Touch the future

New High-Resolution Linear Position Sensors Replace Magnetostrictive and Potentiometer Devices

2010-06-15T06:25:00.000-07:00

Linear position sensors are used to determine the position of a mechanical, component in a broad range of applications, including medical, automotive, electrical and more. Traditional sensor types used to determine the linear position of a moveable object include magnetostrictive sensors

Source:designworldonline

Laser-like sensors could sniff out hidden explosives

2010-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

A physicist has developed a device capable of sniffing out hidden explosives such as TNT.Additionally, its reaction with vapours given off by TNT reduces the amount of coherent light the film produces, revealing the presence of the explosive.

According to the New Scientist, it can detect the explosive at concentrations of less than 10 parts per billion in a matter of seconds, and uses a blast of nitrogen gas to clean the film and reset the sensor.

According to the developers, a device like this could be used in a remotely controlled robot.

Source:andhranews

Latest Robot Vacuum Cleaners are induced with Laser Vision Technology

2010-06-10T04:39:00.000-07:00

Robot Vacuum cleaners have the appropriate skill to clean a house. These machines are rapidly becoming the ultimate cleaning gadget. The features, size and design of one such unit makes it a perfect machine to clean every corner of the house.

These are a lot more efficient than the traditional cleaning units. Since, these units have a variety of cleaning options, keeping the house clean takes less time and labor.

An overview of Robot vacuum cleaners can best show the performance of this machine.

Source: techkisite

IDEC and Osaka University develop a sensor that can detect six different plastic materials using five-wavelength laser beams. The sensor is currently

2010-06-08T01:29:00.000-07:00

At the center of a new, automated plastic sorting system is a sensor that can detect the differences among six types of detectable plastics: PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene).

The sorting system relies on two sensors, a proximity sensor to detect the presence of an object in the system, and a new plastic material sensor from IDEC. According to Lanny Schuberg, IDEC product engineer manager, "The plastic sensor detects different grades of plastic based upon the resonant frequency of each plastic. Different plastic molecules have different resonant frequencies and by tuning laser diodes to these frequencies, they excite the molecule of the plastic and are thus detected."

Source:designnews

Meet R2, a humanoid ‘robonaut’ GM and NASA are testing to help the crew aboard the space station with basic tasks

2010-06-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

Weighing in at 310 pounds, NASA's newest astronaut is a tad heavier than most spacefarers. And he doesn't have much of a personality.

None, actually.

That's because the soon-to-be seventh member of the International Space Station's crew, R2, is a robot.

And though it may be named R2, with its humanoid appearance this robot looks more like C3P0.

Due to launch in September aboard space shuttle Discovery, R2 is the culmination of more than a decade of development by NASA to produce a robot that could help space station crew members with basic tasks. The station crew will initially experiment with the robot in test mode before allowing it to perform useful tasks.

Source:chron

Laser-like sensors could sniff out hidden explosives

2010-06-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

A physicist has developed a device capable of sniffing out hidden explosives such as TNT.

Graham Turnbull, a physicist at the University of St Andrew's in Fife, UK, and colleagues have developed a device that uses a film of polyfluorene, a plastic that emits laser light when bathed in photons.

Additionally, its reaction with vapours given off by TNT reduces the amount of coherent light the film produces, revealing the presence of the explosive.

According to the New Scientist, it can detect the explosive at concentrations of less than 10 parts per billion in a matter of seconds, and uses a blast of nitrogen gas to clean the film and reset the sensor.

Source:oneindia

New Robot Is Weight-Loss Coach

2010-05-31T02:31:00.000-07:00

Autom is a conversational robot with a mission: to help you diet and exercise every day for better health. Created by Intuitive Automata, it is an early try at the commercial application of socially interactive robotics for health care.

"Autom has a short conversation with you every day to help you keep track of your eating and exercise quickly and simply. She provides feedback, advice, and encouragement to keep you motivated," explains Intuitive Automata, the company that makes the robot.

Source:technewsdaily

High speed Adept Robotic Solution

2010-05-31T02:18:00.000-07:00

This demonstrates the unmatchedspeed of the Adept Quattro robot and technical achievements in robot system performance. This is more than simply motor speeds; to manage the robot doing this much in so little time takes a high performance motion controller, software, and electronics. To the user this means increased product throughput, but not at the cost of control over the motions. Adepts SmartController CX and V+ programming language allow the management of the specific motions: speeds, accelerations and accel profiles, end-of-motion tolerances and behavior, etc. When manufacturers look at automation in a cost-per-pick analysis, being able to pick products faster and more reliably means an improvement to the bottom line. The unique patented design of the Adept Quattro robot enables this level of performance with its four-arm parallel kinematic

This is differentiated from the three-arm delta style robots commonly seen in the industry. The four motors share the load and contribute to the motion, thus reducing the load on the individual joints and allowing greater speeds, higher payloads, and improved performance throughout the entire robots work envelope. The raw food handling applications are well-served by the only parallel kinematic robot thats been approved by the USDA for meat and poultry processing. The robot was designed from the beginning with hygienic requirements in mind, including available IP66 and IP67 ratings on the base.

Source:youngester

The Future of Military Robotics

2010-05-24T23:33:00.000-07:00

The idea of autonomous robots equipped with machine guns, sniper-rifles, grenade launchers and the like has inspired a variety of apocalyptic scenarios, the most familiar of which are captured by modern blockbuster films like “The Terminator” and “iRobot.”

The Department of Defense expects to continue its heavy investment into creating various levels of autonomy for unmanned systems in battle-space awareness and force application tasks.

But the civilian population can rest assured that these robots will not become fully automated until legal rules of engagement and safety concerns have all been thoroughly examined and resolved; when pulling a trigger, human intervention is still required, and will remain required for a very long time.

Alterative flavors of military robots, particularly those that aid in protection and logistics, are playing an increasingly vital role in maintaining a competitive edge in national security. These robots are immune to fatigue, sleep-deprivation, lack of visibility and other performance hindering conditions, all the while performing tasks that are too dull, dirty or dangerous to warrant the risk of human life.

Source: embedded

Sensors prevent too much or too little watering

2010-05-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

The unusually wet spring may have fogged your memory when it comes to the dried up grass and high water bills of past summers. But that can change in the blink of an eye.

Sensors monitor the wind speed, the amount of rain, the temperature, the humidity — all these things — and send that information to a little computer where you have entered the type of soil, what types of grass it is, whether the zone is in a shady or sunny area

Source: rapidcityjournal

Laser sensors avoid false signals

2010-05-19T03:05:00.000-07:00

Sensor and sensing systems manufacturer, will showcase its innovative LMS 100 series of laser sensors and the latest addition to its RFID range, the RFH620, on stand D3612, at Drives and Controls 2010, NEC, Birmingham, UK, from 8th – 10th June.

Set to make a significant impact on the laser sensor market, due to its ability to avoid false signals, broad usability , the LMS ensures accuracy for security, safety and presence detection, both indoors and outdoors.

Source:engineerlive

Kokoro's I-Fairy Robot Conducts Wedding in Japan

2010-05-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

The groom is a robotics researcher. The bride works at a robotics firm. Robots brought them together. So when it came time to plan their wedding, the choice only seemed natural: A robot would conduct the ceremony.
Leading the ceremony was a little humanoid robot called I-Fairy with a high-pitch voice and flashing eyes. Kokoro, which unveiled the robot early this year, designed the I-Fairy as a robot receptionist and entertainer. It sells for 6.3 million yen (US $68,000).
The robot has a humanoid body in a sitting posture and, as the company puts it, its appearance was "based on the image of a lovely fairy." It can talk, gesture with its arms, and detect the presence of a person, according to this story in the Japanese blog Node.

Source: spectrum

Simple Robot Climbs Through Tubes (w/ Video)

2010-05-14T04:01:00.000-07:00

One of the most interesting robots was a simple -- and fast -- bot designed to climb easily through tubes.

This small robot, created at Carnegie Mellon's Biorobotics lab and the Manipulation lab, uses vibration to help it move quickly up tubes.

The result is this little device. It's simple motor turns an unbalanced mass at a uniform velocity. As the mass swings around, it causes the robot to bounce back and forth between the tube walls. Two rubber o-rings let the researches specify the exact contact points and increase friction with the walls.

Instead of using bristles or fibers, and vibration that moves the robot in a low-friction direction, the o-rings provide a little more control for the robot's operators.

Source:physorg

Designing the Robots for Future

2010-05-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

Engineering advancements in robotics are pushing open new doors in their functionality, bringing the day when a true multipurpose household robot ever closer. But before that day comes another important avenue of design that needs more research is the psychological aspects of humans interacting with smart machines. After all, a robot that lives with a family will have to interact with different kinds of humans, from small children to seniors, and each kind of person will want to have a different experience.

Beginning April 17 that future starts to be worked on as 10 universities from seven different European countries embark on the Lirec project. Lirec – Living with Robots and Interactive Companions – is a four-year, $12 million dollar endeavor that will look to how humans anthropomorphosize their experience with robots and what sort of interactions work best (and worst) for a broad spectrum of people. For example, the interaction between a robot that delivers a home security report to the head of the household should be different than the interaction given to a toddler.

Source:robotics.youngester

Robots made in Africa

2010-05-06T05:18:00.000-07:00

Robotics is a frontier science, many look forward to a time when having a 'personal robot' will be no more ordinary than carrying a laptop. Your own personal servant robot. Robots that can interact with not only objects but also human beings and carry out tasks for the human.
Well, all this may be a way off but Sam, a student in Togo is building robots to inspire other young Africans to take an interest in science and scientific studies. The student uses old TV parts to build his mobile robots and has ambitions for making robots that can do even more sophisticated things like fully autonomous robots.

Source: afrinnovator

'Smart dust' aims to monitor everything

2010-05-04T02:07:00.000-07:00

In the 1990s, a researcher named Kris Pister dreamed up a wild future in which people would sprinkle the Earth with countless tiny sensors, no larger than grains of rice.
These "smart dust" particles, as he called them, would monitor everything, acting like electronic nerve endings for the planet. Fitted with computing power, sensing equipment, wireless radios and long battery life, the smart dust would make observations and relay mountains of real-time data about people, cities and the natural environment.
Smart dust sensors must be relatively small and portable. But technology hasn't advanced far enough to manufacture the sensors on the scale of millimeters for commercial use. Wireless connections are a big distinguisher, too. A building's thermostat is most likely hard-wired. A smart dust sensor might gauge temperature, but it would be battery-powered and would communicate wirelessly with the internet and with other sensors.
Smart dust researchers say their theory of monitoring the world -- however it's realized -- will benefit people and the environment.
Source:cnn

Japan to send a humanoid robot to the moon by 2015

2010-04-30T03:54:00.000-07:00

Japan’s pathological love for humanoid robots goes back to the days of Tezuka, but as the country “grays” and the young find themselves vastly outnumbered by the old, robots have shifted from fantastic mechanical golems to Japan’s best hope for supplementing its rapidly dwindling workforce.That hope extends as far as outer space. they want to put a humanoid robot on the moon by 2015. That’s only four years from now. Despite the fact that Japan is poor on natural resources (particularly minerals), Maido-Kun will just be jetting up to the moon for a photo shoot: he’s been tasked to simply place a Japanese flag in the moon’s silver lunar dust.
Source:geek

TrueTouch technology gets Hover Detection

2010-04-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor has enhanced its TrueTouch touchscreen solution so that hovering a finger over a capacitive display mimics mouseover functionality. The new technology could be used to magnify sections of a small touchscreen prior to activation by touch.

The flexible touchscreen architecture - which allows designers "to implement differentiated features and make last-minute design iterations without board changes" - has been in mass production and continual development. The latest innovation to be added is hover support.
Source:gizmag

Japanese scientists design mind-reading robots

2010-04-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

Japanese scientists are preparing to develop "mind-reading" robots and consumer electronics that can be controlled by thought. Such devices are expected to include television sets, mobile phones, car navigation systems and air-conditioners. The futuristic devices will likely use brain-machine interface technology in sensor-mounted headsets to analyze brain waves and blood-flow patterns.
Source:tgdaily

Timer set for silicon sensor switchover

2010-04-23T03:20:00.000-07:00

Anyone who uses a mobile phone with a built-in camera will tell you about their love-hate relationship with the image sensor. Having a camera at your fingertips is the ultimate in convenience but you have to live with the limitations of a sensor made of silicon: colours not quite right and images not quite as sharp as you would like. But this could all change, thanks to the release of the first quantum-dot based image sensor. Developed by start-up InVisage Technologies, QuantumFilm is fully compatible with existing CMOS manufacturing and could be deployed in mobile phones as early as next year.
Source:optics

Where Are the Robots Taking Us?

2010-04-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

Robots haunt our art and our dreams. Science-fiction author Isaac Asimov wrote a whole series of novels around the idea of robotics -- the "Robot" series, one of which was made into the movie "I, Robot." The "Terminator" movies were all big hits, and science-fiction series such as Britain's "Dr. Who" and America's own "Caprica" and "Battlestar Galactica" all have robots, more or less humanoid, in their casts.
Why are we so fascinated with robots? Do we want impersonal slaves that don't talk back? Are robots the culmination of the vision of freeing humanity from drudge work? Will robots be cost-effective?
Source:technewsworld

Robot Helps Stroke Patients

2010-04-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

A US study has found that intensive therapy using robots has helped patients improve arm movement years after suffering a stroke. People can experience long-lasting disabilities after having a stroke, which can include weakness in the limbs and limited movement. Therapy, when started as soon as possible after a stroke, can maximize the amount of movement that is recoverable. However, providing the therapy needed for at least one hour per patient per day is a huge demand for the NHS.
The robot works by having the patient place their upper arm in the device, and then the patient is instructed to perform tasks using that arm. The robot senses the movement and helps if required. The device has been described as “power-steering” for arms.
Source:redorbit

Blossoming Garden Solar Light

2010-04-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

There are a great deal of garden lights to choose from if you’re searching for something to add to your plants. The Blossoming Garden Solar Light absorbs solar power like most outdoor lights, but it it uses up all of that power for more than the LED light. This motorized flower blooms every single morning and closes up at night.
There is a very small solar panel attached to the bottom of the stem. The panels charge up the rechargeable batteries. They then in turn power the LED light and flower petals that automatically open and close. The stem itself is metal with a bright bronze finish and the whole thing stands 16 and ½ inches tall.
Source:coolest-gadgets

New laser displacement sensors reduce waste and increase glass handling throughput

2010-04-16T01:52:00.001-07:00

Accurately and reliably measuring glass thickness on a moving target is a difficult problem. The challenge is not only consistently detecting the glass, but also taking reliable measurements without needing to hold the glass very still and at precisely the correct angle. The new laser displacement sensor designs are providing greater reliability, fewer dropouts and bad readings, greater accuracy and the ability to measure at a faster rate. For glass industry applications, these advancements have provided a significant breakthrough by eliminating a limiting factor in measuring glass.
Source:designnews

Collaboration between NASA and GM to send human-like robot to ISS

2010-04-15T03:11:00.000-07:00

A special collaborative project between NASA and General Motors has created for the first time, a human-like robot will be sent into orbit to join the team on the International Space Station (ISS). Called, Robonaut 2 (otherwise known as R2), he is a robot that features an upper torso with a head and two working arms. The hope is that R2 will be able to aid astronauts on the space station, specifically in space walks.Initially, however, he will be sent to see how he performs in the presence of micro gravity and to work out any glitches.Soon, though, a robot will be enlisted that is hoped will eventually work along side humans in space.
Source:geek

3-D robotic surgery demonstrated at Disney

2010-04-12T01:32:00.000-07:00

The meeting room in the Walt Disney World Yacht and Beach Club looked like one of those 1950s movie theaters with the audience wearing cardboard 3-D glasses.
The combination of medical robotics and 3-D technology allows surgeons to burrow beneath the skin to perform operations that once required opening up a patient. The combination of robotics and 3-D imagery allows to perform operations for pancreatic cancer that take less time, allows the patient to heal faster, and reduces the risks of bleeding and infections.
Source:orlandosentinel

First green LED means a lighting revolution is fast approaching

2010-04-08T23:18:00.000-07:00

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) tried to apply their expertise in solar cell technology to build a green LED light from the ground up, they surprisingly centered the objective at their very first try. In doing so they solved a long-standing technological problem and paved the way for the large-scale employment of white LEDs for public and domestic illumination over the course of the next few years. LED lights are unanimously regarded as a vast improvement over previous light bulbs because of their much longer lifespan and higher efficiency, which ends up saving us money in the long run, even when the higher initial cost is taken into account.
Further predictions from the Department of Energy estimate that the move toward LEDs for both public and domestic lighting could save the U.S. as much as US$120 billion over the course of the next 20 years.
Source:gizmag

3D touchscreen for mobiles

2010-04-07T01:34:00.000-07:00

Just how did Nintendo manage to make a 3D screen for their latest console, to be released within the year, and how come this technology didn't make it to mobile phones first? Sharp has announced that it too has developed a 3D touchscreen for use in mobile devices. So how does it work? Vertical slits built in to the screen can be controlled, changing the direction that light leaves the screen, so that one eye sees one picture, and the other eye sees the other, creating the illusion of depth, simples.
Source:unthinkable

Touchscreen-Enabled Smartphones Deliver Higher Satisfaction

2010-04-05T00:22:00.000-07:00

The satisfaction that smartphones boasting touchscreen displays can deliver to mobile phone users in the United States is 40 index points higher that that offered by other smartphones. More than half of smartphone users in the country own touchscreen-enabled devices. Touchscreens are ideal for those using their phone for entertainment, as the displays are generally larger and provide a richer viewing experience.
Source:softpedia

Talking Smartphone For The Blind

2010-03-31T23:37:00.000-07:00

Application like LookTel is not only useful in emergencies but acts like an artificial eye for the visually impaired. LookTel is a mobile application which runs on compatible Windows Mobile Smartphones and allows the blind or visually impaired to recognize and identify objects instantly with the cell phone’s camera. Users can record and capture the images via the phone’s camera. Other than that, the blind can also get remote sighted assistance from third party via the cell phone camera and the LookTel application.

Source:mydigitallife

Manga doll turned into robot

2010-03-28T23:57:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that something as cute as a regular manga doll can actually be transformed into a robot? That’s exactly what an enterprising person did, using old, unwanted manga dolls to stuff a controller board behind her thick mane.
Source:coolest-gadgets

Conceptual 'CTRUS' football gets loaded with sensors

2010-03-26T03:07:00.000-07:00

We've heard of soccer balls that play a tune when kicked, sure, and we're pumped to see the World Cup in 3D. CTRUS is a theoretical revolution in soccer. To start with, a reinforced elastic structure means that CTRUS doesn't require any air. GPS and RFID chips keep track of the ball's position at all times, and tell it to light up in different colors when it scores a goal or is accomplice to a nefarious violation.

Source:engadget

First gaming mouse for lefties’

2010-03-25T03:59:00.001-07:00

If you are a left hand gamer you must have suffered considerably over the years by forcing yourself to play with your right hand as there is a dearth of devices for lefties.In such a situation, many times you would have wished to get a gaming device especially designed for you. Razer prides in announcing the worldwide launch of the first mouse for left handers, called the ‘DeathAdder Left Hand Edition’.
Source:gadgetlite

Robotics -Robotic Surgery a Step Forward for Surgeons

2010-03-24T00:33:00.000-07:00

With the passage of time, medical technology has redefined itself over and over again. A peep into the past gives you an idea of how far the surgeons's scalpel has traveled, and how surgery is slowly but surely evolving. The future of Minimal Invasive surgery is so bright that robotic arms could very well replace a surgeons's hands. Robotic surgery is associated with fewer complications, minimal blood loss, decreased hospital stay, and decreased pain, as surgical procedures are performed through very small incisions.
Source:tmcnet

Technology leap for cellphone cameras

2010-03-22T00:44:00.000-07:00

Mobile photographers could soon have much better cameras on their cellphones, thanks to technology known as quantum dots. The proprietary film helps coat the image sensors used in cellphone cameras and allows them to capture more light. The film stands as a rare commercial use of an exotic semiconductor material called a quantum dot.
Source:nytimes

A robot that can dance and fight

2010-03-19T05:50:00.000-07:00

Dr. GIY is a robotics whiz in Japan known for creating amazing fighting robots that win Robo-One combat tournaments.In the video above, he shows off his chops by making a modified Manoi AT01 humanoid kit robot trip the light fantastic.

Source:cnet

HumanCar aims for a healthy planet with healthy drivers

2010-03-03T02:47:00.000-08:00

At first glance it might look a bit like an elongated pedal car for kids, but its designers are convinced the HumanCar Imagine PS is a serious player in the search for cleaner, greener ways to get around. The vehicle converts the rowing motion of the driver and any passengers into rotational thrust to charge a battery and power the vehicle in conjunction with an electric motor. So not only is it healthy for the planet – it is healthy for the occupants too. And as an added bonus the vehicle can also be used store energy and act as a backup power generator to provide electricity to the home.
Source:gizmag

VTOL Drone Would Land, Refuel and Take Off By Itself

2010-03-02T02:45:00.000-08:00

Drones can do just about everything autonomously these days, but most systems still require human assistance to land, refuel and take off again. Now, an aerospace startup, Aerovel, hopes to change that with its hover-capable Flexrotor drone that will come with its own automated docking station. No human ground support needed.
The notion comes from Tad McGeer, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who created the small ScanEagle drone for fishermen and U.S. Navy SEALS. ScanEagle relied upon a pneumatic catapult launcher and "SkyHook" recovery pole, but the Flexrotor would do away with either requirement.

Instead, McGeer envisions his new drone using VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) abilities. Tiny wingtip thrusters would do the same job as a helicopter's tail rotor and counteract the torque of the drone's main propeller in hover-mode.
Source:Popsci

3R-C single-person electric concept

2010-02-25T03:38:00.000-08:00

Honda is set to release yet another revolutionary personal mobility concept at the Geneva Show next week. Following the company’s revolutionary 10 kilogram U3-X monocycle with its even more revolutionary HOT omni-directional driving wheel system show at Tokyo Motor Show last October, Honda has released the first details of its new 3R-C - a minimalist urban electric vehicle for one person.

Perhaps equally as significantly, Geneva will also see the European debut of the EV-N concept it also showed at the Tokyo Motor Show, indicating the forward-thinking EV ideas on exhibit in Tokyo were far more than a flight of fancy.
Source:gizmag

mini-helicopters create futuristic 3D display

2010-02-23T05:10:00.000-08:00

The basis of most 3D systems is to "trick" our eyes into believing that an image shown on a flat screen has three dimensions, but what if you could throw away the screen entirely! It sounds simply too far-fetched and impossible to choreograph, but that's exactly what researchers MIT's SENSEable City Lab and Aerospace Robotics and Embedded Systems Laboratory (ARES Lab) have created with Flyfire - a cloud of LED-carrying micro-helicopters controlled in synchrony to show unique animated light displays in three-dimensional space.
Source:gizmag

A Ping-Pong-Playing Terminator

2010-02-17T04:06:00.000-08:00

Meet TOPIO 3.0, the ping-pong-playing robot. Made by Vietnam’s first-ever robotics firm, TOSY, the bipedal humanoid uses two 200-fps cameras to detect the ball as it leaves the opponent’s paddle. TOPIO’s brain—processors and an artificial neural network—analyzes the ball’s path to choose the best return. Last fall, TOPIO 3.0 debuted at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo. At six feet tall, 264 pounds and with 39 independent points capable of movement (such as rotation) throughout its body, the chiseled robot appears a formidable adversary, but it hasn’t beaten a human quite yet.

Hoang’s ultimate goal: a TOPIO in every home, not just to play ping-pong but to help with household chores and other tasks.
Source:popsci

New Camera System Takes the Guesswork out of Baseball Stats

2010-02-16T02:21:00.000-08:00

The broadcast-tech company Sportvision will install a new player-tracking camera system into ballparks that could finally help produce accurate defensive statistics.

Sportvision’s FieldFX camera system records the action while object-recognition software identifies each fielder and runner, as well as the ball. After a play, the system spits out data for every movement: the trajectory of the ball, how far the fielder ran, and so on. “After an amazing catch by an outfielder, we can compare his speed and route to the ball with our database and show the TV audience that this player performed so well that 80 percent of the league couldn’t have made that catch,” says Ryan Zander, Sportvision’s manager of baseball products. That information, he says, will allow a much more quantitative measure of exactly what is an error.The tech could transform how teams scout players and dole out contracts, and it will provide more in-depth analysis during broadcasts this summer.
Source:popsci

Video: Long-Awaited Mosquito-Killing Laser in Action

2010-02-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

Scientists from the Intellectual Ventures Laboratory showed their lasers tracking mosquitoes live during the TED 2010 conference, and also unveiled the awesome laser pew-pew effect in a new video. See the smoking hot results for yourself.

An Air Conditioning System for Motorcycles

2010-02-04T02:36:00.000-08:00

A motorcycle wouldnt need air conditioning but apparently there’s enough of a demand for it in hot desert climates that a company called Entrosys has created a system. It’s actually quite simple and ingenious- a small air conditioner is mounted to the back of the motorcycle with a tube that connects into the rider’s jacket. It can also work in reverse as a heater.A big advantage is safety- you can actually wear a thick proper riding jacket in hot weather. This totally reminds of the Cop Cool, btw- same concept.
Source:craziestgadgets

Venturi Volage concept electric sportscar is the result of collaboration between Venturi and Michelin

2010-01-27T03:57:00.000-08:00

Venturi Volage concept electric sportscar from Venturi’s Clement Dorance. Venturi is the company responsible for the world’s first production electric sportscar, the Fetish, and its latest electric sportscar is the result of collaboration between Venturi and Michelin. It is one of the first applications of the Michelin Active Wheel System that replaces a vehicle’s traditional engine with eight electric motors located within the wheels. Each wheel contains two motors - one responsible for the propulsion and the other taking care of the suspension. As Clement explains this innovative design not only gives the Volage four-wheel-drive and active suspension, but also provides a low center of gravity to further enhance the maneuverability and overall performance of the vehicle.

Source:gizmag

Stopping Cars Dead in their Tracks with EMP Guns

2010-01-25T01:47:00.000-08:00

Another technology which could only be seen in sci-fi movies a decade ago will soon be available to law enforcement agencies everywhere.

Study shows that better gamers have bigger brains, are better learners too

2010-01-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

A study in which 39 participants' brains were scanned before those subjects were asked to play a game called Space Fortress (which looks a little like an Atari-era Geometry Wars). Players with larger nucleus accumbens did better learning the game early on, while those with larger caudate nucleus and putamen did better at playing with distractions. There was no sign that playing games actually increased the size of those areas of the brains, meaning some people are just born with a Power Glove on -- and that it's only a matter of time before MRIs replace aptitude tests.
Source:engadget

World’s Biggest 3D Plasma TV

2010-01-13T00:34:00.000-08:00

CES 2010 not only brought us the new gadgets and gizmos that we can expect to hit retail outlets in the coming months, but this year, the trade show was the venue where Samsung debuted the world’s largest 3D plasma display.
Just how large was the new Samsung display? Try a 152-inch diagonal screen size. To put its size into perspective, that would be over 6-feet tall and more then 11-feet wide, roughly the equivalent of nine 50-inch television sets lined up side by side.
The 152-inch Panasonic Full HD 3D TV comes with 4,096 x 2,160 pixel resolution (or the equivalent of 8 million pixels) and a 17:9 aspect ratio.
Source:coated

Heavy metal concept bike with green cred

2009-12-29T23:53:00.000-08:00

Jordan Meadows latest concept is the Metalback cafe racer motorcycle, fashioned to exist where substance and sustainability meet speed and style. The engine is a V4 diesel running on environmentally-friendly bio diesel fuel, while the frame and skin are crafted from recycled aluminum.

"Currently, the Motorcycle market is devoid of product which has been designed for sustainability while still offering style and uniqueness for the enthusiast," says Jordan.

"The concept is powered by a v4 engine running on bio diesel. This increases the range and MPG well above conventional gasoline bikes while running on a fuel which is more environmentally-friendly. Its frame and skin are crafted from recycled aluminum.

"This has the advantage of saving weight to enhance performance while reclaiming pre-used material. In the manufacturing process, the alloy is treated to patina and age naturally without expensive and harmful paint applications.
Source:gizmag

Ferrari custom shop unveils P540

2009-12-17T03:56:00.000-08:00

The golden rocket you see here was at one stage in its existence a factory fresh Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. Now it's the P540 Superfast Aperta and the existential realisation of a grownup's nocturnal fantasy.

American Edward Wilson, the son of the man who invented cable television and presumably benefactor of the vast riches that invention generated, used to dream about owning a car he'd seen in the 1968 short film Toby Dammit. Ferrari's 'Special Projects' division was only too happy to make a modern interpretation of the original Ferrari for Wilson, having completed its first car, the F430 based SP1, made for a Japanese businessman.

The 599 isn't a drop top, but the P540 is, you'll notice. This required the usual strengthening to stop the body wobbling like an old Saab Convertible. To get around the weight issue, Ferrari used carbon fibre to that end, adding around 20kg.
Source: carenthusiast

Scientists use nanosensors for first time to measure cancer biomarkers in blood

2009-12-14T04:38:00.000-08:00

A team led by Yale University researchers has used nanosensors to measure cancer biomarkers in whole blood for the first time.
Nanosensors have been around for the past decade, but they only worked in controlled, laboratory settings," Reed said. "This is the first time we've been able to use them with whole blood, which is a complicated solution containing proteins and ions and other things that affect detection."
To overcome the challenge of whole blood detection, the researchers developed a novel device that acts as a filter, catching the biomarkers—in this case, antigens specific to prostate and breast cancer—on a chip while washing away the rest of the blood.
Source:Physorg

Next-gen Global Hawk HALE UAS completes its first flight

2009-12-11T02:01:00.000-08:00

The first flight of the Block 40 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft, which will help warfighters detect, track and identify stationary and moving targets.
The first of the next generation of Northrop Grumman’s Block 40 configuration RQ-4 Global Hawk has successfully completed its first flight. The two hour flight took the aircraft from Northrop Grumman’s manufacturing facility in Palmdale, California to Edwards Air Force Base, California. Designated AF-18, the Block 40 configuration of the high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) will carry the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) active electronically scanned array radar that will help warfighters detect, track and identify stationary and moving targets.
Source:gizmag

Capstone's CMT-380 hybrid supercar does 150MPH with batteries and a jet engine

2009-12-07T22:08:00.000-08:00

Capstone CMT-380 prototype is an automotive beast unlike anything we've ever seen. Rather than mixing batteries and a conventional engine, this whip combines the former with a diesel / biodiesel-powered microturbine, which is -- for all intents and purposes -- a jet engine. Reportedly, the car can reach 60MPH from a standstill in just 3.9 seconds, hit 150MPH before being cut off by the electronic limiter, cruise 80 miles on battery power alone and drive from Idaho Falls to Spokane on just a single tank of fuel. It's being bruited about that the company is considering flipping this bad boy into the production line, but with an estimated asking price north of $200,000, there's sufficient evidence to think that the volume here would remain relatively low.
Source:engadget

Electric Voltra concept paves the way for sexy next-gen motorcycle design

2009-12-02T02:57:00.001-08:00

The Voltra, a design study by Aussie student Dan Anderson - with its low-slung, bulldog looks, a seat unit that looks like it's floating on air, detachable dash and an engine-mounted swingarm pivot. A blue-sky reinvention of the motorcycle based on the new rules the electric age is going to bring in.
Electric transport has captured the imaginations of the eco-minded among us, but if you're going to sell electric motorcycles in any decent numbers, you're going to have to give them a serious injection of desirability.
Performance in itself can make a bike desirable, but electrics won't be able to offer the stratospheric power-to-weight ratios of modern sports bikes until battery technology has taken another few strides forward. And while electric will offer immediate practicality in a commuting sense, motorcycles are still viewed as toys by most western consumers, so they'll need to be able to comfortably run a 600km day before most riders will see them as reasonable options for sporty scratching.
Source:gizmag

Glasgow scientists predict the unpredictable to guide future nano-chip design

2009-11-30T03:45:00.000-08:00

Scientists at the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with colleagues from Edinburgh, Manchester, Southampton and York universities, have developed technology which will help microchip designers create future integrated circuits.
As part of a £5.3m Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) eScience pilot project called NanoCMOS they have developed simulation tools which take advantage of grid computing to predict how billions of nano-transistors, each with their own unique and unpredictable atomic-scale variations, will perform within a circuit.
The simulations will help tackle the problem of ‘statistical variability’ within transistors which is a major obstacle in the continued scaling of Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) microchips in future nano-scale technology generations.
Source:physorg

Tokyo Students Design a Robotic Muscle Suit

2009-11-26T03:23:00.000-08:00

Students at Tokyo's University of Science have developed a new version of their muscle suit, a wearable robotic suit that assists the muscles when carrying out strenuous tasks.The original version of the suit, which has been in production for several years, provides assistance to the arms and back but the new version provides assistance to the back only. That means it is lighter and more compact than the original model.In a demonstration on Wednesday at the International Robot Exhibition in Tokyo, a student wearing the suit was able to bend down and lift 15 kilograms of weights with the assistance of the robotic suit. Doing so without assistance would be difficult for many people and could cause injury to some.
Source:pcworld

7 ways to generate and save energy at home

2009-11-25T03:09:00.000-08:00

1.Analyse where you are using electricity and where you can make it more efficient.
for example- replace old fashioned incadescent lightbulbs with electricity-sippig compact fluorscent bulbs

2.Solar power keeps going and going:Between 80 and 85 percent of the at-home renewable energy generation systems installed today are solar panels, which in industry parlance are called photovoltaic modules. "If it is installed properly, it is pretty much a forget-it proposition. There's no maintenance involved, there's no noise involved and it is easily installed on roofs of houses

3.Solar water heating panel: Such heaters sit on roofs and use the sun's rays to heat up water to temperatures hot enough for most basic household needs.

4.Passive solar heating:new home and have time to work with an architect, you can take advantage of the millennia-old practice of positioning the home to take full advantage of passive solar heat.

5.Wind is not always a breeze:There's a ton of energy to be harnessed from the wind, though doing so "is a tough one for individual homeowners because, in most locations, the wind can be somewhat intermittent

6.Micro-hydro:For people lucky enough to live on property with a river or creek running through it, there's the potential to tap it for electricity. "You can snake a pipe up in there, steal some of the water, run it through a turbine and return it to the creek

7.Get earthy to reduce electricity bills:Though the air gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter, the ground temperature stays consistent year 'round, between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on latitude. Geothermal heat pumps take advantage of this consistency to keep homes comfortable. The systems include a series of water-filled tubes that absorb the earth's heat, plus an electrically driven pump that moves the water into the house.
Source:msnbc

BMW's Diesel Plug-In Hybrid: 63 mpg, Faster Than an M3

2009-11-24T03:54:00.000-08:00

BMW's EfficientDynamics Vision concept car combines the best of all worlds with incredible fuel efficiency, breaktaking performance, and sensational looks. It's powered by a three-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, lithium polymer batteries, and electric motors front and rear. The BMW Vision gets a U.S. unveiling next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Dec. 4-13. The only bad news: The BMW Vision is more vision than production-ready concept car. What you'd most likely see on sale would be the key components such as the drivetrain and battery technology transplanted to a more mainstream body.
On a stopover from Europe en route to L.A., BMW held a series of press briefings at its Chestnut Ridge, N.J., U.S. headquarters. According to BMW, the goal was to create a car that would be as quick as BMW's V8 M3, yet tread lightly in terms of environmental impact.
Source:gearlog

Old Light Bulbs Made Into Oil Lamp

2009-11-23T03:58:00.000-08:00

Light bulbs that are actually eco-friendly, so the old bulbs are becoming a thing of the past. Sure, some of us still buy the old bulbs when we can’t afford to spend quite as much on a light bulb, but little by little they’re getting used less. Well instead of just forgetting about those classic bulbs altogether, you can pick up one of these light bulbs turned into an oil lamp.
They comes in sets of two and are limited edition. These were made out of reclaimed light bulbs by Sergio Silva. The lamps use a non-flammable paraffin oil and have a wick ready to light. Within the bulb is a strong spherical magnet and then the acrylic base has a steel component embedded within it. The two combined make it so that the set of bulbs stay upright. Unfortunately, despite that this is available for purchase, it’s extremely expensive.
Source:craziestgadgets

Grace Electric Bike Is Part Motorcycle, Part Race Car and Part Fighter Jet

2009-11-18T01:48:00.000-08:00

The Grace E-bike, Its CNC-aluminum frame is fitted with eurofighter and Formula One parts, and it has a top speed of 40 mph.
So it's a hell of a lot cooler and more powerful than a scooter, moped or Segway—but the 1300 watt lithium ion-powered motor will only take you between 18 and 31 miles on a one hour charge (depending on weight). That's not enough to make it a serious mode of transportation, but if you live in an urban area it might make some sense. You don't need a parking spot and you can ride it in the same areas as a traditional bicycle
Source:gizmodo

Michael Jackson 3D scan up for auction

2009-11-16T23:07:00.000-08:00

In 1997, Michael Jackson had a 3D scan taken of his body. Some have supposed that this was part of Michael’s plan to build a virtual reality double of himself, but honestly, we don’t know.
This 3D scan data has been put on sale by an anonymous seller for one million dollars. This seller says that: “it [the 3D scan] immortalized him at the age of 37, before his nose was disfigured and when he was in the prime of life”. Really? The prime of his life was in 1997? I would have thought it would have been during that “Thriller” or “Bad” era.
So what could this data be used for? What about making a Michael Jackson robot, like the type in Moonwalker. Maybe if holographic technology gets better, we could live to see the day when Michael Jackson struts on stage again.
Source:coolest

Two Circuit Watch

2009-11-16T03:27:00.000-08:00

Worthy of a sultry Number Six, but priced at a more common folk level, the MK2 Circuit watch from Storm of London is one of those rare gadget watches that actually displays the time in a meaningful manner.
There's no chronograph, or really anything else other than time and date, but it's got a slick look that can no doubt be read in the dark, in a black Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am, or in the blackness of deep space amongst the gods.
Source:gizmag

BMW brings back the six-cylinder motorcycle with its hottest concept bike ever

2009-11-13T03:32:00.000-08:00

BMW released stunning images this week of a new concept motorcycle that nobody saw coming, featuring the resurgence of an engine configuration we all thought was long-dead. In recent years Triumph has stamped itself as the master of modern triples, and now BMW has made a clear statement of intent that it's bringing the inline six back to the bike world. The Concept 6 showcases a brand-new 1600cc engine that's four inches narrower than any previous production six, and produces truly prodigious power and torque throughout the rev range.
Source:gizmag

Cypress Introduces Supercharged West Bridge® Turbo-MTP™ 2.0 Solution That Enables Transfer of a Full 1 GB Feature-length Movie in Under 45 Seconds

2009-11-12T02:19:00.000-08:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today introduced an upgraded module for its West Bridge® peripheral controllers that offers the fastest sideloading solution for transfer of multimedia files from a PC to handheld device via the widely-used Media Transfer Protocol (MTP). The new Turbo-MTP™ 2.0 module enables users to sideload a feature-length movie in less than 45 seconds – more than 10 times faster than traditional MTP implementations. Additionally, the new module includes drivers for the Android operating system, making the West Bridge solution compatible with a wider array of handhelds.
Source:cypress

Massive performance on land or sea - the amphibious WaterCar Python

2009-11-11T04:56:00.000-08:00

The WaterCar Python comes as a bit of a surprise, looking for all the world like a pimped-out pickup truck, but offering blistering performance both on land and water. With the right engines built in, this hot rod can make mid 12s at the drag strip, hit 60mph in 4.5 seconds, and burn up the highway at well past 120mph - and it's capable of more than 60mph on the water as well - a true performance boat once the wheels are lifted out of the way.
It's a monster on the road, all smooth lines, grunty performance and gleaming paint. Then you drive it straight down the boat ramp into the water, and watch as bystanders start picking their eyeballs up off the ground.
Source:gizmag

Cypress's New High-Accuracy CMOS Image Sensors Fly Into Space On-Board European Space Agency's Proba-2 Satellite

2009-11-10T01:58:00.000-08:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced three of its state-of-the-art CMOS Image Sensors for space applications are on-board the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-2 Satellite, which was successfully launched on November 2. Cypress’s new HAS2 image sensor, specially designed for high accuracy star tracking, is implemented on a new Star Tracker developed by SELEX Galileo of Italy. The HAS2 image sensor is also being used in an extreme-ultraviolet telescope scientific experiment for solar corona observation. Additionally Cypress’s STAR-250 image sensor is used on a new Digital Sun Sensor developed by TNO of the Netherlands. Both the HAS2 and STAR-250 devices were developed for the ESA by Cypress’s Image Sensor Business Unit in Belgium.
Source:http:cypress

Ford introduces inflatable seat belts

2009-11-06T03:51:00.000-08:00

Most seat belts are designed to stretch during a crash to reduce the force of impact on the wearer while still preventing contact with the interior of the vehicle. Ford has gone one step further with plans to introduce inflatable seat belts designed to reduce the pressure on the chest and help control head and neck motion in rear seat passengers, spreading the crash force across five times more of the occupant’s torso than conventional seat belts.
Unlike conventional airbags found in other parts of the car that inflate through a rapid chemical reaction triggered by an igniter, the seatbelts’ tubular air bag inflates with cold compressed gas, which flows through a specially designed buckle from a cylinder housed below the seat. The inflatable belt’s accordion-folded bag breaks through the belt fabric as it fills with air, expanding sideways across the occupant’s body in about the same amount of time it takes a car traveling at highway speed to cover a yard of distance.
Source:gizmag

Cypress's New High-Accuracy CMOS Image Sensors Fly Into Space On-Board European Space Agency's Proba-2 Satellite

2009-11-05T03:36:00.001-08:00

Cypress's New High-Accuracy CMOS Image Sensors Fly Into Space On-Board European Space Agency's Proba-2 Satellite

2009-11-05T03:36:00.000-08:00

Software to detect objects inside videos

2009-11-04T03:40:00.000-08:00

Researchers at the University of Missouri (MU) are developing software that would enable computers to perform video analysis tasks, such as alerting emergency services if a video surveillance camera detects a person falling and not getting up. The software could also be used to search inside videos and look for certain objects, such as basketballs or footballs, hence reducing the time taken to locate a certain game or scene.
“The goal of our research is to improve how computers interpret the content of a video and how to identify it,” said Tony Han, electrical and computer engineering professor in Mu's College of Engineering. “There are lots of possibilities with video-based detection, and it could come at quite a low-cost compared to object and human detection using other sensors, such as thermal sensors.”
Source:gizmag

Kia Displays Enhanced Concept Vehicles During 2009 SEMA Show

2009-11-03T02:07:00.000-08:00

LAS VEGAS - November 3, 2009: Kia Motors America (KMA) returns to the Las Vegas Convention center and brings stylized and enhanced concept vehicles for display at the 2009 SEMA Show. Also returning this year to the KMA booth are DJ-spun tunes by a local artist to help fully showcase the enthusiast-focused White Forte sedan and Black "Sinister" Soul, based on the highly popular compact sedan and urban passenger vehicles launched earlier this year.
"The SEMA Show offers manufacturers the freedom to really push the boundaries of customization, which is exactly what we have done with the White Forte concept and Black Sinister Soul concept," said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. "These two vehicles expand upon the design evolution of the Kia brand and convey the extensive personalization and customization options we provide for consumers and tuners."
Source:theauto

world’s first Ferrari theme park

2009-11-02T02:04:00.000-08:00

Known as the Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and expected to arrive next year is the world’s first Ferrari theme park. It will feature an iconic sleek red roof that’s said to be directly inspired by the classic double curve side profile of the Ferrari GT body, spanning 2,152,782 square feet and carrying the largest Ferrari logo ever created.

There will be a number of attractions, including rides for children of all ages and the world’s fastest rollercoaster, travelling at speeds exceeding 124 mph. Another ride will rocket passengers through the roof and to a height of 203 feet to simulate the G-forces experienced by a drivers in an F1 car.

For those who want to punch this into your sat-navs right away, the Ferrari World will be on Yas Island on the North East side of Abu Dhabi’s mainland, which is a convenient 10-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport and 50 minutes from Yas Marina Circuit, which will host the inaugural Abu Dhabi GP later this year.
Source:gadget

Cypress Webinar on November 11 to Demonstrate Game-Changing Embedded Design Methodology Enabled By PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5 Architectures

2009-10-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced a free, online seminar that presents a revolutionary new embedded design platform based on Cypress’s PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5 architectures. The 60-minute webinar, entitled “Introducing an Evolutionary Leap in Embedded Design,” will be presented in conjunction with EE Times on Wednesday, November 11 at 9:00 a.m. PST
Source:Cypress

Cypress Provides Solutions IP for New PSoC® 3 Devices and Revolutionary PSoC Creator™ IDE

2009-10-28T01:10:00.000-07:00

SAN JOSE, Calif., October 26, 2009 – Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced the availability of over 30 intellectual property (IP) elements for its new PSoC® 3 programmable system-on-chip architectures. The embedded design resources include example projects, application notes and solution overviews, all of which enable engineers to quickly implement designs using the unique new PSoC Creator™ integrated development environment (IDE). The solution IP Elements are available for free at www.cypress.com/go/psoc3.

The new solution IP Elements help engineers to quickly design with features of the PSoC 3 architecture such as the direct memory access (DMA), analog peripherals, and communication interfaces. These new elements also provide design examples for using PSoC 3 power management, LCD segment display, CapSense® buttons and sliders and much more.
Source:cypress

'Hyperspectral Remote Sensor' senses disasters from space

2009-10-27T04:41:00.000-07:00

Combining sophisticated sensors in orbit with sensors on the ground and in the air has led researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) to create a “Hyperspectral Remote Sensor” (HRS) that can give advance warnings about water contamination after a forest fire, alert authorities of a pollution spill long before a red flag is raised on Earth, or inform the population where a monsoon will strike.
The HRS simultaneously acquires hundreds of optical images, each from a different frequency, that enable a “spectral assessment” from distances high in the air via airplanes and in orbit using satellites. This raw data is then processed to yield sophisticated thematic maps. “Soil maps” allow water bodies and sediment runoff, small soil patches in forests after a fire, or contaminants surrounding a factory to be literally “seen” from space.
Source:http:gizmag

Electronics Weekly Names Cypress's PowerPSoC® Family of Integrated Embedded Power Controllers as Finalist for 2009 Elektra Award

2009-10-21T03:32:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced Electronics Weekly magazine of the United Kingdom has selected Cypress’s PowerPSoC® family of integrated embedded power controllers as a 2009 Elektra Award finalist for “Power Systems Product of the Year.” The solution is the industry’s first single-chip solution for both controlling and driving high-power LEDs. The PowerPSoC family integrates four constant-current regulators and four 32V MOSFETs with Cypress’s PSoC® programmable system-on-chip, which includes programmable analog and digital blocks, a microcontroller, and memory.
Source:cypress

eWolf unveils the e-2: a battery-powered car with attitude

2009-10-20T04:55:00.000-07:00

German based company e-Wolf is looking to take things one step further after unveiling its “e-2” EV prototype. Boasting an expected acceleration of 0-60mph in under four seconds, e-Wolf is set to deliver an Italian-inspired electric “supercar” that puts the mean in green. The e-2 will, like its predecessor, incorporate an “ultra light carbon/aluminum construction chassis” and weigh in at around 900kgs. Taking visual cues from Italian supercars, the impressive-looking unit will feature a 134 horsepower electric motor at each wheel, with a total of 536 green horsepower and an expected 738 lb-ft of torque.
Using Li-Tec flat battery cell technology, each of the 84 cells would weigh 1kg and measure 23cm x 18cm. Distance on a single charge is expected to be around 186 miles, with a top-up recharge taking approximately thirty minutes. The two seater e-2 will have a top speed limited electronically to 155mph.
Source:gizmag

Geeky animated LED emoticon tee for those moody moments

2009-10-14T03:46:00.000-07:00

Express your emotions ! This is one of those tees you would want to be wearing should you ever find yourself in a difficult-to-express mood, we all get that from time to time! This geeky animated LED emoticon tee gives you four facial expressions to choose from and runs on four AAA batteries. You can show a happy face, a sad face, a winking face or a surprised face, depending on how you feel. A glow in the dark/UV reactive screen print completes the effect. To activate your emoticon shirt just press the front of the light-up panel to change it. The geeky animated LED emoticon t-shirt can be yours for £30.
Source:gadgetlite

Cypress CEO T.J. Rodgers to Give Keynote Address on Evolution of Embedded Design at ARM® techcon3 in Santa Clara

2009-10-13T03:08:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today announced its founder, president and CEO T.J. Rodgers will present the keynote address at the 2009 ARM® techcon3 in Santa Clara, California on Wednesday, October 21 at 12:00 p.m. at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The presentation, entitled “Not Your Father's Embedded Design: How System-Level Programmability is Now Changing the Engineer's World,” will examine how a new embedded design paradigm is enabling greater flexibility to address the rapidly changing market conditions and design demands facing engineers today.
Source:Cypress

Tokyo Motor Show: Lexus- two seat supercar to displayed

2009-10-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Lexus sends word that they will be displaying a revolutionary two-seat super car as well as a compact-premium hybrid vehicle. According to the carmaker, this concept vehicle symbolizes not only the purest form of performance but also the purest form of driving exhilaration. As for the Lexus LF-Ch, it is basically a compact five-door package that will offer very low emissions along with dynamic performance.
Source:

Sony Develops Single-lens 3D Camera

2009-10-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

Sony has developed a movie camera capable of shooting 3D images with a single lens and plans to unveil it at next week's Ceatec show in Tokyo.
By utilizing a single lens the camera neatly solves one of the problems associated with current 3D photographic technique: the complicated set-up required for dual lenses. When using a camera with two lenses -- one for the right image and one for the left -- the lenses must be carefully aligned and synchronized so that the resulting images maintain the same degree of 3D perception when see by viewers.
The Sony camera takes a single image and separates it into right and left images that are then recorded by individual image sensors. The light is split using mirrors, not shutters, so the recorded image also appears smoother, said Sony.
Source:http:pcworld

Sony Details the Vaio X, 'World's Lightest' Notebook

2009-10-08T04:16:00.000-07:00

The new Sony Vaio X netbook has so far been kept under wraps, as far as its technical specifications and pricing details are concerned. Fortunately, that isn't the case anymore, as the company finally decided to announce the specifications of what it claims to be the 'world's lightest' notebook. As it was speculated, the Vaio X-series will be powered by one of Intel's Atom processors, which means performance won't be that high when compared to other notebooks on the
market. According to Sony, the new laptop is expected to weigh in at just 700 grams, which is a great measure for the company's claims of the “world's lighest” notebook. The machine is scheduled to arrive in stores in North America sometime next month, providing users with yet another high-end ultraportable laptop.
Source:news

Super PlayStation-powered TV records eight channels at once

2009-10-07T03:01:00.000-07:00

Toshiba has used the revolutionary chip inside the PlayStation 3 to develop a super TV set that is almost 150 times more powerful than today's HDTVs and can store up to three terabytes of recordings.

The Toshiba Cell Regza 55-inch LCD TV, which is the first to use the ultrafast "Cell" chip found in the PS3, will be on the market in Japan in December and carry a price tag of ¥1 million ($12,700).

That is about twice the price of a comparable current generation model but buyers will get the TV set and a set-top box containing 14 tuners (today's HDTVs have three) and three terabytes (about 3000 gigabytes) of built-in storage for recording shows.

This will allow viewers to cycle back through the last 26 hours of high-definition content across eight channels on-demand.

Alternatively, eight channels can be shown on the screen at the same time.

The Toshiba Cell Regza 55-inch LCD TV, which is the first to use the ultrafast "Cell" chip found in the PS3, will be on the market in Japan in December and carry a price tag of ¥1 million ($12,700).

This will allow viewers to cycle back through the last 26 hours of high-definition content across eight channels on-demand.

Alternatively, eight channels can be shown on the screen at the same time.

Source: smh

Glimpse of the Ghost-Rolls-Royce

2009-10-06T05:49:00.000-07:00

The chief designer for Rolls-Royce, Ian Cameron, compares his company’s Ghost, whose concept predecessor the 200EX to a business suit next to the tuxedo of the Phantom. “The Phantom might be too much of a statement for some,” Mr. Cameron said when the 200EX came out.
But the smaller car, whose exterior is credited to the designer Andreas Thurner, under Mr. Cameron’s direction, preserves the marque’s classic 2:1 roof-to-wheel height ratio that gives the cars their sense of scale or, as Rolls-Royce likes to put it, of “occasion.”
The Ghost was unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show on Sept. 15, but was shown for the first time in the United States briefly, over the weekend, at the St. Michaels Concours d’Élégance in Maryland, of which Rolls-Royce was the primary sponsor, and where many classic Rolls-Royces were on display.
Source:http:wheels

NTT Docomo unveils wood-based cell phone concepts

2009-10-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

Japan's leading cell phone giant NTT Docomo is joining the growing trend of ecology-as-cool with the introduction of the new TOUCH WOOD concept phones. Made from real surplus wood, the project was spearheaded by noted musician Ryuichi Sakamoto and uses an interface inspired by the photographer Mikiya Takimoto.
The effort was also assisted by the likes of Sharp and Olympus. These hyper-organic phones are due to go on view during the Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland from October 5 to 9 and CEATEC JAPAN 2009 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture, Japan from October 6 to 10.
Source:dvice

Mazda to show concept, fuel efficient engines in Tokyo

2009-09-30T04:18:00.000-07:00

Mazda announced its lineup for next month's Tokyo Motor Show, which includes the Kiyora concept car, two new engines, and a new transmission. Usually concept cars are the show highlight, but in this case, the Kiyora is a beard, as it was already shown at last year's Paris auto show. The real news will be the more efficient power trains that Mazda developed, although these lack the glamour of a design concept. However, this power train tech will have a more realizable effect on Mazda's vehicles and how we drive them. This line of power train tech goes by a new eco-brand from Mazda, Sky. The Sky-G is a direct injection engine with a newly designed block. The design reduces friction and delivers a more efficient fuel burn.

Source:reviews

ZAGG Acquires Worldwide Rights to Water-Proofing Technology

2009-09-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

ZAGG Inc. a leading producer of mobile electronics accessories including the popular invisibleSHIELD' and ZAGGaudio' brands, announces an agreement with HzO Inc. for the exclusive marketing rights to the 'Golden Shellback'' ' now referred to as HzO ' technology. The HzO technology is a unique molecular coating process that protects consumer electronics against damage caused by water and moisture exposure. This unique technology will save gadgets from fatal exposure to water and other liquids, which is the leading cause of lost function in electronics.

Source:dvdcreation

LCD shipments increased 43% in second quarter

2009-09-24T02:43:00.000-07:00

Shipments of large-sized liquid crystal display (LCD) panels increased 43% in the second quarter compared to the first quarter and were up 12% from the second quarter of 2008, according to researcher iSuppli.
Shipments increased because of an improving world economy, strong LCD demand in China and a shift to 16-by-9 format panels.
LCD panel shipments increased from 91.7 million in the first quarter of this year to 129.7 million in the second. Shipments in the second quarter of 2008 were about 116 million.
The strong growth in demand, combined with tight supply, resulted in 20-25% panel price increases for mainstream large-sized LCD panels from March to June. The price increases helped panel suppliers move away from below-cost pricing and losses and toward profitability, according to iSuppli. However, prices are expected to fall in the fourth quarter.
Source:purchasing

Portable nitric oxide sensor created

2009-09-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

U.S. scientists say they've demonstrated a new way of identifying nitric oxide gas using lasers and inexpensive, compact and highly sensitive sensors.
Nitric oxide is a gas well known to scientists for its myriad functions, but which has proven challenging to measure accurately outside the laboratory. A team of researchers from Princeton and Rice Universities created the portable device that they say could be of great value to atmospheric science, pollution control, biology and medicine.
Source:timesoftheinternet

Panasonic developed a robot becoming either a bed or wheelchair

2009-09-22T04:38:00.000-07:00

Panasonic has developed bed-shaped robot, which can be transformable between a bed and a wheelchair with the user staying in bed or wheelchair. This product is clear indication of emergence of robots for real and good applications such as these.
The robot can transform itself from a bed into a wheelchair and vice versa by a user command and allow the user to move around in the house freely without the need of assistance from other people.
The Robotic Bed automatically assembles components as per the shape and can prevent collisions and accidents by detecting people and obstacles in its way.
Panasonic says this robot is easy to operate without any training. An intuitive controller allows the user to easily drive it and give it an instruction to go back into the bed.
The robot adjusts and optimizes the mattress to contours of the body shape. The robot aids the user to turn over to prevent bedsores.
This product also features Robotic Canopy, an information interface to watch television and to operate home appliances and checking the security camera connected by home network.
Source:eeherald

Pure Unveils Stunning 'Sensia' Touchscreen Web & DAB Radio

2009-09-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

Pure introduces the new 'Sensia' which it describes as bringing "radio to the Facebook generation". Translation: the world's first high resolution DAB and web radio with a large, colour touchscreen and gobsmacking finger friendly Linux-based user interface. A whopping 5.7in 640 x 480 display is in there and brings not just easy access to DAB/DAB+/FM stations, web radio and podcasts as we've seen before, but also rich content such as weather, news, Picasa, Facebook and Twitter content via a growing set of Pure custom apps.
Source:trustedreviews

Here is some interesting research on smartphone applications

2009-09-17T03:40:00.000-07:00

A TNS Media company, has recently published the results for its quarterly smartphone survey, providing a deeper insight into the way consumers are using their iPhones and Smartphones. Based on the results of the survey it seems that smartphone and iPhone owners tend to be on the same side when it comes to their favorite types of applications. Games, music, social networking, entertainment and weather are clearly the most popular applications across platforms

Compete's Smartphone Intelligence Survey also provides some interesting results on the differences between iPhone, Blackberry and Palm users, such as the fact that 73 percent of Blackberry owners have downloaded or purchased 5 or less apps, while 72 percent of iPhone owners have gone for 10 or more. At the same time, the survey shows that applications priced under $5 appeal to 83 percent of all smartphone owners, while iPhone users tend to purchase those they like.

Source:softpedia

PSoC Creator™ Software Delivers Revolutionary Design Environment For New Cypress PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5 Architectures

2009-09-16T03:33:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today introduced the PSoC Creator™ Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the new PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5 programmable system-on-chip families (see related release “Cypress Revolutionizes Embedded Design with High Performance, Low Power PSoC® 3 and PSoC 5 Programmable System-on-Chip Architectures”). The unique new design software enables engineers to design the way they think, using schematic-based design capture along with certified, pre-packaged peripherals to keep system creation independent of the target PSoC device. Instead of trawling through device documentation and memorizing register maps, users simply layout the design, just as they would on paper or a whiteboard, and let the tool translate it into the PSoC configuration. With PSoC Creator, customers create designs according to application requirements, not the limitations of the target device. Re-targeting to new devices is as simple as rebuilding an application, so porting designs between PSoC devices becomes a snap, including migrating working designs seamlessly from 8- to 32-bit devices.
Source:Cypress

Sensor sniffs out toxic gases

2009-09-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

A sensor that can detect poisonous gases and toxins by changing color is being developed by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
The wearable sensor is part of a Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) and once launched is expected to be used in applications that pose a chemical health risk in the workplace or through accidental exposure.
Source:theengineer

who should recycle the Ewaste !

2009-09-15T04:55:00.000-07:00

Americans each year buy a mountain of computers, big-screen TVs, cell phones and digital video recorders, a spending spree only slightly slowed by the recession. Most of the purchases replace older electronics.
But what happens to the things we don't want anymore?
The vast majority of this e-waste -- millions of tons of it every year -- is dumped in landfills.
"In an age when there's a new iPhone, or television, every other week it seems, people are hemorrhaging their old electronics," said Jim Simon, associate environmental educator at the University at Buffalo Green Office
This is bad for the environment, because many of these devices contain lead and other heavy metals that can leach into the soil and the water supply.
While electronics recyclers say they handle this material responsibly, critics note some devices have ended up overseas, where poorly paid workers remove their precious metals in unsafe conditions. Some advocates say consumers need to be encouraged to recycle more, while others say the manufacturers should bear more responsibility for disposing of their old products.
Source:buffalonews

Cypress Partners with ARM for Next-Generation Embedded Platform Solutions

2009-09-11T04:33:00.000-07:00

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) announced today that Cypress has licensed a broad range of intellectual property (IP) from ARM for use in next-generation programmable platforms. Cypress has licensed the ARM® Cortex™-M3 and ARM9™ family processors, along with more than 75 other IP elements.

Cypress is a leader in programmable solutions, with more than 25 years of providing a broad programmable offering. Cypress employs a SONOS manufacturing process that delivers high-performance, and excellent mixed-signal integration. Cypress’s flagship PSoC® programmable system-on-chip platform integrates an MCU core, programmable analog and digital blocks, and memory on a single chip. Cypress also offers programmable controllers for touch sensing and touchscreens, programmable clocks, and programmable LED controllers.

New Multi-Touch All-Point Solution Extends Cypress's Touchscreen Leadership with Fastest Scan Times, High Accuracy

2009-09-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

AN JOSE, Calif., September 3, 2009 – Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY) today introduced new, fully-integrated TrueTouch™ touchscreen controllers, the TMA300 family, based on the PSoC® programmable system-on-chip architecture. The new controllers offer best in class performance and unique features that are helping to accelerate the development of next-generation differentiated touchscreen-based user interfaces for applications in mobile handsets, portable media players, netbooks, notebooks, printers, digital still cameras, GPS systems and more

Source:Cypress

A survey says Americans are crazy over electronic gadgets

2009-09-09T22:33:00.000-07:00

A study out this week from Forrester Research found 50 percent of all American adults are gamers, 63 percent have a broadband connection, and 75 percent have a cell phone and personal computer in the home.
Americans bought 10 million high definition television sets last year, in part because of the government mandated switch to digital television, said salespeople at Ed Kellum and Sons in one electronic salesman.Families are a driving force behind the widespread adoption of technology.

Not only are their kids playing with home gaming consoles; parents are likely to purchase MP3 players, digital cameras and camcorders to record their family memories.

Source:wgem

Bluetooth burglar alarm in your mobile phones

2009-09-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

The increasing incidents of mobile theft, TenBu Technologies, a British Startup, has introduced an innovative gadget called ‘Nio’ that is designed to raise an alarm if a thief attempts to steal an user’s mobile phone. The small device essentially consists of a USB dongle which remains in touch with the user’s mobile phone through Bluetooth connection and creates a ‘security zone’ of around 20 metres around the mobile
With ‘Nio’, mobile phone owners can instantly become aware when their handsets are not around them; in addition the devise is also expected to help people when they forget their mobiles in their cars or workplace.

Source: itproportal

semiconductor

2009-09-09T05:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome to quality website ElectronicTree blog,ITS for all the tech enthusiast, who are passionate about touchscreens and semiconductor.Here, you will find all kinds of electronic stuff including latest and exciting technology