General

PR2 Robot Helps Mute Quadriplegic Scratch an Itch

August 6, 2023 by noemi

Robots have been the subject of many a science fiction novel or movie. The idea of having robots help humans enjoy more convenient lives is nothing new. For many of us, though, the dream of having robot house help is far from being a reality.

For Henry Evans, a mute quadriplegic, science fiction is becoming reality. He got hold of a PR2, a two-armed wheel robot developed by Willow Garage, a robotics research lab and technology incubator. Together with robotics development platforms, this company also works on robot operating systems.

For the past 10 years, Evans has been unable to do many things that you and I take for granted. Thanks to the collaboration of Willow Garage and Georgia Tech’s Healthcare Robotics Lab, the PR2 is helping Evans live a more independent life in spite of his physical condition.

Men – you probably dislike the chore of having to shave every so often. For people like Evans, being able to shave one’s self is a dream. And imagine this – prior to having the PR2, Evans was not even able to scratch when he felt an itch! I don’t know about you, but that would be pure torture! Thanks to PR2, for the first time in 10 years, Evans was able to scratch an itch himself.

Here is an inspiring video about PR2 and what it can do.

This development is made possible by a project called Robots for Humanity. ((Willow Garage Blog)) The collaborators are mainly using PR2 and researching ways by which this particular robot can help disabled people live more independently. The ultimate goal of the project is to be able to make robots accessible to people who need them most. As they say, Evans is only the beginning.

I applaud Willow Garage and Georgia Tech’s Healthcare Robotics Lab for their efforts and for focusing on a group which really has the need for robotic assistance in the home. While it is cool for those who have no handicap to have a robot assistant (I wouldn’t mind having one!), the idea of helping those in need first is admirable.

It’s one of those moments when you really really wish that a concept were fully part of reality and not a thing of science fiction.

Lab Coat Made of LED Functions as TV

August 6, 2023 by noemi

Alright, DIY-ers out there. Here is the model for your next project! This labcoat is made of LED and even works as a TV! How much cooler can you get?

The LEB lab coat was made by David Forbes, who had one special mission in mind while he was conceptualizing and creating the coat: to wear his creation at Burning Man. Here’s a peek at the lab coat.

Think of it as a color TV set placed on top of a lab coat that any scientist, doctor, or researcher would wear. And yes, the TV displays NTSC video – no need to fiddle with the settings!

If you’re wondering how this was made possible, think about flex boards and color LED displays (160 x 120 pixels to be exact). If the image above is not exactly to your liking, here’s another one that might prove to be more fun.

Homer is David’s hero – just like countless other people in the universe. You have to admit that, while the resolution of the TV will definitely not compete with your HDTV at home, Homer looks pretty good on the lab coat. Well, you know what I mean. 😉

As you may have surmised, the displays covers pretty much the entire torso, down to the leg – back to front, sides semi-included. The brains of this lab coat cum TV can be found in circuit boards mounted on the shoulders and the hips. The work that has gone into this contraption is not to be taken lightly. Six months – and custom fabricated boards, hot glue, FFC cable, double-sided tape, a host of other electronics, and $20,000 – later, David is ready to be a hit at Burning Man. Did I already say this thing cost $20,000 to complete?

Here’s the TV in action.

I tried to ignore how awkwardly David had to move all throughout the demo. I guess he’s going to have to be ready not to sit or even lean against anything when he shows that thing off at the festival!

For more details and photos of the making of the TV lab coat, visit Cathode Corner.

Hyundai Rumored to Be Working on a Supercar

August 5, 2023 by noemi

Rumor is the operative word here. In a story ran by Inside Line ((Source)), it was emphasized – rather heavily – that it is all conjecture and whispers, and that no official verification has been received. Then again, these kinds of rumors always have a source. As they say, where there is smoke, there must be fire. So whether or not this piece of news is true, let’s feast our eyes on what is supposed to be on the drawing board over at Hyundai: a new supercar that is set to blast a lot of competition out of this world.

Think Chevy Corvette Z06. Think Nissan GT-R. Let’s add the Jaguar XK, BMW 650i, Porsche 911 and Cayman to that list. All of these are jaw-dropping, drool-inducing cars, but they just might be in for some competition from Korean car maker Hyundai – if there is any truth to the rumors.

So this car may not exist according to official channels, but the grapevine tells us that the Hyundai supercar is is going to be V8 powered and that the price tag would be anywhere from $80,000 and $100,000. More so, little birds have been saying that the same engine powering the Genesis R-Spec will be found under the hood of the yet unnamed supercar. That is, it will also have the all aluminum Tao 5.0-Liter V8 – something totally new from Hyundai, by the way. In addition to this detail, it is also being said that Hyundai engineers and designers are looking at front engine and midengine designs at this point.

The rumors have been dismissed by John Krafcik (Hyundai CEO) as “scurrilous nonsense” ((I just love the fact that he used that adjective.)) but that should not stop us from enjoying some eye candy – and from looking out for more rumors and leaks!

If the new supercar is going to look anything at all like these two images above, then car lovers will be in for a treat. Never mind that most of us will not be able to afford one.

Other Korean News

South Korea Suspends Asiana Flights Between Incheon and San Francisco

myCopter: Another Step Towards the Age of Flying Cars?

August 5, 2023 by noemi

With news about the Terrafugia being deemed roadworthy hitting the Net recently, hopes for the Age of Flying Cars are sky high. Now, another flying car is in the limelight, making the possibility of flying cars even more of a reality.

This new vehicle is called – rather unimaginatively, I think – myCopter, and it is being touted as a solution to the ever present problem of road congestion. The myCopter is a Personal Aerial Vehicle (PAV) – presumably one of the first of many yet to come – that is aimed to be part of a future personal air transport system (PATS). The idea is for PAVs to be partially or fully autonomous, doing away with the need for air traffic control, which is currently required for airplanes and helicopters. Also included in the concept for a PATS is the fact that PAVs should only be allowed to fly outside controlled airspace, so as not to interfere with the current air traffic.

Brilliant concept – no one can deny that. And if they actually get this system (including the myCopter and other future flying cars) off the ground, I guess we can truly say that this aspect of science fiction has become a reality.

Of course, there are numerous issues that have to be addressed before you and I (and everyone else) will be allowed to man myCopter. Just thinking about all the road accidents we hear about on a daily basis is enough to give anyone the shivers. Now just imagine reckless drivers, not to mention tipsy or drunk ones, taking to the air. For sure, there will always be the moron who will make the air unsafe for everyone else!

Then again, the system designers of myCopter have already taken this into consideration. That is why myCopter is going to be part of a network of flying vehicles. A controlled network, that is. Imagine a cable car system translated into an air system – the myCopters will be programmed to follow formations and avoid obstacles. That may take away from the fun of flying, but in this case, I think safety is a more important consideration. The last thing I want is two myCopters crashing above my house and killing me while I lounge in the garden!

New Solution Keeps Clothing Permanently Free of Germs

August 4, 2023 by noemi

I can already imagine germophobes clapping their hands in glee! No more having to worry about your clothing getting dirtied by sitting on a public bench. No more need for a pair of “bus pants” to make sure that you are not in direct contact with the gazillion germs that are sure to breed in those dirty seats. For sure, Sheldon Cooper would be first in line to get hold of this new solution that can keep clothing free of germs – on a permanent basis.

A team of researchers from the University of Georgia can be credited for this awesome anti-microbial treatment, and before you say that this kind of solution has been around for ages, let me remind you that the existing solutions usually wash off after several trips to the washing machine. After a while, your clothes are good as germ heaven. More so, the existing anti-microbial solutions have to applied during the manufacturing process.

With this new solution, both concerns are addressed rather effectively. One, the treatment can be applied to coats, jeans, dresses, gloves, shoes, carpets, and even plastics – at any time! You don’t have to go on a shopping spree to get a new wardrobe or redecorate your house just so you can be assured of germ-free living. Two, tests have shown that even after washing in hot water many times, the solution remains in the material – as effective as ever.

In their tests, the researchers have also found out that this solution can kill a wide range of pathogens including some of those we find so dreadful: staph, strep, E. coli, pseudomonas, and acetinobacter. More so, a single application of the solution is needed to stop the bacteria from growing; so, no need to use the solution like you apply your perfume all throughout the day.

The main purpose for the solution is to provide those who work in sectors such as healthcare with more protection, but I am sure that the average person will find a lot of use for this as well. I may not be germophobic (although I do like carrying around a travel-size bottle of 70% ethyl alcohol with me at all times, not to mention anti-bacterial wet tissues) but I wouldn’t mind being able to go to the store and buying this solution.

Via
Photo courtesy of Life’s Little Mysteries

Avoid Traffic Jams with the Terrafugia Flying Car

August 4, 2023 by noemi

What do you get when you combine the design of an airplane and the design of a car? The Terrafugia flying car, of course! This “roadable” aircraft is for real and not just a creation of an imaginative mind immersed in the world of science fiction. Neither is it a mere concept car.

The Terrafugia Transition is a light airplane that can take to the roads just like normal cars do. Imagine this. You are late for work, together with everyone who lives in the area. You have a presentation to give, which can make or break your career. You absolutely have to get to the office but the traffic is as thick as molasses. You can either take a hike – literally – or be late. That is, if you do not own a Terrafugia.

If you have one of these babies, then you can simply fly over the masses stuck in rush hour traffic. Zoom in the air without the limitations of the roads and laugh at them suckers for having regular cars.

First, you have to wait for the roadable aircraft to be manufactured, though. They were supposed to be delivered in 2009 but you know how it is with new things. Delays are inevitable, and the Terrafugia is not exempt. A new batch of test machines are being built and the manufacturer says that this year, we might just see production start.

There is the issue of price, of course, as one vehicle will cost you $250,000. Then again, for a vehicle that can hit the pavement as well as fly in the air, the price is not so bad, is it?

There is another problem, especially for those who are looking for a means of transportation that can carry several people. The Terrafugia can fly with a maximum weight of 330 pounds. That includes the passengers AND the payload. Look to your right. Now look to your left. Do you think you and your co-workers can work out a carpooling scheme? 330 pounds isn’t a lot these days!

In spite of the issues, the Terrafugia might just become the granddaddy of flying cars that future generations will take for granted. In the meantime, start saving money and losing weight to make sure the Terrafugia works out for you when it comes out!

Via The Register