Posted on September 15th, 2010 by axb
Still searching for a new backpack this school season? Look no further than UC Berkeley Labs, where engineers have created a laser-scanning backpack that makes instant 3D maps of its surroundings. It may not have room for textbooks, but it can generate perfect digital likenesses of the inside of just about any building.
Developed in collaboration with the US Airforce, this device could allow troops to quickly and efficiently scout out new areas and map battlefield locations.
The backpack is outfitted with four cameras pointing in different directions, lasers, and an inertial measurement unit (IMU).
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Filed under: Computer, e-News, Electrical | 2 Comments »
Tags: Computer, Electrical
Posted on August 17th, 2010 by axb
Electrical pylons are often seen as a blight to the landscape or, at best, something to be accommodated and ignored. But in Iceland, an award-winning pylon design may soon bring about a new appreciation of these ubiquitous towers.
“The Land of Giants,” a design concept created by the US firm Choi + Shine Architects, would turn Iceland’s electrical infrastructure into something akin to an iconic monument. The 150-foot humanoid pylons would boast not only a surreal and awe-inspiring appearance, but the ability to stand in a variety of positions in order to boost efficiency.
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Filed under: Architectural, Civil, e-News, Electrical | 3 Comments »
Tags: Architectural, Civil, Electrical
Posted on August 16th, 2010 by axb
Robo-arm-turned-Ferrari-simulator, shown without the
steering wheel and projection screen
Sometimes engineering projects look like they’re just too much fun to even be considered work. Such is the case with this Ferrari F2007 driving simulator that hovers 7 feet off the ground and looks like a stolen set piece from one of the Matrix movies.
A German research team from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics programmed a giant robotic arm to simulate the car’s motion while the driver navigates a projected course, IEEE Spectrum (the news magazine and website of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) reports. Watch a video after the jump.
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Filed under: e-News, Electrical, Mechanical | 3 Comments »
Tags: Electrical, Mechanical, Robotics
Posted on August 8th, 2010 by axb
Here’s some good news for all the Transformers fans out there: researchers at Harvard and MIT have been busy creating new smart material that can change its shape on command. Called “programmable matter by folding,” this nifty robotics project involves wiring flexible alloys and programming them to fold themselves into origami-like shapes.
The current prototype can fold itself into a boat or an airplane depending on the signal it receives – watch in this video [after the jump]:
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Filed under: Computer, e-News, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical | 1 Comment »
Tags: Computer, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical, Robotics
Posted on August 5th, 2010 by jxh
Switching to electric cars has a lot of advantages: it would reduce city pollution, decrease our dependence on oil, and save us money from rising gas prices.
And now there is Blink, an electric charging station that will hopefully pave the way of an electric vehicle revolution.
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Filed under: e-News, Electrical, Environmental, Transportation | Comments Off on New Charging Station for Electric Cars
Tags: Electrical, Environmental, Green Technology, Green Transportation, Transportation
