Top 10 Latest Inventions of October 2011
1. Robot that Takes Pictures Automatically
Developed by Microsoft, the robot called Eddie is able to travel through an unknown environment taking nice pictures of people it detects in its way. The robot makes use of Robotics Developer Studio 4 Beta (RDS 4), a program developed by the software giant.
2. 3D Body Scanner Helps Select Ideal Clothing
The scanner was invented by Bodymetrics, a firm with headquarters in London. The company worked in collaboration with PrimeSense, a 3D machine vision firm. The device allows the user to choose the most suitable garment. The current version makes it possible to select only a pair of jeans but in the future the companies plan to upgrade the scanner to help users choose other types of clothes. The invention is equipped with eight PrimeSense 3D sensors that take all measurements and scans the body of the user. The data is analyzed and based on the results retailers find clothing that fits the customer.
3. System that Automatically Spots and Gathers Ripe Strawberries
This intelligent robotic system is the brainchild of a team of British scientist from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). It is currently in the development stage, but according to the researchers, when it's finished, the system will make use of radio frequencies, IR light and other tools to detect only ripe strawberries in the field and collect them.
4. Pavegen Tiles that Generate Electricity from Footsteps
Laurence Kembell-Cook is the author of Pavegen tiles. The engineer's invention produces energy using kinetic power which it can harnesses in crowded places such as city streets. It can become popular in large cities, where clean energy sources are highly appreciated.
5. Ball Camera that Makes Panoramic Pictures When Thrown Up
Invented by Jonas Pfeil, a computer engineer from Germany who worked together with a group of likeminded people, the "ball" camera represents a spherical gadget measuring 8 inches in diameter and fitted with 36 small 2Mpxl cameras. When the user throws the camera in the air, the sensors inside the device detect the highest point and then cameras are automatically activated to take and quality panoramic images.
6. Robots Able to Play Ping-Pong
Chinese engineers developed two robots able to play ping-pong (table tennis). The game of the two was demonstrated at Zhejiang University, where the robots made use of latest technology to serve the ball and return it. With the help of their motorized joints the machines were able to perform backhand and forehand shots. The researchers' main goal, however, is to come up with a technology that would be useful in biotechnology, information technology and other fields.
7. UAV that Generates More Energy than Usual Wind Turbines
The high a wind turbine is located the more power it can generate. With this in mind, researchers from California's Makani Power developed a new flying wind turbine dubbed Wing 7. The invention is in fact a fusion of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and wind turbine. Wing 7 is made of lightweight low-cost material, which makes it a great clean energy generator.
8. LED Lamp That Can Work for 37 Years
Created by designer Jack Dyson, this LED lamp can provide illumination for 12 hours a day over a period of 37 years. The British design studio called Jake Dyson Products managed to extend the lifespan of LEDs by using technology initially developed for satellites. According to the designer, the new lamp can last for about 160,000 hours.
9. Apparatus that Generates Power from Breathing
This creation came from a group of scientists from the university of Wisconsin-Madison. The invention can produce energy from airflow coming from human breathing. They used a plastic microbelt made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The belt vibrated when the airflow passed through it and the PVDF made it possible for the belt to gather electric charge during mechanical stress.
10. AlphaDog - Robot that Carries Heavy Loads
DARPA and US Marine Corps funded the project launched by scientist from Boston Dynamics, who had the goal of building a combat escort. In a video launched by the same firm, the quadruped machine called AlphaDog shows its possibilities. According to the company, the robot can walk over any type of terrain. It is able to autonomously carry up to 400 pounds (180kg) of equipment over a distance of 20 miles (30km) before it requires refueling.
Powered by www.infoniac.com
