The “Runflier” Stalker”, which is an advanced version of the earlier model Evolution, looks like a four-wheeled car with wings that can be folded along the body of the vehicle. It is, however, a lot more than that; it is a landmark airborne vehicle second to none in the world. The Runflier’s designer is a graduate of the Moscow Aviation Institute and a former aviation test pilot. His name is Alexander Begak, and he is also (among his many other hats) the chief designer of Skarabei Laboratory. He proudly claims that in the air the Stalker can travel up to 200 kilometers (about 124 miles) per hour.
The “Runflier” Stalker”, which is an advanced version of the earlier model Evolution, looks like a four-wheeled car with wings that can be folded along the body of the vehicle. It is, however, a lot more than that; it is a landmark airborne vehicle second to none in the world. The Runflier’s designer is a graduate of the Moscow Aviation Institute and a former aviation test pilot. His name is Alexander Begak, and he is also (among his many other hats) the chief designer of Skarabei Laboratory. He proudly claims that in the air the Stalker can travel up to 200 kilometers (about 1The Runflier can take off from a limited runway and can cover the distance of one and a half thousand kilometers (932 miles) without refueling. The vehicle is made of super light coal plastics and Kevlar (a strong, light synthetic fiber) and weighs only 140 kg (about 300 pounds).
A gifted aircraft designer and inventor, Alexander Begak has designed over 15 air-borne vehicles. In 2005 he set an absolute record flying in an ultra-light micro-aircraft of his own construction at the height of 3,701 meters (about 12,000 feet) above sea surface. He said of his air-borne projects most of which were conducted at the Moscow Aviation Institute:
“We want to restore the fleet of ultra-light aviation, the project, which aviators turned down in the 1950s for the benefit of strategic defense goals.”
His ultra-light aircraft can be designated for military purposes as well. The plastic equipment males it invisible to radars and therefore perfect for reconnaissance maneuvers. It can also patrol frontiers, conduct day and night photography, mapping and monitoring.
So the next time you look up in the sky and see something odd there, remember the words of that old television show:
“It’s a bird! It’s a Plane. No, it’s a car!”
Just don’t tell Superman. Even though he’s been dead for years, he just might not be able to take it.4 miles) per hour.
source: www.impactlab.com
Monday, April 27, 2009
Computer Surveillance To Judge Your Intentions
Engineers here are developing a computerized surveillance system that, when completed, will attempt to recognize whether a person on the street is acting suspiciously or appears to be lost. In the recent Proceedings of the 2008 IEEE Conference on Advanced Video and Signal Based Surveillance, James W. Davis and doctoral student Karthik Sankaranarayanan report that they’ve completed the first three phases of the project: they have one software algorithm that creates a wide-angle video panorama of a street scene, another that maps the panorama onto a high-resolution aerial image of the scene, and a method for actively tracking a selected target.
So does this mean that the machines will have to know who you are?
According to the creators, no. “In our research, we care what you do, not who you are. We aim to analyze and model the behavior patterns of people and vehicles moving through the scene, rather than attempting to determine the identity of people. We are trying to automatically learn what typical activity patterns exist in the monitored area, and then have the system look for atypical patterns that may signal a person of interest — perhaps someone engaging in nefarious behavior or a person in need of help.”
This system is more accurate than the traditional camera methods for several reasons. When surveillance operators look through a traditional camera they get only a tiny image — what some refer to as a “soda straw” view of the world. As they move the camera around, they can easily lose a sense of where they are looking within a larger context. The Ohio State software takes a series of snapshots from every direction within a camera’s field of view, and combines them into a seamless panorama.
How does the camera create an accurate panorama? Well, the software maps locations within the fish-eye view onto an aerial map of the scene, such as a detailed Google map. A computer can use this information to calculate where the viewspaces of all the security cameras in an area overlap. Then it can determine the geo-referenced coordinates — latitude and longitude — of each ground pixel in the panorama image.
If this all seems a little bit ‘Big Brother’ to you just wait. The computer is going to try and judge your intentions.
To first determine what constitutes normal behavior, they plan to follow the paths of many people who walk through a particular scene over a long period of time. A line tracing each person’s trajectory will be saved to a database. “You can imagine that over a few months, you’re going to start to pick up where people tend to go at certain times of day — trends,” one of the researchers said. People who stop in an unusual spot or leave behind an object like a package or book bag might be considered suspicious by law enforcement.
Mimes watch out. You may be pegged as a terrorist by the computer when you do your sneaking immitation or your wind walk. While this system has potential it lacks the one thing that humans have, context.
source: www.impactlab.com
So does this mean that the machines will have to know who you are?
According to the creators, no. “In our research, we care what you do, not who you are. We aim to analyze and model the behavior patterns of people and vehicles moving through the scene, rather than attempting to determine the identity of people. We are trying to automatically learn what typical activity patterns exist in the monitored area, and then have the system look for atypical patterns that may signal a person of interest — perhaps someone engaging in nefarious behavior or a person in need of help.”
This system is more accurate than the traditional camera methods for several reasons. When surveillance operators look through a traditional camera they get only a tiny image — what some refer to as a “soda straw” view of the world. As they move the camera around, they can easily lose a sense of where they are looking within a larger context. The Ohio State software takes a series of snapshots from every direction within a camera’s field of view, and combines them into a seamless panorama.
How does the camera create an accurate panorama? Well, the software maps locations within the fish-eye view onto an aerial map of the scene, such as a detailed Google map. A computer can use this information to calculate where the viewspaces of all the security cameras in an area overlap. Then it can determine the geo-referenced coordinates — latitude and longitude — of each ground pixel in the panorama image.
If this all seems a little bit ‘Big Brother’ to you just wait. The computer is going to try and judge your intentions.
To first determine what constitutes normal behavior, they plan to follow the paths of many people who walk through a particular scene over a long period of time. A line tracing each person’s trajectory will be saved to a database. “You can imagine that over a few months, you’re going to start to pick up where people tend to go at certain times of day — trends,” one of the researchers said. People who stop in an unusual spot or leave behind an object like a package or book bag might be considered suspicious by law enforcement.
Mimes watch out. You may be pegged as a terrorist by the computer when you do your sneaking immitation or your wind walk. While this system has potential it lacks the one thing that humans have, context.
source: www.impactlab.com
Microtool Inspired By Human Hand
Using the human hand as a model, scientists at Johns Hopkins University and its medical school have developed a microscopic tool that might one day be used inside the body. The tool, a clawlike gripper less than a millimeter in diameter, could grab cells from tissue for a biopsy, for example.
Most microtools for use in medical applications are operated by tethers of some kind. But the microgripper, developed by Timothy G. Leong, David H. Gracias and colleagues and described in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is autonomous - it can be guided by a magnetic field and actuated by warming or chemicals.
In a hand, jointed fingers are arranged around a central palm, and the fingers can bend to grasp an object. The researchers mimicked this approach in their design, with six “fingers” arranged around a hexagonal “palm.” And just as in a hand, the microgripper’s fingers have rigid metal “bones” connected by flexible joints.
The joints consist of two thin layers of metal, one of which is stressed. Ordinarily the stressed layer would cause the bimetal strip to bend, but the strip is held flat and stiff by a layer of polymer. When this polymer is warmed or degraded by certain chemicals it becomes flexible, allowing the strip to bend and the gripper to close.
The researchers say that there are many hurdles to overcome in using such a device inside the body, but that the work represents “a step toward the development of biocompatible, minimally invasive, autonomous microtools.”
source: www.impactlab.com
iFlyz Holds Your Mobile Device While Flying
Holding your mobile device in your hand is not exactly hard work, but it can get tiring and lead to hand strain as you browse the internet and play your favorite music while travellng on a plane. Using just a suction cup on a flexible rod to grasp your gadget, the iFlyz can take care of your iPhone for you as you surf the net or watch a movie hands free.
The iFlyz makes use of an adjustable clamp to attach to an upright and locked seat tray. It will also attach to one that is open during drink or dinner service. The flexible gooseneck allows the mobile device to be turned in any angle or direction. iFlyz sells for $29.99.
A pretty convenient gadget if you ask me. Sometimes you don’t want to hold your iPhone.
source: www.impactlab.com
T-34 Security ‘bot
From the “Aren’t you a little short to be a Terminator?” school of design comes the squat Tmsuk T-34, which, while it won’t cut you down at the ankles (nor is it a Soviet tank), packs a powerful net-launching mechanism that wraps opponents in a web like Spider-Man’s.
It’s essentially a remote-controlled car that fires a net, controlled by cellphone with live video feedback (crazy advanced Japanese cellphones, mind you).
The T-34 will cost about $9,000 when it’s ready to be marketed to businesses in two years - meanwhile Tmsuk will be working on a home defense version. I don’t know how effective it is at incapacitating an opponent, but it sure does look annoying - check out a video of the ‘bot in action by clicking Continue.
source: www.impactlab.com
Friday, April 24, 2009
USB Missile Launcher
The USB missile launcher is a small gadget that is growing in popularity. Today there are many different kinds of USB missile launchers to fit every “need”. The one we have been testing is the one on the picture. This launcher has a mounted camera for some extra fun.
This one comes with a mounted web cam and a CD with software to control it. You just plug the USB cable and no batteries are needed.
When it is plugged you can navigate the missile launcher with your keyboard or mouse. When you have located your target you press the fire button and this will trigger a sound effect of a missile that fires and off it goes. It comes with 3 darts (missiles) that are created in harmless soft foam to avoid injuries. It shoots away with more power than you would think.
Fanatec Porsche 911 Carrera Racing Wheel
To get that extra feeling to the best car games you really need a steering wheel. With the help of Fanatec’s Porsche 911 Carrera Racing Wheel for PS3 and PC you will come as close to reality as you possible can. This will give you an incredible control of the car and add a lot of fun. After you have tried this racing wheel you will never be able to go back to using the mouse or keyboard for these kinds of games.The Fanatec racing wheel is not very expensive as you can see below, however not all game support the hardware yet. Not many people own anything with the Porsche badge on it and this cool racing wheel got it. If you want to experience authentic car racing experience this is the deal for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
