Combine Networks: Introducing new technologies!

on 11/10/2018

Combine Networks has the prestige to introduce new technologies in the exhibitions and the company kept it this time too. This time it has introduced a smart lock.

In previous Security Asia expo, it had introduced cameras using artificial intelligence which was widely present in the show this time. Hamid Jalal said our new introduction—smart lock—would soon be in the market.

He briefed Engineering Review on the lock as to why it is smart. Smart lock needs not any key. It is a keyless lock and is battery powered. You can open it with your thumb only which has administrator rights. It is water and dust proof. It has a port to recharge its battery.

Before using it, the smart lock would be programmed for the authorized people who can open the lock. Along with a smaller size, Combine has also introduced big locks for glass doors. They can be used for the executives’ offices in the companies.

He said Combines Network’s suppliers in China support them very well that’s why they are successful in introducing new technologies in the exhibitions.

Professionals appointed as members HEC!

on 11/10/2018

The new federal government has appointed ten professionals as members of the Higher Education Commision (HEC).

The names include Dr B.S Chowdhry, a meritorious professor and Dean Faculty of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUE&T), Jamshoro.

A letter of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training issued on September 11 says in pursuance of section 6(4) read with section 6(3) (a)(b)(c) of Higher Education Commission Ordinance 2002, the competent authority has been pleased to appoint ten persons as members of the commission for a period of 4 years.

They are: Dr. Sania Nishtar, SI, FRCP and former federal minister, Dr. Shams Kassim Lakha, former Federal Minister for Education and Science & Technology, Lt. Gen. (Retd)Muhammad Asghar, former Rector, NUST Islamabad, Dr. Naveed A Malik, Rector Virtual University, Lahore, Lt. Gen. (Retd) Asif Mumtaz Sukhera, former Surgeon General, GHQ, Rawalpindi, Dr. B.S Chowdhry, a meritorious professor and Dean Faculty of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering Mehran Universty of Engineering and Technology (MUE&T), Jamshoro, Pro. Dr Javed Iqbal, VC, Universty if Balochistan, Quetta, Eng. Ahmed Farooq Bazai, VC, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Balochistan, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, former Federal assistant to the Prime Minister and Dr Faisal Bari, CEO and Senior Research Fellow (IMstitute of Development and Economic Alternatives), Associate Professor LUMS, Lahore

China Power’s 1320 MW power plant energized!

on 11/10/2018

The 1,320-megawatt coal-fired power plant of the China Power Hub Generation Company (Pvt) Ltd (CPHGC), being constructed in Hub, Balochistan, has been partially energized and achieved interconnection with national grid, subsequently achieving back energization of its 500kV GIS from Jamshoro side of the transmission lines.

With this achievement, CPHGC has officially entered into hot commissioning phase of the complex that would lead to synchronization of its 1st Unit with the national grid in December, said a company announcement.

The process of power back-feeding was completed after a series of key steps such as line connection, site acceptance tests, high pressure test of GIS [gas-insulated switchgear], injection test and inter tripping test all witnessed by relevant regulatory authorities. The whole operation was completed safely and all the parameters of the relevant grid equipment were found within normal limits.

CPHGC has also achieved energisation of start-up transformer and 10kV auxiliary power system, and preparing for the system commissioning of Unit 1. The milestone was achieved in collaboration with the production and technology departments of CPHGC and National Transmission and Despatch Company.

Philippine Inventor Kyxz Mendiola Develops ‘Passenger Drone’

on 11/10/2018

Philippines – Single-seater is powered by six lithium-ion batteries and carries weight up to 100 kg.

Philippines: A Philippine inventor has unveiled what he calls a flying sports car that represents the future of transport, riding it out of a warehouse towards a cheering crowd, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.

Former dancer and camera operator Kyxz Mendiola flew and hovered for a few minutes in a single-passenger contraption powered by the “multicopter” technology commonly used in small unmanned drones.

“It was amazing,” Mendiola told Reuters after what he said was the first public test flight of his invention. “All the hard work paid off. Everything worked perfect.” Mendiola’s machine, the “Koncepto Milenya”, can fly as high as 6.1 m (20 ft) and speed up to 60 kph (37 mph) but its maiden flight lasted just a little over 10 minutes.

He said it took a long time to save up the funds for the components of the single-seater powered by six lithium-ion batteries whose passenger steers with a portable radio frequency controller.

“Press a button and it will go up, then push the stick forward, it goes forward. It’s very smart, that’s why I’m saying it has a lot of potential,” Mendiola said.

The machine, which can carry up to 100 kg (220 lbs), could shave hours off trips in cities like the capital, Manila, crippled by chronic traffic problem, Mendiola felt.

“When we have to go somewhere about an hour’s drive, this can take you there in five minutes,” he said.

An added safety feature is that the craft’s 16 rotary motors allow it to keep flying, even if one or two fail, he added.

An Australian company, Star8, is partnering with Mendiola to develop the vehicle after a video featuring it went viral on social media.

Star8’s Chief Executive Jacob Maimon said he wanted to mass produce it and market it in Australia, Europe and Hong Kong, after helping Mendiola perfect the machine.

“We will get there very fast now, what with the help that we can give him,” he added. – Courtesy Arab News

18th ITCN, Fire & Safety, SecurityAsia exhibition leaves a good impression! By Abbas Mansoor

on 11/10/2018

18th ITCN exhibition and Fire and Safety, Security Asia Exhibition held from September 25 at Karachi Expo Centre left good imprints on the industry in general and the initial reports said it attracted mutual agreements to the tune of $250 million dollars.

The organizers claimed over 70,000 people from various categories including students from universities visited the exhibition. It was a huge success for them.

In contrast, Engineering Review’s interaction with a number of exhibitors shows that not every exhibitor was happy. The exhibitors in the category of fire and security seemed jubilant and earned attraction more than their expectation. However, lighting exhibitors, however, seemed a bit sluggish.

Despite an extended exhibition which covered a huge area in terms of space and technology, the number of local manufacturers remained very slim and ER could find quite a few local manufacturers including Haseen Habib Corporation.

Over 600 companies representing 25 countries participated in the event. However, the presence of Chinese exhibitors was so evident that many said they have now become part and parcel of our business and trade activity anywhere in Pakistan.

Yet another aspect was the absence of smart TV companies and telecommunication companies which were very much there in the exhibition last year.

In money terms, the worth of agreements more than previous years is surely a success no matter hardware companies were not visible like in last year’s exhibition.

On information dissemination side, the event had over 30 conferences and seminars on IT security, cyber safety, fire and control where experts and scholars shared their experiences.
Some IT experts believed that due to increasing awareness about IT this year attendance was much higher this time. However, an exhibitor said more professional presentations and people of high repute are required to be invited at the expo.

Murtuza Wahab, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister and Shehla Raza visited the exhibitions. Wahab said that Sindh government also promoted such exhibitions and also interested in cooperating with the private sector in future.

On the last day of the exhibitions, Umair Nizam, Vice President, E-Commerce Gateway Pakistan said that it was a big challenge to organise two exhibitions at a time. However, the organisers have managed to accomplish the task, he added.

Umair Nizam, Vice President, E-Commerce Gateway, Pakistan said over 600 international and domestic IT brands were presented at the exhibition.

Umair Nizam said that both the exhibitions occupied six halls of the expo centre. He expected that over 150,000 people will visit both the exhibitions. Others claimed the number was around 70,000.

He informed that agreements worth $100 million were signed at the 17th ITCN Exhibition.

Imran Batada, Director, Center for Information and Communication Technology, IBA said that for the last three years they were cooperating in exchange of information.