New and Emerging Technology News part 132 ~ NEW GEN TECH LIFE : new generation technology news

Friday, 31 January 2014

New and Emerging Technology News part 132

The insurethebox system uses telematics to monitor teens' driving habits, and rewards good...
It’s no secret that teen drivers have to pay higher automobile insurance rates than most people – after all, they’re less experienced, and some of them can be pretty reckless. If you’re a good teen driver or one that doesn’t drive much, however, it might seem rather unfair that you have to pay rates that are based on the worst driving habits of your peers. Well, Gibraltar-based insurethebox has what it claims is a better alternative – teens’ cars are fitted with a telematics box that records the way and amount that they drive, and they end up paying less for their insurance if they drive well.  Read More
Electrical engineer Neal Patwari testing his wireless respiration-monitoring system
Two years ago, University of Utah assistant professor of electrical engineering Neal Patwari demonstrated how radio signals could be used to “see” people through solid walls. Now, he is leading a team that is using that same technology to wirelessly monitor peoples’ breathing as they sleep. The system could be particularly useful for observing patients who are recovering from surgery, people with sleep apnea, and babies who are at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While respiration-monitoring systems do already exist, Patwari’s doesn’t require anything to be physically attached to the subject’s body, plus he claims that it should be cheaper.  Read More
After attaching a plate to the bottom of a camera and then clamping the Capture Camera Cli...
Engineer Peter Dering says that when he was unable to find a commercially-available clip for his digital SLR (DSLR) that would allow him to safely secure it to his belt yet make it instantly accessible, he designed and created his own. After attaching a plate to the bottom of a camera and then clamping the Capture Camera Clip's main chassis to a belt or bag strap, users can grab and shoot the DSLR as quick as a gunslinger from a cheesy Western and get the snap that might otherwise have been missed. A few weeks after securing production funding through Kickstarter, the device has now attracted the attention of the folks over at Photojojo and been added to its arsenal of must-have camera accessories.  Read More
The design incorporates a modular layout with hollow brick walls, steel bars for reinforce...
Launched in 2009, MIT's "1K House" project challenges designers to come up with affordable, sustainable housing solutions that can improve conditions for the billions of people in the world living on less that $1 per day. The "Pinwheel House" designed by MIT graduate student Ying chee Chui is the first prototype.  Read More
Corsair has announced a new range of  peripherals aimed at PC gamers
Known for PC hardware such as high-speed DRAM modules, power supplies, solid state drives or USB flash drives, California-based Corsair recently announced a new range of peripherals aimed at PC gamers. The Vengeance lineup consists of two mice and two keyboards aimed at different gaming genres and a trio of noise-cancelling headsets.  Read More
Penn State researchers have developed an electrolysis cell with RED stack that produces pu...
Currently, the world economy and western society in general runs on fossil fuels. We've known for some time that this reliance on finite resources that are polluting the planet is unsustainable in the long term. This has led to the search for alternatives and hydrogen is one of the leading contenders. One of the problems is that hydrogen is an energy carrier, rather than an energy source. Pure hydrogen doesn't occur naturally and it takes energy - usually generated by fossil fuels - to manufacture it. Now researchers at Pennsylvania State University have developed a way to produce hydrogen that uses no grid electricity and is carbon neutral and could be used anyplace that there is wastewater near sea water.  Read More
The self-steering autonomous tractor could soon see tractors working the fields on their o...
Many of us are eagerly awaiting the widespread adoption of autonomous cars to free us from the hassle of driving to and from work. This kind of technology also has applications beyond the roadway, especially in areas like farming where driving is the work ... and it's not on paved surfaces with markings and signs laid out. Dealing with the uneven and inconsistent terrain of a field poses unique problems that a team from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) and Flanders' Mechatronics Technology Centre (FMTC) in Belgium are claiming to have overcome with their robotic self-steering tractor.  Read More
Simon Prockter is attempting to reinvent the takeaway
Too busy to cook, too tired to go out and sick of eating pizza, Thai and India takeaway? Well that is where UK entrepreneur Simon Prockter wants to step in with his latest venture housebites.com, a website that links customers with cooks and chefs in their local area to provide restaurant quality food delivered to the door.  Read More
A new system that utilizes laser light to detect the presence of explosive compounds could...
Approximately sixty percent of coalition soldier deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs), placed along the roads. Because these bombs are often planted in public areas, it is important to detect them in a way that doesn’t harm the surrounding infrastructure, or unnecessarily require civilians to evacuate nearby buildings. Researchers from Michigan State University believe that a laser-based system that they developed could fit the bill.  Read More
Google Wallet, an app that allows users to pay for items simply by tapping their smartphon...
Smartphones are in the process of replacing cameras, phonebooks, land lines and maps ... and wallets are next. First announced in May but just launched today, the Google Wallet free app allows its users to store electronic versions of their credit cards on their smartphone, and pay for items simply by tapping their phone on a near field communication (NFC) reader at a store’s front counter.  Read More

The new Interceptor
With more comebacks than Dame Nellie Melba, the Jensen Interceptor name must surely have the record for the most revived name in automotive history. It was first used between 1950-57 for a 4.0 liter convertible based on Austin componentry, then rose to international awareness with its second coming in 1966 as a Grand Tourer designed by the Italian Carrozzeria Touring running Chrysler V8s of 6276cc and 7212cc. In 1967, the FF variant had four-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes and traction control. The next generation of Jensen Interceptor is previewed here - it will be built in Great Britain by the fast-growing CPP Global Holdings and will cost in the vicinity of US$200,000 when it hits showrooms in 2014.  Read More
DBS mice (S) spent a greater amount of time (indicated in red) swimming near a submerged l...
With the possible exception of those affected by hyperthylmesia – a rare condition where a person has an extraordinary capability to recall events from their past - most of us wouldn’t mind having our memory enhanced. That’s just what appears to have happened to a group of mice when targeted areas of their brains were electrically stimulated. The treatment triggered an increase in the creation of new cells in the hippocampus, with experiment results suggesting the mice’s spatial learning improved. The researchers responsible say the results could have implications for the treatment of memory disorders in humans.  Read More
NuForce's Icon iDo takes the audio signal from an iPod, iPad or iPhone and converts it to ...
Having installed the very best hi-fi equipment in an acoustically optimized music room, the arrival of the mobile music player was perhaps of marginal interest to the dedicated audiophile. With its Icon iDo digital iDevice amp, however, California's NuForce may well persuade said audio junkies that its time to invest in one of Apple's portable entertainment centers. The iDo sneaks behind the scenes of the device soundstage and grabs the original audio data, runs it through its own 24-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and offers listeners audiophile-grade CD quality tunes via headphones or home hi-fi music system.  Read More
Project Utopia floating island
The concept of a floating island is not new, having first surfaced in Homer's Odyssey and with the first artificially-constructed floating island making an appearance in an 1895 novel by the father of science fiction, Frenchman Jules Verne. In recent times we've seen WallyIsland, The Streets of Monte Carlo and Tropical Island Paradise, but Project Utopia is both viable and strangely enticing - a 100m x 100m construct spanning 11 decks with the equivalent floorspace of a cruise liner.  Read More
The Infinit M Hybrid has claimed the record for the world's fastest accelerating full hybr...
Records may come and go but, aside from grabbing headlines, they're a way of benchmarking the progress of new technologies. In the automotive world this means hybrid drivetrains and we've seen a number of new record attempts in recent times - usually related to fuel economy as with the Kia Optima Drive. The latest comes from Nissan, whose Infiniti luxury division is claiming the world's fastest accelerating full hybrid vehicle in the form of the Infiniti M Hybrid. The M Hybrid has covered the standing quarter mile (400 m) in an average time of 13.9031 seconds - putting it on par with a Lamborghini Countach .... a 1982 Lamborghini Countach that is.  Read More
An MIT-led research team used inelastic neutron scattering to demonstrate that hydrogen at...
With hydrogen atoms consisting of just a single electron and single proton, its gaseous form made up of two hydrogen atoms can be hard to contain. Hydrogen storage, along with hydrogen production and the lack of infrastructure, remains a major stumbling block in efforts to usher in hydrogen as a replacement for hydrocarbon-based fuels in cars, trucks and even homes. But with the multiple advantages hydrogen offers, developing hydrogen storage solutions has been the focus of a great deal of research. Now an MIT-led research team has demonstrated a method that could allow hydrogen to be stored inexpensively at room temperature.  Read More
Dr Iain White analyzes the constituents of medical student Tom Geliot's breath in the DDU
While Star Trek-style multifunctional medical "tricorders" are still in the realm of sci-fi, scientists at the University of Leicester and Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) in the UK may be making the first tentative steps toward making them a reality. The researchers are developing a holistic high-tech diagnostic unit designed to quickly detect the "sight, smell and feel" of disease in real time without the need for invasive and time-consuming procedures. Much of the technology being used was originally developed for space research, atmospheric chemistry and emergency medicine.  Read More
LaCie Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series has hit shelves
LaCie has finally joined the Thunderbolt club with the release of its Little Big Disk Thunderbolt Series. Announced earlier this year, the Little Big Disk Thunderbolt is available in 1 TB (7200RPM) and 2 TB (5400 RPM) HDD configurations at a price of US$399 and $499 respectively. There's also a 240 GB SSD model on the way but pricing is yet to be confirmed.  Read More
Players of the online game Foldit have helped determine the structure of an enzyme, which ...
It was a puzzle that had thwarted scientists for almost a decade, but a collection of gamers was able to solve it in just three weeks. What the scientists wanted to know was the structure of retroviral proteases, a class of enzymes that play a key part in the maturation and proliferation of the AIDS virus. The mystery was crowd-sourced to the gaming community within an existing online game known as Foldit, by researchers from the University of Washington. The game challenges players to collaborate and compete in predicting the structure of protein molecules.  Read More
Logitech has revealed the Harmony Link WiFi-based unit which, utilizing a free app, turns ...
Logitech has revealed the Harmony Link, its latest addition to the Harmony line of accessories, which until now mostly included universal remote controls. Featuring a hockey puck-like design, the Harmony Link requires a home WiFi network and the free Logitech Harmony Link App. When installed on an iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or an Android-based device, it enables IR-based remote operation of up to eight home-entertainment devices.  Read More
 

TankBot smartphone-controlled toy tank sells relatively cheap, being priced at US$24.99
Exhibited during Toy Fair 2011 in New York, TankBot has joined the likes of the HELO TC, Sphere and AR Drone in the growing ranks of smartphone-controlled gizmos. In addition to smartphone control, the US$25 bot has individually powered tiny tank-tracks and infrared sensors for free-roaming and maze solving modes.  Read More
Look closely and you'll be able to make out the glass Luno speakers and Cube subwoofer fro...
Greensound Technology made its first appearance at IFA this year and alongside its Serac series speakers, the company was showcasing its latest offerings - the Luno and Cube subwoofer. Like all Greensound's creations, the Luno speakers are made from a pane of glass - this time curved slightly - that isn't just for show but actually vibrates to produce the sound that is projected from both sides to deliver "360 degree sound."  Read More
The iRoom iDock sits flush with the wall to mount an iPad in the wall
We've seen iPad docks that mount an iPad on a wall, on a car dashboard and on a fridge, but the iRoom iDock is the first we've come across that mounts an iPad in the wall. Featuring a motorized docking system that automatically opens and closes thanks to a proximity sensor, the iRoom iDock is flush-mounted to the wall, which means you'll need the services of an electrician to connect the unit to your home's electrical system.  Read More
All-Electric Lightcycle (Screenshot from Parker Brothers video)
Practicality tends to take a back seat when you combine sci-fi cult status with custom chopper building - and there's no room for a pillion passenger on the Lightcycle. We first spied Parker Brothers Choppers Lightcycle project last year when it surfaced in gas-powered form, now the company has released video of a fully-electric version of the neon-packing two-wheeler in action. The electric motor may be quieter, but this one's still guaranteed to turn heads.  Read More
Arch Group's first Sleepbox unit at Sherematyevo Airport Moscow
There are lot of "pod" hotel concepts around. It's one of those things that every young design/architectural practice likes to have a go at for its portfolio. The use-cases for these things are obvious, airports, train stations, exhibition halls, shopping malls, even temporary hostels or emergency shelter. Economic conditions notwithstanding it's a simple fact that we are traveling more and that the time spent waiting around in terminals is getting longer and more unpleasant. The promise of privacy and proper sleep is compelling. One architectural practice that has honed its pod concept into a refined, practical and importantly a patentable reality over a the years is Arch Group of Moscow. The high level of interest shown in the company's first working installation means that it looks like this tenacity will pay off.  Read More
A Honda FCX Clarity being refueled at the UK's first open access hydrogen filling station,...
If you live in Britain and are debating whether or not you should purchase a hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity, well ... your decision may now be a bit easier to make. In order to encourage development of fuel cell vehicles such as the FCX, Honda has just opened the UK’s first open access station for hydrogen-powered vehicles. It’s located on the grounds of Honda of the UK Manufacturing in Swindon, and everyone who needs a little hydrogen in their lives is welcome.  Read More
Scientists at Stanford University have created heart cells that contract when exposed to l...
Working their way towards energy-efficient pacemakers that use light pulses to control the beating of the heart, scientists at New York's Stony Brook University recently developed optogenetic heart tissue – it contracts when exposed to light. More specifically, they took donor cells that had been modified to respond to light, and coupled them to conventional heart cells. A team from California’s Stanford University, however, has now created actual optogenetic heart cells.  Read More
NVIDIA has outlined the secret behind Kal-El's energy efficiency - Variable Symmetric Mult...
NVIDIA promised us back in May that its Kal-El Project quad-core system-on-a-chip platform for mobile devices would come as a "battery-friendly" solution, although without giving details at the time. The company has recently outlined the secret behind Kal-El's energy efficiency - it's a technology called Variable Symmetric Multiprocessing (vSMP), which is based on an extra fifth "companion core" designed to perform less demanding tasks in the background.  Read More
The prototype 'intelligent T-shirt' is capable of remotely monitoring patients' vital sign...
More and more we're hearing about clothing made from smart fabrics being used in the field of medicine, to monitor patients wearing such garments. One of the latest examples is the "intelligent T-shirt," designed by scientists at Spain's Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M). It can remotely monitor a person's temperature, heart rate, activity level, position and location.  Read More
Digital artist Arturo Castro has put together and demonstrated a video application that ma...
Some day in the not-too-distant future, you may be on a service like Chatroulette, and suddenly find yourself matched up with a person who looks exactly like Angelina Jolie. Well, chances are it won’t really be her. Instead, it will likely be someone using the descendant of a system put together by Arturo Castro. Using a combination of existing software, the Barcelona digital artist has demonstrated how a variety of famous faces can be mapped onto his own, moving with it in real time. While Castro’s system isn’t likely to fool anyone – in its present version – it’s an unsettling indication of what could be possible with just a little more finessing.  Read More

The ICTINEU 3 submersible can dive to depths of up to 1,200 meters
While NASA makes plans to send man to Mars, there’s still so much we don’t know about our home planet – particularly when it comes to what lies beneath the ocean waves. Over the past few years we’ve seen the emergence of a number of submersibles that bring underwater exploration to a wider audience, such as the C-Quester and C-Explorer lines from Uboatworx and the EGO semi-submarine boat. The latest to catch out eye is the ICTINEU 3, a three-seater (one pilot and two passengers) submersible that is designed to dive to a maximum depth of 1,200 meters (3,937 ft), which its makers claim will make it the world’s ninth deepest submersible.  Read More
The Vehicle Production Group's MV-1 van is designed with wheelchair-using passengers in mi...
The AM General auto assembly plant in Mishawaka, Indiana is where they used to build Hummer H2s. Now, its workers are making something a little less ... controversial. It’s a van called the MV-1, MV standing for “Mobility Vehicle,” and it’s designed specifically for wheelchair-using passengers. Its designers claim that it is better suited to the handicapped than converted conventional vans, and the first factory-built model rolled off the assembly line yesterday.  Read More
Buildings such as this office tower could benefit from windows that can be darkened or lig...
Dimmable windows, in one form or another, have been with us for several years now. We’ve seen examples such as the manually-adjustable SPD-Smart motorcoach windows, the energy-harvesting Smart Energy Glass product, and the RavenWindow, which darkens or lightens according to the outside temperature. According to researchers from Korea’s Soongsil University and Korea Electronics Technology Institute, however, such windows can be expensive, don’t work properly for long enough, and require toxic substances in their manufacturing process. The team claims to have developed a system of their own, that has none of these drawbacks.  Read More
HTC has unveiled the Rhyme, featuring a 3.7-inch super LCD touchscreen, refreshed HTC Sens...
HTC has unveiled its new Android 2.3-based smartphone, the HTC Rhyme. Although the unit is not gender specific in any particular way, available colors and accessories such as HTC Charm might suggest it is primarily aimed at the fairer sex. The smartphone comes with a 3.7-inch WVGA super LCD touchscreen and a refreshed HTC Sense 3.5 user interface. The Rhyme will be hitting Verizon Wireless in the U.S. on September 29.  Read More
Squids have provided the key ingredient for a proton-conducting transistor, that may allow...
When it comes to sending and receiving information, man-made devices utilize negatively-charged particles commonly known as electrons. Biological systems such as human bodies, on the other hand, use protons via positively charged hydrogen atoms or ions. This would indicate that there is something of a language barrier, when we try to develop electronic devices that can communicate with living systems. That barrier could be on its way down, however, as scientists from the University of Washington have developed a transistor that can conduct pulses of protons - and they've done it with some help from our friends the cephalopods.  Read More
Artist Nik Nowak has converted a Japanese mini-dumper into a 'sound tank' that pumps out 4...
Do you like car stereos with good, thumping bass? I mean, do you really, really like them? If so, you might be appreciative of "Tank," a creation by Berlin artist Nik Nowak. The fully-functioning tracked vehicle sports six 12-inch mid-range drivers, three 18-inch subwoofers, four tweeters, and pumps out 4,000 watts of gut-wobbling sound - just think of it as an acoustic assault vehicle.  Read More
Paypal founder Peter Thiel is investing in a project that hopes to create floating cities ...
When creating new companies has become passé, why not start creating countries? So is the case for Paypal co-founder and billionaire Peter Thiel, who is currently the Seasteading Institute's "most generous funder." His support constitutes a bold move towards creating floating autonomous states. The initiative is inspired by the idea of creating cities that are free from political agendas and social construction. These "floating cities will allow the next generation of pioneers to peacefully test new ideas for government," says the Seasteading Institute. "The most successful can then inspire change in governments around the world."  Read More
Nikon has joined the mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera party with its new 1 system
Nikon has announced a new camera system which heads down a path already well-trodden by the likes of Sony and Olympus. The company has launched its 1 system with a couple of pocket-sized mirrorless cameras and four interchangeable lenses. Both cameras feature brand new hybrid autofocus technology, super-fast continuous shooting, intuitively placed, redesigned camera controls and full high definition movie recording.  Read More
Time lapse image of the robot using the new MIT algorithm that results in more efficient a...
The act of picking up a coffee cup from a table, despite being relatively simple for a human being, actually involves extremely complex calculations as we spontaneously plan a trajectory around obstacles in free space to reach the cup. This complexity means such tasks can be incredibly difficult for an autonomous robot and results in most motion-planning algorithms settling for any path – no matter how inefficient – that will allow the robot to achieve its goal. Now researchers have developed a new motion-planning system that lets robots save time and energy by moving more efficiently, which also makes their movements more predictable - an important consideration if they are to interact with humans.  Read More
Ford has revealed an e-bike concept in Frankfurt that uses magnetostriction sensor technol...
Automotive manufacturers often use the media glare surrounding events like the International Motor Show in Frankfurt to showcase concept vehicles never intended for production. Such models are created to highlight cutting edge design or brand new technology. This year Ford unveiled an urban mobility concept that uniquely marries Formula One sensing technology with a two-wheeled pedelec bike. The E-Bike design also sees the electric assist motor positioned at the front and cabling hidden within the graceful lines of the lightweight trapezoidal frame.  Read More
 
Scientists have created an inexpensive, robust, liquid-repellent surface material, inspire...
Who doesn't like carnivorous plants? They eat pesky bugs, they look like something out of Flash Gordon, and now it turns out that one of them has inspired a new type of liquid-repellent surface. The inspirational flora is the pitcher plant, which is shaped like - well, like a water pitcher, or perhaps a wide-end-up trumpet. When insects step onto its slippery inner surface, they lose their footing and fall down into a pool of collected rainwater in its base, where they are digested. Scientists from Harvard University's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have copied the structure of that inner surface and come up with a material that resists not only most liquids, but also ice and bacteria, and it does so under a wide range of conditions.  Read More
Scientists have created a system that is able to visually reconstruct images that people h...
In the 1983 film Brainstorm, Christopher Walken played a scientist who was able to record movies of people's mental experiences, then play them back into the minds of other people. Pretty far-fetched, right? Well, maybe not. Utilizing functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and computer models, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have been able to visually reconstruct the brain activity of human subjects watching movie trailers - in other words, they could see what the people's brains were seeing.  Read More
Warco - The News Game is a planned FPS-style game where the player takes on the role of a ...
Warco - The News Game is an FPS-style game in development where the player takes on the role of a war correspondent tasked with collecting video from the battlefield. Instead of the standard bloody clashes with enemy forces, the game challenges the player to dodge bullets and capture attractive footage. Warco is the brainchild of Australian war correspondent Tony Maniaty and filmmaker Robert Connolly, who teamed up with games studio Defiant Development.  Read More
The idea of matter traveling faster than light may no longer be limited to the realm of sc...
According to Einstein’s restricted theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than light in a vacuum. Up until today, that had pretty much seemed to be the case, too. Early this morning, however, researchers from the Geneva-based OPERA project announced that the results from one of their recent experiments indicate that neutrinos can in fact outrun light particles.  Read More
The harp can play pre-programmed or live melodies by using control software written in Pyt...
This half-pendulum half-harp musical instrument is the creation of New York based interactive design company, Pattern Studio. Dubbed "The Gravity Harp," it was commissioned by Icelandic musician Bjork for her recent Biophilia tour. The innovative device features four robotic pendulums, each housing an eleven string harp. Hanging 20 feet above ground, the pendulums slowly swing back and forth whilst communicating with a control computer using an RS485 network. In order to maintain an even sequence of notes, each pendulum swings 90 degrees out of phase with its neighbor and is controlled by a motor attached at the top.  Read More
Scientists have nominated the iCub child-like humanoid robot to participate in the Olympic...
Research on artificial intelligence and robotics is growing at a rapid pace, but are we ready to see a robot bearing the Olympic torch in 2012? Scientists at Wales' Aberystwyth University are convinced that this should happen, and have nominated the iCub child-like humanoid robot to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay for London's 2012 Summer Olympics. It's intended to be a tribute to computing pioneer Alan Turing, as 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of his birth.  Read More
Researchers at the University of Toronto have set a new efficiency record for colloidal qu...
Advancing solar technology is a trade-off between the efficiency of the cells themselves and the cost of producing and installing them. Quantum dot solar cells, which use nanoscale semiconductors to produce electricity, promise low-cost production and, because they can be sprayed or painted on, big benefits in terms of installation. In the efficiency stakes quantum cells don't score as well as silicon-based or CIGS solar cells, but a new efficiency record for colloidal quantum dot solar cells represents a big step towards narrowing the gap. This breakthrough isn't about the quantum dots though, it's about the wrapping.  Read More
1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout
This 1884 de Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout was one Count de Dion's second prototype and can lay claim to having "won" the world's first automobile race. Although it takes more than half an hour to "steam" before it can be driven and needs "watering" every 20 miles, it is nonetheless, one of the most significant automobiles in history ... and it's for sale. Extensive detailed photo gallery.  Read More
Library-goers in the U.S. can now borrow books for Kindle eReaders and Kindle apps from th...
Despite their somewhat stuffy image, libraries have generally embraced new technology, with public Internet access and library catalogs stored on computer databases the norm. The ability to search a catalog online means we no longer have to traipse down to the local library to see if a book we’re after is available or not. Now bookworms won’t even have to physically go to the library to actually borrow a book with the news that more than 11,000 local libraries in the U.S. are set to lend eBooks that can be viewed on Kindle eReaders and devices running the Kindle app.  Read More
Huttlin kugel motor prototype under testing
The car is not going to disappear anytime soon and neither is the combustion engine, despite the inevitable rise in fuel prices. We have said it before, electrical motors are an energy-efficient method for driving vehicles but battery technology is simply not going to advance quickly enough for all-electric vehicles to be a practical reality for most uses anytime soon. The near and mid-term future is undoubtedly a combination of compact combustion engine generators charging dense battery packs that drive electric motors - the "range extender" option. We reported on one possible candidate, the disc motor, a couple of months ago. Now, after nearly twenty years of development another candidate is going through final testing and it is a work of elegant genius - Dr. Herbert Hüttlin's Kugelmotor.  Read More

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