AQUASUN system puts floating solar panels on bodies of water

AQUASUN system puts floating solar panels on bodies of water

Despite all the breakthroughs in the world of robotics, we still seem to be some way off the kind of advanced robots that can autonomously carry out a variety of tasks in unstructured and cluttered environments. One of the key bottlenecks holding back the development of such next-generation robots is how robots perceive the data gathered from their various sensors. Willow Garage, the Californian robotics company behind the PR2 open platform robot, has teamed up with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to launch an international "perception challenge" with the goal of encouraging improvements to sensing and perception technologies for next-generation robots.

Perception Challenge has next-generation robots in its sights

Perception Challenge has next-generation robots in its sights

Despite all the breakthroughs in the world of robotics, we still seem to be some way off the kind of advanced robots that can autonomously carry out a variety of tasks in unstructured and cluttered environments. One of the key bottlenecks holding back the development of such next-generation robots is how robots perceive the data gathered from their various sensors. Willow Garage, the Californian robotics company behind the PR2 open platform robot, has teamed up with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to launch an international "perception challenge" with the goal of encouraging improvements to sensing and perception technologies for next-generation robots.

New material combines the strength of steel and the moldability of plastic

New material combines the strength of steel and the moldability of plastic

Scientists at Yale University have done what materials scientists have been trying to do for decades – create a material that boasts the look, strength and durability of metal that can be molded into complex shapes as simply and cheaply as plastic.

HP breaks new battery life ground with EliteBook notebook

HP breaks new battery life ground with EliteBook notebook

Apple's new MacBook Pro line-up might be grabbing all the headlines with its new Thunderbolt port, but the claimed battery life pales into insignificance when compared to that offered by HP. When running on the company's new Ultra-Capacity Notebook battery, the HP EliteBook 8460p is said to be capable of running for up to 32 hours between charges.

Infinyte Marine hopes its electric i4 will be a quiet success

Infinyte Marine hopes its electric i4 will be a quiet success

For many people who own lakefront property, noisy combustion-engined motorboats that leave clouds of exhaust and oil slicks in their wakes have pretty much become a given. Hopefully, however, quiet and clean-running electric watercraft may soon take over a significant portion of the pleasure-boating market.

RoboMara 2011: Autonomous bot wins marathon by a nose

RoboMara 2011: Autonomous bot wins marathon by a nose: "The RoboMara or robot marathon has just come to a close in Osaka Japan, with a pair of bipedal bots battling it out in surprisingly close dash to the finish. After 422 laps of a 100-meter track, two robots found themselves only inches apart as coming out of the final turn."

MiTAC heads to CeBIT with new Android tablets

MiTAC heads to CeBIT with new Android tablets: "The flood of tablet computer releases seen at CES 2011 looks set to continue at this year's CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany with Taiwan's MiTAC first off the starting line with four new tablets heading for the show. Hoping to capitalize on the success of last year's award-winning Valinor media tablet, the company has announced a couple of media tablets, a rugged model and one featuring two GPS receivers."

The Magic W3: the mini-PC with phone capabilities that's not a smartphone

The Magic W3: the mini-PC with phone capabilities that's not a smartphone: "Recently, devices like LG's Tegra 2-powered Optimus 2X have blurred the lines between smartphone and mini-computer but they're still geared towards the former. The Magic W3's primary function is as a handheld computer that also happens to have telephone functionality."

Subaru Boxer Sports Car takes shape

Subaru Boxer Sports Car takes shape: "Subaru will be showcasing a 'BOXER Sports Car Architecture' Concept concept vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show next week and released a darkened image of the vehicle to the media earlier today. A bit of a play with Adobe Photoshop and … a great deal more about the shape of the forthcoming vehicle has been revealed."

Eye implant contains 'world's first' millimeter-scale computing system

Eye implant contains 'world's first' millimeter-scale computing system: "Researchers from the University of Michigan have created what they claim is the world's first millimeter-scale complete computing system, designed as an implantable eye pressure monitor for glaucoma patients. Incorporating a microprocessor, pressure sensor, memory, thin-film battery, solar cell and wireless radio with an antenna that can transmit data to an external reader device, the device is just over one cubic millimeter in size."

Silver-coated paper could be used for emergency water purification

Silver-coated paper could be used for emergency water purification: "Silver is well-known for its antibacterial qualities, which has led to the use of silver nanoparticles in devices such as an experimental water filtration system developed by Stanford University."

Shadow Ebike: the world’s first wireless electric bike

Shadow Ebike: the world’s first wireless electric bike: "Got a problem with the various gear and brake cables winding their way around your bike frame? If you're riding a standard pedal-powered bike, the answer is probably 'no.'"