Hasta La Gadget!

The strange-looking piece of twisty curly metal below is actually a robot that can shape shift into various shapes. The robot, called milli-motein, is about the size of your oridinary garden catepillar. Says the scientists involved with the project, this robot could be a “harbinger” of the future and the shape shifting robots that are currently science fiction.

The robot gets its name from its size and the fact that it uses a design that was inspired by protein, which can be considered nature’s shape shifter. Milli-motein was revealed in a paper at the 2012 Intelligent Robots and Systems event. What makes the small robot most remarkabe is it protein-inspired motor, a necessity due to the robot’s small size.

What’s so special about the motor? It’s an electropermanent motor, which “is similar in principle” to electromagnet motors. It is composed of two magnets, one of which is weaker than the other. When operated, the magnetic fields can increase or cancel each other. Essentially, this allows them to be utilized as an electromagent without the hassle of actually having one.

The idea for the robot was conceived by MIT’s Head of Center for Bits and Atoms Neil Gershenfeld, who offerd this statement. “[The robot] is effectively a one-dimensional robot that can be made in a continuous strip, without conventionally moving parts, and then folded into arbitrary shapes” The little copper-esque machine can hold its shape even after the power has been turned off.

[via MIT News]

MIT’s milli-motein robot can shape shift is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Here’s a timepiece that was acceptable in the ’80s. This week, Tokyoflash is channeling Elite, Tron and Tempest to create the Kisai Space Digits. Like its difficult-to-read brethren, it’s available in steel, gold or black and comes with a date, alarm, EL backlight and, most essentially, a “warp speed” animation. As usual, if you order before December 6th, it’ll set you back $99 (€77, £61), but if you can’t scrape together the cash in time, then you can pick ’em up afterwards for $129 (€100, £80). Fancy watching a tutorial on how to read the thing? Video’s after the break, space cadets.

Continue reading Tokyoflash goes all ’80s with its Space Digits watch (video)

Filed under: Wearables

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Source: Tokyoflash

The PhoneScope 3D from Spatial Vision and Design offers high-resolution magnified 3D scanning that can have applications for users ranging from forensics specialists to CGI animators. But its developers mostly just want people to have fun with the iPhone add-ons. After years in development, PhoneScope 3D is now raising funds on Kickstarter.

The PhoneScope 3D differentiates itself from other iPhone 3D scanning apps and attachments with a macro lens that magnifies the iPhone’s camera view by up to five times. A light lens attachment clips onto the lens and uses ultra-bright LEDs diffused through glass developed by Spatial Vision and Design to distribute light evenly and reduce coning.

The lens clip, designed to have a low profile and fit over an iPhone bumper, is made from plasma-polished stainless steel, while the light lens attachment is built from aircraft-grade anodized aluminum. The light lens is placed directly over the object being scanned, which means that although there are size limitations, the subject can be rendered in greater detail. The PhoneScope 3D is meant to be used with specially designed desktop software and scans can be turned into 3D prints.

Developer B.J. Rao says his aim with the PhoneScope 3D is to build awareness of 3D scanning. Potential users include “a dermatologist or forensics specialist who now has greater means to examine, review and store visual information,” said Rao. With its affordability and ease of use, the set is also a fun introduction to high-resolution 3D scanning.

Spatial Vision & Design, a startup with locations in St. Louis, Amsterdam, and Seoul, develops mobile software and hardware focusing on vision technologies. B.J. Rao said that he and partners Vijay Rao and Lazlo Kleczewski have wanted to create an app and hardware combination for the iPhone since it was first released by Apple, but the project was put on hold several times over the years because of lack of funding. The trio’s prior hardware experience includes developing and calibrating photolithography machines. B.J. Rao has worked with institutions such as the Museum Gouda in Amsterdam, where he helped develop a 3D scanning technology for an exhibit that allowed visitors to interact with fragile artifacts without handling them.

PhoneScope 3D software is currently available for Windows only, but Rao says their target for OSX support is April or May 2013.

Pre-orders begin at $39 for the early bird special, which comes with a lens clip. The team’s goal is to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter before January 8, with a target delivery date of March 2013 for the lens clips and April 2013 for the sets with the lens clip and light lens attachment.

If you’re itching to show your love for Google’s mobile OS, Polk Audio has you covered with a trio of headphones made “just for Android” that have been freshly listed on their website. Aside from sporting a black and green color scheme fit for Mountain View’s OS, the gear appears to be a simple re-branding of the firm’s sports-minded UltraFit line of in-ear and on-ear headphones, which already pack phone and audio controls. The hardware doesn’t seem to be available just yet, but audiophiles yearning to flaunt their Android pride with the gear will eventually be set back between $70 and $100. Hit the neighboring source links for the breakdown on each model.

Filed under: Peripherals, Wearables

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Via: Android Central

Source: Polk Audio (1), (2), (3)

Solar Impulse, the famous solar-powered airplane, is getting ready for its next ambitious mission. After proving to the world, against all odds, that the 100 percent solar-powered aircraft can fly during the day and night without fuel for more than 24 hours, the next challenge is to fly around the world. The Solar Impulse is not the first solar airplane, however, it is the first solar plane to fly at night time , thanks to the thousands of solar cells on its wings that supply power to its batteries.

In an interview with CBS, Bertrand Piccard, the famous Swiss balloonist who co-piloted the plane with André Borschberg, announced the plan for a round-the-world flight by year 2015. Piccard says that the flight is expected to take 20 days and 20 nights and that he is ready for the historic event. “Everything you do, you have to do it because you are well-prepared and absolutely calm inside yourself,” Piccard said.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Formula E Championship Goes To Rome, Nissan Leaf 2013 To Be Cheaper ,