Giz-Tech

NASA's AR headset lets pilots see through fog

2012-03-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

NASA Langley researcher Kevin Shelton wearing an early prototype

NASA has developed a pair of augmented reality glasses designed especially for commercial airline pilots to see during the worst visual conditions. The glasses include a heads-up display showing a virtual overlay of the runway and airport, head tracking technology, and voice controls - features that may help pilots keep their eyes where they're most needed.

NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia first unveiled its new head-worn display system when it put out a call for an interested company to manufacture and market the device. The NASA Aviation Safety Program developed the technology while researching better equipment for use while navigating the runway, since this is when the majority of plane crashes occur. Since the flight crew's awareness of their surroundings is a key factor, the research team focused on the best way to produce a clear image of the outside of an aircraft no matter the weather or time of day.

While wearing the glasses, a pilot can see a 3D virtual overlay of the runway and airport in one eye, which updates in real-time and includes markers to highlight nearby objects, runway routes, and traffic in the area. A built-in head tracker follows the pilot's head movements as they look around the windshield and adjusts the image to their viewpoint. The added voice controls and displayed info about the aircraft itself - including speed, altitude, and direction - allow the pilot to keep their eyes focused on the runway ahead of them instead of down at a cockpit screen.

Some military aircraft already use similar HUDs, as do newer commercial airlines, but these tend to be built into the cockpit. Early trials have shown that adding head tracking technology gives pilots greater freedom to move around and gain a better awareness of the outside. Pilots testing the glasses have reported they are generally much easier to use.

The whole system is mostly self-contained and would require very little change to an airplane's cockpit to install it. NASA is currently looking for a company to manufacture the device and bring it from the lab to the marketplace. While the headset was designed specifically with commercial airline pilots in mind, NASA is looking into adapting the technology for use with ground and water vehicles, as well as possible applications for it in the military, construction, or mining.

Source: NASA Langley Research Center

Peoples' immune systems can now be duplicated in mice

2012-03-20T06:25:00.003-07:00

Scientists have developed a method of duplicating an individual person's unique immune system, within a mouse

Because everyone’s immune system is different, it’s impossible to predict with absolute certainty how any given person will react to a specific medication. In the not-too-distant future, however, at-risk patients may get their own custom-altered mouse, with an immune system that’s a copy of their own. Medications could be tried out on the mouse first, and if it showed no adverse reactions, then the person could receive them. If the person had an autoimmune disease, the mouse could also provide valuable insight into its treatment. A team led by Columbia University Medical Center’s Dr. Megan Sykes has recently developed a method of creating just such a “personalized immune mouse.”

The process begins by transplanting bone marrow stem cells from the human subject, along with a one-cubic-millimeter chunk of their thymus tissue, into a mouse with a disabled immune system. The thymus is an organ in the immune system, and the sample of it is implanted in the mouse’s kidney capsule, which is a thin membrane surrounding the kidney.

It incubates there for six to eight weeks, within which time it becomes seeded with the stem cells, which have been circulating in the mouse’s bloodstream. This in turn causes it to create a number of types of human immune cells, resulting in “a robust and diverse human immune system” matching that of the donor. Previous efforts have reportedly not been successful in creating a complete system, or have been hampered by the mice rejecting the human material.

Besides being used to test responses to medications, the personalized immune mice might also play a key role in developing individualized immunotherapies. These would allow patients to more successfully fight infections or cancer, or to accept transplanted tissue.

Additionally, Dr. Sykes plans on using the mice for research into type 1 diabetes, to determine how diabetic patients’ immune systems are different from those of non-diabetics, before the disease develops.

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

Source: Columbia University Medical Center

Arsenal Firearms' Double Barrel Pistol shoots two bullets at once

2012-03-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

One full payload from the AF2011-A1 can deliver in three seconds what would take a regular 9mm pistol almost ten times as long to fire, including reloading

It's been a popular design for shotguns for over a century, so why not handguns? With a design that looks like two guns were melted together, the new handgun from Arsenal Firearms is definitely a handful. Thanks to the gun's dual barrels though, the AF2011-A1 Double Barrel Pistol is capable of firing 16 rounds in a span of three seconds by shooting two bullets at the same time.

Arsenal Firearms produced the double-barreled handgun to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Colt 1911-A1, which has been the preferred sidearm of the U.S. Military since World War II. This certainly isn't the first double barrel pistol ever made, but it is the first .45 caliber, semiautomatic one built to industrial specifications.

Aside from the separate barrels, the rest of the AF2011-A1 is made of conjoined parts, so that it uses a single slide, grip, and safety. It can however be customized to use a single trigger or two separate triggers, so the left and right barrel can be fired independently. Most of the internal parts - firing pins, springs, housings, etc. - are actually interchangeable with standard Colt 1911 parts. The pistol holds 16 .45 ACP rounds split between two columns, which connect to a single base plate and can be loaded like a single magazine.

Arsenal says the gun can be handled like any other .45 caliber handgun and is surprisingly accurate, considering its non-traditional design. At 15 yards (13.7 m) from a target, all 16 bullets will group in an area about the size of an orange; at 25 yards (22.8 m), that area grows to about the size of a watermelon. The dual barrels also pack quite a punch, with two bullets making up 460 grains of weight hitting a target one to two inches apart from each other, depending on the distance. That means one full payload from the AF2011-A1 can deliver in three seconds what would take a regular 9 mm pistol almost ten times as long to fire, including reloading.

Check out the video below to watch Dimitry Streshinskiy, co-creator of the AF2011-A1 Double Barrel Pistol, demonstrate the handgun by firing a fully loaded magazine.

Product Page: Arsenal Firearms

World's smallest production car gets a new lease on life

2012-03-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

Originally manufactured in the 1960's, the world's smallest ever production car, the Peel P50 (right) and it's stablemate, the Trident (left) are getting a limited production run with updated power plants

The quest for more fuel-efficient vehicles has seen a shift from the gas-guzzling behemoths of yesteryear to smaller and smaller cars, such as the Volkswagen up! and Toyota iQ. The smallest currently in production is the Tata Nano that measures just 122 inches (309.9 cm) long and 58.9 inches (223 cm) wide. But for the world’s smallest ever production car you’d have to look back to the early 1960’s and the Peel P50, which measured just 54 inches (137 cm) long and 41 inches (104.1 cm) wide, and weighed 130 lb (59 kg). Now replicas of the P50 -and its bigger brother, the Peel Trident - are getting a limited production run and will be offered with a choice of gasoline or electric powerplants.

Originally produced on the Isle of Man from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company, the Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar with one door, one headlight, and a single windscreen wiper. Powered by a 49 cc engine coupled to a three-speed manual transmission, the car has a top speed of around 38 mph (61 km/h) and no reverse gear. It was designed by, Cyril Cannel, the owner of Peel Engineering Company which focused mainly on making fiberglass boats and fairings for motorcycles. Designed to accommodate a single adult – and a shopping bag – only 50 of the original Peel P50s were produced and sold for GBP199 (approx. US$315) each.

The original Peel Engineering Company was dissolved in 1974, but in 2010 Gary Hillman and Faizal Khan started a new company – with the same name – in the U.K. and they've begun a limited production run of replica P50s. The company is offering both gasoline and electric models, with the former powered by a 49 cc four stroke CVT engine generating 2.5 kW and 4.2 Nm of torque and boasting fuel economy figures of 118 mpg (50 km/liter). The electric model is powered by a DC brushless CVT electric motor also generating 2.5 kW, but with 14.4 Nm of torque and the removable battery pack providing a range of 20 miles (30 km). Both models have a limited top speed of 40 mph (65 km/h).

But the P50 isn’t the only pint-sized vehicle from the original Peel Engineering Company getting some love from the new Peel Engineering Company. A replica of the bubble-domed Trident, which was originally produced from 1965 to 1966 and sold for GBP190 (approx. US$301), is also getting a limited production run. Like the P50, the original Trident was a three-wheeled microcar that was powered by the same 49 cc engine as its stablemate, providing the same 38 mph top speed. However, at 72 inches (182.9 cm) long and 42 inches (106.7 cm) wide, the Trident was designed with two seats – or one seat and a detachable shopping basket.

The updated Trident gets the same choice of gasoline or electric powerplants as the P50, and despite the gasoline-powered two-seater being some 80 lb (36 kg) heavier than the gasoline-powered P50 (198 lb/99 kg to the P50's 118 lb/54 kg), the Peel Engineering Company lists identical perfromance specs for both cars – it must come down to the improved aerodynamic performance of that bubble dome.

Like the original P50 and Trident, company says the replicas will be fully road legal in the U.K. and European Union – where they are classified as Three Wheeled Mopeds – and in the U.S. – where they are classified as a Motor Driven Cycle. The company will also custom build the P50 to road legal specifications for other countries. Prices start at around GBP8,000 (approx. US$12,676) with reservations now being taken on the company website.

Source: Peel Engineering Company

New Belkin devices add camera-like functionality to iPhones

2012-03-20T06:17:00.002-07:00

Belkin's LiveAction Camera Grip provides iPhones with an ergonomic handle, and a shutter release button

Although it’s been suggested that point-and-shoot digital cameras could be made obsolete by smartphones, there’s at least one thing that’s still better about stand-alone cameras – they have an ergonomic grip (or at least, some of them do), and a good ol’ fuss-free shutter release button. Belkin’s LiveAction Camera Grip device, however, is designed to add these features to the iPhone. The company has also released the LiveAction Camera Remote, which brings the same push-button functionality to a remote-control device.

The Camera Grip slides onto the end of the iPhone, connecting to the phone’s charging slot – it can even be installed over top of an existing outer case. Users are then able to get a more camera-like hold on their phone while snapping pictures, plus they can take those shots by pressing a button, located right where the shutter release would be on a camera. Not only should this appeal to retro grouches, but it reportedly also results in less blurring in low-light shots, as the phone itself doesn’t have to be tapped (and thus jarred) right as the shutter is being released.

The device also has a video record button, located beside the shutter release. Additionally, it can be mounted on a tripod via a threaded hole in the bottom.

For people who want to get into their own shots, or who want to take long exposures where touching anything attached to the phone would cause blurring, Belkin has also recently released the LiveAction Camera Remote – it’s kind of like the Camera Grip, but divided into two parts.

The receiver attaches to the user’s iPhone, and includes an adjustable rear-pointing arm for propping the unmanned phone at just the right angle. The handheld remote has the same photo and video buttons as the Camera Grip, and communicates with the receiver via Bluetooth from a distance of up to 30 feet (9 meters).

The LiveAction Camera Grip and LiveAction Camera Remote both work with Belkin’s free LiveAction app, and are available through the company website for US$49.99 each (although Photojojo is selling them for $10 less).

Source: Belkin via Photojojo

SpaceX gets astronauts to try out its Dragon crew cabin

2012-03-20T06:14:00.001-07:00

The trial crew (from left): NASA Crew Survival Engineering Team Lead Dustin Gohmert, NASA Astronaut Tony Antonelli, NASA Astronaut Lee Archambault, SpaceX Mission Operations Engineer Laura Crabtree, SpaceX Thermal Engineer Brenda Hernandez, NASA Astronaut Rex Walheim, and NASA Astronaut Tim Kopra

With the space shuttle program now officially over, the United States needs a new reusable vehicle for getting supplies to and from the International Space Station. NASA is considering the Dragon spacecraft, designed by California-based SpaceX Exploration Technologies, to take over that role. The Dragon’s scheduled late March/early April test flight to the ISS will be unmanned, utilizing a cargo configuration of the spacecraft. Last Friday, however, SpaceX released photographs of an engineering model of of its planned seven-passenger crew cabin, complete with a crew that included real live astronauts.

The four astronauts were among those present for the one-day NASA Crew Trial, in which SpaceX was seeking feedback on its design from industry professionals. The life-size model includes seven seats mounted to supporting structures on the capsule’s inner walls. Each seat is capable of holding an adult up to 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 meters) tall, and weighing up to 250 pounds (113.4 kg) – the seats also have liners that are custom-fit for each passenger. The mock-up additionally includes representations of lighting, environmental control/life support systems, displays, cargo racks and other systems.

The Crew Trial was overseen by personnel from NASA and SpaceX, and was intended to assess factors such as entry and egress of the Dragon in both regular and emergency scenarios, along with reach and visibility concerns for the occupants.

NASA awarded a contract to SpaceX in 2006, as part of its Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) development program. Four years later, using one of its Falcon 9 rockets, the company successfully launched an unmanned Dragon capsule into orbit – the capsule proceeded to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, making SpaceX the first commercial company in history to re-enter a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit.

Since then, the company has started work on a reusable launch system to replace the Falcon 9, and has developed the SuperDraco engine, which would allow the Dragon to fly to safety in the event of a launch malfunction.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who is also the man behind PayPal and Tesla Motors, has always envisioned the Dragon primarily as a people-mover – in fact, he recently announced that he hopes to see it used in a manned mission to Mars.

Source: SpaceX

Nokia 808 PureView packs a 41-megapixel camera

2012-03-20T05:57:00.002-07:00

The Nokia 808 PureView is a new smartphone with an astounding 41-megapixel image sensor

At this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia announced the 808 PureView, a smartphone with an astounding 41-megapixel image sensor. The Nokia 808 will be the first smartphone by Nokia to include its new PureView imaging technology, which combines a high-resolution sensor with Carl Zeiss optics and Nokia-developed algorithms.

Typically you might want a high megapixel camera in order to take photos that can be printed larger - what makes the Nokia 808 PureView special, however, it what it does with those pixels. The 808 uses a new pixel oversampling technology, that captures seven pixels of information and then condenses those into one single pixel. This reportedly results in an exceptionally sharp photo, and the ability to zoom in on any portion of a 5-megapixel picture without losing clarity in the image.

The technology also works on video, so you can shoot a full HD video at 30fps and 4x zoom. Nokia has made some untouched images taken with the camera available online (as a sizable download) so you can get a feel for the quality.

In addition to offering a decent lens and large image sensor, the camera also has a few other notable features. It can capture photos quickly (in less than a second), has a Xenon flash as well as an LED video light for shooting in dark places, and offers integration with services such as GetMe Rated (for having other people rate your photos) and Vimeo, for sharing your videos with the world. Nokia claims the phone can capture audio at CD-like quality, and the handset is also the first smartphone with built-in Dolby Headphone technology, so you can listen to tunes (or your videos) in Dolby Surround sound using any set of stereo headphones.

Besides the camera and sound, the rest of the specs for the handset are actually on the low end of things. The Nokia Belle phone has a 4-inch screen with a 640 x 360 resolution, a 1.3Ghz single-core processor, and 512Mb of RAM. The handset comes with 16GB of storage space, but supports microSD expansion up to 32GB.

The Nokia 808 PureView is expected to roll out in May for around US$605.

Source: Nokia

Sandwich structure enables cheaper, more efficient hydrogen fuel cells

2012-03-20T05:51:00.001-07:00

UCF Professor Sergey Stolbov who has created cheaper, more efficient hydrogen fuel cells using a sandwich-like structure

For the predicted hydrogen economy to become a reality, fuel cells must become more efficient and cost effective. Researchers from the University of Central Florida (UCF) claim to have addressed both these problems by creating a sandwich-like structure that allows more abundant materials to be used as catalysts in hydrogen fuel cells.

Current hydrogen fuel cells generally rely on catalysts made of platinum, which is rare and expensive. Unfortunately there aren’t many alternatives because most elements can’t resist the corrosive process that converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electrical power. Platinum and iridium are up to the task, but both are also rare and expensive, while gold and palladium – although less expensive – don’t stand up very well to the highly acidic solvents present in the chemical reaction within fuel cells.

In an effort to make gold and palladium better suited for the chemical reaction, UCF Professor Sergey Stolbov and postdoctoral research associate Marisol Alcántara Ortigoza layered cheaper and more abundant elements with gold and palladium in a sandwich-like structure.

Below a top (outer monoatomic) layer of either gold or palladium they positioned a layer that enhances the energy conversion rate of the fuel cell while also protecting the catalyst from the acidic environment. These two top layers sit upon a bottom layer made of an inexpensive tungsten substrate that also acts to stabilize the catalyst. The researchers say this structure allows more energy to be converted, while also reducing the cost as rarer and more expensive metals aren’t needed.

“We are very encouraged by our first attempts that suggest that we can create two cost-effective and highly active palladium- and gold-based catalysts –for hydrogen fuel cells, a clean and renewable energy source,” Stolbov said.

Stolbov says the team’s approach is quite reliable but that experiments need to be conducted to test their predictions and determine whether it has the potential for large-scale application. They are working with a group within the U.S. Department of Energy to try and duplicate the results.

Stolbov’s team’s research appears in The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

Source: University of Central Florida

iBaby monitor offers swiveling baby-watching action

2012-03-20T05:49:00.002-07:00

iBaby is an iPhone-controlled baby monitor, which can be remotely panned and tilted

People like their smartphones and, well, they also tend to like their babies – so, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that we’re seeing an increasing number of baby monitors that transmit live video to parents’ phones. Recent examples have included the Smart Baby Monitor and BabyPing. The Apple device-based iBaby is the latest such system, although it’s notable in that instead of just offering a locked-off shot, the camera can be remotely panned and tilted.

Besides its motorized base, iBaby also features infrared night vision, an alert system that notifies users whenever their little one moves or cries, a photo capture feature, and two-way audio that allows parents to listen, talk and/or sing to their baby. Additionally, up to four different users on different devices (iPhone, iPad or iPod touch) can access the video/audio feed at once. Connectivity is via WiFi or an Ethernet cable.

Using the interface on their mobile device, users can pan iBaby 350 degrees, or tilt it up to 70 degrees. Of course, if the baby is confined to a crib, all that camera movement might prove unnecessary. The company, however, suggests that “babies” could also include dogs or cats – essentially, anything that users might want to check up on.

iBaby is currently listed on its own website as “coming soon,” at a price of US$199.95.

Source: iBaby via 7 Gadgets

Subaru begins production on BRZ and Toyota GT 86 sports cars

2012-03-20T05:44:00.001-07:00

Subaru and Toyota celebrated the beginning of production last Friday

More than six years ago, Subaru and Toyota entered into a cooperative agreement. In 2009, that relationship bore its first concept - the Toyota FT-86. Both automakers showed the production versions of their respective sports cars last year, and Subaru has officially kicked off production on the models. In about two more months, car buyers will be able to get their hands on them.

On Friday, Fuji Heavy Industries, Subaru's parent company, held a celebratory production kick-off at the Gunma Main Plant that will produce both the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota GT 86. The event was held in conjunction with Toyota, and Toyota Motor Corporation president Akio Toyoda attended.

The Gunma plant will produce the BRZ and the Toyota version, which will be branded the 86 in Japan, the GT 86 in Europe and the Scion FR-S in North America. Both coupes feature a rear-wheel-drive layout with Subaru's purpose-built 2.0-liter boxer engine throwing 200-hp and 151 lb-ft of torque at the rear axle. Toyota contributed direct injection technology to the project.

The output is modest, but the Subaru model is able to capitalize on it with a very low center of gravity and a 2,762-pound (1,255 kg) US-spec weight. Scion did not list a final weight on its FR-S debut press release, and the curb weight box remains empty on the FR-S' Web page. Toyota lists the curb weight of the GT 86 as 1,180 kg (2,596 lbs) on its UK website, so we assume the FR-S will be comparable. Long story short, the low weight should provide a lively ride.

"The start of production today made a huge step for us, but it is not our goal. Fuji Heavy Industries President Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said. "By constantly refining both models, TMC and FHI hope to nourish each model to be loved by customers all over the world for a long time to come."

Both the Toyota and Subaru sports cars have been highly anticipated for several years. Toyota showed its first concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and showed several updated concepts, including the FT-86 II, over the years that followed. Finally, after Toyota was starting to take some good-natured ribbing for the number of light updates that it brought to major auto shows, it revealed the final production in December.

In a contrasting approach, Subaru waited until last year to show anything, revealing a rough transparent model at March's Geneva Motor Show, a full concept at November's LA Auto Show and the final production version at December's Tokyo show.

North American deliveries of the 2013 Scion FR-S and 2013 Subaru BRZ will begin in spring and are expected by May. Subaru is building a limited number of 2013 BRZ models, but has not specified the exact number. Those wishing to purchase one may want to pre-order at a Subaru dealership ASAP, as the limited production run may make buying one later on difficult. Pricing for both models has yet to be announced.

Source: Subaru

Desktop-sized CT scanner created as a teaching aid

2012-03-20T05:41:00.003-07:00

DeskCAT is a miniature visible-light CT scanner, designed for use in medical school classrooms

When you're learning how to use a complex device, there’s nothing like getting some hands on play time. When it comes to CT (Computed Tomography) scanners, however, it’s often difficult to find a time when they’re not being used on patients. That’s why two biophysics professors at Canada’s Western University invented the DeskCAT. It’s a miniature CT scanner that’s small enough to sit on a desk, so it can be used in medical school classrooms.

A traditional CT or CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) scanner is a room-sized system, that rotates a beam of X-rays around a given part of the patients’ body. The DeskCAT incorporates the same principle, creating a composite 3D image of a subject from multiple 2D “slices” of its interior.

Unlike a full-sized clinical scanner, however, it uses visible light instead of X-rays, and transparent models instead of human patients. Not only is this safer for students and instructors, but it also allows students to actually see the light passing through the models – by contrast, X-ray beams are invisible to the human eye.

The DeskCAT was created by Western’s Jerry Battista and Kevin Jordan. It is being manufactured and distributed by London, Ontario-based Modus Medical Devices.

Sources: Western University, DeskCAT

Study suggests mobile phone use during pregnancy may cause ADHD in offspring

2012-03-20T05:40:00.001-07:00

A study suggest mobile phone use by pregnant mothers can affect fetuses

While there have been – and continue to be – numerous studies examining the effects of radiation from mobile phones on users, Yale School of Medicine researchers have looked at the possible effects on fetuses of mobile phone use by pregnant mothers. According to the study, mobile phone radiation exposure in the womb can affect the brain development of offspring and potentially lead to behavioral disorders such as hyperactivity.

A team led by Dr. Hugh S. Taylor, professor and chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale, exposed pregnant mice to mobile phone radiation by positioning a muted mobile phone placed on an active phone call above their cage for the duration of the trial. The same conditions but with a deactivated phone were replicated for a control group.

A battery of tests measuring the electrical activity of the brains of adult mice that were exposed to radiation as fetuses showed that they tended to be more hyperactive and had reduced memory capacity when compared to the control group.

Although the definition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is based on behavior and is not classified as a neurological disease, magnetic resonance imaging of the prefrontal cortex in sufferers has shown a development lag in this area of the brain. This led Taylor to attribute the behavioral changes in the mice to an effect of mobile phone radiation on the development of neurons in the prefrontal cortex during pregnancy.

“This is the first experimental evidence that fetal exposure to radiofrequency radiation from cellular telephones does in fact affect adult behavior,” Taylor told Yale News. “We have shown that behavioral problems in mice that resemble ADHD are caused by cell phone exposure in the womb. The rise in behavioral disorders in human children may be in part due to fetal cellular telephone irradiation exposure.”

Although Taylor admits that further research in humans into the mechanisms behind the findings is needed to identify safe exposure limits during pregnancy, he says that limiting exposure of the fetus to mobile phone radiation seems advisable.

“Cell phones were used in this study to mimic potential human exposure but future research will instead use standard electromagnetic field generators to more precisely define the level of exposure,” said first author of the study Tamir Aldad, who added that mice pregnancies last only 19 days and that mice are born with less-developed brains than human babies.

The team’s study appears in Nature’s Scientific Report.

Source: Yale News

Skydiving from 71,500 feet: Red Bull Stratos test jump a success

2012-03-20T05:37:00.002-07:00

Felix Baumgartner stares down the barrel of the first test jump in the Red Bull Stratos project

Daring Austrian base-jumper and skydiver Felix Baumgartner is aiming to break a record that has stood for almost 52 years. In fact he is aiming to break four long established records, starting with world's highest manned balloon flight (120,000 feet or 36,576 meters) highest skydive (currently 102,000 feet ) and the longest freefall, which may well see him break the sound barrier as he plummets for nearly 23 miles (37 km) towards Earth. Last week Baumgartner jumped from 71,581 feet in the first manned flight test by the Red Bull Stratos project, but to reach its ultimate goal the team must beat Joe Kittinger's record for the highest freefall set in August, 1960.

A record that's tough to beat

Kittinger is amazing. He is not only an advisor to the Red Bull team, but is a decorated military pilot as well as the first person to cross the Atlantic solo in a gas balloon. His career includes three combat tours of Vietnam, before he was shot down and spent 11 months as a POW, eventually returning to the USA and retiring as a colonel in the Air Force in 1978. He is still an active pilot, but best remembered for his part in the research into high altitude bale-outs.

Baumgartner's high tech gear is a far cry from Kittinger's 1950's Air Force issue high altitude suit

Leaping from his open gondola at 76,400 feet (23,300 m) on November 16, 1959, Kittinger's very first high altitude jump nearly ended in disaster as he lost consciousness and went into a flat spin that was calculated to have exerted 22 times the force of gravity on his extremities. Fortunately his parachute opened automatically and a year later, he made his final jump from an altitude of 102,800 feet (31,300 m), reaching a speed of 614 mph (988 km/h). During this jump his pressurized right hand glove failed and in the rarefied atmosphere his hand swelled to about double normal size, but he completed the jump to set records for the highest balloon ascent, highest parachute jump, longest drogue-fall, and fastest speed by a human being through the atmosphere.

Baumgartner's 71,581 feet test jump

Fast forward 52 years, and the Red Bull Stratos team has just spent five years developing its state-of-the-art, pressurized life-support capsule and space suit, intent on breaking Kittinger's records. Weighing 2,900 pounds (1,315 kilograms) 11 feet (3.4 m) high by 8 feet (2.4 m) wide, the capsule hangs approximately 150 feet (46 m) below the helium-filled balloon which will take it to the edge of space. When Baumgartner jumps, the capsule releases the balloon and returns to Earth via its own parachute. As he leaves the safety of the capsule, Baumgartner relies on his special space suit to protect him from the minus 70 degree F outside temperature.

The Red Bull Stratos team's first manned test flight took place on March 15 over the New Mexico desert. During the jump from 71,580 feet, Baumgartner hit speeds of almost 365 miles per hour and spent 3 minutes and 33 seconds in freefall before his chute opened at 7,890 feet.

The jump went "exactly as planned" although combating the extreme temperatures remains a challenge. "I could hardly move my hands," said Baumgartner. "We're going to have to do some work on that aspect."

Although just a stepping stone towards the 23 mile main event, this successful test means that Baumgartner joins Kittinger and Russia’s Eugene Andreev as only the third person to leap from that altitude and survive.
Another test from the altitude of 90,000 feet is planned before Baumgartner and the Stratos shoot for the record later this year ... and there will be one man with his fingers firmly crossed.

Source: Red Bull

Seagate demonstrates HAMR hard drive technology that promises 60 TB HDDs

2012-03-20T05:32:00.001-07:00

Seagate has achieved a milestone 1 terabit per square inch storage density using heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) technology

Despite solid state drives increasing in capacity in recent years, the humble platter-based 3.5-inch hard drive still reigns supreme as the data storage device to beat in terms of bits for your buck. But if traditional drives are going to meet user’s ever-increasing data storage demands they will need to improve on the maximum 620 gigabits per square inch storage densities currently possible in platter based 3.5-inch drives. That’s just what Seagate has demonstrated with new technology that has achieved a milestone storage density of 1 terabit per square inch.

From the advent of hard drives in 1956, the magnetic surface of the hard drive platters was divided in sub-micrometer-sized regions called magnetic domains that were oriented horizontally and parallel to the disk surface in what was called longitudinal recording. But around 2005/2006, Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) was introduced, which changed the orientation to perpendicular to allow for closer magnetic domain spacing and increase data storage capacity.

Seagate has now demonstrated a next-generation recording technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) that increases each platter’s storage capacity by shrinking a platter’s data bits and also tightening the concentric circles, known as data tracks, on the disk’s surface that anchor the bits.

Shrinking the data bits much further isn’t possible in current hard disk technologies because the magnetization of sufficiently small nanoparticles can randomly flip direction under the influence of temperature in what is known as superparamagnetism. HAMR technology gets around this by using materials that are stable at much smaller sizes, but which require heating with a laser before the magnetic orientation of a bit can be changed.

At the current limit of around 620 gigabits per square inch, the maximum storage capacity of today’s 3.5-inch HDDs is 3 TB, while 2.5-inch HDDs with a storage densities of around 500 gigabits per square inch top out at 750 GB. By using HAMR technology, Seagate says it has achieved a linear bit density of roughly two million bits per inch, and a data density of just over one trillion bits (1 terabit) per square inch.

Seagate anticipates that the first generation of HAMR drives will more than double the current capacities to 6 TB for 3.5-inch drives and 2 TB for 2.5-inch drives. However, with the technology offering a theoretical area density limit of somewhere from five to ten terabits per square inch, it says that 30 TB to 60 TB 3.5-inch drives and 10 TB to 20 TB 2.5-inch drives are possible in the future.

Seagate says its first HAMR hard drives will be introduced later this decade, with drives offering up to 60 TB likely to appear in the following ten years.

Source: Seagate

JuiceTank iPhone cover integrates collapsible wall charger

2012-03-20T05:30:00.003-07:00

The JuiceTank iPhone case's integrated, collapsible electrical plug eliminates the need for a charging cable

When you think of wireless charging, the JuiceTank iPhone case probably isn't what springs to mind. The new smartphone case from phone accessory maker, Dedicated, features a collapsible electrical plug on the back that fits into any North American wall socket. Connecting the JuiceTank case to a phone not only gives it solid protection without much bulk, but also ensures you'll always have a "cordless" charger with you.

The JuiceTank iPhone cover is a concept so straightforward that it's a wonder there isn't a similar product on the market right now. Pressing a spring-loaded button on the back of the case deploys two prongs, which come together to form a plug that will fit most electrical outlets in North America, as well as any other region that uses the same type of socket. With the plug out, all you need to do is plug it directly into the wall to start charging.

The electronics that make up the charging components are so slim that the JuiceTank isn't any bulkier than most other protective cases once the plug is collapsed. The cover itself is made from durable polycarbonate on the outside, with a soft rubber finish on the inside, and is designed to fit both the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. The designers also included an external micro USB port so the phone can still be synced and charged through a cable if needed.

The only question is just how useful the JuiceTank would be at home. The collapsible plug is certainly a handy feature for on the go, but isn't so convenient if you actually need to use your phone while it charges (unless you want to get down on the floor or hold a power strip to your ear, that is). Also, it seems unlikely that a similar design could be applied to the different types of electrical outlets in other parts of world.

Detached is raising funding for the JuiceTank through Kickstarter and at the time of writing, with almost two months left to run, the project still had about US$100,000 left to reach its $125,000 goal. The cases are expected to retail for $70 each, but backers can get them for $55 each or less depending on how much they contribute. If the creators manage to secure funding though, the JuiceTank could ship as soon as this summer.

Source: Kickstarter

3D solar cells could be integrated into solar roof tiles

2012-03-20T05:28:00.003-07:00

Solar3D will examine the potential for its 3D solar cells to be used in solar roof tiles

Home owners looking to embrace solar but concerned about the effect slabs of solar panels will have on the look of their house may soon have an option that blends the old with the new. California-based company Solar3D has announced it is conducting a study to explore the potential for integrating its solar cells directly into roof tiles. While conventional solar cells aren’t really suitable for roof tiles due to their fixed orientation, Solar3D believes its 3D solar cell technology could make such a product feasible.

Like a number of technologies we’ve looked at, Solar3D’s solar cells maximize the amount of sunlight converted into electricity by trapping the sunlight within the solar cell. While conventional solar cells reflect much of the sunlight before it can be absorbed, Solar3D’s solar cell traps the sunlight inside photovoltaic structures etched into the silicon wafer, where the photons bounce around, increasing the chances they will be absorbed. Solar3D claims its 3D solar cells have an internal efficiency of 25.47 percent, compared to the efficiency range of 15 to 19 percent seen in commercial solar cells.

Additionally – and importantly for any potential integration in roof tiles – Solar3D’s solar cells also feature a surface that the company claims allows more light to be captured at wider angles, such as in mornings and evenings, and in the winter months. Whereas the efficiency of conventional solar cells is dramatically reduced once the light hitting them falls outside a narrow range of incident angles, Solar3D claims the wide-angled light collection of its solar cells allows their efficiency to be maintained over a much wider range of incident angles.

In fact, the company claims that its 3D solar cell can maintain its 25 percent efficiency from such a range of angles that it can produce 200 percent of the power output of conventional solar cells.

It is this wide-angle light collection capability that has prompted Solar3D to look at integrating the technology into roof tiles. The company will collaborate with solar roofing company, Redwood Renewables, on a study to examine how the silicon-based technology will perform in Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV0 applications.

“Everyone wants low cost high-powered solar cells to convert an unlimited amount of free solar energy into useful electricity,” says Solar3D CEO, Jim Nelson. “But, the industry has hit a wall using conventional 2-dimensional solar cell designs. With Solar3D cells, utility solar farms can be smaller in size and easier to operate without the need for mechanical systems to track the sun. Space limited applications, such as rooftops, can finally generate enough useful power to successfully compete against other sources of electricity.”

Source: Solar3D

Citroen's 1955 DS set for reprise with DS6

2012-03-20T05:26:00.001-07:00

Teaser shot from Citroen's Facebook page

Teaser shots have appeared on Citroen's Facebook page for a new as-yet-unnamed vehicle. The French giant has successfully reprised its successful DS name into a whole series - so far we have the DS3, DS4 and DS5.

Back in 2010, Citroen created a special car just for the Shanghai World Fair - the Metropolis Concept appeared nowhere else. The Metropolis Concept looks a lot like the teaser pics (comparisons inside) and it's our bet that it will become the DS6 sometime later this year - probably at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Firstly, we have two images of the new DS - the first is the lead image for this story.

The second is this one of the new DS driving towards the camera.

Now, let's look at the shape which we saw in Shanghai during Expo 2010. The Metropolis was long, low and wide - 5.3 m (17.38 ft) long, 2 m (6.56 ft) wide and 1.4 m (4.9 ft) high - so although the fine detail of the styling is quite obviously different, the shape looks very similar in the front half, with an "estate" or "brake" cabin shape.

The Metropolis concept car was created by Citroën’s Shanghai-based international design team and was at the time proposed as a "sleek limousine concept."

Naturally, the Metropolis uses a version of the company's hydro-pneumatic suspension system.

Citroën’s Hydractive suspension system has since been licensed to several other auto manufacturers, most notably, Rolls Royce. The system was invented during WWII and first used on the rear of the Traction Avante in 1954 and on all four wheels in the DS, which created so much interest internationally when it was launched in 1955.

The DS went on to become an internationally-recognized icon - a symbol of France and its technological prowess - we've included some wonderful period shots in the image library of the DS in its heyday.

Above is an early sketch of the original DS.

The original DS was styled by Italian sculptor/designer Flaminio Bertoni and the French aeronautical engineer André Lefèbvre.

The DS' most famous moment occured during an assassination attempt on President Charles de Gaulle - despite two tires being shot out by the assailants, the unarmoured DS was able to drive clear of the danger. The incident was faithfully recreated for the film, "Day of the Jackal."

More than 1.5 million were sold during the car's twenty year production run, many finding their way throughout the world in the hands of intrepid French adventurers.

The DS came in third in the 1999 Car of the Century competition, behind the Model T Ford and Mini, and ahead of the Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911.

The DS was also voted "the most beautiful car of all time" by a jury of the world's leading car designers assembled by Classic & Sports Car magazine. The DS beat out a stellar stable with the Jaguar XK120 and Ferrari 275GTB equal second, and seven cars were equal fourth - the Cord 810/812, Ferrari 250GT Lusso, Ferrari 250GT SWB, Jaguar E-type, Lamborghini Miura, Lotus Elan and the 1957 Lotus Elite.

The Metropolis on display in Shanghai used a plug-in hybrid drivetrain incorporating a 2-liter V6 petrol engine and a 7-speed, dual-clutch electronic gearbox.

In Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mode, the Metropolis' electric motors can run all day delivering 55 bhp (40 kW), but can peak for short periods at 95 bhp (70 kW). At steady speeds on main roads and motorways, the petrol powerplant provides 272 bhp (200 kW) and 375 Nm of torque.

Combining both the electric motor and the combustion engine delivers a maximum power output of 460 bhp (345 kW) and 430 Nm of torque and there’s also a four-wheel drive mode for when extra grip is needed.

Although there are clearly many differences in the detail between the Metropolis and the coming DS model, the brand spent an inordinate amount of money to build the Shanghai concept with a clear intention of making an impression on the biggest ever World Expo's crowd of 73 million Chinese.

China is the world’s largest automotive market and Citroën’s second largest market outside Europe, with the brand having been established there for 20 years. Given all of the above, the Metropolis appears likely to form the basis of the DS6.

The original DS and the current C6 Citroen. Watch this space.

Researcher spins spider silk into violin strings

2012-03-17T09:07:00.003-07:00

By twisting thousands of strands together, a Japanese researcher has managed to form working violin strings from spider silk

Spider silk is turning out to be a remarkably versatile material. Aside from having a higher heat conductivity than any other organic matter and proteins for inserting genes into cells, strings from a spider have also been found to have a very high tensile strength. One researcher in Japan has studied this property of spider silk for decades, and recently unveiled a new application for it by weaving together thousands of strands of spider filaments and using them as violin strings.

It's not very often that a spider researcher and violinist finds a way to combine the two passions - in fact Dr. Shigeyoshi Osaki of Japan's Nara Medical University is most likely the first. Osaki has studied spider silk for 35 years and has spent the past ten developing a method to create violin strings from the unique material. Specifically, the violin strings were created using dragline silk, which spiders use to dangle from hanging objects (as opposed to the silk they use to construct webs). First, Osaki developed a method for harvesting long strands of dragline silk from the Nephila maculata spider. He then took 3,000 to 5,000 of these strands and twisted them in one direction to create a bundle. Finally, he twisted three of these bundles together in the opposite direction to form each string.

Surprisingly, the strings turned out to have a higher tensile strength than common nylon strings, though are still not as strong as traditional gut strings. Looking at cross-sections under an electron microscope, Osaki discovered that the twisting the strings had altered the shape of the individual filaments, making them more polygonal than round. This allows the strands to pack more tightly together and increase their overall strength.

More importantly though, this property allows for a unique sound, as the spider strings produce a different timbre (or sound quality) than any other material available. The sounds seems to come from the strings' tendency to reverberate higher harmonics than the usual steel or nylon strings. The strength of the silk could also allow for thinner strings at the same pitch to be more responsive, allowing for quicker notes.

As interesting as the spider silk strings are though, they are only in the prototype stage and would be much too expensive to sell to the average violinist. Osaki is however still looking into ways to produce larger quantities of spider silk for more violin strings and has submitted his findings on the strings to an American physics journal.

Source: New Scientist via BBC

The fold-up fishing hut with walls of ice

2012-03-17T09:05:00.002-07:00

Unavailability is an achingly simple piece of design, functioning as a folding fishing hut with walls of ice

Simply called Unavailability, this achingly simple piece of design is a one-man wooden-framed fold-up fishing hut with chicken wire-mesh walls that can be packed with ice by the user to keep out the wind while letting in light.

Unavailability is designed by Gartnerfulgen Arkitekter for maximum portability. The idea is, should you wish to change fishing hotspot, you simply shake out the ice, fold the thing up and you're on your way. Quite how simple constructing the ice-walls will prove to be is quite another matter, however.

A single panel of the structure made from birch veneer functions as a door, and reveals a wooden-slatted base which, with the addition of a rug actually looks rather cosy. Judging by the pictures of the structure being assembled, it looks as if the slats have to be loosely arranged every time.

As Treehugger notes, this thing is really only good for use during winter (ice being relatively hard to come by at other times of year), but as an artisanal concept only, practicalities are hardly a foremost priorities.

Yet, ice as a building material is always of interest, and it's, er, warming to see an application that plays to the strengths of ice's impermanence. Unlike the permanent ice hotels that have cropped up in recent years, Unavailability has something of the igloo about it.

Sources: Gartnerfulgen Arkitekter, Treehugger

Winner announced for 2012 Millenium Yacht Design Award

2012-03-17T09:03:00.005-07:00

The Allochroous is the 'Dream Boat' winner of the 9th Millennium Yacht Design Award

The Allochroous is the Dream Boat category winner of the 9th Millennium Yacht Design Award (MYDA), an international competition for yacht designers around the world. Conceptualized by beginner entrants Ezgi Aksan and Ambra Ceronetti, Allochroous is a futuristic representation of what their dream yacht would be. Drawing upon innovative technologies, the key feature behind the concept is that the yacht is able to transform its functionality. The vision was to create a sustainable yacht that is ideal for enjoying a summer concert at sea.

The Allochroous is designed specifically to host events such as concerts, multi-media exhibitions, special events and private parties. Not only does the color of the boat transform by day or by night, but the yacht actually changes shape. The colors change due to the installation of glass tiles that change color depending on the outside temperature. The design of the yacht resembles a fish out-of-water, while twin floating arms and a motorized torpedo allow the hull of the yacht to descend to sea level when not in motion and rise when traveling.

The 40 meter (131 ft)-long vessel features a lounge area with tables and chairs, a concert floor and a cocktail bar. The lower deck includes guest services such as private bathrooms, cooking facilities and crew/backstage services. The base structure resembles a honeycomb structure and is built using recycled aluminum. Solar panels on the roof can generate enough energy to operate the yacht, while composite paneling bonded with layers of clear polycarbonate create an attractive anti-slip finish for floor and wall surfaces.

The Cronos entry was awarded special mention by the jury for its use of wood elements

The jury also gave a special mention to young designers Simone Madella and Lorenzo Berselli for their Cronos entry. This concept represented an interesting expression of interior design with a strong focus on wood materials. The sleek and simple lines of this entry create an attractive designer yacht concept that is reminiscent of the 60's.

Sources: MYDA, Ambra Ceronetti and Ezgi Aksan via Tuvie

Flat polymer sheets bend themselves into 3D shapes - just add water

2012-03-17T09:01:00.001-07:00

Using a photolithography process, scientists have created flat polymer sheets that bend themselves into three-dimensional shapes when exposed to water

When the petal of a flower is being formed, its shape is achieved by cells in one area expanding more than cells in an adjacent area. This uneven expansion causes the material to buckle, creating the desired curves and creases. Scientists from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst have taken that same principle, and applied it to flat polymer gel sheets that fold themselves into three-dimensional shapes when exposed to water. Some day, such sheets could serve a number of useful purposes.

The researchers use a photolithography process, in which parts of each sheet are masked with a thin painted-on coating, followed by an exposure to ultraviolet light. The polymer that is masked from the UV light will uniformly expand like a sponge when exposed to water. In areas that aren't masked, however, the UV light causes the molecules within the polymer to become cross-linked. This means that the material in those areas will only experience limited expansion when water is added.

When areas with cross-linked molecules are flanked by areas of the protected polymer, buckling will occur as the one area expands more than the other. By strategically patterning the size and placement of the cross-linked areas, along with subjecting some of them to a second UV exposure, the scientists have been able to determine what 3D shapes the sheets would expand into when wetted.

So far, they've managed to create basic shapes such as spheres, saddles and cones. Down the road, however, the researchers believe that the technology could be used in fields such as biomedicine, where cultured cells could be designed to form themselves into blood vessels or specific organs. It could also find use in applications such as robotics, and tunable micro-optics.

It's reminiscent of research recently performed at North Carolina State University, in which black stripes were printed onto pre-stressed flat sheets of polymer. When subjected to infrared light, the striped areas absorbed more energy than the surrounding material. This caused the underlying polymer to contract, which in turn caused the sheets to fold themselves into 3D structures.

A paper on the University of Massachusetts research was recently published in the journal Science.

Source: University of Massachusetts, Amherst

New software translates users' speech, using their own voice

2012-03-17T08:59:00.001-07:00

New software developed by Microsoft is able to reproduce the user's speech in another language, using their own voice

For some time now, speech-recognition programs have existed that attempt to reproduce the user's spoken words in another language. Such "speech-to-speech" apps, however, provide their translations using a very flat, synthetic voice. Now, experimental new software developed by Microsoft is able not only to translate between 26 different languages, but it plays the translated speech back in the user's own voice - complete with the inflections they used when speaking in their own language. It looks like a real-life version of Star Trek's universal translator could soon be here.

The system was demonstrated this Tuesday at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, campus, by its inventor, Microsoft research scientist Frank Soong. He started by using the software to read out Spanish text using the voice of his boss, Rick Rashid, and then proceeded to use it to allow the company's chief research and strategy officer, Craig Mundie, to converse in Mandarin.

So far, the program isn't ready to go as soon as it's been installed. Users must initially spend about an hour with it, training it to recognize and reproduce their voice. Once that's been accomplished, the software applies that user-specific speech model to a generic text-to-speech model for the desired output language. Individual sounds of the user's voice are selected from the training session, then strung together and appropriately altered, in order to create a natural-sounding translation.

It's been suggested that such a system would make users more confident that their speech was being translated accurately, and that fewer misunderstandings would occur due to a lack of context - in other words, it would be more obvious if the speaker was being sarcastic, or exaggerating. It could also help facilitate the learning of foreign languages, as students may find it easier to imitate phrases spoken in their own voice.

Examples of a phrase spoken in different languages via the system can be heard in the link below.

Via: Technology Review

Replica of iconic Nurburgring racetrack proposed for Las Vegas

2012-03-17T08:56:00.004-07:00

Nurburgring is as ominous as the clouds in the background

Germany's Nurburgring is possibly the most famous racetrack in the entire world. Not only does it host racing competitions, but it also provides the ultimate testing grounds for new cars and prototypes - manufacturers from around the world travel to Germany to test their cars. Speedway Motorsports wants to make some of those journeys a little shorter, by building an exact replica of Nurburgring just outside of Las Vegas.

The United States has plenty of racetracks of its own - in fact, Speedway operates eight of them - but it doesn't have anything the caliber of Nurburgring, largely considered one of the most difficult racetracks in the world thanks to about 16 miles (26 km) of twisting, hilly terrain. Unlike the enclosed stadium tracks in the US, Nurburgring is integrated into its rolling, wooded surroundings and even has a 12th century castle located inside its perimeter. So, it's like quintessential European countryside bottled up into one of the world's most demanding pieces of asphalt - it's no wonder it is famous the world over.

Speedway may not be able to duplicate the history or ambiance of the original racetrack, but it does plan to duplicate the turns and features of the track itself. Its track would be an exact replica of the original, located on 8,000 acres (3237.5 hectares) of land about 10 miles (16 km) from its existing Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The company doesn't have any plans to hold racing events at the proposed track - that's kind of what Las Vegas Speedway does - but the track would take on the role of a test bed for manufacturers and car owners, providing a much closer destination for US-based entities.

In a recent interview with Sirius XM Sports, Speedway CEO Bruton Smith said that he's already been in talks with Nevada's governor, the Bureau of Land Management and several German contacts, who are presumably connected to or knowledgeable about the original track. If the project gets the go-ahead, Smith and company plan to work closely with German engineers, using photographs, aerial topography and other resources to replicate every curve and hill to a T.

Las Vegas seems like the perfect destination for a faux 'Ring. The city already has a history of both motorsports and the cloning of iconic European destinations like the Eiffel Tower and Colosseum. The greater state of Nevada has more public land than any other state except Alaska, so it's not like there's a lack of space.

While the dry, hot Nevada desert may contrast the Eifel Mountains where the original Nurburgring is located, it could work well for auto manufacturers. Manufacturers could conceivably use the track for hot-weather testing as well as performance testing. Smith even believes that German manufacturers like Audi and Mercedes-Benz would come overseas to use the track, because a Vegas location would allow for year-round testing, whereas the actual Nurburgring experiences cold, snowy winters.

Source: Autoguide, Sirius XM

U Grok It uses your phone to find your misplaced things

2012-03-17T08:54:00.004-07:00

U Grok It is a smartphone-based system that allows you to find missing items, that have been tagged with radio-frequency labels

Last year, we told you about a smartphone-based system that can be used to find your missing stuff, known as BiKN. It consists of an electronic case that the phone slides into, which tracks the whereabouts of paired radio frequency tags that the user attaches to their car keys, purse, children - you name it. The phone displays the location of the sought items, or can sound an alarm if one of them gets too far away. Now, it looks like BiKN might have some competition, in the form of the similar-but-different U Grok It.

Like BiKN, U Grok It consists of a sort of "mothership" unit (known as the Grokker) that the phone couples with via its headphone jack. It also uses tags that are attached to items that are likely to go missing.

Instead of BiKN's key fob-like RFID tags, however, U Grok It utilizes flat labels. These labels incorporate a simple antenna, that reflects the Grokker's radio signal back to it. Each label also contains a tiny microchip that slightly alters that signal, to convey a 96-bit number that's unique to that label. By cross-referencing that number with a database of the user's labeled items, software on the phone can identify which item is being detected. Auditory and visual cues will then guide the user to the missing whatzit.

One the advantages of the labels are that they are cheaper and less obtrusive than the BiKN tags - at about one dollar each, lots of them can be used. They also don't require any batteries, drawing what little power they need from the Grokker's radio signal. Their range, however, is limited to about six to ten feet (1.8 to 3 meters). This is fine for some purposes, but doesn't open up the possibilities afforded by BiKN's 100-foot (30.5-m) indoor/500-foot (152-m) outdoor range.

As can be seen in the video below, the suggested uses for U Grok It include doing sweeps of rooms for items that the user can't find, or even for checking that things aren't being left behind at someplace such as a hotel room. Tagged items can even be grouped together, under umbrella names such as "Gym Bag." In that particular example, the user would just sweep the Grokker over their gym bag before heading out the door, and it would alert them if any of their usual gym gear wasn't in it.

Although working prototypes of the system have been publicly demonstrated, U Grok It is not yet commercially available. People wishing to be notified when it's priced and ready to go, however, can contact the company at the link below. There is no word at this point on phone type compatibility.

Source: U Grok It via Boing Boing

NASA and GM develop power-assisted Robo-Glove

2012-03-17T08:53:00.001-07:00

NASA and GM engineers have created Robo-Glove, a power-assisted glove designed to keep astronauts and autoworkers from getting repetitive stress injuries

Having trouble getting the lid off that pickle jar? Well, perhaps the Human Grasp Assist device can help. Designed through a collaboration between GM and NASA - and also known as Robo-Glove or K-Glove - the device is based on grasping technology initially developed for the hands of the space-going Robonaut 2. Essentially a power-assisted work glove, Robo-Glove is designed to minimize repetitive stress injuries in both astronauts and autoworkers.

Robonaut 2, for those who don't know, is a humanoid robot that is currently helping out with tasks aboard the International Space Station. It has actuators in each of its fingers, along with pressure sensors that give it a simulated sense of touch.

Robo-Glove likewise has actuators in the upper sections of each finger, along with pressure sensors. When the sensors detect that an object is being grasped by the user, the actuators cause the glove's fingers' synthetic tendons to retract, pulling them into a gripping position and holding them there until further notice. In this way, the user doesn't have to strain to maintain their grip, thus protecting them from injury.

The first prototype was completed last March, which a second version following three months later. Both versions weigh about two pounds (0.9 kg), include a small display for programming and diagnostics, and run off a belt-mounted lithium-ion battery pack designed for use with power tools. A third version is currently in the works, which should be lighter and less bulky.

Tests performed with the existing gloves have indicated that users could indeed hold their grip longer, and more comfortably. It is estimated that if a task ordinarily required a human worker to assert 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kg) of gripping force, only five to ten pounds (2.3 to 4.5 kg) would be required if the Robo-Glove were being used.

More information is available in the video below.

Source: GM