Future of Engineering

A fascinating development in the world of neuro science has been reported by the journal Nature.

Tiny sensors were placed in two monkeys' brain to monitor the thought and action relationship. With their thoughts they controlled a mechanical arm and were able to reach for and grab food.



Dr. John P. Donoghue, director of the Institute of Brain Science at Brown University, said the new report was “important because it’s the most comprehensive study showing how an animal interacts with complex objects, using only brain activity.”

A computer or a robot is programmed to perform a task. But it cannot anticipate unnatural happenings. In this case the monkeys were able to manipulate the prosthetic arm to hold the marshmallow in place. It was also able to lick at the food particles that were sticking on to the arm. This shows that it is possible to control a device with intimate,subtle suggestions or thoughts.

Implantable electrode grids do not generally last more than a period of months, for reasons that remain unclear. Like this there are a few hurdles to be overcome before this technology becomes practically viable.

Yet, the findings suggest that brain-controlled prosthetics, while not practical, are at least technically within reach.

Source - NyTimes

Labels: Robotics

The mobile was initially invented to enable people to stay connected on the go. Additional features such as music, games and internet connection made it more attractive. Now it's going to help out scientists who are trying to find their way around traffic.



Engineers at the Indiana Department of Transportation have tried to monitor travel time by tapping into the signal emerging from the bluetooth phones and other devices that we carry on our way to work.

The method picks up the identifying "addresses" from Bluetooth devices in consumer electronics. Because each device has its own distinct digital signature, its travel time can be tracked by detectors installed at intersections or along highways and other locations.

"Information is a commodity people are aggressively seeking, and this method promises to cost effectively provide information that has never been widely available to travelers," Bullock said.

Data collected through this technology would help in building a better traffic signal timing, as well as real-time traffic information for motorists. It can also monitor the movement of long queues thus enabling customers to get better service in airports and other places.

Travel time monitoring is sure to help in the growth and development of a well planned city.

Source - Science Daily

“I asked the guy how much he missed being around bikes,” says Lomman, “and he looked me in the eye and said if he could have one wish, it would be to ride again."

This chance encounter with an ex-motorcross racer in a hospital carpark inspired Darren Lomman to drive the road not driven.





Bikers who have met with an accident have bounced back from severe injuries with great determination and willpower. But they still cherish a dream - to ride once again. And Dreamfit steps in to put them back on track.

The Dreamfit CBR250RR which started out as a university project has been modified to suit riders paralyzed from the chest down, with thumb-activated pneumatic rams for foot-free gear shifting, a combined braking system, custom-moulded ergonomic cups to hold the rider in place without any lower body strength, and a set of steel-braced "landing gear" wheels that drop to provide stability at very low speeds.

Currently they have created prototypes of a bike, a seated surfboard, a ski boat and a hovercraft for disabled people.They have received 150 enquiries about the bike from all around the world. It is now seeking investors to make this dream a reality.

Source - Dreamfit via Bikergene

Apple's latest technology is going to tap into the most abundant energy available on the planet - solar energy.

There's no need to carry a charger anymore. Just leave your iphone or ipod out in the sun. The solar cells under the screen converts the 2.4 by 4.5 inch glass face of the iphone into a solar panel.





Until now it wasn't easy to incorporate solar technology because of space constraints. For everyone sought a slim and sleek gadget. Placement of solar cells under the screen doesn't take up a lot of space.

Apple has drawn a lot of attention for not being climate-concious. Greenpeace in October criticized the company for failing to take steps to phase out hazardous chemicals used in the iPhone.

Looks like Apple it trying its best to woo the environmentalists with its latest proposal.

Source - Timesonline

Microphones and speakers have used piezoelectric materials such as quartz to convert incoming electricity to sound, but they are brittle, bulky and expensive.

This hasn't deterred Michael Yu, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Along with his colleagues he has created a rubbery plastic-based material that makes the piezoelectric devices lightweight and flexible.





By adding silicone rubber to the material that is based on a polypropylene foam with piezoelectric properties, Yu and colleagues have made it possible to separately control the material's piezoelectric mechanical properties. Experimenting with the piezoelectric material wasn't easy. For any change in the flexibility of the material would impact its electrical properties.

But this new material overcomes these problems and has paved the way for novel uses of piezoelectric devices. In the future we'd have wallpapers that would function as speakers, shirts that can harvest energy, and speakers that can be folded.

Surely piezoelectronics seem to be highly innovative. Further research and optimisation would make it more commercially viable.

Source - New Scientist

The safety pin, post-it notes are all inventions that are so simple that makes you wonder why it wasn't invented previously.





Here is a cool invention that makes you wonder why it wasn't thought about earlier. How many times have you struggled to hold on to your prized possessions while trying to carry the coffee or juice cups to the table? You don't have to perform the hold-the-tray-trick anymore.





Coffe Bag is an innovative solution that aims to reduce the spillage while carrying drinks in a tray. Just fasten the bag and forget the world as you walk to your destination. You can handle your mobile phone, juggle with your keys, hold the toddlers arm without having to worry about coffee spills.

Whew!That's a relief!

Labels: innovation

The Namib Desert beetle - photo by Andrew Parker

PicoChip announced this week that it has developed the world's first femtocell designs to allow phones using LTE to work inside the home.

The two designs are known as the PC8608 Home eNodeB and PC8618 eNodeB.






A femtocell is a miniature mobile phone base station for your home. This device provide you with enhanced mobile phone signal coverage (and data speeds) through your regular broadband internet connection.

When a femto owner makes a mobile phone call, their handset connects not via a mast or dish on a high building or Telstra tower, but via the internet. From there the call is routed to fixed or mobile telephone networks.



Credit - Ebiquity.umbc.edu

“Right now it turns out that when you are connected to your 3G network in the UK you are sharing a fixed amount of bandwidth with all the other users that are nearby,” says David Nowicki of mobile broadband technology firm Airvana.

Femtocell reduces the volume of traffic inceasing speed and efficiency. There's no need to load special software onto your mobile to use a femtocell. It is preloaded and it would adapt to all devices.

No invention stays as it is forever. Innovation drives the market. Thus people aren't just contented with having a mobile they want it to be a super performer. Femtocell technology makes mobile phones smarter with better browsers.It will also reduce costs for providers by routing calls across the customer’s broadband connection.

Pricing is unknown at this stage, although some industry experts are guessing it will be in the $250 to $300 range for basic units.Trends suggest that the femtocell market will grow from a relatively tiny $72 million in 2008 to over $1.8 billion in 2013, as end-user products begin to take off.

Source - PicoChip

Image courtesy: Physorg


You have heard of carbon nanotubes, those quaint nano-stuff that can do many amazing things. Now some folks feel these can also play a role in the alternative energy domain. Read on.

When present in specially organized clusters, one could visualize carbon nanotubes as "nanotube forests." Within this forest, each individual nanotube acts like a tiny spring, and some scientists think that if you combine billions of them, they could do things that no steel spring could achieve.

Especially Carol Livermore. An assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Livermore believes these stronger-than-steel nanotubes could open new possibilities for energy generation and storage.

How?

It is well known that you can store energy in the deformation of a spring. That is hardly a challenge. The main challenge with storing energy in springs is most don't store a lot of energy per unit of weight or volume. Livermore and is team feels that this problem can possibly be taken care of by carbon nanotubes because they can stretch incredibly far without breaking.

Nanotubes work like expansion springs - pull them and they stretch, release them and they are back to their original shape, while releasing energy. This property has already been shown with individual nanotubes. And, as mentioned earlier, these deformations can be for extreme lengths / dimensions. Now, take this useful property of nanotubes, and then combine billions of such nanotubes together into bundles. Now you can explore if extreme deformations of such bundles can produce vast amounts of energy. This is what Livermore intends to do.

With a grouping of nanotubes as long as an inch or two, it will be possible to test the qualities of the carbon nanotubes in a visible experiment. Instruments could measure the amount of force used, and the amount of energy returned when the spring contracts.

What are the possible applications of energy from such nanotube bundles? Some of the possibilities discussed are high-end mechanical watches that need winding only once, regenerative braking devices for bicycles etc. They are also thinking of ways in which the nanotube springs could replace some kind of batteries. Not exactly earth-shaking, but hey, this is just the beginning. Essentially, what these folks are looking at are ways to capture & store mechanical energy and release it to do useful things. I'm sure there are more interesting applications one can visualise and perfect if the technology works out fine.

Source: Boston.com

Some related news items you could find useful:
Nanotubes Grown Straight in Large Numbers, Silicon Nanotubes Store Hydrogen More Efficiently Than Carbon Nanotubes

Labels: Energy-Environment-Engineering, Material-Sciences

If you are residing in a metro, having an X-Ray or an MRI scan done is a cinch. But what if you reside in a remote location or in a village which does not the sophisticated imaging systems?

A team from the Hebrew University in Israel seems to have an answer.


MRI Scanner - not to worry anymore that your village doesn't have these!

Pic credit: Blanchard Valley Health System

Using a process developed by the Jerusalem-based University, cellphones can be used to get your X-Ray, Ultrasound imaging etc., processed from a centralised location and these can be transmitted back to your remote location using the same cellular phones.

The new technology is expected to be a boon for patients in developed counties, those in rural areas with reduced access to medical services, and to millions of patients in the Third World. This idea has the potential to replace current systems that are based on conventional, stand-alone medical imaging devices.

Prof. Boris Rubinsky's new medical imaging system consists of two independent components connected through cellular phone technology, with a relatively simple data collection device on-site connected via cell phone to an off-site computer that processes the data and produces an image.

Under this new technology developed by Rubinsky, a simple and independent data acquisition device (DAD) at a remote patient site could be connected via cellular phone technology with an advanced image reconstruction and hardware control multiserver unit at a central site, which could even be thousands of miles away from the remote site. The cellular phone technology transmits unprocessed, raw data from the patient site DAD to the central facility. This data is then returned from the central facility to the cellular phone at the remote site in the form of an image.

Using commercially available parts, the research team built a simple data acquisition device for the experiment. The device had 32 stainless steel electrodes - half to inject the electrical current and the other half to measure the voltage - connected to a gel-filled container that simulated breast tissue with a tumor.

Over 200 voltage measurements were taken and uploaded to a cell phone, which was hooked up to the device with a USB cable. The cell phone was then used to dial into a powerful central computer that contained software to process the packet of raw data that was transmitted. An image - that was verified to be precise - was then reconstructed and sent back to the cell phone for viewing.

This is one idea that is as useful as it is cool!

Source: Jerusalem Post

Labels: Bio-engineering, Electronics-Communications-Engineering

You've seen it happen only in fairy tales or Sci-fi novels. Buildings made of water, and walls without doors that senses your approach and lets you in. Architects knew that creativity knows no limits. Whereas the real world that's dominated by concrete, bricks and mortar cannot be manipulated so easily.



Graphic courtesy / carlorattiassociati--Walter Nicolino, Carlo Ratti, Claudio Bonicco and Matteo Lai

This is where digital architecture comes in. Digital architecture aspires to create buildings that are reconfigurable. It wants to change the shape and size of a room based on necessity and use. Present day architecture doesn't allow this whereas digital water which can appear and disappear aids in the creation of astounding structures.

The Digital Water Pavilion at the 2008 World Expo in Zaragoza, Spain is going to be a building made of water. The best thing is that you don't have to search for a door to step in. For the water curtains aren't just programmed to display images and messages, it can sense an approaching object and let it through.

New combinations of sensor technology, embedded intelligence, networking, computer-controlled pumps and valves, and control software enables this architectural marvel to be possible.Taking a cue from fiction and animation, architects have tried to prove their might with digital technology.

Source - MIT

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new, single-exposure imaging tool that allows quick and unobtrusive scanning of tissues. This device resembles palm sized medical scanners known as "tricorders" in the Star Trek science-fiction universe.





This portable tool uses a narrowband filter mosaic which includes photosensitive pixel sensors that observe different wavelengths, allowing for multispectral imaging. This portable tool helps in early detection of erythema, bruises and pressure ulcers that develop in people with impaired mobility and sensation.

“Although multispectral imaging has matured into a technology with applications in many fields, clinicians and practitioners in these fields have generally stayed away from it due to extremely high costs and lack of portability,” said Dr. Stephen Sprigle, director of CATEA and professor of industrial design and human physiology. “Now, the possibilities are plentiful.”



Enlarged diagram of filter mosaic

The CATEA (Georgia Tech’s Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access) researchers have filed for a patent and are currently looking for financial funding to launch a commercial version of the device.

Here's a cap that can read your mind. Well almost. It looks like an invention one finds in a Sci-fi novel. When you put it on, the cap detects and analyzes the electroencephalogram (EEG) signals from your brain. Currently it can tell whether a driver is getting too sleepy based on analysing the brain wave patterns.



©2008 IEEE.

Taiwanese researchers have designed a new bio-signal monitoring system inside a baseball cap. By measuring EEG signals, the BCI system can monitor an individual’s physiological and cognitive states.

" The cap contains five embedded dry electrodes on the wearer’s forehead, and one electrode behind the left ear, that acquire EEG signals. Then, the EEG signals are wirelessly transmitted to a data receiver, where they are processed in real-time by a dual-core processor. "

Two types of experiments were conducted. One tested the skills of the drivers in the virtual reality environment. Initially drivers were tested in a virtual reality environment and their response time to the happenings in the road were taken into account. Then they wore the BCI cap, which detected their EEG signals. A comparative analysis of the tests revealed the correlation of the two measurements was 75%.

Researchers suggest that the technology could be used to control home electronics. You don't have to hunt for the remote anymore you can control TVs, computers and air conditioners just by thinking about them.

Source - Physorg

Trichoderma reesei is a remarkably brave fungus. It had challenged America during the second world war. It had given a tough time to the American army's military equipment in the South Pacific Sea. What was once America's headache has now turned out to be a boon.



Trichoderma reesei

Since then it is considered to be the world's most efficient fungus at breaking down the cellulose in plant walls into simple sugars, which it feeds on.In order to learn more about the incredible enzymatic activity of Trichoderma reesei, researchers from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Energy’s Joint Genome Institute assayed its genome.

The research proved to be an eye opener. It was known that T. reesei produces massive quantities of degrading enzymes. The surprising revelation was that it produced very few enzyme types. This proved that its protein secretion system is exceptionally efficient.

This was first interpreted as bad news, but the limitations of this model organism are now being seen as something positive. The fungus's enzyme cocktail lends itself to numerous genetic modifications, and researchers are looking into which other enzymes can be added to the fungus's gene sequence in order to make it even more efficient at producing bioethanol.

“The sequencing of the Trichoderma reesei genome is a major step towards using renewable feedstocks for the production of fuels and chemicals,” said Joel Cherry, director of research activities in second-generation biofuels for Novozymes, a collaborating institution in the study. “The information contained in its genome will allow us to better understand how this organism degrades cellulose so efficiently and to understand how it produces the required enzymes so prodigiously. Using this information, it may be possible to improve both of these properties, decreasing the cost of converting cellulosic biomass to fuels and chemicals.”


Source - Nature.com, Innovations report

Researchers from the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL are unveiling a novel, grasshopper-inspired jumping robot at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation May 21 in Pasadena, California.

Science looks to nature for inspiration. Nature remains our greatest muse. The latest robot's creation has been inspired by the grasshopper. The robot weighs a miniscule 7 grams, and can jump 1.4 meters, or more than 27 times its body size -- ten times farther for its size and weight than any existing jumping robot.



Credit: Alain Herzog, EPFL

It is easy to manipulate robots inside the lab which has a smooth terrain. But navigation through rough terrain has been quite tough for walking and wheeled robots that were designed for search and rescue operations. These micro-robots that imitate the jumping technique of fleas, locusts and grasshoppers would solve the problem.

"These tiny jumping robots could be fitted with solar cells to recharge between jumps and deployed in swarms for extended exploration of remote areas on Earth or on other planets." says EPFL Professor Dario Floreano.

Source - Eurekalert

Labels: Robotics

Now this is interesting. Call it the marriage of design and ecology. Eco-totes are becoming more and more in vogue now, with the Solar Bag being the latest in this series of eco-conscious innovations.



The Solar Bag is a bag with a miniature solar panel built into its front to accumulate energy. Inside there’s a battery and a range of plugs so you can hook up your I-Pod, mobile phone and every type of digital device.

The Solar Bag comes in two styles: a small trunk made from Bordeaux or black chamois, or classic arm-bag. With our entire society becoming eco & green conscious, eco-totes such as the Solar Bag will likely be frequently heard about from now on!

Designer Ennio Capasa is credited with developing the Solar Bag.



Of interest to you also could be the Power Purse, another cool eco-tote, developed by Solarjo. This again is covered with small solar panels that can power cell phones or any other gadgets through a USB port built inside.

Related stuff: Noon Solar - creates green totes and satchels chosen for their sustainability, Voltaic Backpacks - mobile solar power generators designed to charge virtually all handheld electronics.

We live in interesting times.

Sources: Boing Boing Gadgets, Crave, CNC Costume National, Racked

Labels: Design-Engineering, Energy-Environment-Engineering

Image credit: Kneeslider

Pulsejets were the engines used by the German V1 buzzbombs in WWII. The buzzbomb got its name from the buzzing sound of the pulsejet engine.

Robert Maddox builds pulsejet engines. And he has attached some to - of all things - bicycles. The version you see in the video (below) puts out 50 to 60 pounds of thrust, enough for 75 mph or so on the bike. So, get set on the bike and vroooom!



As you can see in the video above, the buzzing bomb jet engine attached to a retro-style bicycle frame is capable of moving along furiously nicely.

If you are one of those freaks who loves to have your moving things big, the pulsejet bicycle is sure to please you. Now, whether it will please your neighbours is quite another question!

Sources: Kneeslider, AutoBlog Green

Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering

Incandescent bulbs are available in plenty due to low cost.But they are also known for their poor efficiency and short lifespan. They also failed the eco-friendly test. Their image took a further beating with the arrival of fluorescent bulbs which diffused light and had a longer life span. Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium bulbs are also very efficient and have a long life but are primarily used in outdoor installations.

The latest entry to the light bulb scene is planilum, a light emitting glass. Planilum measures a mere 0.8" thin and is made up of 4 layers of special glass, a rare gas and serigraphed phosphors. Hope the picture gives you an image of what it looks like.






Saazs and Saint-Gobain Innovations have tirelessly worked for six years to create this cool bulb for us. You can use it for approximately 50,000 hours which means you wouldn't have to worry about lighting and bulbs for the next 20 years. Planilum also comes with the eco friendly tag since they are 90% recyclable. One just hopes it is purse friendly too.

Source - Inhabitat

Supason Wanichwecharungruang and her colleagues have made a breakthrough in this field with chitosan nanocontainers – a UV-resistant formulation with controlled release properties

Encapsulation of cosmetic or personal care compounds has become very popular and technologically developed during the recent years. Many Shampoos, lipsticks, face creams, and even toothpastes contain minute envelopes with tiny molecular messages inside.

Nanoparticles

(Image credit: Chulalongkorn University)

Designed as a small-scale mail system, these envelopes protect and deliver active ingredients that might otherwise degrade or get lost before they get to their intended destinations. The presence of moisture in the skin might serve as the trigger, or it could be the change from the basic pH in the bottle to the acid environment on the skin. Even bacteria that occur naturally on the skin could be what breaks open some of these microcapsules.

Simple encapsulant systems have been around for years, but they have recently become more sophisticated with the arrival of nanotechnology. The market for encapsulation technologies is so attractive that newcomers continue to enter it with novel technologies. The recent entrants are from the Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

Existing encapsulating systems had their limitations. They were prone to photodegradation. Good storage containers helped a bit by reducing the rate of photodegradation. But it cannot prevent the loss of the chemical’s properties when it is exposed to the sun. Though the formula of a cosmetic looks good, it cannot effectively deliver due to this loss.

Supason’s team have cracked the code with the UV-absoptive-nanocontainer. Cosmetics enhanced with chitosan nanospheres prevents photo degradation or atleast reduces it. UV-absorptive chitosan nanospheres are more than just a light filter. The material also controls the release of the encapsulated active material.

Penetrating the dermis is most important for skin care products to be effective. And by using Nano Encapsulation Technology, ultra-deep penetration in the lower levels of the aging skin is made possible.

Okay. You are on a diet for the nth time. And just when you plan to stick on to a low cal diet, temptation strikes in the form of an irresistible B'day party. This time you don't have to worry, implant VBLOC in your body and you can be sure that the extra helping of icecream never reaches your plate. Because you would be full after a few bites. Simple way to slim down isn't it.



Credit - Enteromedics

In the United States, it is estimated that 93 million Americans are obese.Almost 112,000 annual deaths are attributable to obesity. Being overweight, obese or morbidly obese significantly increases the risk of developing many other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and much more.

For patients suffering from morbid obesity weight loss surgery came into the picture. Weight loss surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest.However this surgery has risks and complications, including infections, hernias and blood clots.

A lot of people who need help stay away from seeking help due to the complications involved. Scientists realised that a safer alternative had to be found out.Looks like they have found a solution. At a neurotechnology conference in Boston last week, Enteromedics described positive preliminary results from a European trial of its vagal blocking therapy, called VBLOC.

In VBLOC therapy, two electrodes are laproscopically implanted at the top of the stomach to block signals from the vagus nerve.A regulator implanted under the skin then sends high-frequency pulses of electricity to the electrodes, which are thought to block the signals coming from the vagus nerve. This experimental therapy, is developed by Enteromedics, a medical-device company based in St. Paul, MN. This device restricts the expansion of the stomach when we start to eat. Thus limiting the amount of food we take.

Initial analysis shows that patients ate an average of 500 fewer calories per day. So far there is no report of death or any serious side effects. Further research on the milder side effects will be carried out before this therapy hits the market.

Source - Technology Review

Already there are a lot of people out there who claim to have seen UFO or other strange sights in the skies. Now the competition stiffens. Flogos have entered the race. Flogos are basically flying custom logos.





Made from a soap based foam, the Flogos are filled with gases such as helium rather than air. Once it comes out of the machine it floats away.They can travel 20-30 miles and go as high as 20,000 thousand feet. They travel slow so they are very visible for a long time. They are also environmentally safe.

This patented project has been created by the Snowmasters research and development facility in Northern Alabama. It was founded in the late 1990's by two international special effects inventors, Francisco Guerra and Brian Glover.

The next time you look up to the sky this is what you'd say,

It's not a bird
It's not a plane
...
No it's not superman
It's a Flogo.

Companies that compete for billboard space are surely gonna love this skyboard advertising.

Here's another invention inspired by nature. To be specific, it's the common housefly - Musca domestica's eye that is the muse behind the recently developed fiber optic sensor for robot vision. Although insects are relatively simple organisms compared to vertebrates, they are blessed with a very efficient visual system, which enables them to navigate with great ease and accuracy.



Compound eye of a fly



Let's see what makes insect vision interesting.

Flies possess a visual precision beyond the resolution limit – a property called hyperacuity, which enables them to track and react to situations quickly. Insects have compound eyes that are made up of units called ommatidia.



A detailed diagram of an ommatidium


The housefly's eye contains 4,000 small, simple ommatidia which can be moved at will. Since each ommatidium faces a different direction, the fly is able to see to the front, back, left, right, top and bottom, giving it a 360 degree perspective of the world.

That's not it. Each ommatidium in the eye contains eight photoreceptors. The field of view of each photoreceptor overlaps with up to 90 percent overlap with those next to it.These photoreceptors convert light into ionic current, which then goes into the fly's processing system. The classic theory on insect vision is called the mosaic theory and it suggests that each cell (ommatidia) forms an image of the limited part of the visual field. So, in layman speak, each cell puts together a part of the picture to form the entire object.

So now we know how a house fly views images.It sees the world through thousands of tiny eyes.

The latest development in Robot vision

Now lets see how the researchers from the Naval Air Warfare Center in China Lake, California, and the University of Wyoming were inspired by the fly's vision.

"Unlike conventional image processing systems which are often digital, the fly’s processing system is analog. Digital systems receive data pixel by pixel, and generally require time-consuming, computationally expensive processing. The analog system helps the fly extract edge information much more quickly, and also enables parallel processing. Both these features contribute to the fly’s highly accurate, high-speed vision system.

The researchers designed their sensor to mimic the fly’s overlapping photoreceptors and analog, parallel processing system. The sensor consists of a 1-mm-diameter ball lens that focuses light onto an array of photodetectors, where the field of view overlaps by about 70%. In experiments, the sensor could locate a 1-mm-wide string as the string moved across the field of vision at distances up to 200 mm from the lens, with minimal error. "

Why is this study so interesting?

The study of insect vision is of significant interest to engineers who need inspiration for designing future motion-sensitive smart sensor devices and collision avoidance applications.
The development of this technology can be very helpful in medical, industrial and defence areas.For instance it might be able to provide improvements to unmanned vehicles and industrial inspection robots.

The common housefly, labeled a pest everywhere has revealed the inherent beauty of nature by showing that each and every creature is absolutely unique. All we need is eyes to see and be inspired by it.

New laser to aid searches for Earthlike planets




Scientists at the University of Konstanz in Germany and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), USA have demonstrated an ultrafast laser that offers a record combination of high speed, short pulses and high average power.

This group has also shown that this type of laser, when used as a frequency comb could boost the sensitivity of astronomical tools searching for other Earthlike planets as much as 100 fold.

What are frequency combs? We will let NIST explain: "An optical "frequency comb" is a very precise tool for measuring different colors—or frequencies—of light. The technology, made possible by recent advances in ultrafast lasers, can accurately measure much higher frequencies than any other tool. Frequency combs are already widely used in metrology laboratories and physics research, and they are starting to become commercially available.

Optical frequency combs rely on the relationship between time and frequency. NIST scientists start with lasers that emit a continuous train of very brief, closely spaced pulses of light containing a million different colors. The properties of the light over time are converted to frequency numbers to make what looks like a comb."

The timing between pulses determines the spacing between the teeth of the frequency comb. The faster the pulse repetition rate, the wider the spacing between the teeth, making each individual tooth easier to identify.

The small-sized laser developed by the joint team emits 10 billion pulses per second, each lasting about 40 femtoseconds (quadrillionths of a second), with an average power of 650 milliwatts. The new laser produces pulses 10 times more often than a standard NIST frequency comb while producing much shorter pulses. The new laser is also 100 to 1000 times more powerful than typical high-speed lasers, producing clearer signals in experiments.

There are some interesting applications to which this new technology could be put. Frequency combs have already dramatically simplified and improved the accuracy of frequency metrology. They also are making it possible to build precise atomic clocks. These new ultra-precise frequency combs could enable progress in many other advanced fields of science such as detection of toxic biochemical agents, studies of ultrafast dynamics, quantum computing, in synchronization of advanced telecommunications systems, remote detection and range measurements for manufacturing or defense applications, remote sensing of gases for medical or atmospheric studies, on-the-fly precision control of high-speed optical communications, and more.

Apart from these, one exciting prospect is the increased ability to explore planets orbiting distant stars. Why?

In order to identify the presence of a planet orbiting stars, astronomers look for slight variations in the colors of starlight. These color variations occur due to the small wobbles induced in the star’s motion as the orbiting planet travels back and forth.

Currently, astronomers’ instruments frequency standards calibrations that are limited in spectral coverage and stability. Current instruments can detect, at best, a wobble of about 1 meter per second. Lasers used as frequency combs could be more accurate calibration tools, helping to pinpoint even smaller variations in starlight caused by small planets.

The team that developed it says it is pursuing the possibility of testing such a laser at a ground-based telescope or launching a comb on a satellite or other space mission.

The application of frequency combs to planet searches is of international interest and involves a number of major institutions such as the Max-Planck Institute for Quantum Optics and Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

More information here @ NIST

Via: Next Big Future

See also: John H Hall Nobel Lecture on Optical Frequencies (2005)

Labels: Astronomy

(image credit: Science Daily)

Scientists at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and MIT have developed nanometer-sized “nanoworms” that can travel through the bloodstream and — like tiny anti-cancer missiles — zero in on tumors. These can circulate in the body for hours since they do not trigger the immune system.

These nanoworms, composed of magnetic iron oxide and coated with a polymer, are able to find and attach to tumors. The nanoworms are superparamagnetic and show up very well on MRIs.

Using these nanoworms, doctors could eventually be able to target and reveal the location of developing tumors that are too small to detect by conventional methods.

With the use of this nanoworms concept, researchers are developing chemical attachments that will help to reach specific targets in the body, and are adding drugs that would be released when these targets are reached.

The scientists constructed their nanoworms from spherical iron oxide nanoparticles that join together, like segments of an earthworm, to produce tiny gummy worm-like structures.

The nanoworms concept was inspired by the discovery of a scientist when he found by accident that the gummy worm aggregates of nanoparticles stayed for hours in the bloodstream despite their relatively large size.

Sources: Science Daily, Next Big Future

Labels: Bio-engineering

The video gaming industry is poised to overtake the music industry in the US, with global spending on video games surpassing music spending as soon as this year, according to consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. Though the market is booming, the major players have a tough task at hand. That is to captivate the audience and keep them glued to a game. The customers are spoilt with choices. It is no longer easy to take a gamer by surprise with graphics and animation.





The key to making a real difference in the gaming experience lies in the control. Sony acknowledged that,and launched EyeToyTM. Microsoft followed with their own camera, VisionTM. Nintendo took it a step further, introducing WiiTM. But the revolution is still around the corner. We are yet to experience whole body gaming which is still in the research stage.


Now Softkinetic, a company based in Belgium, is working to let video-game players use a wider range of more-natural movements to control the on-screen action. Using depth-sensing cameras, the software determines a player's body position and motions. This technological advancement eliminates the need for remote controllers or other accessories. All you have to do is to stand in front of the camera in your room and start playing. It's as simple as that. Cool isn't it?


Limitations in earlier experiments

Power Glove:
In the late 1980s the Power Glove, an accessory for the original Nintendo Entertainment System was introduced. But such bulky accessories didn't help in having a better gaming experience. The infamous VR-wannabe Power Glove, and the Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.) was just a gimmick to sell the NES to stores that hated video games.





It was clearly not a hit with the gamers who weren't pleased with the ineffective nature of controls. Basic actions such as jumping or using an item may be very difficult or impossible to pull off reliably.


Wii Controller





Then came the hugely popular Wii controller. Sources indicate that development of the Wii Remote began in or around 2001, coinciding with development of the Wii console. It surely was a huge success. Gamers could play using their hands effectively. But therein lies the handicap too. Some of the motions it requires can sometimes feel stiff and unnatural, and it's sensitive only to gestures made by the hand in which it's held.

Depth-sensing Cameras






Then came Depth-sensing cameras, which can pick up gestures made by a variety of body parts. Picking up the motions of a gamer is easy but designing programs that work with the cameras, however, is difficult. For a software should not only intelligently pick up the gestures made by a gamer but also eliminate the gestures or movements made by the rest of the people who are visible to the eye of the camera. This is where Softkinetic comes in.


Softkinetic's technology

Initially intelligent cameras sense depth by using infrared light in one of two ways. First, the camera might send out infrared light and receive the reflections of that light off objects in a room. The sending and receiving information can be compared to determine details of position and depth around the camera. Alternatively, the camera could project a grid of infrared light onto a room, and calculate the positions of objects based on how the grid is distorted.

The best part is that the company's software is built to work with the four major depth-sensing cameras on the market, including the ZCam from 3DV Systems. This feature helps game designers in a big way. They can now avoid retooling their applications to work with each of the cameras. For the are already compatible.





Thus Softkinetic's technology that started out as research at the University of Brussels, in Belgium has paved the way for an exciting future for the gaming industry.

You can carry a mobile and a laptop. But without a WiFi hotspot you cannot stay connected. So you have to hunt for a place that provides this facility. CradlePoint eliminates all these problems in an instant. The PHS300 requires a cell phone or other USB device that is broadband enabled. When the USB cable of your mobile is connected to the Cradlepoint your Blackjack, Blackberry, RAZR or other cellular or USB modem it is converted into your own personal 802.11b/g wireless hotspot.

Features mentioned by Cradlepoint

• A WiFi extension to Cellular Broadband
• Compliant with IEEE 802.11 b/g Standards
• Tethers to Cellular phone or Cellular USB modem for WiFi access anywhere in coverage
• Compact and portable
• Charges handset via USB or powers USB modem
• Built-in Li Ion battery provides hours of WiFi with your 3G handset
• Added firewall prevents unauthorized use of your cellular connection

Wi-Fi trends clearly indicate that Wi-Fi is clearly becoming a complementary function to cellular. Therefore devices that support both cellular and Wi-Fi are sure to grab the attention of the market. CradlePoint is one such device that caters to the needs of the market. Being compact and portable it is definitely going to be a hit with travelers.

I read about an Italian Olivier Vietti-Teppa's daring experiment to prove Lenardo da Vinci right. In order to prove that Da Vinci’s parachute design actually does work, Vietti-Teppa plunged 2000 feet on a parachute design made by Da Vinci over 500 years ago. How’s that for guts?

Got me thinking more on this, and about Da Vinci's actual design.

Which led me to the following BBC article. Looks like the Italian was not exactly the first to prove it, at least not the basic design that Da Vinci had put down. This is what the June 2000 BBC article has to say:"More than 500 years after Leonardo da Vinci sketched his design, a Briton has proved that the renaissance genius was indeed the inventor of the first working parachute.

Adrian Nicholas, a 38-year-old skydiver from London, fulfilled his life's ambition to prove the aerodynamics experts wrong when he used a parachute based on Da Vinci's design to float almost one and a half miles down from a hot air balloon. Ignoring warnings that it would never work, he built the 187lb contraption of wooden poles, canvas and ropes from a simple sketch that Da Vinci had scribbled in a notebook in 1485."

Interesting.

Now, whether it was the Londonder who proved it eight years back or whether it is the Italian who has proved it now, one thing is clear: Da Vinci was a genius who thought far ahead of his time

While we celebrate Da Vinci’s genius we also have to remember the contribution of the rest of the world to the aviation industry.

Contribution of China

The history of the parachute dates back to the 12^th century. At that time in China, during court ceremonies jumping stunts were performed with devices that resembled a parachute. The primitive technology closely resembled the umbrella which is by the way a Chinese invention.

Bizarre happenings reported in Chinese parachuting history

• ca90BC a Chinaman escaped a fire in a tower by jumping with two conical straw-hats as a drag or descent-delay parachute
• ca290BC-AD250 numerous instances of "man-lifting" kites bearing an observer aloft for military surveillance; as derived from the 5th Century BC Chinese invention of the kite, called a "flying sail" ... greatly anticipating the modern invention of the airfoil glider and ascending parachute
• ca550-577 Chinese archives document winged-flight experiments imitative of birds ca1000 Chinese officials experimented with parachute designs by compelling condemned prisoners to jump from towers and cliffs, according to archives translated by the French monk Vasson
• 1192 a Chinese acrobat stole some of the gold ornamentation off the roof of the Islamic minaret in Canton, and escaped by jumping with double umbrellas as a parachute

Contribution of Islam

The Western world celebrates Da Vinci, Lilienthal, and the Wright Brothers while discussing the inventions of the aviation industry. Little is said about Abbas Ibn Firnas (Armen Firnas) a 9th century Islamic Spain, who invented a primitive version of the parachute.

John H. Lienhard described it in The Engines of Our Ingenuity as follows:
"In 852, a new Caliph and a bizarre experiment: A daredevil named Armen Firman decided to fly off a tower in Cordova. He glided back to earth, using a huge winglike cloak to break his fall. He survived with minor injuries, and the young Ibn Firnas was there to see it."

“In 875, at an age of 65 years, Ibn Firnas made the first attempt at controlled flight when he invented a hang glider with artificial wings as flight control surfaces, and launched himself from the Mount of the Bride (Jabal al-'arus) in the Rusafa Area, near Córdoba. He apparently managed to fly for quite some time, by some accounts as long as ten minutes. This was the first attempt at controlled flight, as he was able to alter his altitude and change his direction in order to return to where he flew from. The flight was largely successful, and was widely observed by a crowd that he had invited. However, after successfully returning to his starting point, the landing was bad and he eventually crashed to the ground. He injured his back, and left critics saying he hadn't taken proper account of the way birds pull up into a stall, and land on their tails. He'd provided neither a tail, nor means for such a maneuver, and he later said that the landing could have been improved by providing a tail apparatus.”

Source Wikipedia

These inventions simply prove that Human beings the masters of the universe were not contented in admiring the flight of the birds. They wanted to explore the skies above. And history shows that men and women separated by space and time embarked on a grand mission that might have appeared quite silly to the uninspired minds.

Labels: Physics, Sciences

Misplacing things leads to wastage of time. And forgetting important dates and appointments have far more serious consequences. Therefore to save people afflicted with simple forgetfulness sticky notes the coolest invention of the 20th century entered the scene.

Though stickies helped us in a big way, the purpose of setting a reminder is lost if one forgets to look at the sticky. To set things right someone out there realized it was time to lauch the quickies in the digital age.

Credit - MIT

This news article in the Future of Things blog discusses the arrival of the Quickie. A newly-written Quickie is a simple Post-it note, which is scribed on a sensitive pad that allows the computer to capture and store the written information. The normal pen and paper is replaced with a digital pen which is connected to the computer. This digital pen transfers whatever is written on the paper to the computer.

The quickie software then translates the written data into computerized text using handwriting recognition algorithms. Forgetfulness is going to be a thing of the past once you’ve set a reminder. These intelligent notes created by the MIT team combines artificial intelligence, RFID, and ink recognition technologies is sure to make our lives less complicated. Now, whatever you have posted on a Quickie will be reminded by the computer at a set time.

So go ahead and forget yourself. (Just make sure you’ve posted a note on a Quickie!)

The Japanese company Mitsuoka started selling the weird looking car Mitsuoka Orochi mid-engined sports for over US$90,000, starting January last year. Can you believe it? Of course it was in limited production (about 400 pieces), but who would be interested in plonking such large sums for such an ugly looking car?





Well, you never know!

Labels: Design-Engineering, Logistics-Transportation-Engineering

An atomic force microscope image of a simple circuit with 17 memristors lined up in a row.

Researchers at HP Labs have solved a decades-old mystery by proving the existence of a fourth basic element in integrated circuits that could make it possible to develop computers that turn on and off like an electric light.

The memristor — short for memory resistor - could make it possible to develop far more energy-efficient computing systems with memories that retain information even after the power is off, so there's no wait for the system to boot up after turning the computer on. It may even be possible to create systems with some of the pattern-matching abilities of the human brain.

This invention, as is obvious, has huge potential in electronics. Well, simply put, if this works out according to plan, no RAM will be needed in our computers! In addition, this could result in analog computers that process information the way the human brain does.

This is what Wikipedia has to say:

"
Memristors ("memory resistors") are a class of passive ideal two-terminal circuit elements that maintain a functional relationship between the time integrals of current and voltage. This results in resistance varying according to the device's memristance function. The definition of the memristor is based solely on fundamental circuit variables, similarly to the resistor, capacitor, and inductor. Unlike those more familiar elements, memristors may be described by any of a variety of time-varying functions. As a result, memristors do not belong to linear circuit models including time. A time-invariant memristor is simply a conventional resistor.

The Hewlett Packard memristor, based on a thin film of titanium dioxide, appears to be practical and ideal in its initial incarnation. However, as of yet, none have been reported outside HP. Being much simpler than currently popular MOSFET transistor switches and also able to implement one bit of memory in a single device, memristors may enable nanoscale computer technology. (Its inventor) Chua also speculates that they may be useful in the construction of artificial neural networks.

Memristors can implement memory on the principle that direct current applied in the component can adjust its apparent resistance. This resistance may then be observed using alternating current.
"

While using memristors, the memory will be a part of the circuitry rather than a separate module; this will save valuable space. It can make possible for computers to power up instantly, cell phones will go much longer without a charge, and no information will ever be lost in case of power failures or battery death.

Scientists can now think about fabricating a new type of non-volatile random access memory (RAM) – or memory chips that don't forget what power state they were in when a computer is shut off. The big problem with DRAM today is that when you turn the power off on your PC, the DRAM forgets what was there. So the next time you turn the power on you've got to sit there and wait while all that you need to run your computer is loaded into the DRAM from the hard disk. With non-volatile RAM which could be possible using memristors, that process would be instantaneous and your PC would be in the same state as when you turned it off.

In addition to a better, non-volatile RAM, its inventors think memristors could also speed up neural computing. While a lot of researchers are currently trying to write a computer code that simulates brain function on a standard machine, they have to use huge machines with enormous processing power to simulate only tiny portions of the brain.

The memristor team feels these folks can now take a different approach: "Instead of writing a computer program to simulate a brain or simulate some brain function, we're actually looking to build some hardware based upon memristors that emulates brain-like functions".

The person originally behind this interesting invention, Leon Chua, had the idea of the memristor almost 37 years back!

Sources & Reference:
HP Labs
HP Labs Blog
Nature Journal

Labels: Computer-Science

Vital Jacket is a versatile heart-monitoring system made in a wearable form, created in the University of Aveiro, Portugal.

Combining textiles and microelectronics, it was designed to be able to monitor health status in different life situations. It has all abilities to perform high quality vital signs monitoring, from a heart rate to a full electrocardiogram of a patient, and is very comfortable to wear.

Because it is worn on our bodies, it can operate even when the patient is on the go, running or working out. The data can be stored on the SD card and analyzed later or it can be instantly shown on the screen of PDA or smartphone - the method depends on the model you choose, the HWM100 or HWM200.

More than the technology, the design aspect is what needs to be appreciated. What better form for a heart monitor than a dress!

Labels: Design-Engineering

With their product, engineers from the company RallyPoint have designed a combat glove so that soldiers can grip other objects, such as their weapons or a steering wheel, and still be able to use their electronic systems.




The sensor-laden military glove will be used as an input device for soldiers’ wearable computer systems. The glove has push-button sensors sewn into it that can act like a computer mouse, and embedded in the backhand area are three accelerometers. The sensors are used to activate radio communications, view and navigate electronic maps, and send commands. The glove is connected to the computer by a USB cord.

How does this work and where could this be used?

Sensors on the tips of the middle and fourth fingers activate radio communications, a different channel for each finger. Another sensor on the lower portion of the index finger changes modes, from "map mode" to "mouse mode." Also sewn into the pad of the middle fingertip of the glove is an "anywhere mouse" that uses force sensors and acts as a track pad.

U.S. soldiers, especially in dangerous places like Iraq are already equipped with wearable computer systems. But they are able to use these wearable computers only in their safe environments, such as within their protected humvees. What about using them in the more dangerous open, while also holding their weapons? It was not possible until now. With RallyPoint's sensor-embedded glove, a soldier can easily view and navigate digital maps, activate radio communications, and send commands without having to take his hand off his weapon. This device thus has all the necessary components in a combat-ready way.

A sensor-laden glove for wearable computing is not an entirely new concept. Researchers at MIT, the University of Toronto, and the Georgia Institute of Technology have been working on systems that focus on detecting hand and arm movements by using accelerometers, gyroscopes, and other high-tech sensors. But none of these researches have produced fully working products so far.

Labels: Design-Engineering

When I saw this cool video @ YouTube of a robot reassembling itself after being kicked apart, I thought "wow, so you can't take these chaps for granted anymore." I recalled reading some prognostications that robots could take over the world in the next 50 years, and thought, hmmm, perhaps it is possible...



Reconfigurable robots are not exactly new.

Modular Reconfigurable Robotics as an approach to building robots for various complex tasks has been around for a while. The idea of reconfigurable robots is as follows: Instead of designing a new and different mechanical robot for each task, you just build many copies of one simple module. The module can't do much by itself, but when you connect many of them together you get a system that can do complicated things. Such a modular robot can even reconfigure itself -- change its shape -- to meet the demands of different tasks or different working environments.

A reconfigurable robot that can reassemble itself is just an extension of reconfigurable robots. The robot you see in the video was developed by roboticists at the University of Pennsylvania and is made of modules that can recognize each other and reassemble when kicked apart.

There are two main motivations to designing self reconfiguring robots. (1) Functional advantage: Self reconfiguring robotic systems are potentially more robust and more adaptive than conventional systems. The reconfiguration ability allows a robot to disassemble and reassemble machines to form new morphologies. These robots are also capable of self-repair. (2) Economic advantage: Self reconfiguring robotic systems can potentially lower overall robot cost by making a range of complex machines out of a single.

Some of the proposed applications for self-reconfiguring robots are in space exploration and in flexible working environments.

Source: Wikipedia

Labels: Automation

Brain injuries are an illusive and increasingly common ailment for which effective treatments are in demand. Ischemic stroke is a common cause of brain injury affecting more than 600,000 people in the United States each year. Another leading cause of brain injury today is combat. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 1,800 U.S. troops are currently suffering from traumatic brain injuries.

A device called NeuroThera is being tested in clinical trials to treat stroke patients and other patients with brain injuries. The handheld device, about the size of a telephone receiver, delivers high-intensity infrared energy to a patient's head when it's held to the scalp. The idea is that the infrared energy delivered via laser will stimulate inactive mitochondria in brain cells -- the small bits of protein that serve as power suppliers to cells. Once the energy-starved brain cells start receiving power again from the mitochondria, they should be able to resume function.

The device is currently being tested at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University Medical Center and three other North Carolina hospitals as part of a national clinical trail sponsored by PhotoThera, the manufacturer of NeuroThera.

More from here

Labels: Bio-engineering

Raydiance has demonstrated an ultrashort laser (USL) that generates 56 microjoules per pulse, with pulses lasting only 700 femtoseconds. The platform is the first compact, cost-effective, and fully software-controlled USL, and achieved the highest pulse energy in a fiber laser, at the eye-safe wavelength of 1552 nanometers. The laser, which can ablate (remove) even reflective or transparent material, generated a peak power of approximately 80 megawatts.

Continuous wave lasers generate heat when they are used for ablation, making them undesirable for engineering purposes, and dangerous for medical operations. Ultrashort lasers emit photons in pulses measured in femtoseconds, (one billionth of one millionth of a second), a timespan too short to generate heat in surrounding material.The pulses are precise enough to create a Coulomb explosion in atoms, stripping them of electrons and turning them into a plasma or gas, without damaging surrounding material.

The sensitivity of the laser opens the door for a wide variety of medical applications, including cancer cell removal, tattoo removal, eye surgery, and cosmetic treatments

More from here

Labels: Physics

Marine snails, sea urchins, and other animals from the sea are teaching researchers in UC Riverside’s Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering how to make the world a better place

Consider, for example, the possibilities of designing a lightweight armor that would protect U.S. soldiers in Iraq from Improvised Explosive Devices. Or, what flexible ceramics might offer industry. Or, how everyone could benefit from new ways of producing and storing energy.

Nature holds these secrets and the answers to the questions that Prof. David Kisailus’s research group is learning how to ask. “My hope,” Kisailus said, “is that we can truly learn from these organisms how to design, optimize, and synthesize engineering materials that display properties that we as engineers can only dream of.”

More from here

Labels: Design-Engineering