How to Build ...

Synopsis

This series of three 60-minute programmes looks at what high performance technology can build and has access to some of the world’s most advanced engineers and designers. Individual programmes look at the car bringing Formula One racing technology to regular roads, the world’s biggest aircraft wing and the satellite that can send a live TV signal around the world in under a second. We meet the engineers who work in bunkers and ‘clean rooms’, developing precision components that work perfectly in icy cold and burning heat.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2012

Year of production

2011

Notes

Broadcast in three weekly parts on BBC2 beginning 13/11/2011

Subjects

Engineering; Technology

Keywords

aeronautical engineering; engineering design; industrial design; manufacturing technology; materials science; racing cars; technological innovation; satellites

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£34.99

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

180 minutes

Year

2012

Sections

Title

How to Build ..... A Satellite

Synopsis

Millions of people around the world watch live sports events on TV. The images you see make a round trip of 72,000 kilometres via satellite to your screen in just one second. Satellites have allowed us to see and hear the world as it happens. We watch Astrium engineers in their ‘bunkers’ and ‘clean rooms’ develop precision components that will work perfectly in burning heat and icy cold; perform a sling shot around Venus and offer a perfect signal for up to 20 years.

Duration

60 mins

Title

How to Build ..... A Super Car

Synopsis

What does it take to build the kind of racing cars which win 163 Grand Prix? We go behind the scenes at one of the world’s most secretive companies, McLaren. Their Formula One racing cars can reach speeds of 350kph, their drivers experience greater g-force than the crew of the Space Shuttle. Their MP4-12C road car, hand built from carbon fibre and is a $270,000 super car, is a massive gamble - the unique factory designed to create the new car has cost over $60 million alone.

Duration

60 mins

Title

How to Build ..... A Super Jumbo Wing

Synopsis

The wing defines the aircraft. Engineers are constantly pushing the frontiers of quality design and manufacture, enabling bigger aircraft with ever greater capacity to be built through increasing the efficiency of the wing. In this programme we follow ‘the world’s biggest commercial aircraft wing’ as it is constructed using new technologies for manufacture and production techniques.

Duration

60 mins

Production Company

Name

Open University

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk