Programmed DNA Robot Goes Where Scientists Tell It | Nanotechnology | LiveScience A tiny robot made from strands of DNA could pave the way for mini-machines that can dive into the human body to perform surgeries, among other futuristic applications. While DNA-based robots have been made before, this latest real-life micromachine is the first one that researchers have successfully programmed to follow instructions on where to move. Once assembled, the robot can take multiple steps without any outside help, according to lead researcher Andrew Turberfield, a professor at the University of Oxford. "Turberfield's group has figured out a beautiful way to automate the movement of a strand of DNA along a track," said William Sherman, an associate scientist at Brookhaven National Laboratory, who was not involved in the study. DNA bots When thinking about robots, many of us picture humanlike machines with metal moving parts, like Rosie from "The Jetsons." Enter the DNA molecule. Takes instruction well
Aerogel 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. Despite its fragility in certain regards and its incredible lack of density, aerogel has amazing thermal, acoustical and electrical insulation properties as illustrated by the images here. A single one-pound block can also support half a ton of weight. NASA continues to find new space-based applications for this incredible material. An aerogel window one inch thick has the effective insulative capacity of a ten-inch thick glass window system. Aside from its other capabilities, aerogel also has amazing absorbing abilities.
Researchers Give Robots the Capability for Deceptive Behavior Georgia Tech Regents professor Ronald Arkin (left) and research engineer Alan Wagner look on as the black robot deceives the red robot into thinking it is hiding down the left corridor. (Click image for high-resolution version. Credit: Gary Meek) A robot deceives an enemy soldier by creating a false trail and hiding so that it will not be caught. We have developed algorithms that allow a robot to determine whether it should deceive a human or other intelligent machine and we have designed techniques that help the robot select the best deceptive strategy to reduce its chance of being discovered,” said Ronald Arkin, a Regents professor in the Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing. The results of robot experiments and theoretical and cognitive deception modeling were published online on September 3 in the International Journal of Social Robotics. To test their algorithms, the researchers ran 20 hide-and-seek experiments with two autonomous robots.
Alternative Energy That Works Human cues used to improve computer user-friendliness Lijun Yin wants computers to understand inputs from humans that go beyond the traditional keyboard and mouse. "Our research in computer graphics and computer vision tries to make using computers easier," says the Binghamton University computer scientist. "Can we find a more comfortable, intuitive and intelligent way to use the computer? Yin's team has developed ways to provide information to the computer based on where a user is looking as well as through gestures or speech. To some extent, that's already possible. Yin says the next step would be enabling the computer to recognize a user's emotional state. "Computers only understand zeroes and ones," Yin says. He's partnering with Binghamton University psychologist Peter Gerhardstein to explore ways this work could benefit children with autism. Yin and Gerhardstein's previous collaboration led to the creation of a 3D facial expression database, which includes 100 subjects with 2,500 facial expression models.
Magnesium injection cycle Magnesium Injection Cycle (MAGIC) is an engine design currently under development by Mitsubishi Corporation and the Tokyo Institute of Technology which uses magnesium and water to generate power.[1][2][3] The engine also makes use of solar-powered lasers. Overview[edit] Output[edit] Despite its small dimensions (approx. 5 cm in diameter and 13.5 cm in height), the engine can generate a heat output of several tens of kW from which power is obtained.[3] The engine is aimed to be used in cogeneration, automobiles, ships, and many other areas. Personnel[edit] The engine development was led by Professor Takashi Yabe with the help of Professor Ikuta and others of Tokyo Institute of Technology with the cooperation of Ono Denki Seisakusho, K.K., a precision manufacturer located in Shinagawa, Tokyo. See also[edit] Alternative fuel References[edit]
iCub RobotCub ~ Official Site LED eye projector LED Lights Make Augmented Vision a Reality Okay, this is just freaky. We know LED lights are versatile enough to be used for practically anything, but LED contact lenses? Really?! Once miniature green LEDs are developed (and they’re in the works, as of now), full color displays will be possible. Lead researcher Babak Parvis comments “You won’t necessarily have to shift your focus to see the image generated by the contact lens,” it would just appear in front of you and your view of the real world will be completely unobstructed when the display is turned off. Ah, the real world. Thanks to Extreme Tech for the quote and Trendhunter for the images. By the way, these freaky LED contact lenses may still be a product of the future, but a lot of cool LED products are of the present!
MIT Creates New Energy Source This is some pretty exciting news. It seems that researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most prestigious science and engineering schools in the United States, has created a new energy source -- and it's clean and renewable. The odd thing is that the only way you can see this energy source is with a very powerful microscope, because it is created by using nanotechnology. For a few years now, we have been hearing about the possibilities offered by the new field of nanotechnology. Now it looks like the first usable breakthrough has been accomplished. MIT has devised a process to generate electricity using nanotechnology. The researchers built tiny wires out of carbon nanotubes. The nanotechnology batteries will have a couple of other advantages over current batteries. Second, these batteries are non-toxic since they are made of carbon. Computers, cell phones and other electronic devices will be the first to benefit from the nanotechnology batteries.