1. Lockheed Martin Improves its Robotic Exoskeleton Called HULC
The HULC Robotic Exoskeleton MK II developed by Lockheed Martin has been upgraded. The company carried out a number of evaluation tests of its new exoskeleton.
Now the hydraulic "power-suit" features improved protection and is much easier to adjust than the previous model. In addition, the exoskeleton boasts an increased run-time and new control software.
It is worth mentioning that HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) is just one of several exoskeleton developed for both the military and civilians.
Soldiers equipped with HULC are stronger and faster, and can carry heavy loads of up to 200lbs through a rough terrain at a speed of 7mph with 10mph bursts. The machine can register a range of 12 miles at lower speeds.
In order to lift loads the exoskeleton uses power-assisted straps. According to Lockheed Martin, HULC has a better operational runtime, which was achieved with the help of military-standard rechargeable batteries, reports Gizmag.
The company believes that its improved exoskeleton could be used in various industrial applications and even in healthcare.
2. OrtusTech Unveils World's Smallest High-Res Display
The company called OrtusTech has developed what it claims to be the world's smallest full HD display.
The new device measures 4.8 inches and its panel has a resolution of 1,920 × 1,080.
The high-end resolution was create with the help of advanced HAST (Hyper Amorphous Silicon TFT) microfabrication technology, developed by OrtusTech.
In order to get high resolution in such a small size, the company squeezed in 458 pixels per inch.
Being able to support 16 million colors, the device also provides a viewing angle of 160 degrees, informs NewLaunches.
Some of the uses of the new device from OrtusTech include HDTV equipment, screens, monitors, smartphones and handheld video consoles.
3. Cargo Planes Used to Plant 900,000 Trees a Day
Lockheed Martin decided to use its fleet of decommissioned C-130 Hercules cargo aircrafts, which were previously used to drop land mines, as foresters.
Thus the military innovation company managed to turn the 25 year old idea, proposed by former UK RAF pilot Jack Walters, into reality.
Each cargo plane will be equipped with the necessary tools to be able to drop up to 900,000 trees in one day.
The aircrafts will fly at an altitude of 1,000 feet at a speed of 130 knots. Using the same technique as before (but with cones instead of land mines), they will be able to plant 3,000 cones each minute.
It is worth mentioning that the cones are created in a way to bury themselves after hitting the soil. The casing of the tree bombs will dissolve and the trees will take root, having all that is needed for a tree to grow, including moisture and a measure of fertilizer, informs TreeHugger.
Today there are about 2,500 unused C-130 planes in 70 countries around the world.
4. Cybertecture Interactive Mirror with Numerous Applications
Although the interactive display technology is not new, each time a new product comes up it almost instantly catches the attention of the public.
A new device that complements the series of interactive home furnishing equipments is Cybertecture Mirror display.
The device represents a mirror that can be controlled with the help of a remote. The operative system of the reflecting display allows the user to connect to their cloud stored information.
It also includes messaging, weather and a number of applications like the fitness-tracking utility that connects to a bathroom scale, informs Akihabara News.
It would be interesting to note that the mirror is made of 800 x 500 x 5mm fog resistant glass. It also boasts Wi-Fi connection and 10W stereo speakers. The price tag of this contraption is $7,700.
5. Implantable Flexible LEDs for Medical Monitoring
A team of scientists from the United States, China, Korea and Singapore decided to create flexible ultra-thin sheets of LEDs and photodetectors that can be implanted under human skin to help perform different biomedical applications such as activating photo-sensitive drugs.
In addition the light emitting diodes and photodetectors can be used for medical monitoring.
The lead researcher of the project, which was published in Nature Materials, is John Rogers of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the US.
According to Mr. Rogers, the part of the research that required the largest amount of time was the development of the organic LEDs (OLEDs), which are very sensitive to water and oxygen.
Researchers say that their flexible LEDs could be used to create implantable patches for monitoring wound healing. In addition, the team's latest invention could be used for making diagnosis or spectroscopy, informs Physorg.
These LEDs could also be used in robotics. Currently Rogers is working on the possible commercialization of the invention.
6. TDK Presents 1 Terabyte Optical Disc
This year, the annual tradeshow and the largest IT and electronics exhibition in Japan, CEATEC, witnessed a number of very interesting devices. One of them is a sleek optical disk from TDK.
The disk unveiled at the 2010 Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies boasts a capacity of 1 terabyte.
According to Tetsuo Nozawa of Nikkei Electronics, the company was able to create the disk with such a capacity by forming 16 recording layers, each having a capacity of 32GB on both sides.
Nozawa mentioned that TDK created a disk using a material with a high light transmittance. One layer has a light transmittance of 95.1 percent, while the entire disk has a light transmittance of 72.6 percent.
"The material has already been used for part of a Blu-ray disc - and it does not have a problem of durability," said Nozawa.
The new disk from TDK could be used for various applications like home-use recordings, backups and broadcasting, informs TGDaily.
7. Surgical Robot that Offers Tactile Feedback to Surgeons
Although a surgery assisted by machines is steadier, more accurate and less invasive, one of its main disadvantages is that the controls of the robot don't provide a sense of touch, thus the surgeon is unable to feel any of the resistance put up by the tissues of the patient.
In order to solve the issue, Linda van den Bedem from Eindhoven University of Technology decided to create a surgical robot that offers tactile feedback. The researcher's latest invention is called Sofie, which stands for Surgeon's Operating Force-feedback Interface Eindhoven.
The machine can be controlled with the help of joysticks found on the control panel. It would be interesting to note that the joysticks are harder or easier to move depending on the level of pressure applied by the robot's surgical instruments against the tissues.
It is worth mentioning that such an invention could be used for several tasks such as making stitches, informs Gizmag.
In addition, Van den Bedem's latest invention is more compact if compared to other surgical machines used today. It can be mounted on the operating table, thus if the table is moved the robot moves with it.
In five years the researcher hopes to start commercializing her latest invention.
8. Device that Uses Waste Heat Energy to Power Electronic Gadgets
A team of researchers from the Louisiana Tech University, led by Dr. Long Que, managed to create a device that converts the waste heat energy from electronic gadgets into power which is then used to recharge these gadgets.
The team's latest invention is called the CNF-PZT Cantilever. It features a carbon nanotube on a cantilever base of piezoelectric material.
It would be interesting to note that the device is very small, which allows researchers to include thousands of small CNF-PZT Cantilever devices into different gadgets. It will allow gadgets to use their own energy to charge.
Researchers were able to show that a device is able to produce enough energy to operate a number of low-power microsensors and intergrated sensors, informs Treehugger.
9. New-Gen Exoskeleton from Berkeley Bionics
Berkeley Bionics, a company based in California, presented at a press conference its latest invention - eLEGS exoskeleton. The device was developed for paraplegics and is controlled via an onboard computer. It helps those afflicted with paraplegia to get out of their wheelchairs, stand and even walk.
One can wear the eLEGS over clothing. The device is built in a way to allow people get in and out of it in just one or two minutes.
Besides, eLEGS can be adjusted in order to fit people between 5'2'' and 6'4'' (157 and 193 cm), and weighing under 220 lbs (100 kg).
When the user got in the exoskeleton, the computer makes use of built-in sensors to monitor their gestures. Based on the gestures, it then analyzes user's intentions and reacts accordingly in real time.
The exoskeleton weights 45 lbs (20 kg). It includes a battery that can hold for about 6 hours, under normal use. The device registers a walking speed of about 2mph (3.22km/h).
Researchers will carry out the first clinical tests early next year. In the second half of 2011 a number of such exoskeletons are expected to be offered to some American rehabilitation clinics.
The company also wants the device to be available for home users. It is worth mentioning that Berkeley Bionics is the developer of the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), an exoskeleton that is available on the market and which makes it possible for the able-bodied soldiers to carry loads weighting up to 200 lbs (91 kg).
10. Lexus Unveils the Most Advanced Driving Simulator in Car-Making Industry
Engineers from the luxury vehicle division of the famous Japanese car manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation, Lexus, are carry out safety tests of new vehicles using the world's most advanced driving simulator.
Lexus decided to present its driving simulator to the public as part of the company's new advertising campaign.
It is worth mentioning that the device can be found on the Toyota research campus in Japan. The driving simulator has a Lexus LS 460 installed on top of a turntable on a 15-foot-high domed structure that moves in all directions.
With the help of a track system, the car can tip forward, backwards, and side-to-side. In addition, according to the engineers, the device can simulate cornering, handling, and speeds the reach 186mph in a 360-degree road environment, informs Fast Company.
According to Dave Nordstrom, Lexus's vice president of marketing, a number of Lexus safety features were developed after the company's specialists carried out a number of tests on the new driving simulator.