Dec 14

CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it

Posted in: diy, homebrew, photography, robot, rugged, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, waterproof

If you’re into real life bunny wabbits and other such wildlife, but not a fan of the cold, wet and windy outdoors, what do you do? We’d say just boot up the console and shoot you some pixelated peoples, but Steve Norris’ idea might be just a tad more practical. He has authored the above mobile snap-station, which is equipped with an infrared video camera, a Nikon DSLR, and pairs of motors, 10Ah batteries, and solar panels. Power flows from the latter into the former to turn wildlife stalking into a pleasurable pastime for even the most indoorsy of folks. Video demonstration of the hardware after the break.

Continue reading CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it

CoolerBot photographs nature, gets its power from it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 07

Peptide nanotube ‘forest’ coating could mean self-cleaning windows, more efficient batteries, Alzheimer’s cure, world peace

Posted in: solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, Windows

Peptide nanotube 'forest' coating could mean self-cleaning windows, more efficient batteries, Alzheimer's cure, world peaceWe are rapidly coming to grips with the idea that there is nothing nanotubes can’t do. They’re boosting solar cell efficiency, hoisting more junk into space, and even providing an exceptionally light meal. Now they’ll even clean your windows — well, not your windows, but your future self’s windows thanks to research at Tel Aviv University, where a team has created a way to grow a so-called forest of nanotubes out of peptides. This means they’re exceptionally cheap to produce and, as they’ve been shown to repel dirt and water, they’ll make an ideal coating for windows and solar cells. They can also act as a super-capacitor, increasing the output of batteries, and there’s even hope that they could treat Alzheimer’s disease. Yes, nanotubes certainly are the future — prepare for obsolescence.

Peptide nanotube ‘forest’ coating could mean self-cleaning windows, more efficient batteries, Alzheimer’s cure, world peace originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 04

Captain Piccard’s Solar Impulse takes flight

Posted in: electric car, ElectricCar, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

They said it couldn’t be done. They laughed and questioned what would happen when the sun sets, but the man whose passport reads Piccard, Bertrand, and whose bold will and bald helm match a similarly named Capitaine, has now overseen the first solar-powered flight on the Solar Impulse HB-SIA. Okay, so it was 1,150 feet flown at a meter above ground level, but that’s just classic Swiss caution for you, no reason not to celebrate the fact that there’s now a flying tub powered purely by solar energy and promising a future of aircraft operating indefinitely — so long as the sun doesn’t forget to rise every morning. This comes mere days after the first runway tests were carried out, leading us to believe that this is one mission with a glorious chance of success.

Captain Piccard’s Solar Impulse takes flight originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nov 30

Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark

Posted in: prototype, radio, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili
We don’t really have much use for radio over the airwaves — hell, the closest we ever get to the halcyon days of rock’n’roll radio is the Flaming Groovies station on Pandora. But something as convenient (and as cute) as this next item just might get us back in the habit. A proof-of-concept by a small handful of designers (Wu Kun-chia, Wang Shih-ju, Chen Ming-daw & Liou Chang-ho), Flexio is a portable, printed, solar powered, paper-thin FM receiver that fits in a book — or a pocketbook. Each radio is tuned to a specific frequency, so the design calls for boxed sets for different cities (for example, Taipei, Berlin, or Paris). Sure, it’s probably not convenient to carry the whole box around with you, but you might want to hang onto KROQ in case you should ever find yourself wandering around LA late Sunday night/early Monday morning. Get a closer look after the break.

Continue reading Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark

Flexio solar powered FM radio doubles as bookmark originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceYanko Design  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 24

Captain Piccard’s Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Posted in: electric, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, video

Good news, kids — the solar-powered jet with globetrotting ambitions has started sneaking out of the hangar and onto the runway for some mild exercise in the form of landing gear and taxi testing. Captained by Bertrand Piccard — a real person — the Solar Impulse project is still on track for a 2012 globe circumnavigation attempt powered only by the sun’s rays from above and the well-wishes from below. The humongous bird is described as having “the wingspan of an Airbus and the weight of a car,” and its recent outdoorsy jaunts have done nothing to dampen spirits, making that roadmap for its first flight early next year seem entirely viable. We’ve got no less than three videos for you after the break, but we won’t mind if you only watch one.

Continue reading Captain Piccard’s Solar Impulse starts runway testing

Captain Piccard’s Solar Impulse starts runway testing originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Inhabitat, Wired  |  sourceSolar Impulse  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 20

Power HotSpot: Juice Your Gadgets Anywhere

Posted in: household, solar power, Today's Chili

power-hotspot

The Power HotSpot from Solis takes something good (solar power) and makes it easy to use. For $375, you get a portable solar panel and base unit which puts out a 12 Volt supply. Plug in anything with a car cigarette-lighter adapter and you have gadget-power, wherever you are.

Or at least, wherever it is sunny. Some possible uses are suggested on the site: keep the lights burning in a garden shed or den, run a pond fountain, or “maintain a deer feeder & surveillance camera” (and edge case, we suspect). Of course the real uses are far more fun. Blog about gadgets all day long from the beach, for example, or power a beer cooler and stereo whilst picnicking.

We like it, although “portable” in this case clearly just means “fits in a car trunk”. We’re intrigued by one of the possible use-cases, though. The list says that you can “recharge bun warmers”. What is that all about?

Power Hotspot product page [Solis]


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Nov 20

Power HotSpot for 12 volt ‘noncritical’ electronics and the survivalists who love them

Posted in: green, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili
Companies have been trying to get the ball rollin’ for a few years now, but we haven’t really seen a solar charger hit the sweet spot between convenience and performance that makes us want to shell out our hard earned dough (or ill-gotten booty). Regen’s ReNu doesn’t look bad, for example, but it’s not exactly something you can take camping. If you are a Grizzly Adams-type, however, Power HotSpot might be something worth looking into. The latest from Solis Energy, a company heretofore known for its commercial solar products, this is a portable unit that can power 12 volt “noncritical” devices via a standard car power adaptor, anywhere that gets a decent amount of sunlight. Retails for $375. PR after the break.

Continue reading Power HotSpot for 12 volt ‘noncritical’ electronics and the survivalists who love them

Power HotSpot for 12 volt ‘noncritical’ electronics and the survivalists who love them originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Photography Blog  |  sourceSolis Energy  | Email this | Comments

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Nov 02

Japanese team takes top prize at World Solar Challenge

Posted in: Cars, eco, Environment, ev, green, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili, Transportation

A Japanese team from Tokai University has taken the top spot at the World Solar Challenge, which was held at the end of last week in Australia. The team beat out the Delft University team which won four consecutive previous Challenges, and this year took second place, with the third seat going to the University of Michigan. The race course travels from southern to northern Australia over 3,000 km (about 1864 miles), and the winning team’s car, Tokai Challenger, completed the race in just under 30 hours, averaging 62 miles per hour. Other notable participants included the MIT-built Eleanor.

[Via Wired]

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Japanese team takes top prize at World Solar Challenge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 28

i.Tech’s SolarVoice Bluetooth headset could save the environment, not your look

Posted in: bluetooth, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili
i.Tech's SolarVoice Bluetooth headset could save the environment, not your look

Those looking for another excuse to wear a Bluetooth headset all the time just got it: iTech’s $75 Dynamic SolarVoice 908. That awfully long title is applied to a conceptually simple device, a headset with a tiny solar panel on the side rated at five hours of talk time when fully charged. Sadly, though, there’s no mention of how long you’ll need to bask in the sun to get it there. (AC and USB charging are also naturally on offer.) Unlike earlier examples it’s A2DP compliant, so it’ll stream your tunes, and boasts integrated noise cancellation, so it’s perfect for making your drunken barroom conversations a little more garbled.

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i.Tech’s SolarVoice Bluetooth headset could save the environment, not your look originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 26

Dell and Envision Solar refashion parking lot into clean energy farm, EV recharge station (video)

Posted in: electric, electric vehicle, ElectricVehicle, ev, solar, solar power, SolarPower, Today's Chili

Dell has added a shiny new feather to its cap today with the announcement of a freshly completed Solar Grove renewable energy installation. The system is composed of 512 solar panels, which provide shelter for 56 cars, and are capable of harvesting 131,000 kWh of energy per year. This power will be primarily used in the adjacent Round Rock HQ, but CleanCharge stations will also be available should you wish to juice up your electric vehicle on Mother Nature’s finest. No matter how much Dell might have splashed out to bring this integration together, we can’t help but suspect that the smug satisfaction of getting free energy — both in pecuniary and ecological terms — must be priceless. Video awaits after the break.

Continue reading Dell and Envision Solar refashion parking lot into clean energy farm, EV recharge station (video)

Dell and Envision Solar refashion parking lot into clean energy farm, EV recharge station (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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