Fuel cell-powered H-ROVER puts you in the NASA tech's seat. Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies has unveiled its H-ROVER – a camera-equipped, fuel cell-powered, remote-control tracked model vehicle Image Gallery (6 images) It’s probably safe to say that most of us will never get the chance to operate a Mars rover. While it is now possible to purchase remote-control miniature buggies with onboard cameras, most of them still seem like ... well, like toys. The H-ROVER, however, is a little different.
Looking like it would be right at home trundling across the Martian topsoil, the little tracked vehicle is powered by a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and super-capacitor system. View all The H-ROVER is being unveiled today at the Nurnberg Toy Fair, and is one of the latest offerings from Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies. Users control the rover via their smartphone, tablet or PC, viewing a real-time video feed from its LED-equipped Bluetooth video camera. Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies' i-H2GO fuel cell-powered car, and its fueling station About the Author.
Mico headphones scan brainwaves to match songs to your mood. Developed by Neurowear, the Mico headphones use a brainwave sensor to detect the wearer's mood and then plays a song to match using a smartphone app Image Gallery (7 images) Finding the perfect song to match what a person is feeling is practically an art form. It's the main reason people spend so much time putting together song playlists for any occasion.
But what if you didn't need to hand-pick songs yourself and just let your brain pick them for you? That's the idea behind Neurowear's latest gadget, the Mico headphones, which use a brainwave sensor to detect the wearer's mood and play a song to match. View all After releasing a set of mind-controlled cat ears and a fluffy tail that wags when the user is excited, Neurowear seems to have adapted it's brainwave-reading technology to something a bit more practical in a pair of headphones. Playing songs to match someone's state of mind is definitely an interesting idea – kind of like Pandora, but with your subconscious choosing the playlist.
Caltech’s chips survive laser armageddon thanks to self-healing powers. Although you are fairly unlikely to start zapping your gadgets with high-power lasers any time soon, scientists are already hard at work trying to make electronics immune to such cruelty. In another in a series of self-healing electronics breakthroughs, a team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) demonstrated chips capable of dealing not only with laser-inflicted physical damage but also with far more common ailments such as aging, power fluctuations, changes in temperature or load mismatch.
Some time ago we described carbon nanotube-filled microcapsules that, when ruptured, restore the electrical conductivity to parts of the system affected by physical damage. Caltech’s idea is different. Instead of trying to restore original properties to a damaged area, the goal here is to find the best possible workaround in as short a time as possible. This means the chip does not have to be programmed for all the possible failure scenarios. Source: Caltech. SQUID spawns vehicle-stopping Pit-BUL and NightHawk devices.
We’ve all seen movies where a strip of retractable spikes at a checkpoint tears up a vehicle’s tires, or where a roadside cop throws a chain of linked spikes across the highway in front of a car. While such devices are pretty effective, there’s always room for improvement. That’s where the Pit-BUL and NightHawk car-stopping devices come into play. Both devices are based on a single other existing product, known as the Safe, Quick, Undercarriage Immobilization Device ... or SQUID, for short. The SQUID was developed in 2010 by the Engineering Science Analysis Corporation and manufacturing partner Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, with funding from Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate. It launches spiked arms attached to strips of heavy webbing into the underside of a vehicle.
The result is that the arms and webbing get tangled up in the axles, causing the vehicle to stop. Source: Homeland Security. Energy company to test floating solar islands. Swiss energy company Viteos has announced that it is to build three floating solar arrays on Lake Neuchâtel. Viteos will work with tech company and "energy enabler" Nolaris to build the 25-m (82-ft) diameter islands, each with 100 photovoltaic panels. View all Viteos stresses that the islands are for research and development purposes rather than a practical and cost-effective means of generating energy. In a press release, Viteos Technical Director Philippe Burri explained that the islands would allow the company to observe the corrosive effects of water, wind and waves on the installation. Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland (Image: TerraMetrics/Google) The islands will supposedly rotate through 220° in order to track the sun to maximize generation. They will be made from a compartmentalized inflatable ring in order to reduce cost, ease installation and dismantling.
Source: Viteos, via PV Tech About the Author Post a CommentRelated Articles For multiple addresses, separate each with a comma. PowerUp 3.0 lets you control a paper airplane with your smartphone. PowerUp 3.0 is a kit that allows users to remotely control a powered paper airplane, using their smartphone (PowerUp 2.0 pictured) About a year and a half ago, we took a look at something called the PowerUp. It’s a capacitor joined to a propeller by a carbon fiber shaft, that can be used to power a user-supplied paper airplane. At the time, we suggested that it would be good if the user could actually steer the PowerUp-powered plane by remote control. With the soon-to-be-released PowerUp 3.0, it turns out, that’s just what they’ll be able to do.
As with Tailor Toys’ original PowerUp, the 3.0 is attached laterally to any folded paper airplane, made from regular A4 or 8.5 x 11-inch copier paper. Not many details (including images) are available regarding PowerUp 3.0, but if it’s like the first version, it requires a 20-second charge from an included three-AA-battery-powered charger. Source: Tailor Toys via Technabob About the Author Post a CommentRelated Articles.
Boeing’s hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye taxis closer to second flight. Boeing's Phantom Eye atop its launch cart during taxi testing this week (Photo: Carla Thomas/NASA) Following the first flight of its Phantom Eye in June of last year, Boeing has performed software and hardware upgrades in preparation for its second flight that will see it climb to higher altitudes. This week, the hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft system made a significant step towards such a second flight with the completion of taxi testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. On its first flight, the Phantom Eye climbed to an altitude of 4,080 feet and reached speeds of 62 knots (71 mph/115 km/h).
However, when landing, the Phantom Eye’s landing gear dug into the Edwards Air Force Base lakebed and broke. The Boeing team says it has now improved the aircraft’s landing system, while also improving its autonomous flight systems and upgrading its engine oil pumps. Source: Boeing About the Author Post a CommentRelated Articles For multiple addresses, separate each with a comma. MOVEO electric scooter folds in two, and looks kind of cool. When you hear the term “folding electric scooter,” you likely think of a stand-up scooter along the lines of the Zümaround or the MyWay Compact. At best, you might picture something with a bicycle-style saddle and seatpost, such as the Voltitude.
MOVEO, however, features a full traditional seat that’s mounted directly on the chassis. Although the scooter isn’t in production yet, it hopefully will be by next year. The vehicle was created by the Antro Group, a Hungarian non-profit organization dedicated to developing environmentally-friendly forms of transportation. Antro previously brought us the eye-catching SOLO human-electric hybrid car. Work began on the MOVEO project in 2008. In its present form, MOVEO weighs in at 25 kilograms (55 lbs), has a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph), and a battery range of 35 kilometers (21.75 miles) per charge – which takes one hour from empty.
He added that sales will initially take place via the internet. Source: Antro. All-terrain DTV Shredder hits the market. The DTV Shredder can travel over practically any terrain courtesy of its two continuous molded rubber tank treads Image Gallery (4 images) Those looking procure their own DTV Shredder are in luck. The DTV (Dual Tracked Vehicle) that first crossed our desks in 2010 is now available for purchase via the BPG Werks website and through various international distributors. And the price of being able to tear it up over practically any terrain (with the exception of public roads)? US$3,999. The DTV Shredder’s all-terrain capabilities come courtesy of its two continuous molded rubber tank treads and 196 cc, 4-stroke engine generating 13 horsepower that propels the vehicle to speeds of up to 30 mph (48 km/h). The hand-held cable control found on the early prototypes is gone, replaced by a twist grip throttle and handle-mounted brake lever.
The DTV Shredder is available in black, orange or grey. Source: BPG Werks About the Author Post a CommentRelated Articles. Handheld Black Hornet Nano drones issued to U.K. soldiers. Drones have become a valuable asset for any military force in recent years for both combat and surveillance. But while scanning a warzone from miles away is great from a tactical standpoint, unmanned aircraft can be just as useful in the hands of troops on the ground. That's why British soldiers in Afghanistan have been issued several Black Hornet Nanos, a palm-sized UAV that can scout around corners and obstacles for hidden dangers. Each UAV measures just 4 x 1 inches (10 x 2.5cm) and weighs a mere 0.6 ounces (16 grams), making it easy for troops to carry along with the rest of their gear.
A built-in camera transmits live video and still images to a handheld control unit at a range of up to half a mile (800 meters). The Black Hornet Nano flies like a mini helicopter, but is stable enough to withstand harsh conditions and heavy wind. So far, the military has already stated the Black Hornet Nano has been a helpful tool for spotting enemy shooters and explosive traps in the field. Iran unveils homegrown Qaher F-313 "stealth" fighter. Iran's domestically designed and built Qaher F-313 (Dominant F-313) combat aircraft Iranian State TV on Saturday showed an unveiling ceremony for what the Iran Defense Ministry claims is a new Iranian designed and built combat aircraft.
Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the single-seat Qaher F-313 (Dominant F-313) can operate at low altitudes and was constructed from “advanced materials” that contribute to the aircraft’s “very low radar cross section.” Iran’s state-owned English language Press TV says that although the aircraft resembles the F-5E/F Tiger II, it is said to be similar to the F/A-18. It follows in the footsteps (or flightpath) of Iran’s first domestically manufactured combat jet fighter, the HESA Azarakhsh (Lightning) and its follow up, the HESA Saeqeh (Thunderbolt). Independent verification of the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, or for that matter any capabilities, is unlikely to be forthcoming with Iran not in the habit of releasing technical details of its arsenal. Ready Fuel gel fire starter burns at 1,200°F.
The fire is barely visible but plenty hot Image Gallery (6 images) Ready Fuel is a lightweight gel that burns clean and hot enough to act as fire, as well a fire starter. Tested and approved by the U.S. military, it is a versatile solution that can serve as an emergency survival tool, primary fire starter or a cooking fuel. View all Ready Fuel comes in a small, 1.25-ounce (35 g) packet. Because it lights immediately when you apply a flame, it can be used to start an emergency fire or standard campfire. Unlike other fire-starting materials that burn away quickly, a packet of Ready Fuel gel burns for 15 to 20 minutes at temperatures up to 1,200°F (649°C). So, similar to the InstaFire we covered last year, it not only starts a larger fire, it can act as its own fire, boiling a cup (237 ml) of water in about 5 minutes. Unlike some other fire starters you might have used – gasoline and lighter fluid come to mind – Ready Fuel is non-toxic, smokeless and odorless.
Source: The Ready Project. Car mirror copies eyeglasses to eliminate blind spots. Usually when we hear the term “progressive optics” it’s in reference to bi- or trifocal glasses, that don’t have sharp lines between the different focal zones of the lenses. A group of scientists from Korea and the US, however, have recently used the technology to create something else – a prototype driver’s side car mirror that has no blind spot, yet that also doesn’t distort images in an unsafe manner. As things currently stand – in North America, at least – only passenger-side mirrors are allowed to have a “fish eye”-type wide-angle distortion. Because that distortion causes other vehicles to appear farther away than they actually are, driver’s side mirrors are required to be flat and distortion-free.
As a result, those mirrors may provide a more accurate impression of how close other vehicles are, but they also lose sight of those cars when they enter the infamous blind spot. In eyeglasses, the different focal zones are layered one above the other. Source: The Optical Society. NASA working on RASSOR robot space excavator. Recently we've seen preliminary asteroid mining plans from Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries, but what about NASA? The government agency would like to do some excavating on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids, too – but it isn't in it for the profit. NASA wants to clear the way for construction projects and mine materials for use by astronauts, and is developing a teleoperated robot called the Regolith Advanced Surface Systems Operations Robot (RASSOR, pronounced "razor") to get the job done.
According to NASA, it currently costs about US$4,000 to send a single pound (0.45-kg) payload into space, so keeping RASSOR's weight down is important. Unfortunately for an excavator, the lighter it is the more difficult its job becomes. The drums scoop at 20 rotations per minute, trimming the top layer of soil to avoid jamming in the dense regolith at lower depths. RASSOR can also overcome rough terrain and even boulders by propping itself up on its arms. Source: NASA via RedOrbit.
A US$49 personal autonomous micro UAV? The MeCam is a tiny autonomous quadrotor UAV currently in development Image Gallery (4 images) Imagine if you had your own tiny quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that you could control with your voice, that would automatically follow you while avoiding obstacles, and that could shoot and stream video of you using an onboard camera. Now imagine that you paid less than 50 bucks for it. Well, if the hype is to be believed, that’s just what tech firm Always Innovating is promising with its MeCam.
Not be confused with the unrelated MeCam wearable video camera, the MeCam UAV is currently still in development, but reportedly could be commercially available by the beginning of next year. San Francisco-based Always Innovating doesn’t plan on producing the device itself, but is instead looking at licensing the technology to commercial partners. The UAV is built around an ARM Cortex-A9 processor, features 1 GB of built-in RAM, an SD card slot, and is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled. About the Author. DARPA investigating self-destructing electronics. Popticals' sliding rail system makes wraparound sunglasses more compact. HUSH transforms from armchair to tent-like retreat ... and back again. iRock: The power-generating rocking chair for iDevices. Stanford University researchers create peel-and-stick solar cells. Nano-sandwich material claimed to boost solar cell efficiency by 175 percent.
Perfect optical absorber invented at Harvard University. Solid when wet and liquid when dry – Cornell's new DNA hydrogel seems confused. Air Cork keeps your wine fresh – using a balloon. Elvis-evoking Cat-Ears reduce wind noise while you cycle. High-efficiency solar energy tech turns water into steam. MIT breakthrough could lead to paper-thin bullet-proof armor. Researchers produce hydrogen from sunlight, water and rust. DARWIND5 wind turbine improves on an old design. Kite power getting off the ground in Germany. Researchers charge cars with "remote magnetic gears" Solar panel breaks "third of a sun" efficiency barrier. U.S. Navy investigates use of fuel-saving Rotating Detonation Engines. Circle Thing throws a curve at the world of video stabilizing rigs.