Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J.D. Gammell
Unlike other rovers, NASA’s DuAxel consists of two-wheeled rovers, each called Axel. How does it work? The rover stops, lowers its chassis and anchors it to the ground before separating into two halves. When the rear half locks firmly in place, the forward half undocks and rolls away on a single axle. A tether connects the two, but unspools as the lead axle approaches the hazard and rappels down the slope, using instruments stowed in its wheel hub to study inaccessible terrain on Mars and beyond. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
Hershey’s has just unveiled an innovative Reese’s Trick-or-Treat Door that safely dispenses candy this Halloween. This robotic, social-distancing creation brings Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups direct to your doorstep, and once it arrives, all you need to do is say “trick or treat” to receive a nice surprise. It travels through neighborhoods being controlled by a remote operator, complete with smoke, lights and an epic Halloween soundtrack. Read more for a video and additional information.
Current wireless charging technologies have their limits as to how fast they can charge a device, but Xiaomi is aiming to change that with their all-new 80W Mi Wireless Charging Technology. The company first debuted their 30W Wireless Charging Technology in 2019, and their latest version updates it by leaps and bounds, or at least compared to similar solutions offered by other smartphone brands. Read more for a video demonstration and additional information.
Team Tempest, a UK-based technology and defense partnership formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and the RAF, is currently working with hundreds of high-tech companies, SMEs as well as academia across the UK to develop a next-generation combat air system. Leonardo UK is working on new radar technology for the sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet capable of providing over 10,000 times more data than existing systems. It’s officially called the ‘Multi-Function Radio Frequency System’ and not only collects, but also processes unprecedented amounts of data on the battlespace. Read more for a video and additional information.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is planning to launch its first uncrewed mission to Mars in less than four years. Why so long? Well, the opportunity to launch a mission to Mars comes every 26 months, since Earth would be closest to the red planet at that time. Musk believes that human beings need to establish a permanent and self-sustaining presence on Mars to ensure the continuance of consciousness as we know it in case of a catastrophic event that leaves Earth uninhabitable. Read more for a video and additional informaiton.
Have a catchy tune stuck in your head, but don’t know the lyrics? Simply hum to search with Google’s latest feature. As of today, users can hum, whistle or sing a melody to Google to figure out what the song is. If you’re on a mobile device just open the latest version of the Google app or find your Google Search widget, tap the mic icon, say “what’s this song?”, and then start humming for 10-15 seconds. Read more for a video and additional information.
Sony Electronics Inc. unveiled the Spatial Reality Display (SR Display) today, which utilizes the award-winning Eye-Sensing Light Field Display (ELFD) technology. It can showcase 3D creations without requiring virtual reality glasses or a headset. This enables creators from various industries, like automotive, industrial design, to Computer Graphics (CG) and Visual Effects (VFX) designers, to bring ideas to life in stunning three-dimensions. Read more for a video and additional information.
Photo credit: University of Rochester
Scientists at the University of Rochester have synthesized the first room-temperature superconductor, which could be used in future electronics and transportation technologies. Put simply, superconductors transmit electricity without resistance, enabling the current to flow without any energy loss. However, all previously discovered superconductors must be cooled to very low temperatures, making them impractical for most uses. Read more for a video and additional information.
The LAFD just got a big upgrade in the way of the Robotic Systems 3, a firefighting robot capable of shooting 2,500=gallons of water or foam per minute. If necessary, it can even be used to knock down walls and roofs. It can be remotely operated with a belly pack controller that provides high-definition video feedback for the ultimate in maneuverability when faced with difficult conditions. Read more for two videos and additional information.
Shane Wighton built a robotic basketball hoop back in May that had some glaring issues, with the main one being that it was easy to miss by intentionally missing the backboard. So, he spent weeks building a second version developing yet another basketball hoop that makes your shot go in even if you totally miss the hoop. To make this possible, ehe had to transform an entire wall of his basement into a large CNC machine. Read more for a video and additional information.