Category: Technology

Seoul to Build Combat Robot

These are being developed for the US military as well. The future of non-combat missions might one day be dominated by robots. Personally, I think this might cheapen the costs of war to the point where it become more common. Not a good thing.

According to design blueprints released during a meeting of science-related ministers, the robot will have six or eight extendable legs with wheels allowing it to move like an insect over uneven terrain. The robot will be armed with various weapons and will operate both by remote control and its own artificial intelligence system.

The Korea Times : Seoul to Build Combat Robot

Dermal Nanotech Display

Dermal Nanotech Display

I’m first in line and no cuts! Won’t be out for the Christmas rush but when it is you can bet that people will be lining up for them. Just as a way to tell time it would be super handy. And lets not even mention the possibility of moving tatoos.

a “programmable dermal display” in which a population of about 3 billion display pixel robots would be permanently implanted a fraction of a mm under the surface of the skin, covering a rectangle 6 cm x 5 cm on the back of the hand. Photons emitted by these pixel bots would produce an image on the surface of the skin. This pixelbot array could be programmed to form any of many thousands of displays.

Visualizing the Future: Dermal Nanotech Display

Look, Up In the Sky!

Rocket launch by Uncle Jerry

I just witnessed an amazing sight! I looked to the west and and saw the unburned exhaust of a Minotaur rocket launching from Vandenberg AFB. Now, I’ve seen these before and I still get stunned when I see them, but this time was even better. I got to see the actual vehicle during it’s burn! The photo snapped by Uncle Jerry shows a bright object in the right hand side of the frame, that’s the exhaust plume. At first I thought it was a helicopter flying through a cloud but that didn’t make any sense as it was clear out. Then I realized that it must be the rocket making its ascent. How darn cool is that! Well anyway, I have thrown together a few links about the event.
This is some info on the Minotaur Space Launch System, some info on the Vandenberg Dusk Launch today, and here is some info on how you can keep up with them from Space Archive. If your in the southwest you should have a look here, its the how to on viewing Vandenberg AFB Launches.

And another taken from Kingman Az.

Rocket launch by Uncle Jerry

Rocket launch by Uncle Jerry

By Nogwater

The Manchester Bobber

The ocean is a potential source of low cost renewable energy that needs to be explored in the near future. The University of Manchester has a machine called the Bobber, that it hopes will tap into the limitless potential of what covers 3/4 of out planet. Nothing like tapping the energy of the waves to solve the energy crunch.

On a hacking note, I think these work about the same way that those magnetic coil flashlights do. The waves cause a float with a magnet in it to move in and out of a coil (solenoid) and you get electrical power. That’s a pretty simple explanation but it should give you a good idea on how it works. The only big difference, and what makes it an improvement, is that there is a clutch system that converts the wave motion into a single direction and then goes into the generator.

“…The Bobber’s output of 5MW is the mean power output, with the potential for much more depending on sea conditions.”

Pretty good for just chilling in the North Sea…

The Manchester Bobber

Toshiba Develope Fuel Cell for Small Electronics

Toshiba Fuel Cell Player

You can’t tell me that once these come on the market some modding geek with a bit too much pocket money won’t go out and buy one of these and hack it apart just to use the power supply on another device? Sounds like a perfect way to power an iPod Shuffle or whatever is going to be around in 2007, that’s when they are expected to hit the market.

he company developed fuel cell units with 100mW and 300mW output, intended to be used with portable audio players that have internal flash memory or internal hard drives. The company announced fuel cells for portable audio products back in 2004, and at that time stated that they intended for implementation of the technology some time during 2005.

The 100mW unit measures 75 x 23 x 10mm (H x W x T) and is about the size of a few sticks of gum. 3.5ml of pure methanol (99.5% pure) is injected into its tank, and it can provide life for roughly 35 hours. The 300mW unit measures 75 x 60 x 10mm (same) and provides around 60 hours of playback time from 10ml of fuel.

These fuel cells that were developed are a passive type that is suited for smaller products. Unlike conventional fuel cells that require the methanol to be diluted to under 30% concentration, these units can use methanol with no need to dilute it. The company is looking for basic adoption of the technology during or after 2007, and is accelerating development o­n all fronts, including manufacturing technology

Toshiba developers fuel cell hard drive/flash players

Rocket Cam

rocket cam vid

Here is another great site with home made rockets and video cameras, two great tastes that go great together! 🙂
Not totally sure what type of camera they used but they put it under the nose where the chute would be deployed. This seems to reduce the amount of spin that has shown up on other rocket cameras. Its pretty cool, makes me want to go out and buy a rocket.

Rocket Cam