Design for Biodiversity: a new approach for ecologically sustainable product design?

McDonough and Braungart proposed the “Cradle to Cradle” design framework to provide solutions to the world’s current ecological crisis. This approach, based on examples from nature, ensures that human activities can have a positive ecological footprint, capable of replenishing and regenerating natural systems, as well guaranteeing that we are able to develop a world that is culturally and ecologically diverse. In their framework they describe the notion of biological nutrients, where industrial waste (non toxic & biodegradable) may be used as a beneficial nutrient for ecological systems, eliminating the need for efficiency, as “waste is good”. Consequently, Cradle to Cradle industrial systems will benefit the environment. A group of New Zealand scientists were asked to evaluate ‘Cradle to Cradle’ in an attempt to determine the potential of this approach for the sustainable design of products. Analysis of interview data indicated that sustainability is a complex and multifaceted concept, especially with regard to practical applications. In particular, understanding the input of biological nutrients into the environment was identified as being critically important. Furthermore, science can play an important in understanding the impacts of products, as well as how biological nutrient’s may be best used in environmental systems. The insights gathered from these interviews were used to explore the potential for an alternative sustainable design approach, which builds upon McDonough and Braungart’s concept of a biological nutrient, and aims to support the design of products that have a strong ecological foundation. Consequently, Design for Biodiversity is outlined as a potential approach for designing environmentally sustainable products. During the development of this approach, the relationship between science and design was explored to support the notion that ecosystems are the basis of human consumption and should be incorporated as an integral part of society to ensure the development of strong sustainability. The intent of this approach is to help to design ecologically beneficial products. It is relatively untested, and should be evaluated and revised during future design projects

Deployable Optics for CubeSats

Since the beginning of the space age, many structures with different levels of complexity have been proposed for the deployment of equipment such as solar arrays, antennae, and scientific instruments. By increasing the packaging efficiency, stowing during launch and then deploying in orbit provides an opportunity for the improvement of the capabilities of small satellites payloads while maintaining a contained launch volume. The latter is particularly important when considering the launch of future constellations and, in particular, CubeSats where the volume is significantly constrained by the size of the pod. The focus of this work is the development of a camera/telescope barrel ideally suited for a Cassegrain configured space instrument, hosting the primary mirror at one (satellite side) end and the secondary mirror supported by a cruciform element at the other end (aperture). The barrel is stowed and deployed using a telescopic approach with three coaxial large diameter hollow cylinders making up the segments of the barrel. For an optical telescope, one of the most important challenges is in maintaining a highly accurate distance between the optical elements (in this case, primary and secondary mirrors which are positioned with an accuracy of a few micron). Thermo-mechanical distortions due to on orbit temperature variations and any micro-vibration excitation from sources on the spacecraft can cause significant degradation of the optical performance. To maintain the required shape stability, the main structural parts are made in a thermally invariable material and incorporate features to provide alignment and locking out. The large diameter of the structure, and low coefficient of thermal expansion, give the assembly excellent resilience to thermal and micro-vibration disturbances whilst keeping mass to a minimum. This “tube” arrangement also naturally fulfils the light baffling requirements of the telescope. Another significant challenge is the apparatus to drive the sequential deployment of the cylinders. Systems that use lead screws and gears have been proposed, however they present significant complexities and their mass has a substantial impact on the mass budget of the overall assembly. Here, a novel robust and simple wire-driven system is proposed to operate the deployment. The main advantages being the simplicity, light weight, and robustness with respect to severe vibration environments. This article will describe the development of the device and the testing of the proof of concept/qualification model

Some recent developments and experiences with Rapid Manufacturing by indirect means

Rapid Manufacturing is defined as the use of a Computer Aided Design (CAD) based automated additive manufacturing process to construct parts that are used directly as finished products and components. While material and cost constraints still remain as the main limitations, some of the rapid prototyping technologies have overcome these shortcomings, and gradually progressed towards making rapid manufacturing a reality. Alternatively, rapid manufacturing was also made possible by the use of one of the additive manufacturing processes in expediting certain stages of some traditional processing methods. While literature presents ample examples of successful implementation of both methods, the present paper focuses on the indirect means of achieving rapid manufacturing. A critical review of some of the latest developments will be presented, followed by an evaluation of some of the recent experimental investigations carried out as part of the research activities at the Centre for Rapid Product Development, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealan

Tools for sustainable product design: additive manufacturing

The advent of additive manufacturing technologies presents a number of opportunities that have the potential to greatly benefit designers, and contribute to the sustainability of products. Additive manufacturing technologies have removed many of the manufacturing restrictions that may previously have compromised a designer’s ability to make the product they imagined. Products can also be extensively customized to the user thus, once again, potentially increasing their desirability, pleasure and attachment and therefore their longevity. As additive manufacturing technologies evolve, and more new materials become available, and multiple material technologies are further developed, the field of product design has the potential to greatly change. This paper examines how aspects of additive manufacturing, from a sustainable design perspective, could become a useful tool in the arsenal to bring about the sustainable design of consumer products

Integrating ecology and technology to create innovative pest control devices

Blackie, H., MacMorran, D., Shapiro, L., Woodhead, I., Diegel, O., Murphy, E., Eason, C.T

Improving Product Design through Rapid Prototype as Design

Design teams are often expected to produce physical prototypes that demonstrate the working principles of the products they are designing within tight time-frames. The use of a ‘rapid prototype as design’ (RPaD) methodology, combined with the ability to effectively integrate the many existing and emerging virtual and physical rapid prototyping technologies into the development process increases the potential of producing new high technology products in shorter timeframes. The paper presents a set of case study projects, undertaken by product design students at Auckland University of Technology, in which extensive use was made of RPa

Lrp5 and Lrp6 exert overlapping functions in osteoblasts during postnatal bone acquisition

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is critical for skeletal development and maintenance, but the precise roles of the individual Wnt co-receptors, Lrp5 and Lrp6, that enable Wnt signals to be transmitted in osteoblasts remain controversial. In these studies, we used Cre-loxP recombination, in which Cre-expression is driven by the human osteocalcin promoter, to determine the individual contributions of Lrp5 and Lrp6 in postnatal bone acquisition and osteoblast function. Mice selectively lacking either Lrp5 or Lrp6 in mature osteoblasts were born at the expected Mendelian frequency but demonstrated significant reductions in whole-body bone mineral density. Bone architecture measured by microCT revealed that Lrp6 mutant mice failed to accumulate normal amounts of trabecular bone. By contrast, Lrp5 mutants had normal trabecular bone volume at 8 weeks of age, but with age, these mice also exhibited trabecular bone loss. Both mutants also exhibited significant alterations in cortical bone structure. In vitro differentiation was impaired in both Lrp5 and Lrp6 null osteoblasts as indexed by alkaline phosphatase and Alizarin red staining, but the defect was more pronounced in Lrp6 mutant cells. Mice lacking both Wnt co-receptors developed severe osteopenia similar to that observed previously in mice lacking β-catenin in osteoblasts. Likewise, calvarial cells doubly deficient for Lrp5 and Lrp6 failed to form osteoblasts when cultured in osteogenic media, but instead attained a chondrocyte-like phenotype. These results indicate that expression of both Lrp5 and Lrp6 are required within mature osteoblasts for normal postnatal bone development

Transverse Domain Wall Profile for Spin Logic Applications

Domain wall (DW) based logic and memory devices require precise control and manipulation of DW in nanowire conduits. The topological defects of Transverse DWs (TDW) are of paramount importance as regards to the deterministic pinning and movement of DW within complex networks of conduits. In-situ control of the DW topological defects in nanowire conduits may pave the way for novel DW logic applications. In this work, we present a geometrical modulation along a nanowire conduit, which allows for the topological rectification/inversion of TDW in nanowires. This is achieved by exploiting the controlled relaxation of the TDW within an angled rectangle. Direct evidence of the logical operation is obtained via magnetic force microscopy measurement