Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Zoleco is a home-built 151 mpg concept car

Zoleco is a home-built 151 mpg concept car: "Canadian Zoltan Bod is a self-proclaimed "car and performance nut" who has built his very own, very efficient, 151 mpg (1.56 L/100 km) concept car. Dubbed Zoleco (which merges part of Bod's name with the word "eco"), it is designed with ergonomic considerations and seats up to four passengers comfortably."

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Origami stroller folds up with the push of a button

Origami stroller folds up with the push of a button: "Appropriately enough called the Origami, the new baby product from 4moms is billed as "the world's first power-folding stroller." This means that it will fold itself down into a compact car-trunkable bundle, at the press of a button -"

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Siri hack lets your iPhone control your car

Siri hack lets your iPhone control your car: "What if you could ask your iPhone to start your car?

Developer Brandon Fiquett has gotten his phone to do just that - hacking Siri on the iPhone 4S to work along with his Viper SmartStart module to not only start his car, but also to arm and disarm the car's alarm, lock and unlock doors, and even pop the vehicle's trunk."

'via Blog this'

Honda's sporty EV-STER concept unveiled

Honda's sporty EV-STER concept unveiled: "More from the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, where Honda today unveiled the two-seater EV-STER, which it describes as the "next-generation electric small sports concept". Honda says that its lightweight frame made of "carbon materials" grants a range of approximately 160 km (99 miles) while simultaneously improving performance. "

'via Blog this'

Researchers create bone-like material using 3D printer

Researchers create bone-like material using 3D printer: "Over the past decade, 3D printing technology has made the transition from huge expensive units used by industry to produce prototype components to small desktop units like the DIY MakerBot Thing-O-Matic that are within the reach of home users. "

'via Blog this'

The 137mph Energica electric superbike

The 137mph Energica electric superbike: "Italian electric race-bike outfit CRP Racing has announced its first road-going superbike, the Energica. With 100 kW of power and top of the line chassis and suspension, all clothed in modern Italian style bodywork, the Energica is capable of speeds up to 220 km/h (137 mph) and range of 150 km (93 miles) on a single charge, due in part to a power train efficiency close to 95 percent"

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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Spanish engineer crafts "world's smallest" V-12 engine

Spanish engineer crafts "world's smallest" V-12 engine: "Anyone who appreciates the precision art of engine design ought to get a kick out of this offering from a Spanish engineer named Patelo. Starting with hunks of aluminum, bronze and stainless steel, he spent over 1200 hours designing, milling, turning and drilling what he claims is "probably" the world's smallest V12 engine. "

'via Blog this'

Aprilia pimps the world's fastest scooter to remain at the forefront of the super-commuter class

Aprilia pimps the world's fastest scooter to remain at the forefront of the super-commuter class: "Aprilia is Europe's most successful racing motorcycle manufacturer, with two superbike world championship titles, nine off-road world championships and 38 world titles in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. So, it is entirely appropriate that as the "racing" marque of the Piaggio stable, which is one of the world's largest producers of scooters, Aprilia should produce the world's fastest scooter."

'via Blog this'

Windowfarms let you garden – appropriately enough – in your windows

Windowfarms let you garden – appropriately enough – in your windows: "Whereas the majority of vertical farming concepts and projects featured in Gizmag over the years have either been huge dedicated structures or add-ons to existing buildings, the Windowfarms system downsizes and personalizes veggie growing by placing an indoor farm in the window."

'via Blog this'

Flying robots to build a 6-meter tower

Flying robots to build a 6-meter tower: "The FRAC Centre in Orléans, France will for the first time host an exhibition to be built entirely by flying robots. Titled "Flight Assembled Architecture," the six meter-high tower will be made up of 1,500 prefabricated polystyrene foam modules."

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Monday, November 28, 2011

New intuitive release binding system separates riders from their board

New intuitive release binding system separates riders from their board: "Andy Keel, the man behind the Motorcrossboard, has developed a new binding system to minimize the risk of injury for not only riders of his company's vehicles, which he describes as essentially stand-on light motorcycles, but for participants in a range of boardsports."

'via Blog this'

Toyota's new GT 86 for those whose driving is a passion, not a necessity

Toyota's new GT 86 for those whose driving is a passion, not a necessity: "Toyota will be officially showing its GT 86 sports car in Tokyo, after several years of concept cars and redesigns and extensive collaboration with Subaru, which will sell an almost identical car."

'via Blog this'

The first lab-grown hamburger will cost $345,000

The first lab-grown hamburger will cost $345,000: "How much would you pay for a hamburger? How about US$345,000? No, it's not wrapped in edible gold leaf and held together with a skewer made out of a diamond stick pin that you get to keep. It's an ordinary burger that doesn't include the bun, lettuce, pickles or onions. It isn't even super-sized. This may seem like price gouging on a monumental scale, but it's actually the cost price for this particular burger. "

'via Blog this'

The Emulator - transparent touchscreen mixing desk puts DJs center stage

The Emulator - transparent touchscreen mixing desk puts DJs center stage: "While traditional mixing desks can bury DJs behind bulky equipment in a dimly lit corner of the club, this transparent, 46-inch multi-touch system from software development company Smithson Martin puts the person spinning the discs - or in this case the touch display - front and center."

'via Blog this'

Autonomo - fully autonomous vehicle designed for the year 2030

Autonomo - fully autonomous vehicle designed for the year 2030: "Charles Rattray's vision of what the automotive industry will be capable of by the year 2030 is far more feasible that it may seem at first glance. Autonomo, his fully autonomous vehicle concept, certainly looks the part, but should not be dismissed as just another flashy concept car."

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Jay Leno’s 3D Printer Makes Old Car Parts - NextEngine 3D scanner and Dimension 3D printer - Popular Mechanics

Jay Leno’s 3D Printer Makes Old Car Parts - NextEngine 3D scanner and Dimension 3D printer - Popular Mechanics: "Jay Leno has a lot of old cars with a lot of obsolete parts. When he needs to replace these parts, he skips the error-prone machinist and goes to his rapid prototyping 3D printer. Simply scan, print and repeat."

'via Blog this'

The War Against Counterfeit Money | MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice

The War Against Counterfeit Money | MintLife Blog | Personal Finance News & Advice:

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Cornell Chronicle: Universal robotic gripper

Cornell Chronicle: Universal robotic gripper: "The human hand is an amazing machine that can pick up, move and place objects easily, but for a robot, this "gripping" mechanism is a vexing challenge. Opting for simple elegance, researchers from Cornell, the University of Chicago and iRobot Corp."

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Friday, November 25, 2011

U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone

U.S. deploys the Switchblade Kamikaze Drone: "U.S.Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan are beginning initial deployment of the Switchblade unmanned aerial system (UAS). A product of AeroVironment, the aircraft is light enough to be man-packable, simple enough to be deployed in minutes and can fly off over the horizon sending back video. It can loiter and watch silently (it's electric) and is so small that it is very difficult to detect at night, even at close range."

'via Blog this'

Living-in-nature pod can be transported to the mountain peak of your choice

Living-in-nature pod can be transported to the mountain peak of your choice: "his stunning alpine modular lodge is the creation of Italian design firm LEAPfactory. Dubbed LEAP (living ecological alpine pod) the modules are built entirely off-site, ready to be transported by helicopter to the summit of choice. Breaking away from traditional alpine structures, the pod is fitted with high-tech features and "at the end of its life cycle [it] can be lifted away by helicopter without leaving any permanent trace of its presence in the natural environment" says LEAPfactory."

'via Blog this'

Analogue computer chip mimics brain's neural function

Analogue computer chip mimics brain's neural function: "The human brain contains approximately 100 billion neurons, and each one of those communicates with many others by releasing neurotransmitters. Those neurotransmitters cross a gap - properly known as a synapse - between the sending (presynaptic) and receiving (postsynaptic) neurons."

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New nanoparticle electrode could bolster large-scale storage of renewable energy

New nanoparticle electrode could bolster large-scale storage of renewable energy: "There's no doubt that sources of renewable energy such as wind and solar are critical to a clean energy future, but just as important is a way to store the energy generated for use when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing. "

'via Blog this'

Mazda announces world first capacitor-based regenerative braking system

Mazda announces world first capacitor-based regenerative braking system: "While Toyota took out the Tokachi 24-Hour Race in 2007 with a Supra HV-R hybrid race car featuring a quick-charging supercapacitor-based regenerative braking system, battery storage has so far been the norm for these systems in production vehicles."

'via Blog this'

The Iguana 29 - the upmarket amphibian 10-seat tender vessel

The Iguana 29 - the upmarket amphibian 10-seat tender vessel: "The Iguana 29 is a new take on amphibious vehicles, using retractable caterpillar tracks to deliver surefooted drive across extreme terrain at up to 8 km/h (5 mph) while on water it is quick to plane and has 35 knot speed."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 24, 2011

EnviroTech's Lightning electric hot rod breaks cover

EnviroTech's Lightning electric hot rod breaks cover: "While modifying cars for fast acceleration over a short distance is said to date back to the 1930s, many will associate the rise of the American hot rod with the James Dean era of the 1950s"

'via Blog this'

Klingons take note - nanotubes could allow spaceships to disappear

Klingons take note - nanotubes could allow spaceships to disappear: "Although Klingon-style disappearing spaceships may not be in our neighborhood any time soon, the technology that could allow a spaceship to vanish from sight may be here now. Scientists from the University of Michigan have successfully made a three-dimensional etched silicon image of a tank appear as a featureless black void, that completely blended in with the backdrop surrounding it. The secret: good ol' carbon nanotubes."

'via Blog this'

Harvesting energy from insects in quest to create tiny cyborg first responders

Harvesting energy from insects in quest to create tiny cyborg first responders: "Insects have served as the inspiration for a number of Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) that could be deployed to monitor hazardous situations without putting humans in harm's way. Now researchers at the University of Michigan College of Engineering are proposing using actual live insects enhanced with electronic sensors to achieve the same result."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bean Bag Sled protects your posterior on bumpy rides

Bean Bag Sled protects your posterior on bumpy rides: "Winter is starting to rear its ugly head in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means it's time to get out and enjoy the snow with your trusty sled. As many of us already know, however, a fun day of sledding can lead to a bruised and battered body the day after. The solution - surround your posterior with the Bean Bag Sled."

'via Blog this'

The Car Interior Preheater could make winter a little more tolerable

The Car Interior Preheater could make winter a little more tolerable: "Of the various "joys" of winter, one of the biggest has got to be getting into a frozen-solid automobile, then sitting and shivering as you wait for the inside of the windshield to defrost."

'via Blog this'

The Spartan Ducati V-twin track car

The Spartan Ducati V-twin track car: "We see many small one-off cars with high-performance motorcycle engines, but there has never been one quite like the Spartan. The Spartan uses Ducati's 1198 cc V-twin in a light race chassis. The engine that won this year's World Superbike title sits just behind the driver's left ear ... it appears to be the perfect four-wheeled execution of the Ducati ethos."

'via Blog this'

Review: The Kitara digital guitar synthesizer

Review: The Kitara digital guitar synthesizer: "Way back in January 2010, a short demo video of a new digital instrument prototype was posted on YouTube by its creator Michael Zarimis, and went viral. From the millions of views, a list of prospective buyers was drawn up and the Misa Digital Guitar soon began its journey towards commercial availability."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Rearview mirror kit adds Bluetooth, GPS, multimedia playback and touchscreen gaming

Rearview mirror kit adds Bluetooth, GPS, multimedia playback and touchscreen gaming: "We've already seen rearview mirrors from the likes of Ford, Toyota and Mazda that display the vision from rear-mounted cameras, along with a GPS-enabled rearview mirror that includes a 4-inch touchscreen and Bluetooth. Now Hong Kong-based gadget wholesalers Chinavasion has started selling a kit that replaces any standard rearview mirror with a GPS and Bluetooth 2.1 enabled unit featuring a 4.3-inch touchscreen for multimedia playback and even playing touchscreen games (seriously), while DVR capabilities let you record what goes on inside and outside the car."

'via Blog this'

Autonomous Wave Gliders begin their Pacific crossing

Autonomous Wave Gliders begin their Pacific crossing: "It may sound like the premise for the latest Pixar movie, but it's actually happening - four small autonomous aquatic robots have embarked on a 60,000-kilometer (37,000-mile) journey across the Pacific ocean. The Wave Gliders, built by California-based Liquid Robotics, left San Francisco last Thursday. All four will travel together to Hawaii, at which point they will split into two pairs - one of those pairs will proceed to Australia, with the other heading for Japan. Called PacX (for "Pacific Crossing"), the project will constitute the longest voyage ever completed by an unmanned ocean vessel."

'via Blog this'

VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sets its sights on world speed sailing record

VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sets its sights on world speed sailing record: "If floating along in a boat propelled only by the gentle push of an ocean breeze is your idea of relaxing, then you might want to steer clear of the aptly named VESTAS Sailrocket 2. Designed and built from the ground up with a focus on speed, the boat and the VSR2 team have headed to Walvis Bay in Namibia with the aim of breaking the outright world speed sailing record for the short distance 500 meters (1,640 ft) of 55.65 knots (64 mph/103 km/h) set in October 2010 by American kite-surfer, Rob Douglas."

'via Blog this'

Monday, November 21, 2011

USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide

USAF takes delivery of the GBU-57A/B Penetrator - now there's nowhere to hide: "Military technology has created some fearsome weapons, such as the 5,000 lb GBU-28 Deep Throat bunker buster, 15,000 lb BLU-82 Daisycutter, 15,650 lb Russian ATBIP (Aviation Thermobaric Bomb of Increased Power), 22,000 lb Grand Slam earthquake bomb, and the 22,600 lb GBU-43 MOAB (Massive Ordnance Air Blast), but if you were hiding under 50 meters of hardened concrete, none of them were going to bother you."

'via Blog this'

OPERA confirms earlier claims of faster-than-light neutrinos

OPERA confirms earlier claims of faster-than-light neutrinos: "On September 23rd, researchers from the European OPERA project made the now-famous announcement that they had observed neutrinos traveling faster than the speed of light. "

'via Blog this'

LEDO offers LED lighting in a bulb-like form

LEDO offers LED lighting in a bulb-like form: "LEDs last far longer than incandescent bulbs, are much more energy-efficient, and contain less toxic substances. Compact fluorescents give them a run for their money in some areas, although LEDs tend to have a warmer, "nicer" light. In the past few years, a number of companies have started marketing LED light fixtures that screw into traditional incandescent receptacles - these have included products from Geobulb, Switch, GE and Sharp."

'via Blog this'

Versatile new material combines "best qualities" of glass and resin

Versatile new material combines "best qualities" of glass and resin: "Synthetic resins start out as viscous liquids that eventually solidify or "cure" into clear or translucent solids. These materials, which combine the desirable properties of strength, durability and light weight, are so useful that you can find them in thousands of applications, particularly aircraft, automobiles and electronic circuits. But for all that versatility, there's one thing that's remained elusive: once cured, resins can not be reshaped."

'via Blog this'

First flight test of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept

First flight test of Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept: "Following the two test flights of the unmanned Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle (HTV-2) earlier this year, both of which ended prematurely with the vehicle making a "controlled descent" into the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command last week conducted the first test flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon (AHW) concept."

'via Blog this'

New tech allows lithium batteries to charge faster, and hold charge longer

New tech allows lithium batteries to charge faster, and hold charge longer: "For those of us using smart phones, an all-too-familiar problem is that of a dead battery. The computing power, as well as the multi-purpose abilities of modern-day phones is nothing short of amazing."

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Sunday, November 20, 2011

What's good about the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 droptop?

What's good about the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 droptop?: "As affordable convertibles go, the Chevrolet Camaro does pretty well, says Kelsey Mays of Cars.com, who gave the car a thorough going-over at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week. That's the good news. Next comes the bad news. Mays points out that the ZL1 convertible is:"

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Entire Computer Built Into USB Thumb Drive | Fox News

Entire Computer Built Into USB Thumb Drive | Fox News: "Norwegian company FXI Technologies showed off an amazing USB stick-sized portable computer prototype on Friday, Nov. 18. Code-named Cotton Candy because its 21 gram weight is the same as a bag of the confection, the tiny PC enables what its inventor calls "any-screen computing": the ability to turn any TV, laptop, phone, tablet, or set-top box into a dumb terminal for its Android-powered operating system."

'via Blog this'

Amazon to Sell 4M Kindle Fires For Holiday Quarter: Munster - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com

Amazon to Sell 4M Kindle Fires For Holiday Quarter: Munster - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com: "Amazon could sell 4 million Kindle Fires this holiday season, said Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who originally said the e-commerce giant would only sell 2.5 million units."

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Friday, November 18, 2011

Newly developed metallic "micro-lattice" material is world's lightest

Newly developed metallic "micro-lattice" material is world's lightest: "Earlier this year we looked at a "multiwalled carbon nanotube (MCNT) aerogel" -also dubbed "frozen smoke" - that, with a density of 4 mg/cm3, became the world's lightest solid material. Now frozen smoke has been knocked off its perch by a new metallic material with a density of just 0.9 mg/cm3, making it around 100 times lighter than Styrofoam. Despite being 99.99 percent open volume, the new material boasts impressive strength and energy absorption, making it potentially useful for a range of applications."

'via Blog this'

650 horsepower, 200 mph 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 debuts at L.A. Auto Show

650 horsepower, 200 mph 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 debuts at L.A. Auto Show: "The latest high performance variant of the Ford Mustang bearing the Shelby name has been unveiled at the 2011 LA Motor Show, and it's a beast. Packing a 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing a headline-grabbing 650 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, Ford claims the new 2013 Ford Shelby GT500 is the most powerful production V8 in the world."

'via Blog this'

Infiniti developing range-extended sports EV

Infiniti developing range-extended sports EV: "As the luxury brand of the most aggressive major automotive producer of EVs (Nissan-Renault), Infiniti has been hinting that it would go beyond its hybrid offerings and develop an all-electric sedan and more specifically, an all-electric sports car."

'via Blog this'

Thursday, November 17, 2011

The SWAT Sniper - YouTube

The SWAT Sniper - YouTube: ""

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Using solar power to keep runways ice-free

Using solar power to keep runways ice-free: "When it comes to keeping airport runways clear of ice, there are several options, including the use of chemical, thermal, electric and microwave technologies. All of these methods can be expensive, as they require either a considerable amount of electricity, or a number of human workers."

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DARPA's FastRunner robotic ostrich is in the works

DARPA's FastRunner robotic ostrich is in the works: "Fast as the FastRunner may become, it will never be able to escape the comparison to an ostrich. One day, thanks to a joint effort by MIT and the Florida Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), this bipedal sprinting robot is going to assume its rightful place in the DARPA-funded robotic zoo, right next to the robotic cheetah and the mule-like BigDog."

'via Blog this'

Radiator Booster redirects hot air from the wall to the room

Radiator Booster redirects hot air from the wall to the room: "The basic idea with radiators is that they should, well, radiate heat out into the room. Given that they're almost always located against walls, however, much of the heat coming off the back of them is just absorbed by those walls."

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Robotic bear pillow tickles sleepers to stop snoring

Robotic bear pillow tickles sleepers to stop snoring: "Demonstrated during this month's International Robot Exhibition (IREX) in Tokyo, Jukusui-Kun is a polar bear-shaped robotic pillow that, like Paro the seal-bot, masks a serious purpose beneath its cute and cuddly exterior. Jukusui-Kun is designed to help snorers and those who live with them - whenever snoring becomes too loud (and sleep apnea becomes a danger), the robot raises its paw and gently touches the sleeper's face to trigger a change of sleeping position."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Russia's MiG Aircraft Company develops 3D flight simulator for the MiG-29 Jet Fighter

Russia's MiG Aircraft Company develops 3D flight simulator for the MiG-29 Jet Fighter: "Russian Aircraft Company's MiG is best known for its fighter planes which have been used by the USSR, China, North Korea and North Vietnam since the beginning of WWII."

'via Blog this'

LuminAID solar-powered inflatable lantern - simply a good idea

LuminAID solar-powered inflatable lantern - simply a good idea: "Although it can be considered as a basic human need alongside food, water and shelter, 1.6 billion people all over the world have no access to stable and safe source of light. It's a situation that two bright young Architecture graduates are aiming to combat with the LuminAID solar-powered lantern."

'via Blog this'

Robothespian humanoid robot delivers human-like stage performances

Robothespian humanoid robot delivers human-like stage performances: "Engineered Arts Ltd.'s Robothespian is probably one of the first professional robotic actors who made it into the real world (sorry, T-1000). Its elegant movements, extraordinary body language and emotion-conveying skills make it a great communicator"

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Burton rolls out True 3D laser plasma display

Burton rolls out True 3D laser plasma display: "Engineers from Burton Inc. in Japan have rolled out a "True 3D" display, which evolved from work begun five years previously by teams at Keio University and Japan's national institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). While most 3D displays available today involve a form of optical illusion that depends on the parallax or disparity inherent in human binocular vision, this new system, which can function in air or under water, needs no screen of any sort, and the effect is quite impressive."

'via Blog this'

OVO-4 brings full-motion flight simulation to your rec room

OVO-4 brings full-motion flight simulation to your rec room: "Chances are, you will never get to try out the new 3D MiG flight simulator. If you have almost US$60,000 that has nothing better to do, however, you can now buy something almost as impressive - the OVO-4 Home Flight Simulator. The egg-shaped capsule contains a full simulated light aircraft cockpit, with three linked 24-inch monitors displaying the output of Microsoft's Flight Simulator X. Best of all, however, the capsule pitches and rolls according to what's happening in the simulation - users presumably have to supply their own barf bags."

'via Blog this'

Three new tilting narrow-track vehicles from EICMA - including a tilting offroad quad scooter

Three new tilting narrow-track vehicles from EICMA - including a tilting offroad quad scooter: "Tilting three- and four-wheelers make a lot of sense - they're almost as narrow and light as motorcycles, and perhaps even more maneuverable, but they offer enormous amounts of grip and stability. There's so many new narrow track vehicle designs sprouting up all over the world right now that it's easy to see them becoming a significant part of the commuting mix in the congested cities of tomorrow."

'via Blog this'

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Panasonic details Toughpad FZ-A1 rugged Android tablet

Panasonic details Toughpad FZ-A1 rugged Android tablet: "Pricing, availability and technical details have now emerged for Panasonic's new rugged tablet that we briefly covered in June. The Toughpad FZ-A1 has been designed to meet the needs of a modern mobile workforce, and features a multi-touch screen bright enough to use in daylight, has been drop-tested at Panasonic's own labs to MIL-STD-810G standards, and is both waterproof and dust resistant to IP65 standards."

'via Blog this'

New technique turns 2D patterns into 3D objects using nothing but light

New technique turns 2D patterns into 3D objects using nothing but light: "Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a new technique for transforming two-dimensional print output into 3-D structures, using nothing but light. A pre-stressed polymer sheet is fed into a conventional inkjet printer, which applies black stripes to areas designed to be used as hinges."

'via Blog this'

Solid Gray armadillo-inspired backpack designed to keep your gadgets safe

Solid Gray armadillo-inspired backpack designed to keep your gadgets safe: "There are loads of precious and fragile electronics in our lives that require appropriate protection when used on-the-go, and therefore the range of gadget-tailored bags is pretty huge. If you need greater protection than a typical case provides, however, a hard shell-equipped backpack may be your best bet. Designed for heavy use, the Solid Gray backpack comes with a rigid body yet is lightweight at the same time, given that it's made from a single sheet of copolymer."

'via Blog this'

Teenage Honduran builds open source eye-tracking computer interface for the disabled

Teenage Honduran builds open source eye-tracking computer interface for the disabled: "This unique and worthwhile project was put together by a 17-year-old electronics and programming whiz from Honduras, of all places. The Eyeboard system is a low-tech eyeball-tracking device that allows users with motor disabilities to enter text into a computer using eye gestures instead of a physical interface"

'via Blog this'

Monday, November 14, 2011

Why Is China Building These Gigantic Structures In the Middle of the Desert? (Updated)

Why Is China Building These Gigantic Structures In the Middle of the Desert? (Updated): "This is crazy. New photos have appeared in Google Maps showing unidentified titanic structures in the middle of the Chinese desert. The first one is an intricate network of what appears to be huge metallic stripes. Is this a military experiment?"

'via Blog this'

Amazing Time-lapse Flight Over Earth from the Space Station – PictureCorrect

Amazing Time-lapse Flight Over Earth from the Space Station – PictureCorrect: "This now viral video released in the last few days has been stunning viewers worldwide. It was created using multiple time-lapse sequences of photographs captured with a special low-light 4K-camera by the astronaut crew of expedition 28 & 29 on-board the International Space Station from August to October, 2011. Take a moment and enjoy (for those of you reading this by email, you can see the video here):"

'via Blog this'

Amazon Kindle Fire Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

Amazon Kindle Fire Review - Watch CNET's Video Review: "The good: The Kindle Fire is a 7-inch tablet that links seamlessly with Amazon's impressive collection of digital music, video, magazine, and book services in one easy-to-use package. It boasts a great Web browser, and its curated Android app store includes most of the big must-have apps (such as Netflix, Pandora, and Hulu)."

'via Blog this'

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Jelly Pad Holds a Phone on Your Car's Dashboard Almost Vertically

Jelly Pad Holds a Phone on Your Car's Dashboard Almost Vertically: "There are binder clips, bean bags, air vent clips and dashboard suction cups, but this jelly car non-slip dashboard sticky mat seems to be the most elegant way to hold your phone in your car that I've seen."

'via Blog this'

giha woo: constrained ball

giha woo: constrained ball: "constrained ball' is a drawing aid created by korean product designer giha woo.
once attached to the pen, this device helps to draw straight lines without using a ruler.
normally, a ball point pen rolls freely in accordance with the ball located at the tip of
the pen. however, this writing tool prevents winding lines by helping to move
the ball in one direction only. using the installed measuring wheel indicated on the
product, users can draw the exact desired line length in both a horizontal and vertical
direction, as well as strokes in 45 degree angles. "

'via Blog this'

Digital Hourglass Stopwatch Tells Time in Sand Pixels | Designs & Ideas on Dornob

Digital Hourglass Stopwatch Tells Time in Sand Pixels | Designs & Ideas on Dornob: "Talk about retro design, how about a watch that goes all the way back to the ages of the hourglass? Digital does not have to mean LED when it comes to watches as this cool contemporary Hourglass Watch concept demonstrates.
"

'via Blog this'

Friday, November 11, 2011

Honda's electric Canopy (Gyro) 3-wheeler

Honda's electric Canopy (Gyro) 3-wheeler: "Honda has finally added electric propulsion to one of its most enduring and successful commuter vehicles - the Japan-only three-wheeled scooter. Used extensively throughout Japan's congested urban environment as a commuter and delivery vehicle with a 50cc four-stroke motor, the Honda Canopy (aka Gyro) delivers 100 mpg."

'via Blog this'

Smart steering wheel gives a health check while driving

Smart steering wheel gives a health check while driving: "In the early 1900's, Birmigham's Oliver Lucas developed a steering wheel fitted with an electric car horn that quickly became an industry standard. For many years the horn remained the only button found on vehicle steering wheels, but nowadays they are covered with a multitude of buttons for controlling everything from the vehicle's sound and climate control systems to on board computer functions and a connected smartphone."

'via Blog this'

Honda AC-X plug-in hybrid concept has adaptive aerodynamics and autonomous driving mode

Honda AC-X plug-in hybrid concept has adaptive aerodynamics and autonomous driving mode: "Any fan of Formula One racing will tell you that very small changes to the underside of an automobile can deliver major changes to the speed, handling and road-holding of said automobile."

'via Blog this'

Horizon announces versatile Sunbox solar power charging system

Horizon announces versatile Sunbox solar power charging system: "People who are trekking in the wilderness, stranded at disaster sites or living in developing nations all have one thing in common - lack of access to an electrical infrastructure. Solar charging devices such as the Solio, iCharge and Joos Orange have been designed to meet the needs of some or all of these groups. One of the latest such systems, Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies' Sunbox USB 3.0, is particularly versatile."

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Prototype device detects drug use via fingerprints

Prototype device detects drug use via fingerprints: "Fingerprints have been used to confirm or determine peoples' identities for over one hundred years now, but new technology is allowing them to be put to another use - drug testing. Intelligent Fingerprinting (a spin-off company affiliated with the UK's University of East Anglia) has just unveiled a prototype portable device that can detect the presence of illicit drugs or other substances in a person's system by analyzing the sweat in their fingerprints."

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Honda Microcommuter Concept outsmarts the smart

Honda Microcommuter Concept outsmarts the smart: "Honda's Micro Commuter Concept EV has heads-up display, social networking, advanced aerodynamics, seating for three (1+2 like the T25 and T27 city cars), luggage capacity, a customizable exterior and a fold-up electric bike for last mile transport"

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Thursday, November 10, 2011

KKL readies Gocycle G2 for March 2012 release

KKL readies Gocycle G2 for March 2012 release: "When the very last model of the award-winning first generation Gocycle electric bicycle was sold in February of this year, Karbon Kinetics Limited immediately announced plans to develop an updated version. The technical specifications have now been finalized and a manufacturing partner secured - so let's have a closer look at the upcoming Gocycle G2."

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Fisker Karma gets 51.6-mile range in electric mode in TUV tests

Fisker Karma gets 51.6-mile range in electric mode in TUV tests: "Having received certification, a 10 out of 10 fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions rating and an electric-only range of 32 miles (51.5 km) from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month, Europe's independent regulatory body, the Technischer Ueberwachungs Verein (or Technical Inspection Association in English) has given the Fisker Karma a more impressive electric mode range of 51.6 miles (83 km)."

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Fitted Fashion using 3D scanners to make custom-fit jeans

Fitted Fashion using 3D scanners to make custom-fit jeans: "By now, you may be familiar with body-scanning systems that take peoples' measurements, so those people know what size of clothes to shop for. Such systems include the recently-launched Bodymetrics, along with the more-established Intellifit."

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Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Honda unveils new ASIMO robot, and more

Honda unveils new ASIMO robot, and more: "Ask anyone what their favorite real-life robot is, and chances are the majority will say "That one made by Honda, that looks like an astronaut." They will be referring, of course, to ASIMO. The self-balancing, walking bipedal robot is actually the latest in a long line of similar Honda robots, that began in 1986 with one named EO."

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Ballistic Clipboard holds papers, stops bullets

Ballistic Clipboard holds papers, stops bullets: "Although police officers in most countries are issued bulletproof vests, they don't necessarily wear them at all times - would you want to heave one of those things around for an entire shift?"

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2012 Zero S electric motorcycle gets 100 miles+ on a single charge

2012 Zero S electric motorcycle gets 100 miles+ on a single charge: "When we first took the Zero S electric motorcycle for a spin our verdict was that while great fun to ride, impending advances in battery technology will mean that this - and other electric bikes - will only to get better from here ... and they are."

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Researchers develop insulin substitute for treating diabetes orally

Researchers develop insulin substitute for treating diabetes orally: "The World Diabetes Foundation estimated that some 285 million people, or around 6 percent of the world's adult population, were living with diabetes in 2010. For type 1 diabetics and up to 27 percent of type 2 diabetics, that means daily insulin injections, which can be uncomfortable and inconvenient."

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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

SRAM pART PROJECT auctioning off bicycle part art

SRAM pART PROJECT auctioning off bicycle part art: "If you're a cycling enthusiast, you've probably seen plenty of bracelets made from bike chains, clocks made from chain rings, or other items constructed by local hobbyists from cast-off components."

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Panasonic unveils LUMIX 3D1 compact camera with twin-lens design

Panasonic unveils LUMIX 3D1 compact camera with twin-lens design: "Panasonic has announced a new addition to its LUMIX family, the 3D1 compact camera. It's a point-and-shoot snapper featuring a couple of 25mm ultra-wide-angle lenses, that allow users to shoot both stills and videos in 3D. The twin-lens system can also shoot 2D stills and videos simultaneously."

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New Philips product promises instant water disinfection

New Philips product promises instant water disinfection: "There are presently a number of products available that use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms in drinking water. Many of these are used on the water after it has been dispensed, requiring users to wait before drinking it. Others are fairly large, or require the water to be within a certain temperature range"

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YouProve software verifies the authenticity of online images and audio

YouProve software verifies the authenticity of online images and audio: "From nude pictures of celebrities to politicians caught in compromising positions, verifying the authenticity of images online is often no easy task. To address this problem, a team at Duke University looking has developed software called YouProve that can be integrated into the Android operating system to track changes made to images or audio captured on an Android smartphone. "

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Boeing to construct CST-100 spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center

Boeing to construct CST-100 spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center: "Turns out NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida won't be gathering dust following the end of the Space Shuttle Program earlier this year. Providing a glimpse of how the NASA facilities will be used in the future, Boeing has signed an agreement with NASA and Space Florida that will see it using the Orbiter Processing Facility-3 (OPF-3) to manufacture, assemble and test its CST-100 (Crew Space Transportation-100) spacecraft."

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Mask-bot takes a new approach to giving robots a human face

Mask-bot takes a new approach to giving robots a human face: "While great strides have been made in the development of humanoid robots, such as Honda's ASIMO, giving robots a human face with natural expressions and movement has proven a difficult task."

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Monday, November 7, 2011

Dissolving food stickers also wash your fruit

Dissolving food stickers also wash your fruit: "New York based electrical engineer and designer Scott Amron has come up with an idea that could transform the way industries label fruit and vegetables."

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New Omni-Crawler can move in all directions

New Omni-Crawler can move in all directions: "When the need to move super-heavy objects arises, short, squat crawlers are usually deployed to get the job done. Unfortunately, that heavy lifting ability comes at the sacrifice of mobility (no sideways motion), so maneuvering objects into place can be a lengthy process"

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Honda's Intelligent Horse - biomimicry gives us the All-Terrain-Vehicle of the 23rd Century

Honda's Intelligent Horse - biomimicry gives us the All-Terrain-Vehicle of the 23rd Century: "If the horse is not humanity's favorite animal, it should be, as it has served us far better than any other domesticated animal. It has been the predominant form of personal transport for the last millennia, has done more work for us than any animal, and its mastery became the fundamental military technology which helped Genghis Khan build the biggest empire in history."

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Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times

Biologically inspired adhesive tape can be reused thousands of times: "As is so often the case these days for those searching for a better way to stick stuff together, researchers from the Zoological Institute at the University of Kiel in Germany have turned to the biology of gravity-defying ceiling walkers, such as geckos and insects. These creatures served as inspiration for a new dry adhesive tape that not only boasts impressive bonding strength, but can also be attached and detached thousands of times without losing its adhesive properties."

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NASA evaluating "tractor beam" technologies

NASA evaluating "tractor beam" technologies: "NASA is looking to turn another staple of science fiction to practical use by studying ways to make "tractor beams" a reality."

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Sunday, November 6, 2011

Photographer builds fully working DSLR camera costume for Halloween

Photographer builds fully working DSLR camera costume for Halloween: "For most people at this time of year, a giant wearable camera would not be the first design to spring to mind when the invite arrives for the neighborhood Halloween party. Leaving the ghoulish and monstrous creations to other party-goers, photographer Tyler Card's amazing costume isn't just capable of capturing images of the party in full swing, it will also display the photos in real time on the LCD display at the back."

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Boston Dynamics releases amazing video of its PETMAN bipedal robot

Boston Dynamics releases amazing video of its PETMAN bipedal robot: "If you were tasked with testing clothing that was designed to protect soldiers from chemical weapons, it goes without saying that you wouldn't dress an actual person up in those clothes, then fire chemicals at them"

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The economic benefits of tobacco control rapidly outweigh tobacco tax revenues

The economic benefits of tobacco control rapidly outweigh tobacco tax revenues: "In the past decade a line has been drawn in the sand in most major cities. Tax revenues from cigarettes are higher than ever, and most bars and restaurants no longer allow smoking within their confines."

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Lab-on-a-chip counts and sorts sperm

Lab-on-a-chip counts and sorts sperm: "While just about everyone is familiar with home pregnancy testing kits, what many of us may not realize is that a (sort of) equivalent product exists for men - home sperm count kits."

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Siri hacked to work on iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G

Siri hacked to work on iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G: "When Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S on October 4, Siri was seen as the new iDevice's biggest selling point and a major carrot to encourage iPhone 4 owners to upgrade."

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Saturday, November 5, 2011

Build a Solar Charger For iPhones In 30 Minutes : TreeHugger

Build a Solar Charger For iPhones In 30 Minutes : TreeHugger: "Earlier this year, Joshua Zimmerman brought us the super easy DIY solar charger made from an Altoids tin. We loved the project, however, he noted that "Apple doesn't let its products play nice with generic USB chargers." So, he has created a new project that works specifically with iPhones and iPods."

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Smart Plus – Laptop and Smartphone Combination by Eunggyu Lee » Yanko Design

Smart Plus – Laptop and Smartphone Combination by Eunggyu Lee » Yanko Design: "The working mechanics of tech gadgets in futuristic movies can really stump me at times, so for my sake, I’m going to try and keep this as simple as I can. The Smart Plus is a combination of a laptop case, projector keyboard and a Smartphone. There is no screen or a dedicated hardrive involved in the setup; the Smartphone itself is the “brains” in this combo. The inside of the case doubles up as a screen and the projector beams images to it or any other surface you desire. All of it together can be used as a laptop, gaming console or a phone."

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Aerogel: See-Through, Strong as Steel & Ligher than Air | Designs & Ideas on Dornob

Aerogel: See-Through, Strong as Steel & Ligher than Air | Designs & Ideas on Dornob: "Despite its incredibly low density, aerogel is one of the most powerful materials on the planet. It can support thousands of times its own weight, block out intense heat, cold and sound – yet it is 1,000 times less dense than glass, nearly as transparent and is composed of %99.8 air. The lowest-density silica-based aerogels are even lighter than air."

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Friday, November 4, 2011

AH-64D Apache Combat Helicopter gets upgraded

AH-64D Apache Combat Helicopter gets upgraded: "Boeing has now produced more than 1200 of its fearsome US$20 million AH-64 multi-role attack helicopters, but with the first deliveries of the latest AH-64D Apache Block III this week, the capabilities of the 36 year old design have been lifted significantly."

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New record claimed for highest airship flight

New record claimed for highest airship flight: "On October 22nd, just a day after the first manned flight of an electric multicopter took place in Germany, California's JP Aerospace achieved an aeronautical feat of its own - it broke the record for the world's highest airship flight. Remotely controlled from the ground, the all-volunteer group's Tandem twin-balloon airship reportedly ascended to an altitude of 95,085 feet (28,982 meters)."

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New material claimed to filter flu virus out of air

New material claimed to filter flu virus out of air: "Staying healthy during flu season is about to get easier thanks to researchers at China's Academy of Sciences and Academy of Agricultural Science, and it doesn't involve painful injections. Instead, the team has developed a way to improve air filter technology to specifically target influenza viruses, effectively stopping them before they get inside our bodies and make us ill."

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RYNO self-balancing electric one-wheeler - just don't call it a scooter

RYNO self-balancing electric one-wheeler - just don't call it a scooter: "When it comes to self-balancing personal transportation devices, it looks like the Solowheel, Honda U3-X, Uno and Segway could all be in for a little competition. Portland, Oregon-based RYNO Motors is currently in the process of launching its own entry in the weird-little-electric-vehicles race, which it appropriately calls the RYNO. Like Bombardier's EMBRIO concept, it has just one wheel. If nothing else, that feature will definitely get riders noticed."

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Ford begins taking orders for 2012 Focus Electric

Ford begins taking orders for 2012 Focus Electric: "Ford has started taking reservations for its 2012 Focus Electric ahead of initial deliveries to dealers in California, New York and New Jersey. The vehicle is Ford's first all-electric passenger car and the first of five all-electric vehicles the company has planned for the next three years."

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Thursday, November 3, 2011

Levitating lamp meets the future halfway

Levitating lamp meets the future halfway: "Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Angela Jansen has come up with a seriously eye-catching variation on the classic table lamp - the Silhouette Floating Lamp. While the upper part levitates using electromagnets, the lower section is home to a ring of LEDs that reflect off the suspended mirror above to throw light out into the room."

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Logitech unveils its Mini Boombox Bluetooth speaker

Logitech unveils its Mini Boombox Bluetooth speaker: "Logitech has announced the latest offering in its portable speaker lineup in the form of the Mini Boombox. The new arrival not only pairs with smartphones, tablets, and laptops for wireless sound streaming, but also doubles as a speakerphone suitable for hands-free calls or video chats."

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Libratone enters U.S. market with Airplay-enabled wireless speaker systems

Libratone enters U.S. market with Airplay-enabled wireless speaker systems: "With the advantage of no cables and the ability to play music from people's ever-expanding digital music libraries, wireless speakers have become increasingly popular in recent times."

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Jumping spiderbot made using 3D printing technique

Jumping spiderbot made using 3D printing technique: "When it comes to deciding on a form of locomotion for their creations, roboticists have plenty of options to choose from. While many go for the tried and tested tank-like tracks or wheels, nature is also a veritable treasure trove of inspiration. "

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Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Virtually noise-free Eco Whisper Turbine unveiled

Virtually noise-free Eco Whisper Turbine unveiled: "Brisbane's Renewable Energy Solutions Australia (RESA) recently unveiled the first working installation of what is claimed to be the world's quietest wind turbine. The Eco Whisper Turbine is capable of producing 20kW of electricity despite being about half the height and having half the blade diameter of more familiar three-bladed solutions, and is able to automatically adjust the position of the blades to maximize wind capture."

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Subaru's BRZ Concept sports car finally breaks cover

Subaru's BRZ Concept sports car finally breaks cover: "It feels like we've been waiting for Subaru's BRZ concept forever. The BRZ is a joint development effort between Toyota and Subaru, using a 2.0 litre version of Subaru's signature horizontally-opposed engine with Toyota's direct injection system."

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Walking robot uses its own weight for propulsion

Walking robot uses its own weight for propulsion: "Creating systems that are energy autonomous is a key goal in the development of robotics, and this new walking prototype from Japan's Nagoya Institute of Technology (NIT) is a big step in the right direction. To some, calling this device a robot may be a bit of a stretch, especially since it lacks electricity, motors or computers of any kind, but its entry into the Guinness Book of Records last year shows it can certainly go the distance with its weight as the only motive force."

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Intelligent absorbent removes radioactive material from water

Intelligent absorbent removes radioactive material from water: "Nuclear power plants are located close to sources of water, which is used as a coolant to handle the waste heat discharged by the plants. This means that water contaminated with radioactive material is often one of the problems to arise after a nuclear disaster."

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02 Pursuit motorcycle runs on compressed air

02 Pursuit motorcycle runs on compressed air: "A vehicle that runs on air. It sounds like a fantastic idea, but energy is still needed to compress the air and the losses that go hand-in-hand with converting energy still have to be taken into account, just as in fossil fuel-based propulsion systems. Pros and cons aside, we still haven't seen air powered transport make an impact in the race to find economic, environmentally-friendly ways to get from A to B. "

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First-ever manned flight of an electric multicopter takes place in Germany

First-ever manned flight of an electric multicopter takes place in Germany: "By now, most readers are probably pretty familiar with quadracopters - small hovering unmanned electric aircraft, which get their lift from a set of four propellers. Well, make the whole thing larger, boost the number of propellers (and accompanying motors) to 16, and you get what German aircraft developer e-volo calls a multicopter."

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Tuesday, November 1, 2011

HyQ - robotic Lipizzaner does more than just prance

HyQ - robotic Lipizzaner does more than just prance: "HyQ is the Italian cousin of Boston Dynamics' DARPA-funded BigDog. Under development at Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia (IIT) by a group of researchers led by Professor Darwin Caldwell, this Hydraulically actuated Quadruped robot is being groomed to navigate rough terrain, jump and run at speeds up to 15 km/h (9 mph)."

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2012 MINI Roadster unveiled

2012 MINI Roadster unveiled: "MINI has unveiled the final production version of its MINI Roadster which is set to join the company's rapidly-expanding lineup next year. Looking pretty similar to the Roadster concept unveiled alongside the MINI Coupe concept at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the sixth model to join the current MINI line-up is the first open-top two-seater in the company's history."

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New paper-based explosives sensor is made with an ink jet printer

New paper-based explosives sensor is made with an ink jet printer: "There's never been a greater need for explosives detectors. From detecting IEDs on the battlefields of Afghanistan to screening cargoes at airports and sea terminals for bombs or illegal arms shipments, the need to seek out and identify explosives means deploying detectors to hundreds of thousands of locations around the world. "

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