Illumin

Maglevs: The Future of Flying Trains

illumin@usc.edu (Terry Brown, John Dacquisto)

Maglev trains have the potential to revolutionize how we travel. The trains levitate using magnets, zipping through the air at speeds above 350 mph. These high speeds would allow for maglev trains to be a realistic alternative to flying, and they use very little energy and emit no pollutants during transportation. They require little maintenance, and can help to reduce growing road and air congestion. From their history, technology, and costs to the future potential, maglevs are nothing short of an engineering feat.

Stealth Characteristics of the F-22 Raptor

illumin@usc.edu (Ryan Goldstein)

The F-22 Raptor was developed by Lockheed Martin in partnership with Boeing. Though initially developed to serve as an air superiority fighter, which meant that it would take control of enemy airspace and destroy any opposition, it has developed into more of a multi-role vehicle. The F-22 is an overwhelming vehicle with capabilities that enable it to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. This meant that it is not only an aerial fighter, but it could also protect and serve troops on the ground. The unique blend of speed, agility, awareness, and precision is what gives this aircraft its dominance, but what truly separates it from the pack is its stealth, otherwise known as low observables. There have been many aircraft that demonstrate stealth, but none do it as well as the F-22, while simultaneously keeping fighter agility at its core. This incredible blend is achieved through three fundamental techniques: shape, material, and surface finishing.

The Dog’s Nose Knows…Or Does It? Explosives Detection by Mechanical and Electrical “Noses”

illumin@usc.edu (Michelle Sivak)

Explosives have been a major threat to airports and military personnel for centuries. With the endless amount of information available on the Internet and with technology advancing at an incredibly rapid rate, dangerous weapons have never been so easy to manufacture. Not only are newly made explosives a concern to the world, but unexploded landmines from decades-past wars are still killing thousands of people each year. Even though rigorously trained canines have been the standard for detecting explosives, technological detection devices may serve as a much less expensive method for preventing deadly blasts.

Translucent Concrete: An Emerging Material

illumin@usc.edu (Sara McGillivray)

Concrete, that traditionally solid, substantial building material, is getting a makeover. Engineers have now developed concrete mixtures that are capable of transmitting light. By switching the ingredients of traditional concrete with transparent ones, or embedding fiber optics, translucent concrete has become a reality. As with any new material, it is expensive and still has some issues to be resolved. However, this innovative new material, while still partially in the development stages, is beginning to be used in a variety of applications in architecture, and promises vast opportunities in the future.

Uncovering the Secrets of the Mariana Trench

illumin@usc.edu (James Wood)

In March 2012, James Cameron became the third person in history to dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the lowest point on earth. The conditions in the bottom of the ocean are very harsh due to intense hydrostatic pressures and a lack of light. Nevertheless, deep sea diving allows us to study the oceanic fault lines and unique ecosystems that exist in the deepest parts of the ocean. The Trieste was the first craft to travel to the deepest part of the ocean, and advances in technology allow modern crafts, such as Cameron’s Challenger Deep, to explore the sea trench like never before.