Lamborghini reveals carbon fiber Sesto Elemento concept
By Ben Coxworth
September 30, 2010
Automobili Lamborghini has become one of the
driving forces in carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) research. The
Italian automaker runs two development facilities, the ACRC (Advanced
Composite Research Center) and the ACSL (Advanced Composite Structures
Laboratory), and collaborates with companies such as Boeing. The result
is a “host of patents” for CFRP technologies, designed for the
production of incredibly light yet strong and stiff automobiles. To show
us all what’s possible when it kicks out the carbon fiber jams, Lamborghini has just unveiled its Sesto Elemento concept supercar at the 2010 Paris Motor Show...
that would be 570 hp, 0 to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 2.5
seconds and a top speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph) for starters. Read More
The Kid's Walker: 1.6 metre bi-pedal exoskeleton for children
By Rick Martin
September 30, 2010
Six years back we covered the amazing 3.4 meter bi-pedal exoskeleton from Japan known as the Landwalker.
Imagine our surprise when we found that its producer, machinery and
robotics manufacturer Sakakibara-Kikai, has developed a smaller
exoskeleton called the Kid's Walker. It didn't get that name because of
its diminutive size either – the Kid's Walker is a functioning bi-pedal exoskeleton designed to be piloted by children! Read More
Hybrid Spyder: Audi unveils next chapter in e-tron concept line
September 30, 2010
We took a shine to the Audi e-tron Quattro when it appeared in Frankfurt last year followed by a smaller version
in Detroit. Why? Because it's simply stunning to look at... and has
specs to match. The latest iteration was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Auto
Show this morning – the e-tron Spyder concept. This open-top,
plug-in-hybrid two-seater combines a 221-kW (300-hp) twin-turbo V6 TDI
at the rear axle and two electric motors at the front to deliver a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph), reaching 100 km/h (62.14 mph) from a standing start in just 4.4 seconds. Read More
Nintendo has finally announced a release date and price for its much anticipated 3DS.
Those hoping to add the 3D portable games console to their Christmas
list will be disappointed as it is not set to hit stores until February
26, 2011 – and that’s only in Japan. Other markets will have to wait a
bit longer with North America and Europe reportedly seeing a release
sometime in March, 2011. It also looks like the extra dimension won’t
come cheap with an asking price of 25,000 yen (approx. US$299) in Japan.
Read More
Like Peugeot, which has unveiled its EX1 concept electric vehicle
as part of the company’s 200th anniversary celebrations, Jaguar is
celebrating its 75 years with an equally, if not even more, stunning
concept electric supercar. Unveiled today at the 2010 Paris Motor Show,
the C-X75 boasts some impressive performance stats that prove this is no
mere show pony. Powered by four 145kW electric motors – one on each
wheel – producing 780bhp and a total torque output of 1600Nm (1180lb
ft), the C-X75 can accelerate from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 3.4
seconds, and from 80-145km/h (50-90mph) in 2.3 seconds, on its way to a
top speed of 330km/h (205mph). Read More
Research has already shown that at the nanoscale, chemistry is different
and the same is apparently true for light, which Engineers at Stanford
University say behaves differently at scales of around a nanometer. By
creating solar cells thinner than the wavelengths of light the engineers
say it is possible to trap the photons inside the solar cell for
longer, increasing the chance they can get absorbed, thereby increasing
the efficiency of the solar cell. In this way, they calculate that by
properly configuring the thicknesses of several thin layers of films, an
organic polymer thin film could absorb as much as 10 times more energy
from sunlight than predicted by conventional theory. Read More
SEAT unveiling IBE electric sports coupe concept
By Ben Coxworth
September 29, 2010
At last year’s Geneva Auto Show, Spanish auto maker SEAT displayed its hybrid Leon Ecomotive Twin Drive project,
which the company said was its first step towards a pure electric
production car. Just one year later it came through with a progress
report, in the form of an EV concept sports car, the IBE. A new version
of the IBE, featuring further-developed design, technology and interior,
will be unveiled this weekend at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. We’ll be there to gawk at the thing in person, but in the meantime, here’s a little about the car. Read More
Wireless mice are great for users who don’t like a
“tail” trailing from the mouse getting tangled up with all manner of
objects sitting on a desk. The only real downside is the need to replace
or recharge batteries when their power runs down. For users of Apple’s Magic Mouse
who are tired of constantly swapping out dead batteries for new
alkalines or fully charged rechargeables, Mobee Technology has unveiled
its Magic Charger. Unveiled at IFA, the device charges wirelessly using the magic of induction technology to provide around six days of power under constant use. Read More
Peugeot's HR1 urban concept comes with a tablet computer
By Mike Hanlon
September 29, 2010
Peugeot's new HR1 urban concept car which will be
seen for the first time when the Paris Motor Show opens on Saturday,
was created to “appeal to young city dwellers.” We've heard that before,
but this time it really does look like they've “nailed it!” The
styling, scrumptious seats, electric scissor doors to facilitate access
in tight spots, a heads-up display for the driver, a reconfigurable
instrument panel which uses a “movement recognition” system (allowing
the driver to scroll through functions and select settings with hand
movements), and just so the passenger doesn't feel left out, they get a
tablet computer which slides into the glovebox and can even share data
wirelessly from the driver’s display. Oh, and it gets 81 mpg. Read More
In a study that could eventually restore movement
to humans’ paralyzed limbs, researchers at California’s Stanford
University have used light to induce muscle contractions in mice. A gene
derived from algae was inserted into the mice, encoding a
light-sensitive protein which adhered to their nerve cell surfaces.
Scientists then placed an “optical cuff” lined with tiny, inwards-facing
LEDs around the mice’s sciatic nerves. By penetrating those nerves with
brief, high-intensity bursts of blue light, they were able to produce
muscle contractions similar to those that would occur naturally. The
technology is called “optogenetics.” Read More
A couple of years ago, Google put out a request
for ideas that could change the world by helping as many people as
possible. The response was phenomenal, with over 150,000 proposals
coming in from more than 170 countries. The search giant managed to
whittle those down to just 16 and then asked the public to vote for five
winners. The results are in, and we're pleased to say that one of the
ideas taking a share of the US$10 million prize fund is an innovation
Gizmag featured over two years ago, the Shweeb Human-powered monorail. Read More
Chemists at the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) have stumbled upon a way of producing light from
nanowires. While they were refining a method for producing
horizontally-grown wires across a substrate, Babak Nikoobakht and Andrew
Herzing electrically charged an array of junctions between two
materials and caused illumination to occur. The pair hope to further
refine the technique so that these nano LEDs can be applied in the
development of light sources and detectors useful in photonic devices or
lab-on-a-chip platforms. Read More
Out of financial necessity, Russia was one of the innovators when it came to the burgeoning field of space tourism, with American businessman and former JPL scientist Dennis Tito
becoming the first space tourist in mid-2001 when he spent nearly eight
days in orbit on the Russian Soyuz TM-32, the International Space
Station (ISS), and Soyuz TM-31. Following Russia’s halting of orbital
space tourism earlier this year due to an increase in the ISS crew size,
private Russian company, Orbital Technologies, has now announced plans
to build, launch and operate the world’s first commercial space station
(CSS). It envisions the station will be used by professional crews and
corporate researchers to conduct scientific experiments, as well as
private citizens looking for an out of this world holiday destination.
Read More
First “potentially habitable” exoplanet discovered
By Darren Quick
September 30, 2010
If you’re looking to get away from it all then
Gliese 581g might just fit the bill. But be prepared to pack enough for
the trip that, even on a rocket traveling 30,000 km per second (18,640
miles per second), would take 200 years. Gliese 581g is the first
exoplanet discovered that sits in an area where water could exist on the
planet’s surface. If confirmed, this would make it the most Earth-like
exoplanet yet discovered and the first strong case for a “potentially
habitable” one. Read More
Last year in the German city of Ulm, Daimler started up an experimental car-sharing system called car2go. It incorporated a fleet of 50 smart fortwos,
that users could pick up in various locations, drive as long as they
wanted, and then leave within the city. Ulm’s program is now up to
20,000 members and 200 cars, while a younger sister project in Austin, Texas,
is up to 10,000 members. Given that success, Daimler has just announced
a new “car2go edition” of the fortwo, designed specifically for use in
the program. We got a look, at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Read More
Venturi, the French electric vehicle (EV)
specialists responsible for the world’s first production electric
sportscar, the Fetish, and the Volange,
has unveiled its latest creation at the Paris Motor Show. The America
concept is a new half buggy, half sportscar-style EV that is designed to
blend an electric sportscar and an all-terrain leisure vehicle. The
America borrows its electric motor from the new VM300 Fetish, which,
with over 300 hp (+220 kW) and torque of 380 Nm, Venturi says is the,
“most advanced electric motor ever designed for an automobile.” Read More
Minox shows off 3D camera concept with four lenses
By Paul Ridden
September 30, 2010
German optics innovator Minox has been around for a number of years and is generally known for its miniature cameras and binoculars. Its booth at this year's Photokina
was positively buzzing with enthusiasts trying to catch a glimpse of
its entry into the world of 3D photography, the PX3D compact camera.
Just a concept piece at the moment, the eye-catching camera sports four
vertical lenses and promises glasses-free, three dimensional image
enjoyment. Read More
Evoque will be the smallest Range Rover ever built
By Ben Coxworth
September 30, 2010
At the Detroit Motor Show in January of 2008, Land Rover displayed a concept vehicle called the LRX.
Labeled by the company as a "cross-coupé,” it was a sign that Land
Rover was interested in moving into the world of smaller,
fuel-efficient, Rav 4-like vehicles. Flash forward to the 2010 Paris Motor Show
and the LRX is no longer merely a concept – it has now been unveiled as
a production vehicle, which will be sold as the Range Rover Evoque. It
is the smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever built.
Read More
A closer look at the Swiss Butterfly Micro Scooter
By Paul Ridden
September 30, 2010
The winner of the James Dyson Award 2010
will be announced next week and there's just time for a closer look at
one of the finalists, the Butterfly micro scooter. Taking inspiration
from a collapsible umbrella, adding some street durability and clever
engineering - and a touch of Mini styling - and the human-powered,
portable urban transport solution is ready to ride. When folded, the
scooter is small enough to fit inside a backpack or carried by hand but
at the press of a button, flips open and extends out to a nifty
three-wheeler. Read More
Sharp has revealed plans to launch an e-bookstore
and a couple of color tablets/e-book readers in Japan by the end of the
year. While the few thousand offerings from online bookstore at launch
is unlikely to make a huge dent in Amazon's or B&N's user base, the
Galapagos mobile and home tablets look promising. Detailed
specifications are sadly lacking but they will both be able to get
online wirelessly, play multimedia content and come pre-installed with
social networking applications to allow the sharing of comments and
favorites with friends and family. Read More
Seagate has managed to squeeze a whopping 12TB of
storage into a new 4-bay network attached storage unit (NAS) that's
about the same size as the subwoofer on my surround sound system. The
BlackArmor NAS 440 small business solution can support up to 50
workstations, offers data encryption, is both Windows and Mac compatible
and sports a foursome of USB ports for extra connectivity. Read More
One of the more interesting concepts at the Paris Auto Show
which opened yesterday is Nissan's TownPod. Instead of being
specifically tailored to the needs of a clearly defined target audience,
the Townpod is essentially a blank canvas designed to be adapted to
suit the needs of all those individuals who are so individual they are
hard to categorize. It's flexible interior is very clever, and being a
plug-in electric vehicle, it will have zero local emissions and be cheap
to run should it ever see a showroom. Read More
In spite of sporting a couple of cooling fans
whirring away, MSI claims that its new N480GTX Twin Frozr II graphics
card offers quiet performance as well as low operating temperatures. The
card features thicker heat pipes, military-grade components and support
for the latest NVIDIA video technologies. Based on the new PCI Express
2.0 bus architecture, it also benefits from 1536MB of high-speed onboard
graphics memory, a couple of DVI ports and an HDMI port. Read More
It wasn't so long ago that we reported on the Roadrunner supercomputer breaking the petaflop barrier.
But this week Fujitsu announced that it will begin shipping its
next-generation supercomputer which has a lofty performance goal of 10
petaflops – that's ten thousand trillion operations per second! The
computer is nicknamed the 'K', a reference to the Japanese word "Kei,"
or 10 to the 16th power. If the K could reach this goal, it would hold
the first place title – at least for a while – on top of the top 500
supercomputers list. Read More
If you were wondering about the other two-wheeled vehicle pictured with the smart e-scooter at the Paris Motor Show,
then read on. The company has also announced a pedal-powered bicycle
with electric assist named e-bike which shares regenerative braking
technology and similar smartphone integration with its cousin. When the
e-bike reaches a certain speed, the hub motor cuts out and the bike is
driven by leg-work only. Read More
Underwater swimming robot now wirelessly controlled
By Ben Coxworth
October 2, 2010
Several years ago, a joint team from Canada’s
York, McGill and Dalhousie universities created AQUA, an underwater
swimming robot. AQUA has six flippers, three on each side, and uses them
to paddle through the water – it’s somewhat reminiscent of a platypus,
albeit a six-legged one. Using a different set of appendages, it can
even swim underwater, then proceed to sort of slap its way onto and
across dry land. All of this is very cool in and of itself, but the
little robot now has a new ability: it can receive commands visually
underwater, thus freeing it from cumbersome umbilical cords. Read More
XM Snap! lets users instantly add satellite radio to any car
By Ben Coxworth
October 1, 2010
Satellite radio, while probably not that popular
with the owners of your local radio stations, is great for those of us
who want more variety in our listening choices. This is particularly
true for people who live in smaller cities, that lack the population
base to support stations that feature alternative content. Not everyone
is willing to shell out for an in-dash satellite radio receiver for
their vehicle, however, which is where many people do the majority of
their radio-listening. SIRIUS XM is addressing that issue, with its new
portable, transferable XM Snap! satellite radio. Read More
The Environmental Transport Association (ETA), a
British company that offers bicycle insurance, recently surveyed 800
cyclists to find out what aspects of cycling they liked the least. The
primary purpose of the survey was no doubt something boring and
insurancey, but one of the spin-offs is kind of fun – the company put
together a one-off bike concept that addresses four of those dislikes in
a rather extreme fashion. It’s the B.O.N.D. (Built of Notorious
Deterrents) Bike, and it’s almost certainly the only bike in the world
with a flamethrower built into its handlebars. Read More
Quantum dots delivered to cell nucleus with a nanoneedle
October 1, 2010
We recently saw the potential for nanoneedles and quantum dots to treat skin cancer,
however researchers at the University of Illinois have gone one step
further. They have created a nanoneedle (an incredibly small needle)
that allows them to peak into the nucleus of a cell. When subjected to
an electrical charge, the needle injects quantum dots into the nucleus
of a living cell. These quantum dots (nanoscale crystals with unique
properties in terms of light emission) can be used to monitor
microscopic processes and cellular conditions, aid the diagnosis of
disease, and track genetic information from within the nucleus. Read More
Looxcie (pronounced "look-see," get it?) is a
small, lightweight, always-on, Bluetooth-enabled camcorder that links up
with a smartphone app to offer users easy upload to social networking
video sites. Slip it over the ear and switch on to begin documenting
your life. When it's not recording everything in front of you, it can be
used to take calls with a talk-time said to be around ten hours. Read More
For the past several years, various research
institutions and organizations have been experimenting with electronic
“white canes” for the blind. One of these was the ultrasound-enabled UltraCane,
which we profiled five years ago. Now, however, an associate professor
of applied science at the University of Arkansas is working on something
more advanced – a white cane that utilizes laser technology to give
users the lay of the land. Read More
The sales of 3D TVs
haven’t exactly set the world on fire despite the considerable
marketing push by manufacturers. The scarcity of 3D content is one of
the major reasons as is the fact that many consumers balk at the thought
of wearing (and buying) the glasses required to produce the 3D effect.
Various companies are working away on glasses-free 3D
but Toshiba is the first to release a 3D TV that works without having
to don dedicated eyewear – however there are a few limitations. Read More
Researchers from the University of Illinois at
Chicago have successfully used stem cells to reattach molars to tooth
sockets within lab rats’ mouths. The stem cells were obtained from the
periodontal ligament of molars extracted from mice, expanded in an
incubator, and then seeded onto barren rat molars. This could have great
implications for humans who lose teeth due to gum disease in the
future... and for all those toothless old rats out there. Read More
It looks like the folks at Lotus were busy in the lead up to the 2010 Paris Motor Show with the company unveiling no less than five
new concept models taking center stage at what was the most crowded
press conference at the show. Under Malaysian Proton ownership since
1996, the group seems to be ready to revive the name globally with the
five new concepts all set to go into production and be released over the
next few years. Read More
Those frustrating boot-up moments while we wait
an absolute age for our computers to load up are set to get somewhat
shorter with the impending retirement of system BIOS. Despite now being a
very old technology and relatively stuck in its ways, the BIOS is still
found in many modern machines. Instead of taking around 25 - 30 seconds
before giving the all-clear for an operating system to start, a new kid
on the block is well on its way to offering instant-on. It's not quite
there yet, but the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is
getting closer. Read More
Until such things as the Gorillapod
appeared, one of the most annoying aspects of steady photography was
lugging a tripod around. Now Manfrotto has unveiled a new pocket-sized
tripod solution for both compact and digital SLR cameras that neatly
folds away beneath the body of the camera so that both tripod and camera
can fit in the pouch or bag. Read More
There is no known cure for food allergies with
sufferers forced to constantly check the ingredients on food packaging
and make enquiries at restaurants before digging into a meal. Even
taking such precautions it is almost impossible to avoid all food
allergen exposure, especially with children. With even minor exposure
having the potential to cause severe or even life threatening reactions
in some people, the discovery of a way to turn off the immune system’s
allergic reaction to certain proteins in mice, could have implications
for the millions of food allergy sufferers worldwide. Read More
Sony and TomTom team up for in-dash car navigation systems
By Darren Quick
October 3, 2010
Sony has announced its first foray into the U.S. in-dash car navigation system market which sees it teaming up with TomTom.
Joining Sony’s existing line of Xplod in-dash A/V units, the XNV-660BT
boasts a 6.1-inch WVGA capacitive touchscreen, while the XNV-770BT ups
the screen real estate to 7-inches. In addition to car navigation
duties, both units feature CD/DVD playback, integrated Bluetooth, rear
USB 1-wire connectivity for portable music players and support for
multi-channel audio playback with virtual 5.1 channel surround sound
capabilities. Read More
Ferrari HELE system adds a tinge of “green” to Ferrari red
By Darren Quick
October 3, 2010
There’s been a number of battery electric and
hybrid supercar concepts on the stands at this year’s Paris Motor Show,
and with the impressive performance stats of vehicles such as the Jaguar C-X75, the Lotus Elite GT and the Exagon Furtive eGT,
automakers are closing the gap between the performance of electric
vehicles and those powered by internal combustion engines (ICE).
However, there’s still some way to go before electric vehicles can match
it with conventional supercars, but even companies like Ferrari can’t
ignore the change in attitudes. In an effort to add a tinge of green to
its iconic red, the company showed a Ferrari California
in Paris that is fitted with a new HELE (High Emotion Low Emissions)
system designed to reduce the environmental impact of its supercars,
while boosting their performance. Read More
Tucked away on the Peugeot stand at Mondial De l’Automobile (October 2-17) is a racing bicycle with electric assist. It’s almost an identical situation to the very similar machine Lexus showed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, except Lexus was subsequently prepared to give us the specs,
whereas Peugeot isn’t and the Peugeot model on display is clearly still
at least partially conceptual but there a few clues that indicate this
“concept” is a lot more than just a styling exercise. Read More
The Longreach buoyancy bazooka designed by Samuel
Adeloju has been chosen as this year's winner of the James Dyson Award
competition. The system shoots an emergency aid out to those at risk of
drowning while the emergency services ready the rescue proper. Once the
aid hits water it rapidly expands to help keep the victim afloat. The
SeaKettle desalination life raft and the REAX re-animation kit have
taken the runner-up prizes. Read More
Physicists from the University of Oregon have
successfully changed the color of individual photons within a fiber
optic cable. They were able to do so by focusing a dual-color burst of
light from two lasers onto an optical cable carrying a single photon of a
distinct color. Through a process known as Bragg scattering, a small
amount of energy was exchanged between the laser light and the photon,
causing the photon to change color. The achievement could pave the way
for transferring and receiving high volumes of secured electronic data.
Read More
Over the years, there have been numerous attempts
to create vehicles that operate on both land and water. It's fair to
say that such designs have generally not caught on. Perhaps it's because
of the fairly limited effectiveness of some of those offerings, or
maybe it's because so many of them have been ugly monsters. Then again,
it could be that society just hasn't found a niche for them yet. By the
year 2050 though, we may need to give such craft some serious
consideration. Juan Pablo Bernal P has come up with a concept design
that certainly ticks all the right boxes for looks, and also takes the
environment into consideration. Read More
The biomethane project that turns human waste into green gas that we featured in May
has now gone live. The project is now converting the treated sewage of
14 million Thames Water customers into clean, green gas and is pumping
that gas into people's homes. Read More
The high definition audio offered by the Q3
handy video recorder has now been joined by HD video with the release
of the Q3HD. Featuring full 1080p at 30 frames per second or both 30 and
60 frames per second at 720p, the new model now benefits from a 5
megapixel CMOS sensor and an F2.8 fixed focus lens with 4x digital zoom.
Read More
Sitting in front of your computer could soon be
the fastest way to receive a medical check up, replacing visits to the
local doctor. Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Ming-Zher
Poh has created a pulse-monitoring system that works on a low-cost,
low-resolution webcam. A version of the system built into a mirror has
been developed which displays pulse rate at the bottom in real-time, and
work is underway to add respiration and blood-oxygen level monitoring
using the same technique. Read More
According to a 2008 study conducted for England’s Which?
magazine, computer keyboards can contain up to five times the amount of
bacteria as toilet seats. This is particularly yucky news for users of
public or shared keyboards, who are being exposed to other peoples’
bacteria. In settings such as hospitals, where doctors and nurses share
keyboards, it’s a situation that definitely should be addressed.
Fortunately, a study recently conducted at the University of
Hertfordshire determined that an ultraviolet light device very
effectively sanitizes keyboards. Read More
While headphones are a great way to enjoy music while out and about, they don’t let you impose your musical tastes on
share your musical tastes with those around you. Sitting a boombox on
your shoulder might solve the problem but we think the Music Strap is a
much more convenient and shoulder-friendly option. It is a mini speaker
system that attaches to the straps of any backpack to let you whistle
along to your favorite tunes as you walk, bike, ski or basically do
anything that can be done while wearing a backpack. Read More
According to the University of Copenhagen’s Prof.
Matthew Johnson, approximately one-sixth of the energy consumed in the
world is used for heating, cooling and dehumidifying air in buildings.
Because that air accumulates toxins and pathogens, he explains, it must
constantly be expelled and replaced with new air that’s drawn in from
outside. That new air must then be heated, cooled and/or dehumidified
all over again. If only the air already in buildings could be cleaned up
and reused, far less energy would be used on continuously conditioning
fresh air. That’s why Johnson has invented the Cleanair system. Read More
If you’re the kind of person who’s happy enough with the basic white headphones included with Apple’s iPods
then you’re probably not the kind of person who will be interested in
the new open back Edition 10 headphones from Germany’s Ultrasone AG.
These limited edition headphones pack a number of features and are made
from a long list of luxury materials to justify their US$2,750 price tag
that places them firmly in the category of “for dedicated audiophiles
only.” Read More
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