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Meet Sedric-Volkswagen’s Self-Driving Concept Car
8 March 2017
For families who struggle to tear their children away from the TV in the morning, this could be the answer. A driverless car described as a ‘comfortable lounge on wheels’ has been unveiled by Volkswagen – with a windscreen that doubles as a huge television. And there wouldn’t be any worries about sleepy children losing the remote, as the vehicle’s system can be controlled by voice. Unfortunately for desperate parents, the Sedric – a name derived from ‘self-driving car’ – probably won’t be on the road any time soon. It is a concept car, which often never go into production. Volkswagen have built a self-driving concept car called Sedric which is a so-called Level 5 vehicle capable of fully automated operation There are no pedal controls inside Sedric (pictured) and no driver as the battery-powered car is run by artificial intelligence However with the first fully autonomous vehicles expected on British roads by 2020, car-makers are battling it out to create the most exciting designs. Volkswagen revealed its prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, and stressed it could potentially be bought by individuals. The German firm said: ‘Sedric will drive the children to school and then take their parents to […]
Roborace unveils its self-driving race car, dubbed ‘Robocar’
2 March 2017
This is the self-driving car that Roborace hopes will make autonomous racing a reality. Will racing still be exciting if human drivers are taken out of the equation? Roborace aims to find out. Billed as the first race series for self-driving cars, Roborace unveiled its autonomous race car at the 2017 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Dubbed “the Robocar,” It will hit the track in demonstrations later this year, although it’s still unclear when the green flag will drop on the Roborace series itself. The car was designed by Daniel Simon, who previously designed futuristic vehicles for movies, including Tron: Legacy and Oblivion, and now has the title of chief design officer at Roborace. The finished product looks similar to the concept images released by Simon last year, with a design dramatically different from that of any human-driven race car. While it doesn’t have any room for a driver, the Robocar carries plenty of sensors, which it uses to “see” the environment. The total complement includes five lidar units, two radar units, 18 ultrasonic sensors, two optical speed sensors, six cameras, and a GPS unit. The car’s “brain” is Nvidia’s Drive PX 2 platform, which has also been adapted by […]
TABLE TENNIS-PLAYING ROBOT BREAKS WORLD RECORDS
2 March 2017
Once unable to “even return a Ping-Pong ball” but now officially recognized by Guinness World Records for being the “first robot table tennis tutor,” Omron’s imposing bat-holding contraption has evidently come a long way over the last few years. Awarded for its “unique technological intelligence and educational capabilities,” the unique robot was developed not only to advance the Japanese company’s sensor and control technology, but also to harmonize humans and robots by using it to teach table tennis to human players. As we can see from the video, Omron’s latest version of its robot is a whiz with the bat, able to comfortably keep a rally going with its human opponent. Project lead Taku Oya explains that the robot functions using two vision sensors and one motion sensor. “[The] vision sensors identify the movement of the ball, and the motion sensor identifies the movement of the opponent. It also uses a controller that can analyze speed at one thousand times a second. By using these different sensors, it’s able to judge the skill level of the player.” A fun feature that helped the setup earn its “tutor” label is the LED screen on the table’s net that shows messages of encouragement […]
Limited edition motorcycles halfway between imagination and reality
1 March 2017
Motorcycles are art forms for many people, riders or otherwise. Owners and designers either start from stock models or build from scratch to create the look, feel, and impact they desire. Typical custom bike budgets can begin at $25,000 and will climb quickly. When star designers build one-offs for special exhibits or events, the investments can easily hit six figures. Custom Harley-Davidsons are the most common two-wheeled canvas in the U.S. Bandit9 Motorcycle Design, a small shop in Vietnam takes a different approach. Bandit9 creates strictly limited editions of nine bikes with distinctive looks and most price tags under $12,000, including shipping worldwide. Bandit9 currently has three available models powered by brand-new Honda Supersport 125cc engines: Eve Liquid Black, Eden, and Eve Alchemist. The exception to the engine and price range is Dark Side, built on a Harley-Davison Street HD V-Twin 750cc motor. Dark Side is also limited to nine units. Eve Liquid Black There are two Eve models in Bandit9’s currently available bikes: Eve Liquid Black and Eve Alchemist. Liquid black has a handcrafted steel unibody with a black beacon cowl and reflective black chrome. Other structural and mechanical components include a sand cast swingarm, dual shock rear suspension, inverted […]
Boston Dynamics shows off first official video of its new wheel-footed robot
28 February 2017
Nearly a month after the first footage of the bot was leaked online, Boston Dynamics has finally released an official video of Handle — its new self-balancing, wheel-footed robot. Robots are the future, and Boston Dynamics is at the cutting edge with its mind-blowing wheeled robot. When you think of Boston Dynamics, you probably think about the company’s freakish four-legged robots that walk and crawl their way over obstacles. But if you thought it couldn’t get any crazier than that, just check out the company’s latest creation: an experimental wheeled robot that one team member described as being “potentially nightmare-inducing.” In a recent presentation, Boston Dynamics showcased its first-ever wheeled robot along with a preview of its new and improved SpotMini robot. While the SpotMini wowed the crowd with its skills in doing the dishes and delivering drinks, it was the wheeled robot named “Handle” that left everyone in awe. Why was it given the name Handle? Because someday it will be given the ability to handle objects, a feature set that makes the robot even cooler and more terrifying to consider. Combining wheels with legs and a stabilization system, the Handle looks like the monstrous offspring of a robot and a Segway. According to Boston […]
Apple gets patent for 3-year-old smartwatch design labeled ‘iTime’
26 February 2017
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office served up further evidence on Tuesday that Apple is designing a smartwatch when it awarded the company a patent for a wrist-worn gadget with a touchscreen and ability to communicate with a smartphone. “The invention pertains to an electronic wristwatch,” wrote Apple in the filing for U.S. The patent doesn’t give much away about any commercial product that might be planned by Apple. It describes “an electronic wristband to be worn on a wrist of a user” that has a receptacle for a “mobile electronic device.” That mobile device is a small display module that can be clipped into the wristband when needed. The display portion is a mobile device in its own right and functions while not clipped into the wristband. Once connected together, the wristband and mobile device form a smartwatch that can communicate with a second device such as a phone, tablet PC or desktop computer. The wristband might include haptic sensors that allow for control with gestures “with one’s arm or wrist.” “For example, the gesture might be a horizontal movement for one user input option (e.g., decline incoming call), and might be a vertical movement for another user input option (e.g., accept incoming call). […]
IRIS ETRIKE OFFERS THE COMFORT OF A TINY CAR WHILE REMAINING ECO-FRIENDLY
25 February 2017
People around the world have been doing their part to go green by looking at other ways to commute with fewer carbon emissions. Many have turned towards bicycles, but others miss the comfort and convenience of a car. Inventor Grant Sinclair has come up with a working design called the Iris eTrike. This small, motorized vehicle is the spiritual successor to the Sinclair C5 vehicle that his uncle, Sir Clive Sinclair, developed in 1985. While the Sinclair C5 didn’t light the world on fire back in the 1980s, the Iris eTrike has quite a few upgrades that set it apart. For starters, this eTrike travels about three times as fast with a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour. The body itself was inspired by the aerodynamic helmets that are used in velodrome bike racing. Crash helmets for skiing also made their influence in the body’s Quantum Foam EPP material that protects the rider. Visibility is always a concern with smaller modes of transportation. To keep the rider safe, the Iris eTrike features LED headlamps, brake lights, and turn signals. The chest height, high-level profile of the eTrike also helps to attract attention. For a longer commute, storage space is a big necessity, and this […]
MAKING A SMART CALL
23 February 2017
The Smart Call is a … you guessed it … SmartWatch Concept, aimed at helping the speech and hearing impaired folks to lead a technologically-smarter life. The watch is designed to alert the wearer of incoming calls and pair with a Bluetooth and GPS enabled mobile phone and work in sync. The device can be used between two impaired users or between one impaired and one non-impaired user, for easy communication. SMART CALL is a watch designed for giving alert or call to hearing and speaking impaired people. They can’t hear your call or caution signal if you are behind of them. The device works with a paired Bluetooth and GPS enabled mobile phone or two paired smart call watches. The device is useful between two impaired user or one impaired and other non-impaired user. Press and hold the call button to make alert and to respond. The user get a vibration feedback while receiving alert. Bluetooth transfers the call to vibration and GPS locates the direction of alert. Also the user can give alert to a group of people in the bluetooth range.
Nasa discovers new solar system Trappist-1
23 February 2017
In one of the most significant exoplanet discoveries to date, NASA just announced that not one, but seven Earth-sized planets have been found orbiting the habitable or ‘temperate zone’ of a star just 39 light-years away. Research suggests at least the inner six planets appear to have Earth-like masses, are made of rock, and have surface temperatures ranging between a life-friendly 0 to 100°C (32 to 212°F). NASA is calling it a ‘sister solar system’ to our own, and says several of the planets could potentially host liquid water, and maybe even extraterrestrial life. NASA made the announcement in a live press conference after triggering much speculation over their big “discovery beyond our Solar System”. The new exoplanets have been detected orbiting an ultracool dwarf star called TRAPPIST-1, which is located about 39 light-years away from our Sun in the Aquarius constellation. Astronomers led by Michaël Gillon from the University of Liège in Belgium first detected three exoplanets around the star back in May 2016, using Earth-based telescopes. But it wasn’t until the team studied it more closely using NASA’s Spitzer space telescope that they discovered an additional four planets in the system. Initial estimates based on these observations suggest that at least five of the planets […]
HOVERBOARD MINUS THE BOARD
22 February 2017
A very small self-balancing personal electric vehicle from the creators of the Solowheel and Hovertrax – the original hoverboard. Specifications : Range : up to 8 miles (12.8 km) Speed : capable of 10 mph (16 kph) Incline : 15 degrees Weight : approx. 8 pounds (3.6 kg) Width : 7” (17.8 cm) Weight limit : 250 lbs (113.4 kg) Inflatable 8” (20 cm) wheel 1000W motor 100Wh lithium ion battery Charge time : approx. 40 minutes Front and rear lights Who thought that one day you could buy a motorized vehicle that was just slightly larger than a hamburger. Aptly named, the Solowheel Iota is officially the smallest hover-board money can buy. The Iota comes from Inventist, the company that put hover-boards on the map. The Hover-board craze of 2015-16 can be directly attributed to the launch of the original Hovertrax by Inventist. However, the Hovertrax wasn’t really portable as much as it was compact and convenient. The Iota changes that with a design that’s less than 1/3rd the size of the Hovertrax. With a design that you can literally fit two of in a backpack, and a handle in case you want to flaunt it like a boombox, the […]
Driverless flying cars are coming to Dubai
14 February 2017
The AAV is designed to fly for maximum 30 minutes at a maximum cruising speed of 160 km/h. The ascending / descending speed is about 6 meters per second and the landing speed is 4m/s. The AAV measures 3.9 m in length, 4.02 m in width and 1.60 m in height. It weighs about 250 kg and 360 with a passenger. The AAV is designed to operate under all climatic conditions unless there is a thunderstorm. The vehicle is fitted with highly accurate sensors with a very low-error threshold and can resist vibrations and extreme temperatures. “The AAV exhibited at the World Government Summit is not just a model, it is a real version that we have already experimented the vehicle in a flight in Dubai sky. RTA is making every effort to start the operation of the AAV in July 2017,” Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Can Pick-up & Drop-off Passengers. Can Carry 100 Kgs + Small Suitcase. Operates within an area of 40 – 50 Kilometers. Can travel at a Speed up to 100 Kilometer per Hour. The flying vehicle, called the Ehang 184, isn’t just a test model, it’s the real version that […]
Hyperloop – 5th Generation Transport
7 February 2017
We live in an age of unbelievable progress in the field of computing, with the internet having revolutionized the way information is exchanged on a global scale. It seems like every day the chips get smaller and the storage space gets larger. One would think such changes would have brought about a new age of utopian technology. Yet in many areas of life, things don’t seem to have changed all that much over the years, and transportation is a woeful example of this. The roads are still lined with cars, the skies speckled with airliners. The science fiction stories of decades past foresaw flying cars and teleporters, but the 21st century has had to settle for Segways. Dreams never die, however, and the fantasy of futuristic transportation is very much alive right now as exemplified by a concept called the Hyperloop. While it’s not quite as mind-shattering as a teleporter or as fun as a personal jetpack, the Hyperloop seems like it could revolutionize mass transit, shortening travel times on land and reducing environmental damage in the process. What is the Hyperloop? The Hyperloop is a concept proposed by billionaire inventor Elon Musk, CEO the aerospace firm SpaceX. It is […]
Qatar Airways launches world’s longest flight, Doha to Aukland in 16 hours
6 February 2017
Qatar Airways has launched what it says is the longest current non-stop commercial route, after completing a journey from Doha to Auckland. Flight QR920 landed on Monday after 16 hours and 23 minutes, slightly quicker than expected. The Boeing 777-200LR jet was showered with water cannons on arrival – a tradition for airlines on new routes. Qatar’s Boeing 777-200LR is welcomed with a water cannon shower on Monday in Auckland Measuring flights can be complicated Longest (time) or furthest (distance) are the two key distinctions to make, but it’s not as simple as it might sound. Qatar Airways’ new route maybe the longest by time. But the 14,535km (9,032 miles) trip is not the longest existing flight by distance – a claim currently held by Air India’s Delhi to San Francisco route which is 15,127 km. Qatar Airways flight between Doha and Auckland had four pilots, 15 cabin crew, and catered for 2,000 cold drinks to be served. The distance between two cities doesn’t vary for airlines of course, but they might choose to take alternate routes. For example, a carrier might choose to avoid flying over certain countries which can alter how far a plane flies from point A to […]
Cancer is the second cause of death in Kuwait
4 February 2017
Cancer is the second cause of death in Kuwaiti people after cardiovascular diseases. This study is the first in the country to describe epidemiological measures related to cancer in this population. Methods: Data obtained from the Kuwait cancer registry included all Kuwaiti patients between years 2000-2009. Analyses were conducted using age-specific rates, the age-standardization-direct method, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), cumulative risk by the age of 74 years, limited-duration prevalence, mortality and forecasting to year 2029. Results: It was noted that the commonest cancer sites were colorectal with an age standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 16.1/100,000 in males and breast (49.4/100,000) in the female population. The trend of cancer incidence (1974-2009) showed no statistically significant change. First causes of death due to cancer were female breast 8(6.4-9.6)/100,000 and lung (males) 8.1/100,000 (6.6-10.0). The risk of developing cancer by the age of 74 was 13.4% (1/8) and 14.3% (1/7) in males and females respectively, and the risk of dying from cancer in the same age group was 1/17 and 1/23. By the end of 2009, prevalent cases represented 0.52% of the Kuwaiti population. In the year 2029, the total number of cancer cases is expected to reach 1200 cases compared […]
World Cancer Day
4 February 2017
World Cancer Day takes place every year on 4 February and is the singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. Today is #WorldCancerDay : Hear Cary Adams, CEO of UICC – Union for International Cancer Control, encourage everyone across the globe to take actions to raise #cancer awareness, prevent and fight the disease. #WeCanICan. World Cancer Day is a chance to raise our collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease. From a global level, we are focusing our messaging on the four myths above. In addition to being in-line with our global advocacy goals, these overarching myths leave a lot of flexibility for members, partners and supporters to adapt and expand on for their own needs. Taking place under the tagline ‘We can. I can.’, World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will explore how everyone – as a collective or as individuals – can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. What is World Cancer Day? A truly global event taking place every year on 4 February, World Cancer Day unites the world’s population in the fight against cancer. […]
Explore a Zoomable 360° Gigapixel Photo
26 January 2017
Explore a Zoomable 360° Gigapixel Photo of the Trump Inauguration Using Gigapixel Technology, CNN managed to capture an ultra-high resolution, interactive, 360° photograph of the presidential inauguration on Friday—a great way to explore the crowd in detail. If you wonder who was at Donald Trump’s recent inauguration, here’s something to satisfy your curiosity. CNN takes you there with a single image, as they have published a gigapixel photo of the event. Since gigapixel technology has taken off in the past couple of years, it was probably expected. So, now you can finally see it and check out every detail of the event. The interactive photograph was published, and includes instructions for how to use the interface as well as some helpful thumbnails that will zoom you in to notable faces that attended the event. If you really go exploring, there are some fun expressions there for you to discover—our favorite so far is the guy behind former president Obama. The photo is available on CNN’s website, along with the short instructions. You can pan across the crowd at and zoom in to see the faces. In the lower part of the page, you can see the thumbnails of some notable […]
UAE Military takes part in Republic Day Parade
26 January 2017
The contingent comprised of the UAE Presidential Guard, the Air Force, the Navy, the Army and 35 musicians. A 149-member contingent of the UAE’s armed forces led the way as India celebrated its 68th Republic Day with a spectacular display of military strength, culture and technological achievements. Republic Day – which is celebrated on January 26 every year – marks the date in which India’s constitution was adopted in 1950. Just prior to the start of the parade, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a floral wreath and observed two minutes of solemn silence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti near the India Gate, which commemorates India’s unknown fallen soldiers. Soon after, Modi joined Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and Chief Guest His Highness bin Zayed Al Nayan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces on the Rajpath, the boulevard which runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan – the presidential palace – past the India Gate and onwards to Delhi’s National Stadium. Before joining Modi, Mukherjee and Sheikh Mohamed descended the steps of the palace side by side to receive a salute from the President’s Bodyguard. Many Indian TV stations also took several minutes to introduce […]
Extreme cold weather in Kuwait till end of January
25 January 2017
Extreme cold weather will be prevalent in Kuwait starting today until the end of the month, said Adel Al-Sadoun, a Kuwaiti astronomer and historian. Speaking to KUNA, Al-Sadoun said that the current weather was due to the northwestern wind which usually brings temperature down especially in the early hours of the morning. Al-Sadoun also revealed that Kuwait’s desert and open areas will be subjected to the temperature drop. Courtesy : KUNA
Trump to sign executive orders enabling construction of proposed border wall and targeting sanctuary cities
25 January 2017
President Donald Trump speaks at The Salute To Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball in Washington on Friday. President Trump plans to sign executive orders Wednesday enabling construction of his proposed wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and targeting cities where local leaders refuse to hand over illegal immigrants for deportation, according to White House officials familiar with the decisions. The actions, part of a multi-day focus on immigration, are among an array of sweeping and immediate changes to the nation’s immigration system under consideration by the new president. The moves represent Trump’s first effort to deliver on perhaps the signature issue that drove his presidential campaign: his belief that illegal immigration is out of control and threatening the country’s safety and security. Trump’s immigration blitz this week is widely seen inside the White House as a victory for the self-described populist wing of his inner circle — which includes chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions and top policy adviser Stephen Miller. But discussions were ongoing Tuesday about just how far to go on some policies, in particular the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. The 2012 initiative has given temporary protection from deportation to hundreds of […]
Audi Q7 and NVIDIA Fully Automated Driving in 2020
24 January 2017
Audi and Nvidia have been collaborating for some time, but at CES 2017, the companies made their biggest joint announcement yet. Using artificial intelligence and deep learning technology, the companies will bring fully automated driving to the roads by 2020. To achieve this, Audi will leverage Nvidia’s expertise in artificial intelligence, the fruits of which are already being shown at CES. Audi’s Q7 Piloted Driving Concept is fitted with Nvidia’s Drive PX 2 processor and after only four days of “training,” the vehicle is already driving itself over a complex road course. This is due to the Drive PX 2’s incredible ability to learn on the go, which is a far cry from the first driverless cars that needed pre-mapped routes to function properly. “Nvidia is pioneering the use of deep learning AI to revolutionize transportation,” Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang said. “Audi’s adoption of our Drive computing platform will accelerate the introduction of next-generation automated vehicles, moving us closer to a future of greater driving safety and new mobility services.” In this instance, the fully automated 2020 goal refers to Level 4 autonomy, which is defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers as, “Specific performance by an automated driving system […]
The First Alexa-Powered Robot Just Stole Our Hearts
23 January 2017
The Lynx robot is the first ever to be enabled by Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, but this $799 humanoid does much more than answer questions and control your smart home gadgets.UBTech’s innovative device can dance, play music and even strike seriously difficult Yoga poses. It even gives hugs. The quasi-android has cameras, sonar and 18 digital servo motors that help it move with a crazy amount of dexterity. It’s a little loud when it moves, but it’s very entertaining and impressive. Meant as a home companion, Lynx can use facial recognition to see its users and track them across the room. Yes, when you say “Alexa” Lynx will look towards you, which is kind of cool but also creepy. Here’s just some of the other things Lynx can do beyond Alexa’s usual talents. Facial recognition can trigger events such as greetings based on who’s standing in front of Lynx. Interaction Mode lets you program Lynx to sing and dance on your birthday, among other things. Access Lynx’s video anywhere to check on home and pets, a nice security feature. Place video calls over Wi-Fi. The most impressive feature of the Lynx is how you can use it to not […]
Apple’s MacBook Pro Touch Bar Vs. Windows Touch Screen
22 January 2017
Laptop touch screens are a godsend for some, useless for others. Now we have Apple’s Touch Bar. Which makes more practical sense? I’ll preface this by saying that I’ve used lots of touch-screen Windows laptops and have been using Apple’s Touch Bar for a while now (on a Late 2016 15.4-inch MacBook Pro). The case for the Windows 10 touch screen : I don’t have to make much of a case because the utility is obvious. It allows you to do touch-friendly things like scrolling, pinching and zooming (some prefer touch screens over trackpads for those actions), and the myriad things professionals and clerical workers find more efficient with a touch screen. Currently, I am using a couple new Windows laptops with touch screens. Problem is, I don’t use the touch screen (anymore). I find it easier to keep my hands on the keyboard and use the capable (and large) track pads that now come on almost all Windows 10 laptops. The case for the Apple Touch Bar : some reviews have gone so far to call it a gimmick. I disagree. Placing what is in effect a small OLED display on the keyboard works. I agree with Steve Jobs (2010) assertion […]
NASA Is Inviting Public to Select Image Sites for Juno’s next Flyby of Jupiter
22 January 2017
Juno spacecraft is scheduled to take its next close flyby of Jupiter on Feb. 2 NASA is calling all space enthusiasts to help decide picture locations for Juno’s next flyby of Jupiter. This is the first time NASA is inviting public to select all the pictures to be taken during the forthcoming close approach. This task is usually done by teams of scientists themselves. People can participate in the project through voting which will start Thursday, January 19 and will continue till January 23. Juno spacecraft will point its camera, called the JunoCam, towards only those sites which will get the most votes. Juno is currently in a 53-day orbit around Pluto. Its first flyby occurred on August 27 and it was the first time when the spacecraft sent some intriguing data back to Earth. Juno encountered some problem before its October 19 flyby but eventually entered the safe mode. On December 13, Juno completed its third closest approach to Pluto with all instruments on. Its next flyby of the planet is scheduled to take place on February 2. At the time of this closest approach, the spacecraft will be about 2,700 miles above the planet’s mysterious cloud top. Seven instruments […]
