Subject: World's smallest combination lock
On Monday, (10.12.1998) the U.S. Sandia National Laboratories announced
that they had recently filed a patent for a Recodable Locking Device,
which they describe as the 'World's smallest combination lock,' which
promises to foil even the best computer hackers, by "creating a virtually
impenetrable computer firewall." 

According to Sandia developers, the device uses microelectromechanical
system (MEMS) technology to create the first known mechanical hardware
designed to secure data and systems by preventing code-breading and other
illegal entry to computers and other secure systems.  The device itself is
actually "a series of tiny notched gears that move to the unlocked
position only when the right code is entered." 

Existing firewalls have relied on software, which makes them more subject
to manipulations.  Larry Dalton, manager of Sandia's High Integrity
Software Systems Engineering Department explained: "Our device is hardware
and is extremely difficult to break into. You have one and only one chance
in a million of picking exactly the right code compared to a one in 10,000
chance, with many additional chances, in most software firewalls. After
one failed try, this new device mechanically shuts down and can't be reset
and reopened except by the owner." 

Following refinements and a series of reliability tests, the team expects
to have the device ready for commercialization winthin the next few years.

"The Recodable Locking Device should be of great interest to businesses
and individuals who have computer networks, have sites on the Web, or
require secure computers," says Frank Peter, engineer who designed the
device. "It would make it virtually impossible for break-ins to Web sites,
like what occurred with The New York Times in September."

According to the Sandia News Release:

<< Computer crime is a growing problem nationwide. The Computer Security
Institute together with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently
surveyed 520 security practitioners in US corporations, government
agencies, financial institutions, and universities. Results showed that 64
percent of the respondents reported computer security breaches within the
last 12 months.  And although 72 percent said they suffered financial
losses from these breaches, only 42 percent were able to quantify their
losses -- estimating them to be more than $136.8 million. Dalton says he
"had the notion" of the device for three years, calling it the "digital
isolation and incompatibility"  project.   Because the chip is built
using integrated circuit fabricating techniques, hundreds can be
constructed on a single six-inch silicon wafer. The end result is that the
device will be very inexpensive to produce. 

In addition to external security applications, the device can also be used
to control information to create a "window of opportunity," for access
within a specific period of time, after which the code would automatically
be reset and access again denied.  >>

Prospective applications for public safety are also possible with the
Recodable Locking Device, since the mechanism "can confirm that a critical
system is operating as expected. And if it detects a problem, it will not
permit execution of a function." 

Earlier this month, the Laboratory released information about progress in
the Mexico Renewable Energy Program, which involves a partnership withThe
National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO, and the Mexican
government, on state and federal levels, along with various international
environmental groups, sponsored nearly 200 photovoltaic (solar) and wind
energy projects in eight Mexican states, to use renewable energy
technology, to irrigate the land and to electrify their homes, and to pump
well water. An example is the development of a photovoltaic water pumping
system installed for Marcos Alvarez, a cattle rancher, with the assistance
of FIRCO (Fideicomiso de Riesgo Compartido), an agency under the Mexican
secretary of agriculture which encourages the use of advanced technologies
for the development of agricultural production: 

<< Every year Alvarez faced a dilemma that cost him many thousands of
pesos and the loss of some of his herd. During the hot, dry spring months
he would be forced to buy expensive feed for his cattle, and his ranch
hands would spend extra hours each day ensuring the cattle had sufficient
water. This spring, however, he had water automatically flowing into
troughs, as well as a supply of silage stored for his cattle, which was
produced from grass grown on his ranch.  By integrating the photovoltaic
system into the design of this small desert cattle ranch -- which each
year "faces a critical shortage of feed during the driest season," says
John Strachan of Sandia's Mexico Renewable Energy Program. "Alvarez now
has a system designed to pump enough water for his cattle during that
critical period and an excess of water during the balance of the year to
grow and store fodder." >>

The Program expands the use of renewable energy technologies, in order to
expand available markets, and to mitigate the effects of greenhouse-gas
emissions and other aspects of global climate change which are otherwise
less subject to human intervention. 

<< According to some estimates, more than five million Mexicans do not
have access to grid electricity in 88,000 villages, while more than
100,000 rural communities are in need of potable drinking water. More than
600,000 rural ranches need water for livestock or irrigation. Given
Mexico's abundant solar and wind resources, these rural needs represent a
potential market for renewable energy technologies of more than $1
billion. 

Sandia's role was to provide training and technical assistance, to
initiate renewable energy pilot projects that could be easily replicated
by area residents, and help pay for a portion of the pilot project costs
(In the past 4 years, Sandia has received $10 million to operate the
program, including nearly $6 million from the Mexico Office of the U.S.
Agency for International Development and $4 million from the U.S. Dept. of
Energy.) The choice of a partner to co-sponsor renewable energy projects
in Mexico with Sandia depends on the state where the projects are located.
For example, Sandia partnered with FIRCO in Sonora, Baja California Sur,
San Luis Potosi, Oaxaca, Chiapas and Quintana Roo. In Chihuahua, projects
have been implemented by a consortium of 18 state and federal
organizations, called the Chihuahua Renewable Energy Working Group. In yet
another model, Sandia works with a group of international organizations
concerned about nature -- The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund and
Conservation International. The renewable energy projects are tools for
the management of reserves and sustainable development of "buffer
communities," those that border ecologically sensitive areas. "The
conservation organizations support projects using solar and wind energy to
generate electricity in hotels and ranger stations in reserves," says
Charlie Hanley, manager of the Mexican program. "These are generally areas
where a gas-powered generator could potentially harm the environment." 

Most program activities focus on implementing water-pumping systems, such
as the one used by Alvarez. For most of these projects, government
programs provide 50 percent of the cost of a pilot project, while the
users -- people like Alvarez -- pay for 25 percent. Sandia's share is 25
percent. Cost of photovoltaic pumping systems range from $2,000 to $12,000
depending on the depth of the well, the amount of water needed, and the
amount of sunlight the site receives. Potential projects are initially
identified by the Mexican partners. Sandia then helps select a pilot
project based on its feasibility and offers technical assistance. The
Sandians train locals who want a similar project on their property,
develop system requirements, provide technical review of bids, and
evaluate and monitor the projects following their installation. "We work
closely with local suppliers of renewable energy equipment to make sure
that systems meet customers' needs and that they get a good product,"
Hanley says.  >>

Sandia developers are also at work on a project funded by the Department
of Energy Office of Geothermal Technologies, to facilitate the generation
of electricity from geothermal energy, using water which lies deep within
the earth's crust. 

<< "Right now less than three percent of electricity in the U.S. comes
from geothermal energy because it costs twice as much to produce as
electricity created from natural gas. Our work at Sandia could help change
that," says Randy Normann, project principal investigator. He and
colleague Joseph Henfling are experimenting with Honeywell
silicon-on-insulator (SOI)  electronics and evaluating and designing new
electronic instrument systems operating at up to 315 degrees C. That is
more than 100 degrees hotter than systems presently available to the
geothermal industry.  "The industry views this as a quantum leap," Normann
says.

At present, electronics and batteries used in geothermal well applications
must be encased in a Dewar flask, which Normann describes as a "big
Thermos bottle" made of evacuated double-walled steel. Temperatures in the
geothermal wells can be as high as 350 degrees C, much too hot for
standard electronics to function properly without the protection of
Dewars.  By using electronics that will function in high
temperatures for extended periods, the need for Dewars will be eliminated,
dramatically cutting the costs of producing geothermal instrumentation and
thereby reducing the cost of geothermal energy. >>


Sandia National Laboratories began in 1945, "as an ordnance design,
testing, and assembly facility, and was located on Sandia Base to be close
to an airfield and work closely with the military. After WWII, President
Truman offered the American Telephone and Telegraph Company "an
opportunity to render an exceptional service in the national interest" by
managing Sandia. AT&T began managing the Labs on Nov. 1, 1949, and
continued in that role until 1993, when the Department of Energy awarded
the Sandia management contract to the Martin Marietta Corporation, now
Lockheed Martin, and continues the original mission, " to providing
engineering design for all non-nuclear components of the nation's nuclear
weapons," but now also includes various other research and development
projects as well, as part of Lockheed Martin's Energy & Environment
Sector, headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Sandia is a
government-owned/contractor-operated "Partnership in the Public Interest." 

[Sandia News Releases are quoted here, with permission; additional
information is available at: http://www.sandia.gov/News.htm.er/course.htme_east/newsid_192000/19222ce/index.  Information
about Education in Science, Technology, Energy Engineering and Math
(ESTEEM), as well as links to information about Solar and Wind Engergy
Projects and Global Climate Change is available at:
http://www.sandia.gov/ESTEEM/m.er/course.htme_east/newsid_192000/19222ce/index.]


Ginger McCarthy

Director of Special Programming 
WTJU-FM at The University of Virginia
Phone: 804-924-0885 FAX: 804-924-8996  
http://wtju.radio.virginia.edu.er/course.htme_east/newsid_192000/19222ce/index.