suppliers will be involved in this field. ' (Helmut Kaiser, 2003). In the future, the more radical developments will be dominated by the first definition of nanotechnology described by Drexler. 'Productive will provide a new basis for fabrication, producing the full range of today's products and more, with low cost and atomic precision. It will affect and transform all areas of technology that are affected by how atoms are arranged. ' (E Drexler, pers comm., 2005).

This futuristic technology will be responsible for such amazing visions as, self healing car bodies, paint jobs changing colour according to mood, zero emissions and other remarkable visions. Of course, today these things are very much vis ions and there are some who believe that they will remain that way for the idea defies the laws of science. However there are many, like Drexler actively working to make the vision a reality. ' The dominating trends of the science and technology go to the. The automotive industry will benefit from this trend by getting advanced powertrain, using new energy, reducing car weight, enhancing material functions, increasing comfort degree & flexibility, raising cost efficiency and so on.

' (Helmut Kaiser, 2003). There are many technological advancements being made today that are helping to make productive a reality. One of the former problems associated with this field was the inability to see with enough resolution in the. However, thanks to remarkable advancements in the field of microscopy this is no longer an issue. For example, Hitachi have just released their latest TEM (Tunneling Electron Microscope), which has a resolution of 1 Angstrom, or 0.1.

This is ample to be able to clearly see, even the smallest molecular systems. 3.2 Spontaneously self assembling nanobots, are still very much a fantasy, but with constant research and development, and others studying nanotechnology today will soon make them a reality. 'Large increases in strength of materials, hence lighter vehicles. New kinds of engines, somewhat like fuel cells, with high efficiency, high power density, and zero emissions. Active materials that integrate sensing, computation, and changes in properties; these would have broad applications. ' (E Drexler, pers comm., 2005) As director of the Foresight Institute, Drexler is a visionary, and these are some of his visions, however there are some applications of nanotechnology today we can see with our own eyes.

Perhaps the closest thing to a nanobot today are carbon nanotube's. These tiny tubes are based on the fullerene molecule, and consist entirely of carbon. They can be made as long as required, and can be either single or multi walled. They have a diameter of just tens of carbon atoms, making them well and truly nanotechnology. Nanotubes are quite remarkable. They are stronger than steel and can bend and flex to a large degree, then spring back completely un-deformed.

Currently, uses for this amazing substance are somewhat limited, but there are companies producing them in large quantities, hoping that soon a buyer will appear. And already one has. NASA announced on the 28th of April 2005, a plan to replace all the copper wiring in their spacecrafts with nanotube's, which can be made to conduct electricity up to ten times more efficiently than copper. Richard Smalley, Nobel prize winning chemist quoted in an interview by (Kanellos, 2005) says 'The devices may, one day, be used in auto parts, semiconductors and medical devices. ' So it is clear that even if productive are just a dream, impossible to fulfill, the future is still bright for nanotechnology in the automotive industry.

4 Equipping nanotechnology students at Curtin 4.1 So now it can be seen that within the next ten years nanotechnology will make a big impact on the automotive industry but the question remains, 'How do we equip nanotechnology students at Curtin with the skills to work in this emerging joint field?' As the field develops toward the capabilities I've described, which will take many years, it will make sense to train engineers who are skilled in the application of new techniques and materials to vehicle design. To do so effectively, they would have to learn the problems addressed by present designs. ' (E Drexler, pers comm., 2005) There are a number of options available, both at the undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. 4.1. 1 At the Undergraduate level there are a number of options available. Although the course is quite packed already, there is the opportunity to introduce perhaps a half unit in first or second year outlining the basics of the business side of the automotive industry, to give the graduates that extra edge. It would be in collaboration with the Curtin Business School, and provide students with a good knowledge of the inner workings of the automobile companies.

The unit could be offered as an elective with a choice of this, or a similar medical applications unit. During third year, when students have a solid foundation of fairly advanced physics and chemistry, a second unit would be offered, this one in collaboration with the Engineering department, detailing a more practical side. Students would learn about the operation of the engines, the construction of chassis and other automobile components, it would then be a simple matter for students to see where they can apply their intricate knowledge of nanotechnology to the process. 4.1. 2 At the postgraduate level obviously, the options are more individually based.

While many students would have no wish to carry on their study postgraduate, those that are interested should have options open to them. Students who wish to pursue employment in the automotive industry could complete an Honours relating to the field, Masters or even a PhD. At the postgraduate level the choice relies heavily on the graduate, and as long as they are made aware of the options available to them, this should be all that is necessary. 5 Conclusion 5.1 The automotive industry is constantly moving forward at an alarming rate. To keep advancing, the industry must turn to nanotechnology to retain the edge. Already there are some automobile companies incorporating nanotechnology into their chassis structure, and even the most critical theorists foresee a big impact due to nanotechnology by 2010.

To help achieve this impact, it is up to the universities who are training future generations of nanotechnology experts to ensure that they will be able to apply their skills to the automotive industry. If this is achieved it will only be a matter of time before we have self healing car bodies and mood changing paint incorporated into every car produced. 6 Recommendations 6.1 Nanotechnology is an emerging field with wide applications in many fields, perhaps the most exciting is the automotive industry. To ensure that this revolution occurs, and to make sure Curtin's Graduates are ready when it does, it is my recommendation to adapt the current BSc (Nanotechnology) course to include two new units, one offered at first year will acquaint students with the business aspect needed to work in the automotive industry, it will be completed in cooperation with Curtin Business School. The second unit will be a more practical approach offered at third year. By now students have a strong background of physics and chemistry.

The unit will be in collaboration with the school of engineering and will detail students with the operation of typical engines and production techniques of automobiles today. If these steps are taken it is my belief that Curtin graduates will be the best equipped for employment in one of the most profitable industries there is. Word count: 19497

Bibliography

Harper, T 2005, Examples of how nanotechnology impacts our lives now.
Retrieved: April 27th, 2005, from web Helmut Kaiser Consultancy 2003.
Retrieved: April 27th, 2005, from web Kanellos, M 2005, NASA looks to carbon to lighten spacecraft.
Retrieved: April 28th, 2005, from web 22-5689207.