NASA reveals instruments selected for Mars 2020 rover

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has been trundling around the Red Planet for almost two years now, so the space agency is looking for a trade in. At a press conference in Washington DC, it announced the seven instruments selected to fly on the Mars 2020 rover mission that is scheduled to launch in July or August 2020 with a landing set for February 2021 at a yet to be determined site. The instruments were selected out of 58 proposals from US and international scientists and engineers, and represent a development cost of US$130 million... Continue Reading NASA reveals instruments selected for Mars 2020 rover

Section: Space

Tags: Mars, Mars 2020, NASA, Rover

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First production ICON A5 amphibian plane unveiled

Small amphibians are sort of the hot hatchbacks of the aviation world and one aimed at the beginner pilot is always worth a look see. At EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) manufacturer ICON Aircraft debuted its first production A5 amphibious, folding-wing plane for the general public. Built in Tehachapi, California, a second is now under construction for structural testing later this year... Continue Reading First production ICON A5 amphibian plane unveiled

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Amphibious, Aviation, ICON A5, Oshkosh

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Last ESA cargo mission heads for space station

The International Space Station is getting a new load of groceries courtesy of ESA’s Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)-5 Georges Lemaître which lifted off today. The 20-tonne unmanned cargo ship was launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket at 23:44 GMT from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The final flight of the ATV program, it carries six tonnes of supplies to the station. .. Continue Reading Last ESA cargo mission heads for space station

Section: Space

Tags: ESA, International Space Station, Launch, Spacecraft

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Venus Express gets new lease on life by skimming Venusian atmosphere

Facing the alternative of a fiery death, the ESA’s Venus Express orbiter has completed a daring maneuver that extended the life of the unmanned explorer by several months. Under command from Earth, the spacecraft spent a month skimming the outer edge of the Venusian atmosphere to alter its velocity and send it into a new orbit that will keep it operating until perhaps the end of the year. .. Continue Reading Venus Express gets new lease on life by skimming Venusian atmosphere

Section: Space

Tags: Atmosphere, ESA, Orbit, Spacecraft, Unmanned, Venus, Venus Express

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Continental designs electric parking brake for cars with drum brakes

If you've ever wondered why your car is acting sluggish and has a burning smell only to discover that you've forgotten to release the parking brake, take heart. Automotive supplier Continental is developing an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) for drum brakes that's designed to bring this functionality out of the luxury cars and into the economy segment. As well as opening up new possibilities for car designers, it may also be integrated into driver assist systems that can remove the brake as you touch the accelerator... Continue Reading Continental designs electric parking brake for cars with drum brakes

Section: Automotive

Tags: Automotive, Safety

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Elytron 2S: The out-of-the-box tiltrotor concept

Some people are never satisfied. You give them a plane, and they say it can’t hover. You give them a helicopter, and they say it can’t fly very high or fast. Looking to combine the advantages of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, Elytron Aircraft LLC of Mountain View, California is developing the Elytron 2S, a small tiltrotor aircraft that uses a box wing configuration and is aimed at the civilian market... Continue Reading Elytron 2S: The out-of-the-box tiltrotor concept

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Aviation, Elytron, Helicopters, Oshkosh, Tiltrotor, Transport, V-22 Osprey

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NASA seeks commercial satellites to talk to Mars

You can land the most advanced spacecraft in history on the Mars, but if you can’t keep in touch with it, it might as well be so much scrap. To prevent that from happening, NASA has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to investigate the feasibility of using private satellites to provide communications into the 2020s between Earth and the fleet of exploration probes operating on and around Mars... Continue Reading NASA seeks commercial satellites to talk to Mars

Section: Space

Tags: Commercial, Communications, LADEE, Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, NASA,Spacecraft

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NASA prepares Mars orbiters for comet close encounter

In October, Mars will encounter comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring, which will come closer to the Red Planet than any recorded comet has passed to Earth. This spectacular event isn't just an astronomical curiosity, it’s also a potential hazard to NASA’s armada of orbiting explorers, so the space agency is taking steps to protect them from damage by the cosmic visitor. .. Continue Reading NASA prepares Mars orbiters for comet close encounter

Section: Space

Tags: Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Science Laboratory, NASA, Opportunity,Solar System, Spacecraft, University of Maryland

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Bremont Wright Flyer watch incorporates piece of first airplane

If you’ve ever wanted to buy the first powered airplane to take flight, sorry, but you’re out of luck. The Wright Flyer that was built by Orville and Wilbur Wright and first flew in 1903 isn't for sale, but if you have US$30,000 going spare, you can buy a bit of it and get a wristwatch in the bargain. Unveiled on July 23 at the Science Museum in London, where the Flyer was on display until after World War II, the Limited Edition Bremont Wright Flyer watch celebrates that historic first flight with each “ultimate aviation-inspired” timepiece containing a swatch of original wing fabric from the 1903 Flyer... Continue Reading Bremont Wright Flyer watch incorporates piece of first airplane

Section: Wearable Electronics

Tags: Aviation, Bremont, History, Watches

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McLaren teases P1 GTR ahead of Pebble Beach reveal

Following on from the initial bare-bones sketch of its upcoming P1 GTR, McLaren has released another hint of what form the track-only P1 will take with a bit of concept art... Continue Reading McLaren teases P1 GTR ahead of Pebble Beach reveal

Section: Automotive

Tags: McLaren, mclaren p1, Pebble Beach, Supercars

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Stanford researchers develop self-cooling solar cells

Photovoltaic cells are one of the more promising alternative energy sources. Mechanically they are very simple, with no moving parts, and are clean and emission-free. Unfortunately they are also inefficient. One of the reasons for this is that they overheat, a problem that a Stanford University team under electrical engineering professor Shanhui Fan is addressing with the development of a thin glass layer that makes solar cells self-cooling. .. Continue Reading Stanford researchers develop self-cooling solar cells

Section: Science

Tags: Alternative Energy, Cooling, Electricity, Engineering, Photovoltaic, Solar Cell,Stanford University

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SpaceX releases video of powered booster landing

During the recent Orbcomm OG2 launch, SpaceX attempted its second powered landing during a commercial mission, but this time you don’t have to take the company’s word for it. As the first stage made a controlled touchdown on the surface of the Atlantic Ocean, a video camera recorded the event. SpaceX has released the video for the public to see – give or take a few ice crystals... Continue Reading SpaceX releases video of powered booster landing

Section: Space

Tags: Rocket, SpaceX

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Jaguar gets on its bike with Tour de France F-Type concept

Some say that cars and bicycles mix like sheep and cattle, and that supercars and bicycles mix like bears and sea otters. Jaguar has other ideas with the creation of a bespoke version of the F-Type Coupé for the Team Sky British professional cycling team; turning it into a "high performance support vehicle." .. Continue Reading Jaguar gets on its bike with Tour de France F-Type concept

Section: Automotive

Tags: Cars, Cycling, Jaguar, Jaguar F-type, Supercars

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Shelter on the Moon could be the pits

Moving into a new neighborhood means finding a place to live, and 45 years after Neil Armstrong set foot on the Moon, our largest satellite is still notoriously short on housing. However, that may be changing as NASA announces that its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter(LRO) has discovered over 200 deep pits on the Moon that could not only provide scientists with deeper insights into the geology of the Moon, but could also be used as sites for future Lunar outposts. .. Continue Reading Shelter on the Moon could be the pits

Section: Space

Tags: Arizona State University, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Moon, NASA, Spacecraft

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Predator B ER drone completes endurance flight

The Predator B (AKA the MQ-9 Reaper) is a pretty impressive bit of machinery. The unmanned military drone has an official range of 1,151 mi (1,852 km, 1,000 nautical miles), and a flight endurance when fully loaded of 14 hours, but for the US Air Force that isn't good enough. At this year’s Farnborough Airshow, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc, the builder of the Predator B, announced the second successful endurance flight of its Predator B Extended Range (ER) Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA), which flew from June 17 to June 18 as part of a program to improve the Predator’s endurance and capabilities... Continue Reading Predator B ER drone completes endurance flight

Section: Military

Tags: Aircraft, Drone, Farnborough Airshow, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems,Predator, UAV, US Air Force

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C-Bird VSAT keeps sailors connected with home

Even as engineers work on autonomous ship-handling technologies, skilled and experienced crews are still vital for keeping shipping lines operating. The only snag is that most sailors today have become so used to never being out of touch that they've come to expect similar connectivity while at sea. To help maintain morale and retain skilled crews, Maritime Broadband has developed its C-Bird Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) satellite transceiver to keep sailors connected with their families and the internet... Continue Reading C-Bird VSAT keeps sailors connected with home

Section: Marine

Tags: Broadband, Communications, Connectivity, Internet, Modular, Sailors, Satellite,Shipping, Ships

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Solderdoodle USB rechargeable soldering iron brings open-source portability

The days of being tied to a mains outlet to do a bit of soldering are long gone, but what about the techie on the go who doesn't want to be lumbered with chargers, batteries, and cans of gas? Solderdoodle is a partly 3D printed device that can be charged using a standard USB cable... Continue Reading Solderdoodle USB rechargeable soldering iron brings open-source portability

Section: Electronics

Tags: Kickstarter, Open Source, Rechargeable, USB

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Taranis drone demonstrates stealth in latest test

Combat pilots aren't going on the dole queue any time soon, but they might want to start dusting off their resumes. BAE Systems Taranis Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle has flown for the first time in a full stealth configuration, making it almost invisible to radar ... and bringing the day of the unmanned war plane that much closer to reality... Continue Reading Taranis drone demonstrates stealth in latest test

Section: Military

Tags: Aircraft, BAE Systems, Drone, Stealth, Taranis, UAV, Unmanned

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ESA to record destruction of spaceship from the inside

Ever wonder if the light goes out when you close the fridge door? Or what it’s like to ride a spacecraft as it burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere? The fridge may remain an eternal mystery, but ESA plans to answer the latter question when its unmanned Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)-5 Georges Lemaître completes its six-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The space agency has developed a “black box” camera system designed to record the dramatic event and transmit the images back to Earth after the craft breaks up. .. Continue Reading ESA to record destruction of spaceship from the inside

Section: Space

Tags: Cargo, ESA, International Space Station, NASA, Spacecraft

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BAE Systems announces Striker II HMD for combat pilots

This week at the Farnborough Airshow, BAE Systems showed off its latest Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD), the Striker II flight helmet. The unit not only provides a digital, visor-projected night vision system that is equivalent or better than current HMD systems, but it has also seen a weight reduction for greater safety and comfort... Continue Reading BAE Systems announces Striker II HMD for combat pilots

Section: Military

Tags: 3D, BAE Systems, Farnborough Airshow, Helmet-mounted, High-resolution, Night Vision

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Elbit extends Skylens HUD system to helicopter pilots

Helicopters are so commonplace, it's easy to forget that an aircraft that can take off and land vertically as well as hover is a tricky thing to fly – especially in close quarters and low visibility. One solution is augmented reality systems, such as the Helicopter Skylens wearable head-up display for Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) applications. .. Continue Reading Elbit extends Skylens HUD system to helicopter pilots

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Augmented Reality, Helicopters, HUD, Wearable

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Construction begins on DARPA's autonomous unmanned anti-submarine vessel

As part of DARPA's Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel (ACTUV) program, Reston Virginia-based company Leidos is building the first robotic autonomous vessel designed to locate and track the extremely quiet diesel submarines that are finding their way into the navy fleets around the world... Continue Reading Construction begins on DARPA's autonomous unmanned anti-submarine vessel

Section: Military

Tags: Autonomous, Construction, DARPA, Reconnaissance, Submarine, Surveillance,Unmanned

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Jaguar XE to be unveiled on September 8

Jaguar has announced that its new XE compact sport sedan will make its public debut in London on September 8. While most carmakers tease the outside of their new cars before talking about what’s under the bonnet, Jaguar is working from the inside out with a preview of the XE’s engine, suspension, and aluminum-intensive architecture that the company claims "redefines the concept of the sports sedan." .. Continue Reading Jaguar XE to be unveiled on September 8

Section: Automotive

Tags: Jaguar, Performance

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Airbus extends widebody aircraft family with A330neo

Airbus has announced the launch of the A330-800neo and the A330-900neo, which are the latest variants of the A330 two-engined widebody airliner that entered service in 1994. Airbus says that the A300neo aircraft use the new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine and are the most cost-efficient wide-body aircraft on the market with 14 percent better fuel consumption per passenger seat compared to today's A330... Continue Reading Airbus extends widebody aircraft family with A330neo

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aerodynamics, Airbus, Aircraft, Rolls Royce

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Create your own hi-res 3D model of a stellar outburst

Using a 3D printer to make key fobs and automatic pistols is old hat. The latest thing is a 3D-printed model stellar nebulae. Using new telescopic observations, NASA has created a 3D model of the Homunculus Nebula that isn't just a string of mathematical equations, but a printable plan for a physical representation of an exploding star system. It’s intended to give astronomers a better understanding of the nature of the stars, but can also be downloaded and printed out by the public using a 3D printer... Continue Reading Create your own hi-res 3D model of a stellar outburst

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Tags: 3D Printing, Astronomy, NASA

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Falcon 9 launches Orbcomm OG2 on fourth attempt

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket today, carrying six Orbcomm OG2 communication satellites in the second mission flight of a Falcon booster equipped with landing legs. At 11:15 am EDT, the Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch comes on the heels of three aborted attempts. The first, on May 10, was cancelled due to a helium leak; a second on June 20, was scratched because of a depressurization alarm in the second stage; and a third, on June 21, was called off because of bad weather. .. Continue Reading Falcon 9 launches Orbcomm OG2 on fourth attempt

Section: Space

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

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Firefly Space Systems unveils Alpha launch vehicle design with aerospike engine

The signs of a healthy industry isn't just growth or innovation, but a tendency to reach out and fill niche markets. A case in point is the small satellite launch company Firefly Space Systems, which recently unveiled its planned Alpha launcher. Aimed at the small satellite launch market, it's designed to launch satellites into low-Earth orbit (LEO) at very low cost with an unconventional aerospike engine. It is also the first orbital launcher to use methaneas fuel... Continue Reading Firefly Space Systems unveils Alpha launch vehicle design with aerospike engine

Section: Space

Tags: Firefly Space Systems, Launch, Methane, Propellant, Rocket

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Airbus patents windowless cockpit that would increase pilots' field of view

Imagine showing up at the airport to catch your flight, looking at your plane, and noticing that instead of windows, the cockpit is now a smooth cone of aluminum. It may seem like the worst case of quality control in history, but Airbus argues that this could be the airliner of the future. In a new US patent application, the EU aircraft consortium outlines a new cockpit design that replaces the traditional cockpit with one that uses 3D view screens instead of conventional windows... Continue Reading Airbus patents windowless cockpit that would increase pilots' field of view

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Airbus, Aircraft, Augmented Reality, Display, Flying

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Changing instructions to make robot joints more energy efficient

Getting robots to carry out repetitive tasks precisely and untiringly is relatively easy. Getting them to do it in the most efficient way possible is another thing entirely. Unai Ugalde-Olea, lecturer in the Department of Electronics Technology of the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country is working on a new way of controlling robot joints that promises energy savings of up to 40 percent by changing the way the robot handles instructions. .. Continue Reading Changing instructions to make robot joints more energy efficient

Section: Robotics

Tags: Energy Efficient, Engineering, Prototype, Robots

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BMW developing wireless inductive charging system for electric vehicles

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids may be green and sustainable, but that doesn't mean much if you forget to plug them in the night before. To overcome this frustrating morning surprise, BMW Group is developing a new generation of wireless inductive charger technology that’s comparable in speed to cables, but requires no more effort than parking and pressing a button. .. Continue Reading BMW developing wireless inductive charging system for electric vehicles

Section: Automotive

Tags: Automotive, BMW, Charging, Electric Vehicles, Inductive, Plug-in Hybrid, Prototype

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DisplayMapper unveils MirrorBox projection-mapped display unit

Advertising is a bit like an arms race, with businesses competing with one another in a never-ending battle for the eyes and ears of consumers. The latest salvo in this Don Draper war is the MirrorBox, billed as "the world's first projection-mapped display unit." Built by DisplayMapper, a division of London-based Projection Artworks, the MirrorBox is a self-contained projection system designed for retail spaces and points of sale that projects stereographically-mapped images onto three-dimensional objects... Continue Reading DisplayMapper unveils MirrorBox projection-mapped display unit

Section: Good Thinking

Tags: 3D, Advertising, Display, Projectors, Video

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Daimler Future Truck 2025 completes first autonomous highway run

Self-driving cars are the next big thing, but with all the talk of sipping latte and reading the morning paper while our cars drive us to work, it's easy to forget about the huge impact this technology will have on other road transport segments such as freight distribution. As part of the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025 program, Daimler Trucks has taken the most advanced of its autonomous trucks for a spin in "completely realistic driving situations" on a section of the A14 autobahn near Magdeburg, Germany... Continue Reading Daimler Future Truck 2025 completes first autonomous highway run

Section: Automotive

Tags: Autonomous, Daimler, Infrastructure, Mercedes-Benz, Robotic, Self-Driving, Vehicle

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British Airways tests "happiness blanket"

British Airways recently flew a group of volunteers on flight BA 189 Dreamliner from Heathrow to New York as part of an experiment to study how people react to the night-time flight across time zones. What made this particular flight unusual were the high-tech "happiness blankets" used to measure how relaxed passengers were as part of a study of how to combat jet lag. .. Continue Reading British Airways tests "happiness blanket"

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Brain, British Airways, University College London

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Autonomous vehicles to join the US Army

Over the next quarter of a century, the US Pentagon sees robots becoming more and more a part of military life with robot warplanes, submersibles, and infantry vehicles taking their place on the battlefields of the future. It may conjure up a very flashy vision of Transformer-like killing machines, but the US Army sees the first robots as autonomous vehicles used in the more prosaic task of delivering groceries and other supplies. .. Continue Reading Autonomous vehicles to join the US Army

Section: Military

Tags: Autonomous Vehicles, Robots, Transport, US Army

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Grenoble embraces last-mile EV sharing scheme

Solving the problem of urban transportation has vexed town planners since the days of Julius Caesar. It isn't just a matter of coming up with a better bus or shared cars. Unless you want people to end up slogging the last mile of their journey in the rain, a city’s transportation system needs to be comprehensive and integrated. The French city of Grenoble is taking a stab at the problem by introducing Toyota's Ha:mo (Harmonious Mobility) system into its broader transport management scheme. .. Continue Reading Grenoble embraces last-mile EV sharing scheme

Section: Urban Transport

Tags: EDF, Electric Vehicles, France, I-road, Infrastructure, Three Wheel, Toyota,Transport

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BAE Systems' IntelliCabin to improve flights for passengers and cabin crew

Modern air travel isn't always a pleasant experience – especially for those flying in the back. It’s partly a matter of economics, partly engineering. The eternal question is, how to make economy travel more pleasant while keeping the airline's overall operating costs down? BAE System’s IntelliCabin system aims to address such concerns by making cabin operation more efficient for the crew and improving the comfort of passengers... Continue Reading BAE Systems' IntelliCabin to improve flights for passengers and cabin crew

Section: Aircraft

Tags: Aircraft, Airlines, BAE Systems, Comfort, Flying, Lighting, Travel

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