First production HondaJet takes-off

Honda Aircraft Company has announced that its first production HondaJet has taken to the skies. The flight, which took place at HondaJet’s headquarters at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina, moves the executive jet aircraft closer to certification ahead of a planned entry into service next year... Continue Reading First production HondaJet takes-off

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Business, GE, Honda, HondaJet, Jets

Related Articles:
FAA-conforming HondaJet completes maiden flight
HondaJet interior design concept unveiled
HondaJet gets its engine
HondaJet enters production
HondaJet achieves maximum speed in flight testing
Latest HondaJet test aircraft lifts-off

Crowdsourcing could help robots learn new tasks faster

If robots are going to work alongside humans, the machines are going to need to swallow their pride and learn to ask for help. At least, that’s the thinking of computer scientists at the University of Washington (UW), who are working on ways for robots to crowdsource their problems when learning new tasks. If successful, this approach points the way toward future robots that are capable of asking for assistance to speed up their learning when it comes to figuring out how to carry out household tasks... Continue Reading Crowdsourcing could help robots learn new tasks faster

Section: Robotics

Tags: Crowdsource, Learning, Robotics, Robots, University of Washington

Related Articles:
Cross training helps humans and robots work better together
Who needs humans? Computers used to teach other computers
Teaching robots new tricks without programming
RoboEarth "Wikipedia for robots" demonstrated
Teaching robots to think like people

New water-based organic battery is cheap, rechargeable and eco-friendly

Lithium-ion batteries have made portable, rechargeable electronics commonplace. Unfortunately, they do have some glaring drawbacks, including heat issues, being made with rare, toxic elements, and the fact the technology doesn't scale up very well, which limits applications. A team of scientists at the University of Southern California (USC) is working on an alternative in the form of a water-based organic battery that is not only cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but also holds the potential for scaling up for use in wind and solar power plants as a means to store large amounts of energy. .. Continue Reading New water-based organic battery is cheap, rechargeable and eco-friendly

Section: Electronics

Tags: Battery, Electricity, Fuel Cell, Organic, Rechargeable, University of Southern California

Related Articles:
Organic flow battery could transform renewable energy storage
Electron switch could make thin, light, high-powered organic batteries a reality
Electrochemical flow capacitor: Hybrid battery-supercapacitor design targets grid storage
Lithium-sulfur batteries could store triple the power of lithium-ion
Pulp and paper mill waste could be used in cheaper batteries
MIT's flow battery could store solar and wind power on the cheap

Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo gets real at Goodwood

Virtual reality became reality reality at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week as Nissan unveiled the physical version of its Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo “virtual supercar.” The futuristic concept will be available next month as an avatar in PlayStation Gran Turismo 6 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the driving game... Continue Reading Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo gets real at Goodwood

Section: Automotive

Tags: Cars, Concept Cars, Festival of Speed, Goodwood, Gran Turismo, Japan, Nissan,Supercars, Vision

Related Articles:
Nissan takes the wraps off Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Review (PlayStation 3)
Top Gear to feature on Gran Turismo TV
Virtual virtuosity: Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo
GTbyCitroen to star at Goodwood Festival of Speed

LG's G Watch is official, ships in early July for US$229

LG Electronics (LG) has unveiled the LG G Watch; one of the first smartwatches to use Android Wear to produce a minimalist design aimed at a mass audience. Like other Android Wear watches, you don’t press buttons to control it – you chat with it... Continue Reading LG's G Watch is official, ships in early July for US$229

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags: Android, Bluetooth, Smartwatch, Voice recognition, Watches, Wearable

Related Articles:
LG smartwatch to be powered by Google's new Android Wear platform
Moto 360: Motorola's first Android smart watch
Motorola demos Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch
LG drip feeds more details on its G Watch
Google launches Android Wear, hoping for a wearable revolution
Google unveils the Android Wear platform: Google Now on your wrist

Force-tracking shoes go offworld

Given that there isn't any gravity on the International Space Station you’d think that shoes would be a very low priority, but on the latest Russian Soyuz capsule to dock with the station, NASA sent along a pair of high-tech ForceShoes to monitor astronauts as they exercise to make sure they get the full benefits of their workouts... Continue Reading Force-tracking shoes go offworld

Section: Space

Tags: Astronauts, Exercise, International Space Station, NASA, Shoes, University of Twente

Related Articles:
NASA developing exoskeleton for astronauts and the earthbound
Spacewalk planned to fix ISS coolant leak
NASA orders urgent spacewalks on the ISS
King's College London develops skinsuit to prevent muscle and bone loss in space
Robonaut 2 headed for orbit
NASA aircraft inspires what could be the world's first zero-gravity roller coaster

Jaguar to give F-Type Project 7 roadster a limited production run

Like McLaren with its MSO 650S, Jaguar has used this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed to debut a vehicle making the jump from concept to limited production run. For Jaguar it's the F-Type Project 7, a fully road-legal two-seater roadster described as the "most performance-focused derivative of the acclaimed F-Type range," and the fastest and most powerful production Jaguar ever built... Continue Reading Jaguar to give F-Type Project 7 roadster a limited production run

Section: Automotive

Tags: Festival of Speed, Goodwood, Jaguar, Jaguar F-type, Production, Roadster

Related Articles:
Jaguar to reveal C-X17 Concept in Frankfurt
Jaguar to give F-Type Project 7 roadster a limited production run
Jaguar to build six brand new Lightweight 1963 E-types
Jaguar debuts a "Firesand" orange F-Type in North America
Jaguar unveils the XK-RS Concept 550 horsepower convertible
This week's Mille Miglia represents the 60th anniversary of the disc brake

Glastonbury gets free "moobile" Wi-Fi hotspots

Running on and off since 1970, Britain’s Glastonbury Festival is famous for hosting such acts as David Bowie, The Who, Coldplay, and Beyoncé. It’s also famous for its sea of mud and streams flowing through tents thanks to the typical English weather. This year, high tech meets the bucolic at the Festival as visitors are greeted by a herd of life-sized, glass-fiber cows that double as free Wi-Fi hotspots to keep them connected... Continue Reading Glastonbury gets free "moobile" Wi-Fi hotspots

Section: Mobile Technology

Tags: 4G, Communications, Glastonbury, Mobile, Network, Wi-Fi, Wireless

Related Articles:
Green energy charger ready and pumped for UK's biggest music festival
Sound Charge t-shirt tops up mobile devices using sound
Thermoelectric boots charge your mobile phone
O+A's temporary shipping container "city"
Future festival goers in for solar tenting treat
GTbyCitroen to star at Goodwood Festival of Speed

BMW checks bumpers with the wave of a hand

Quality control is a vital part of modern manufacturing. Not only does it decrease the chances of a dissatisfied customer, but it reduces waste and, therefore, cost. However, inspecting products on the assembly line can itself be expensive, time consuming, and not as accurate as it should be. To speed things up a bit, BMW has developed a new system for inspecting bumpers that uses gestures to allow inspectors to literally point out defects. .. Continue Reading BMW checks bumpers with the wave of a hand

Section: Automotive

Tags: 3D Cameras, BMW, Fraunhofer, Gesture Recognition, Manufacturing, Production

Related Articles:
Hidden sensor offers protection from parking accidents
Apple's iPhone 4 Case Program will end on September 30 but Bumpers will still be free
Apple addresses iPhone 4 antenna problem with free bumpers for all
Portable innovation – the Bumper Dumper
Kia offers 7-Year/150,000 km warranty on all cars sold in Europe
Nissan announces Distance Control Assist System

Electromagnetic system to replace steam launch systems on US Navy carriers

A fighter plane taking off from a strike carrier is a dramatic sight – not the least because of the woosh and plume of steam as the catapult blasts the aircraft into the air. In a few years, such launches may still be dramatic, but they’ll also be a bit quieter and very plume-free. That’s because the US Navy has completed testing of its Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS); clearing it for use on the new Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carriers... Continue Reading Electromagnetic system to replace steam launch systems on US Navy carriers

Section: Military

Tags: Aircraft, Aviation, Electromagnetic, Launch, US Navy

Related Articles:
Northrop Grumman to build first new aircraft carrier class in 40 years
X-47B demonstrator makes first catapult launch
X-47B unmanned stealth fighter tested aboard the USS Truman
X-47B prepares to play nice with manned aircraft
Wireless, handheld device for ground control of X-47B unmanned aircraft tested
X-47B unmanned aircraft gets its Pax River wings

Robotic Weapon System gives helicopters hidden firepower

When we hear about military robots, it usually evokes images of Terminator-like killing machines, but it can also mean robotic systems designed to help soldiers concentrate on the job at hand. Case in point is Israel-based Duke Airborne Systems’ Robotic Weapon System (RWS). Unveiled at the Eurosatory defense industry show in Paris, the system billed as a “first-of-its-kind” is a concealable robotic gunnery module that allows utility helicopters to fly into hostile territory without an armed escort. .. Continue Reading Robotic Weapon System gives helicopters hidden firepower

Section: Military

Tags: Aircraft, Duke Airborne Systems, Helicopters, Israel, Modular, Robotic, Weapons

Related Articles:
US Navy developing app-summoned robotic helicopters for Marines
Robotic surgeon could remove shrapnel on battlefield
Robotic helicopter teaches itself how to fly aerobatics
Presidential helicopter achieves new milestone
Navy ray gun shoots down robotic targets
UK's next generation Wildcat helicopter completes sea trials

New materials developed that are as light as aerogel, yet 10,000 times stronger

Imagine materials strong enough to use in building airplanes or motor cars, yet are literally lighter than air. Soon, that may not be so hard to do because a team of researchers from MIT and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have developed new ultra-lightweight materials that are as light as aerogel, but 10,000 times stiffer, and may one day revolutionize aerospace and automotive designs... Continue Reading New materials developed that are as light as aerogel, yet 10,000 times stronger

Section: Science

Tags: Ceramics, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Materials, Metamaterials, MIT,Nanoparticles, Polymer

Related Articles:
World's lightest solid material, known as 'frozen smoke', gets even lighter
Graphene aerogel takes world’s lightest material crown
Super-buoyant material inspired by water striders
Flexible, high-strength polymer aerogels deliver "super-insulation" properties
Microstructured materials as strong as steel yet less dense than water
Self-healing polymer restores itself in minutes

Is supersonic passenger travel set to make a comeback?

On October, 24 2003, the last Concorde jet went out of service. What began as a promise of supersonic travel for all, ended as a museum exhibit of a false dawn. However, that may be changing with companies such as Aerion and Spike Aerospace looking to take business jets supersonic. At Aviation 2014, an annual event of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, NASA presented examples of the space agency’s work on new technologies that could lead to a revival of civilian supersonic travel within the next 15 years... Continue Reading Is supersonic passenger travel set to make a comeback?

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Aviation, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Supersonic, Travel

Related Articles:
Futuristic biplane design eliminates sonic boom
Radical bi-directional flying wing design gets NASA funding
"Son of Concorde" to fly London-to-Sydney in 4 hours?
Japan to fast track Supersonic Airliner
Spike S-512 could be the world's first supersonic business jet
Aerion's AS2 supersonic business jet gets extra engine and cabin space

Falcon 9 launch of Orbcomm OG2 satellites aborted

SpaceX today aborted the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket carrying six Orbcomm OG2 communication satellites; the second mission flight of a Falcon booster equipped withlanding legs. Six minutes and nine seconds before the lift off, mission control declared the abort due to a problem with the second stage of the rocket... Continue Reading Falcon 9 launch of Orbcomm OG2 satellites aborted

Section: Space

Tags: Communications, Falcon, Launch, Satellite, Spacecraft, SpaceX

Related Articles:
SpaceX launches first geostationary payload
SpaceX launches second satellite
SpaceX Dragon CRS-3 launch scrubbed for third time
SpaceX's Merlin 1D engine now qualified for use on the Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX launches improved Falcon 9
SpaceX sets launch date for world's most powerful rocket

One of the world's first integrated circuits goes up for auction

If it weren't for the microchip, your smartphone would be size of a building and need its own power plant to work. Thanks to the integrated circuit and its modern incarnation in the microchip, electronics are a bit easier to carry around than that, and this week, Christie’s put one of the very first integrated circuits up for auction. Designed and constructed in 1958 by Texas Instruments, it's one of the three earliest "chips" ever made and went on the block with an estimated value of up to US$2 million... Continue Reading One of the world's first integrated circuits goes up for auction

Section: Electronics

Tags: Auction, Circuit, Computers, History, Prototype, Texas Instruments

Related Articles:
Circuit Scribe mixes art with electronics
Nanoscale electronic circuit suggests new possibilities for computers
Nanoelectronic circuits reach speeds of 245 THz
Researcher develops world's first integrated chemical chip
Breakthrough in printed electronics
Chibitronics connects circuits with stickers for entertaining electronic education

TOSA electric buses use computer models to control costs

It’s one thing to invent an electric bus, a hydrogen car, or other green transportation technology, but quite another for it to work in the real world. For example, the Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation (TOSA) flash-charging electric bus system may be the most brilliant idea ever, but if it can’t stay in the black, then might as well be drawn by diesel-powered horses. Scientists at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) are hoping to avoid that scenario by developing a computer model that helps engineers integrate the buses into existing transport systems while keeping costs down. .. Continue Reading TOSA electric buses use computer models to control costs

Section: Automotive

Tags: Batteries, Buses, Electric Vehicles, EPFL, Public Transport

Related Articles:
TOSA tech charges up electric buses in 15 seconds
Britain to be home of "world's most demanding electric bus route"
All-electric bus picking up passengers in Southern California
New York’s hybrid buses prove their worth
Volvo to test electric road that charges buses as they're in motion
Korea begins first commercial electric bus service

To paraphrase Samuel Johnson, there was a time when 3D metal printing was like a dog walking on his hind legs – it wasn't done well; but you were surprised to find it done at all. Now that laser sintering or Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is used for everything from printing rocket engine components to semi-automatic pistols, the time for surprise may b long past, but the technology still has plenty of room for improvement. That's why researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are working on simulations to improve the speed of 3D laser printing and the quality of the final product by using higher-powered lasers... Continue Reading LLNL improving the efficiency of 3D metal printing

Section: Science

Tags: 3D Printing, Laser, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Manufacturing,Simulations, Stainless Steel

Related Articles:
Micro laser sintering technology to 3D print tiny metal parts
Arup uses 3D printing to create structural steel components
World record 1 megajoule laser shot hits target
NASA using 3D laser printing to create complex rocket parts
Layered fabrication now growing solid metal parts
NASA 3D-prints and fires rocket engine component

Lavazza sending first espresso machine into space

Living on the International Space Station (ISS) has its drawbacks. For one thing, the morning coffee run to the local espresso shack is the definition of impractical. To make sure that astronauts are suitably caffeinated, Italian coffee company Lavazza is developing the ISSpresso; the first espresso machine built to meet the needs of astronauts who need a decent jolt before facing the day. .. Continue Reading Lavazza sending first espresso machine into space

Section: Space

Tags: Astronauts, Beverages, Coffee, ESA, Fluid Dynamics, Food, International Space Station, Lavazza, NASA

Related Articles:
Piamo single-serve espresso maker for microwaves
Like cars? Love coffee? The Espresso Veloce Machine may be for you
La Fenice coffee machine first to use electromagnetic induction heating
Nomad promises a great cup of joe, on the go
Fully Automatic Coffee Machine
Presso mechanical espresso coffee machine

Hubble to seek new targets for New Horizons spacecraft

Once you've sent the first space probe to Pluto, what do you do for an encore? As NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft races to its encounter with the dwarf planet next year, the Hubble Space Telescope Time Allocation Committee have given its recommendation that the Hubble be used to find the Horizons’ next destination in the outer reaches of the Solar System... Continue Reading Hubble to seek new targets for New Horizons spacecraft

Section: Space

Tags: Hubble, Kuiper Belt, NASA, New Horizons, Pluto, Solar System, Space telescope,Spacecraft

Related Articles:
Hubble uncovers fifth moon orbiting Pluto
Hubble finds tiny new moon orbiting Neptune
Hubble and Hershel show the Horsehead Nebula in a spectacular new light
Astronomers like what they see from rejuvenated NASA Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble sees further than ever before
Hubble to use Moon as giant mirror to observe Venus transit

Nissan takes the wraps off Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo

“Cor, I’d like to take that for a spin.” It's what most of us think when looking at concept cars, but the chances of that ever happening are usually less than slim. The Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo is an exception to the rule – at least, it's a virtual exception. That’s because next month, the just revealed supercar concept becomes available for download for Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo 6 video game for the Playstation console. .. Continue Reading Nissan takes the wraps off Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo

Section: Automotive

Tags: Concept Cars, Gran Turismo, Japan, Nissan, Playstation, Video Games, Vision

Related Articles:
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Review (PlayStation 3)
Top Gear to feature on Gran Turismo TV
Virtual virtuosity: Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo
Review: Logitech's Driving Force GT force-feedback wheel for the PS3
From Playstation to Le Mans - Lucas Ordonez proves it is possible to be fast-tracked from virtual to real racing
Logitech's Driving Force GT Wheel for the PS3

Lockheed Martin WindTracer system to improve airdrop accuracy

For a besieged soldier or a disaster victim, a plane dropping supplies is the most welcome sight in the world – unless the drop ends up drifting off out of reach. To help make sure that airdrops end up where they belong, the US Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin to adapt its WindTracer wind measurement system for a Precision Air Drop system to help aircrews land supplies faster and on target... Continue Reading Lockheed Martin WindTracer system to improve airdrop accuracy

Section: Military

Tags: Disasters, LIDAR, Lockheed Martin, US Air Force, Wind

Related Articles:
Wind detection technology improves airport safety
Unmanned helicopter demonstrates impressive cargo airdrop
Unmanned K-MAX helicopter achieves airdrop milestones
Lockheed Martin to develop advanced rifle scope attachment
Aerospace Giants combine in race to build Orbital Space Plane
Lockheed Martin receives contract to develop FBI's Next Generation Identification System

US Navy developing laser weapons ... for ground vehicles

The US Navy is deploying its first laser weapon on the USS Ponce in a few months. The technology also has obvious potential for ground vehicles – a fact that hasn't escaped the US Marine Corps. The Office of Naval Research has awarded contracts to develop a similar laser weapon that can be installed in light-tactical vehicles instead of ships as part of its Ground-Based Air Defense Directed Energy On-the-Move (GBAD) program... Continue Reading US Navy developing laser weapons ... for ground vehicles

Section: Military

Tags: Laser, Laser weapon, ONR, UAV, US Navy, Vehicles, Weapons

Related Articles:
Navy ray gun shoots down robotic targets
Boeing and BAE team up to develop laser weapon for the U.S. Navy
Boeing testing truck-mounted high energy laser
U.S. Navy to deploy Laser Weapon System on warship
Marines take GREENS solar power to the front lines
U.S. Navy demonstrates solid state laser weapon at sea

What would a warp-drive ship actually look like?

Artist Mark Rademaker has unveiled a set of concept images imagining what a spaceship capable of traveling to other stars in a matter of months would really look like. Although it may look like something from the next science fiction epic and is unlikely to lift off anytime soon, his IXS Enterprise design is actually based on some hard science. .. Continue Reading What would a warp-drive ship actually look like?

Section: Space

Tags: NASA, Spacecraft, Warp bubble, Warp drive

Related Articles:
Warp drive looks more promising than ever in recent NASA studies
Students calculate what hyperspace travel would actually look like
VARIES project proposes antimatter starship mission
Time machine theory: a step forward in travelling backwards?
The most violent gamma-ray explosion ever observed
Private Space Flight takes a forward step

FAA approves first commercial overland UAV flights

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has waived the usual restrictions on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and is allowing the BP oil company and UAS manufacturer AeroVironment to use an AeroVironment Puma AE for aerial surveys in Alaska. According to the FAA, this is the first time permission has been given for a commercial drone to fly over land in the United States. .. Continue Reading FAA approves first commercial overland UAV flights

Section: Aircraft

Tags: AeroVironment, BP, Drone, FAA, UAV

Related Articles:
FAA clears drones for civilian use
Solar-powered Puma AE small UAS stays aloft for over nine hours
AeroVironment Aqua Puma UAV completes Royal Australian Navy Sea trials
Student team sets fuel-cell powered flight record
AeroVironment's hybrid fuel cell UAV sets flight record
Aerovironment testing potential for UAVs to re-establish communications in event of disasters

Emotion-reading Pepper personal robot set for 2015 release

One thing that allows human beings to live together is their ability to read one another’s emotions before the frying pans start to fly. If personal robots are to join the household, they’ll have to learn how to deal with emotions as well. Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot designed to do just that, with the ability to gauge human emotions and alter its behavior accordingly as a way to better fit into family life... Continue Reading Emotion-reading Pepper personal robot set for 2015 release

Section: Robotics

Tags: Aldebaran Robotics, Emotions, Humanoid, Japan, Robotics, Robots

Related Articles:
Spraytect smartphone case delivers a shot of pepper spray
Burglar Blaster alarm greets intruders with pepper spray
Robots get emotional
Android KOBIAN feels its way in a human world
Watch over your pet remotely with Softbank's Mimamori Camera
South African bank arms ATMs with pepper spray, blinds employees

BMW expands Mini lineup with first Mini Cooper 5-door

The Mini Cooper got a bit less mini as BMW rolled out its first 5-door version of the premium compact. Having launched its new Mini line last year, BMW is following up with four petrol and diesel-powered variants that boast not only an extra pair of doors, but also a longer wheelbase, more interior room, and a redesigned central instrument cluster for better at-a-glance feedback... Continue Reading BMW expands Mini lineup with first Mini Cooper 5-door

Section: Automotive

Tags: BMW, Car, Compact, Door, MINI

Related Articles:
New Mini Cooper SD – the most powerful diesel Mini ever
New John Cooper Works GP is fastest MINI ever
The MINI Cooper D
High Performance MINI is Now Ex-Works
MINI adds a roadster to the range
Engine variants revealed for MINI Coupé

Eugene Goostman chatbot passes Turing Test

It might be time to start being nicer to your laptop, because a supercomputer program has passed the Turing Test for the first time in history. On Saturday, at the Turing Test 2014, the chatbot Eugene Goostman convinced the judges 33 percent of the time that it was a human being and not a computer. The event was organized by the University of Reading’s School of Systems Engineering and held on Saturday at the Royal Society in London... Continue Reading Eugene Goostman chatbot passes Turing Test

Section: Computers

Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Competition, Computer, Royal Society, Supercomputer,University of Reading

Related Articles:
Can a machine think? Almost!
Computer science giant Alan Turing turns 100
More human than human: AI game bots pass Turing Test
The anytime, interuptable universal intelligence test for people and computers
Robotic toddler nominated to carry Olympic torch in 2012
Frankenstein's simulated worm is alive?

"Hello, World" – Video beamed from ISS using laser-based communications

While the International Space Station may be mankind’s outpost for the conquest of space, it still leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to a decent YouTube connection. That’s because, for all its sophistication, the station’s communications system is still based on 1960s radio technology and has all the bandwidth of a soda straw. That changed this week as NASA took a step into the video age with the test of its Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science (OPALS) demonstrator, which saw a laser used to beam a video to Earth in seconds instead of the usual minutes... Continue Reading "Hello, World" – Video beamed from ISS using laser-based communications

Section: Space

Tags: Communications, International Space Station, Laser, NASA, Test, Video

Related Articles:
NASA's OPALS will use lasers to improve comms with the ISS
NASA and ESA to communicate with lunar orbiter using lasers
NASA's LLCD tests confirm laser communication capabilities in space
NASA sends Mona Lisa to the Moon
LADEE sets data transmission record from lunar orbit
NASA to demonstrate laser beam communications system

Kairos blends mechanical and smartwatch technology

Imagine owning an upmarket, 25-jewel, Swiss-movement mechanical watch. Now imagine one that that can display text messages, notify you of incoming calls and let you remotely control your smartphone or tablet. That may seem a bit farfetched, but Kairos Watches aims to combine a luxury mechanical watch with the functionality of a smartwatch in one seamless device... Continue Reading Kairos blends mechanical and smartwatch technology

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags: Bluetooth, Luxury, Mechanical, Smartwatch, Watches, Wearable, wearable computing, wearable electronics

Related Articles:
Modillion turns any "dumb" watch into a smartwatch
Sony shows off NFC-enabled, water-resistant SmartWatch 2
Antoine Martin Tourbillon Astronomique shows off at Baselworld
WATCHe We5S adds a mechanical timepiece to the iPhone 5
Orbita Sparta Mini watchwinder - one for the ladies?
BMW and MINI release Data Storage Watches

RAF recreates historic D-Day recon photo

Seventy years ago, the greatest military operation in history was launched as the Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Nazi-occupied Europe in what history recalls as D-Day. We’re used to seeing newsreel images of marines and infantrymen rushing from landing craft in the face of the German guns, but overhead there was another war raging as men in fragile aircraft risked their lives to capture vital images of the battle’s progress. As part of the 70th-anniversary commemoration, RAF Tornado jets from II (Army Co-operation) Squadron (II (AC) Sqn) recreated that historic D-Day recon mission over Normandy, giving us a glimpse of how far aerial reconnaissance has come in three generations. .. Continue Reading RAF recreates historic D-Day recon photo
Section: Military
Tags: Aircraft, Anniversary, Cameras, History, Photography, Reconnaissance, Royal Air Force
Related Articles:
U-2 reconnaissance aircraft to aid Japan in earthquake and tsunami relief efforts
Spectacular mismatch: Lamborghini Reventón v Tornado A200-A aircraft
X-47B makes historic carrier launching
P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance plane officially unveiled
Boeing opens P-8A Poseidon production facility
Skylynx II Unmanned Aircraft System in testing

NASA announces technology experiments to fly on SpaceShipTwo

Science and space tourism shook hands this week with NASA announcing 12 technology experiments that will fly on the SpaceShipTwo spaceplane under a charter agreement with Virgin Galactic. The payload is a mixture of government, academic, and private microgravity experiments that will form the first commercial research flight for the spacecraft... Continue Reading NASA announces technology experiments to fly on SpaceShipTwo

Section: Space

Tags: NASA, Spacecraft, SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic

Related Articles:
NASA charters suborbital research flights aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo
SpaceShipTwo's nitrous venting tested in-flight
SpaceShipTwo to be fueled by thermoset plastic similar to nylon
Ardulab provides open source platform for space experiments
SpaceShipTwo makes a spectacle of itself in “Cold Flow” test
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo glides towards first powered flight

Raydiance's R-Cut system promises "new paradigm" in high-tech glass fabrication

Smartphones have come a long way in a few short years, but two things have remained constant; most sport a "slab of glass" form factor, and dropping one makes you wish you’d had it insured. Designers have used new materials, such as Gorilla glass and sapphire to make phone displays lighter and more durable, but these have introduced their own problems – especially when it comes to manufacturing. Gizmag spoke with Raydiance, a company specializing in cutting-edge laser fabrication methods, about its new R-Cut femtosecond laser system that promises a “new paradigm" in high-tech glass fabrication... Continue Reading Raydiance's R-Cut system promises "new paradigm" in high-tech glass fabrication

Section: Electronics

Tags: Femtosecond, Glass, Laser, Manufacturing, Materials, Production, Smartphones

Related Articles:
Raydiance announces ultrashort laser breakthrough
Precise and low-cost submicron fabrication technique for manufacturing human spare parts
Home-made laser rifle laughs at your puny pointer
Dark Pulse Laser emits trillionths-of-a-second bursts of nothing
Superfast laser delivers record-breaking peak power of one petawatt
Glass-based system developed for testing laser weapons

Fraunhofer developing fuel cell system to power the home

As the world shifts to alternative forms of energy, ways to make homes less dependent on the grid continue to gather steam. Fuel cells, which are more efficient and have lower emissions than internal combustion engines seem like a logical candidate for taking up the slack, so the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in Dresden is partnering with the heater manufacturer Vaillant to develop a domestic fuel cell system that uses natural gas to produce both heating and electricity... Continue Reading Fraunhofer developing fuel cell system to power the home

Section: Around The Home

Tags: Alternative Energy, Electricity, Energy, Fraunhofer, Fuel Cell, Home

Related Articles:
New fuel cell system produces grid electricity from natural gas
Casio Fuel Cells for Portable Devices
Hitachi demonstrates fuel-cells for handhelds:expected by 2005
Harvard scientists create hydrogen fuel cell that lasts longer
Record setting small-scale solid oxide fuel cell could power neighborhoods
Ion Tiger sets endurance record for a hydrogen fuel cell powered UAV

ESA developing next-generation universal space docking ring

Docking is the paradox of spaceflight. On the one hand, it’s as boring to watch as an apple turning brown; on the other, it’s white-knuckle suspense when you realise that tons of paper-thin metal are one misstep away from destruction. What’s worse, the number of different docking port designs makes compatibility a major concern, so ESA is developing a universal docking mechanism that will allow any spacecraft to lock onto any other... Continue Reading ESA developing next-generation universal space docking ring

Section: Space

Tags: ESA, International Space Station, Space Shuttle, Spacecraft, Spaceflight

Related Articles:
Canadian Space Agency unveils next-gen Canadarm
Cygnus docks with International Space Station
SpaceX Dragon to be first private spacecraft to dock at ISS
Dragon docking with ISS rescheduled after malfunction
"World's fastest" docking station charges six devices at once
Dragon achieves first commercial docking with ISS

Solar Impulse 2 makes first flight

The maiden flight of Solar Impulse 2 took place on Monday morning at Payerne aerodrome in Switzerland. The solar-powered aircraft took off at 5:36 AM CET, when the weather around the aerodrome was at its calmest, with pilot Markus Scherdel at the controls. The aircraft flew for two hours and 17 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,670 m (5,500 ft) and a ground speed of 55.6 km/h (30 kt). According to Solar Impulse, the in-flight data indicates that the aircraft slated to make the first all-solar global circumnavigation flight performed to expectations... Continue Reading Solar Impulse 2 makes first flight

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Electric, Experimental, Flight, Solar Impulse, Solar Impulse 2

Related Articles:
Solar Impulse stops off in Madrid on its way to Morocco
Solar Impulse begins its Sun-powered flight across America
Solar Impulse completes its transcontinental flight
Solar Impulse announces flight across America for next year
Solar Impulse breaks own record for farthest solar-powered flight
Solar powered plane flies through the night

Kepler-10c: The planet that shouldn't exist

Despite being currently offline, the Kepler space telescope is still turning up surprises. One of them is an Earth-like planet that’s so large that astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics call it a “mega-Earth.” Planet Kepler-10c is 17 times heavier than the Earth, and may require scientists to rethink their ideas on planet formation and the likelihood of life in our galaxy... Continue Reading Kepler-10c: The planet that shouldn't exist

Section: Space

Tags: Exoplanet, Harvard, Kepler Mission, NASA, Space telescope

Related Articles:
First Earth-size planets discovered beyond our solar system
Kepler discovers most potentially habitable planet yet
NASA's Kepler finds exoplanet smaller than Mercury
Kepler discovers smallest habitable-zone Earth-like planets to date
Kepler finds clouds on extrasolar planet
Kepler spacecraft discovers tiniest solar system yet found

Robot Linda to meet the public at London's Natural History Museum

Having a robot around the house might be nice, but not if it keeps stepping on the cat and tripping over the coffee table. This month, the public will get the chance to meet a robot at the Natural History Museum in London that may be a bit kinder to furniture and tabbies. The University of Lincoln’s Linda robot, which will mingle with visitors, is designed to learn about its surroundings and make it easier to work human environments... Continue Reading Robot Linda to meet the public at London's Natural History Museum

Section: Robotics

Tags: Autonomous, British Museum, London, Museum, Robotics, Robots, Self-Learning,University of Lincoln

Related Articles:
Surgical robot provides haptic feedback to users
Researchers create robot that mimics human emotions
Bionic Boppers put people in the fightin' robot's seat
Teaching robots to think like people
Compostable bikinis take to the catwalk in Miami
RoboEarth "Wikipedia for robots" demonstrated