An underwater visit to Aquarius

Article Abstract:

Fairleigh Dickinson University's Aquarius, part of the university's National Undersea Research Program, is expected to be 'the most useful scientific underwater habitat ever built'. Aquarius is a $5.5 million, six-person 'high-tech habitat' located on the sea floor 50 feet below surface of an inlet in the Virgin Islands. Aquarius weighs 81 tons and has three chambers. Divers enter and leave through a 'wet porch', where air pressure is kept equal to surrounding water pressure so that water does not spill in through the habitat's entrance hole. Vital parameters inside the habitat, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, are constantly checked by a redundant monitoring system. Hydrolab, an example of a successful habitat, is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History. Publications covering Aquarius and the history of underwater-habitat projects are mentioned. possibly oil exploration.

High technology, United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Electrical engineering, Oceanography, Control systems, Data Acquisition Systems, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Aquarius (diving equipment)

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Electronics consortia to impact products for generations

Article Abstract:

Research and development is accomplished by collaborative efforts that may change the way technologies are created in the future. Recent trends indicate collaboration that moves across corporate, national, military and civilian organizations. Per a report published by the Center for Science and Technology Policy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute US firms spend 31 percent of their semiconductor R&D budgets on alliances or consortia. In 1978 the amount of R&D dollars spent in collaboration was 11 percent. Statistical samples from Europe and Japan taken for the report were smaller. European microelectronics firms were found to spend around 40 percent of their R&D budgets through technical alliances. Japan's corresponding figure is five percent. This may be because R&D in Japan is dominated by fewer, yet larger companies.

Industrial research, International trade, Technology transfer, Consortia, Research and Development, Electronic Industry, Cooperative Agreements, Consortium

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Suppliers are challenged to downsize gracefully as they seek to diversify

Article Abstract:

North American, European and Japanese defense firms must plan for the future now that military spending is expected to be reduced significantly. US Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney requested $78 billion to procure military systems in 1991; this figure is over nine percent below the 1990 budget for procurement. For research and development, Cheney requested over $38 billion, a decrease of 0.9 percent from the 1990 request. Actual reductions may be higher, due to proposals by the House and Senate for lower figures. The Senate has recommended $67.4 billion for procurement; the House recommended $63.95 billion for procurement. Defense firms are looking for nonmilitary contracts with the federal government.

National security, Legislative bodies, Purchasing, Finance, United States. Congress, United States. Department of Defense, Cost control, Industry Analysis, Outlook, Cost Reduction, Military, Government Funding, Budgeting, Diversification, Government aid

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