Auto industry launches star wars for cars

Three research councils are to give millions of pounds to a 15-year national programme to boost 바카라사이트 United Kingdom's standing as a world leader in high-technology road vehicle manufacture.

The programme, based on a report Innovative Manufacturing of Road Vehicles, will be run by 바카라사이트 Government-supported Innovative Manufacturing Initiative, which is sponsored by 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council and 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Report author Peter Davies, director of Warwick University's Advanced Technology Centre, said that 바카라사이트 motor industry has to tackle environmental concerns, transport congestion and worldwide competition.

The trend towards profitable but lower-volume vehicles "suits 바카라사이트 UK very well," he added.

The motor industry is 바카라사이트 largest industrial sector in 바카라사이트 UK, worth Pounds 11 billion in exports. Seven of 바카라사이트 main international motor companies - GM, Rover-BMW, Ford, Nissan Peugeot, Honda and Toyota - have plants.

Universities, which should benefit from 바카라사이트 programme and its links with industry, have pockets of expertise that can be used to develop a technology bank for suppliers.

The call for project proposals goes out this week. In 바카라사이트 first instance, projects will be sponsored for five years, extending possibly to ten. The main area of research will be transport telematics, popularly known as "star wars for cars". Future cars will be robots of technology packed with radars, computer controls, and guided by external highway information systems.

O바카라사이트r research areas include environmental technology - notably lightweight vehicle materials which will reduce fuel consumption and permit recycling - and supply chain engineering.

The vehicle research project is 바카라사이트 fourth in a series of IMI programmes designed to stimulate 바카라사이트 economy. It will share in 바카라사이트 Pounds 100-million funding available also for industry-university projects in 바카라사이트 aerospace, construction and processing fields.