IEEE Spectrum September, 2011 - 3

volume 48 number 9 north american

9.11

spectrum.ieee.org

avaiLaBLe 1 septemBer

Kite Power

6 ConTRIbUToRS

How do you generate power
from the wind without using
a turbine? With a kite! See how
WindLift, a start-up in Durham,
N.C., is pursuing that lofty goal.
The company's trailer-mounted
generator extracts energy from
a large kite as it crisscrosses
the sky while slowly pulling
on the lines that tether it to the
ground. Check out our online video
of the system's field test at http://
spectrum.ieee.org/kitetest0911.

22 ThE bIg PICTURE
Airbus's 2050 concept plane
imagines the future of flight.

theinstitute.ieee.org

update

departments

11 ChIna'S dEEP dIvE
the 7000-meter record
is in sight.
By Eliza Strickland

4 baCk SToRy
A job in engineering can take
you on some wild rides.

13 ThE TECh of 9/11
14 a dIM fUTURE
foR olEds?
16 a ShoRTagE
of EngInEERS
20 SoCCER-ball
TRaCkIng

opinion
8 SPECTRal lInES
A technology spurred by
tragedy takes hold.
By Susan Hassler

clockwise from Top lefT: airBus/geTTy images; david schneider; ieee

30 REflECTIonS
Innovations that stand
the test of time come
from research models
that come and go.
By Robert W. Lucky

handS on
24 Wreck diving without
getting wet: build your own
remotely operated underwater
vehicle. By David Schneider

visit OuR New site check out
The Institute's new look. We've
redesigned our site and added
features like the ability to comment

26 Here's how to rig a touchscreen oscilloscope for about
uS $300. By James Turner

avaiLaBLe 9 septemBer

on our articles, a blog, an rSS feed,
multimedia, an area where you can
submit news about your Ieee region,
an automated way to respond to our
Question of the month, and more.
eLeCtRiC vehiCLe ROuNduP
In our special issue on electric vehicles,
learn about all things ev, including
things to consider before buying one,
the ev's history, and related Ieee
products, services, and conferences.

27 PRofIlE
meet Scotland's leading
rhythm-and-blues chip
engineer. By Susan Karlin
28 CaREERS
Software engineering is at the
core of a hot job market for
new engineers. By Prachi Patel

PARt-tiMe PAssiONs Who
knew so many engineers were
also motorcyclists? over the years,
The Institute has received dozens
of e-mails from members who
are motorcycle riders. read about
two in our biker double feature.

72 ThE daTa
Search engines guess your
query with unexpected
altruism. By Swapnajit Mitra

onLine WeBinars & resources

avaiLaBLe at http://spectrum.ieee.org/webinar

14 september: developing
PMu technology for dynamic
Conditions in distribution

the insight You want, the
data You Need: transforming
insights into Action

Real-time Matters! timing
and Performance Analysis
for embedded systems

22 september: teaching Control
systems to Future engineers

Model-based solutions
to the Code Maintenance
Nightmare: tackling Key
development headaches

simulation of electrodeposition
Processes using COMsOL
smart-Grid Control
systems: Moving towards
a self-healing Grid

Acoustics simulation in
Microphones, Mobile devices and
hearing Aids using COMsOL

effectively Managing
AutOsAR development
digitizing the Power Grid:
Fundamentals of smart Grid
sensing and Analytics

using MAtLAb to simulate and
Optimize Multiphysics designs
Parameter estimation and
Model validation of Generator/
excitation systems

New product release library:
http://spectrum.ieee.org/static/
new-product-release-library

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spectrum.ieee.org

September 2011 * Ieee Spectrum * NA

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum September, 2011