A team of researchers in the United Kingdom and India won an award last week for their work on new alloys that can change shape or position at a particular temperature. The team hopes these materials could take the place of mechanical moving parts in aircraft, leading to reduced engine weight and increased energy efficiency. The project is being developed by researchers at Imperial College London, the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Rolls-Royce is also a collaborator. Additionally, the project might aid the aerospace industry’s development of “more-electric” airplanes — next-generation aircraft in which hydraulic and pneumatic systems are cut to a minimum, according to The Engineer Online. The UK-India Education and Research Initiative Major Award will provide the team with 204,000 to support collaborative research workshops between the institutions. David Clarke, head of technology strategy at Rolls-Royce, said: “This new research collaboration builds on our existing industrial relationships in India and marks the start of a new long-term partnership between Rolls-Royce and India on advanced technology development.”
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