Cryonics enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that scientists have demonstrated the ability to revive frozen life not just after a couple years or even a couple of decades. They can bring something back to life that’s been frozen for fifteen centuries. The previous record was just 20 years.
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As an electricity source, what could be greener than plants? That’s the idea behind this rig, the world’s first system that powers an FM radio using nothing more than the photosynthetic powers of moss. And creators Fabienne Felder and Dr. Paolo Bombelli are just getting started.
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If the phrase ‘caveat emptor’ (aka buyer beware) applies to anything, it’s Kickstarter and other crowdfunded products. Wonderful things are promised by optimistic designers, inventors, and marketers, but rarely are they delivered
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Modular Robotics, a company that hails from Boulder, Colorado, is all set to roll out a collection of robot-building kits to those who are interested, where it would enable you to work on just about any kind of robot that you would like – just use your imagination. Even better is the fact that there is no need for any kind of programming, now how about that? These kits are called MOSS, and they will come in a variety of sizes.
The larger sized MOSS kits will feature pieces that let you build your robot, where all of the plastic has been molded around several exposed magnets and ball bearings, so that connecting them would be a snap. Apart from that, Modular Robotics also has plans to roll out an app which would let you use a compatible mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet to control your semi-autonomous creations. Eric Schweikardt, the CEO and design director at Modular Robotics, mentioned, “It’s trying to give kids education and exposure to these computational components without putting up that barrier.” It is nice to know that what started off as a Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its goal of $100,000. Expect it to ship in February next year – so if you want to propose to your other half, why not use this creative method then?
MOSS Robot Kit Helps You Get Started Even Without Having A Clue original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Modular things are having a moment, even if Motorola’s plans for a modular smartphone look more pipe dream than practical reality. With modular robotics it’s a different story. Progress towards more sophisticated bot-making kits is being made steadily, block by block.
Just last month MIT created self-assembling modular bots, for instance. Today Modular Robotics, the Boulder, Colorado-based maker of the Cubelets robotics building blocks designed for kids and kidults, has kicked off a Kickstarter campaign for the next generation of its product, which it’s calling MOSS.
The main change with MOSS vs Cubelets is an evolved design for the blocks involving ball magnet connectors. What’s so great about ball magnets? They allow for joints between blocks to be more dynamic – to swing or hinge, for instance – and thus for the blocks to be configured into a greater variety of more kinetically dynamic bots.
The company has also increased the range of the modules on offer – to allow for a greater variety of bots to be built.
The MOSS blocks will use colour-coded connecting faces to help signpost how they need to be connected up for the blocks’ various functions to work.
Modules on offer include the likes of battery modules to power stuff; spin and wheel modules to add motion/movement; Bluetooth modules for data connectivity so you can pair the bot with a smartphone or computer and remote control it; and sensor modules for detecting light or movement. Snap the modules together in functional configurations and off you go.
Modular Robotics is seeking $100,000 from Kickstarter backers keen to be first to get their hands on MOSS and start building. The estimated shipping date for the construction kits is February next year.
It’s offering various kits to Kickstarter backers – starting at $59 for a simple starter kit that lets you build a light-sensing robot; or $99 for a kit to make a distance-sensing bot and build simple robots that can drive; up to $379 for an advanced kit that lets you build a Bluetooth-controlled car and more – or $949 for a “mega bundle” of two basic kits and two advanced builder kits so you have lots of pieces to play with.
With the goal of giving kids the ability to easily design and build their own robotic creations, a group of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University came up with the idea for a series of technology-packed building blocks they called Cubelets that became complex robots when assembled. Those researchers went on to found a company called Modular Robotics to sell their creations, and they’re now back with the next generation version of those blocks called MOSS that introduce a novel steel sphere connection system that breathes even more life into everything you build.
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Some objects age gracefully. Think the design of products from 1960’s era Braun. Or some of Apple’s stuff. But that’s just the design that stays timeless, the actual object gets beat up by both Father Time, Mother Nature and Careless Human. It’s going to be rare to see a mint condition iPod a hundred years from now, just like it’s rare to see something pristine from before World War I. Artist Maico Akiba imagined what our gadgets would look like a 100 years from now and boy do they take a beating. More »
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