Oxygen-sensing microrobots could help in fight against glaucoma

By Damir Beciri
13 May 2013

eye-healthGlaucoma is only one of several diseases that can decrease the oxygen supply to the retina. An insufficient supply can cause blindness, sometimes within mere hours, so patients and physicians have to react as soon as possible to preserve the eyesight of the patient. Up until now there have been no methods sensitive enough to… »

Liquid hydrogen and fuel cell powered UAV sets new endurance record

By Damir Beciri
12 May 2013

ion-tiger-flightResearchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) broke the endurance record for small electric Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) by developing a vehicle powered by liquid hydrogen fuel and a fuel cell. This flight shatters their previous record of 26 hours and 2 minutes set in 2009 using the same vehicle, but with gaseous hydrogen… »

A roadmap for the mobile phones of the future and rollable displays

By Damir Beciri
11 May 2013

xpaaand-1Technische Universität Darmstadt’s “Future Internet” research group recently published a set of challenges needed to tackle in order to incorporate their vision of what mobile telephony may look like in next ten to fifteen years. They envision that the mobile telephones of the future will be able to see, shrink in size while getting larger… »

Robot butler HERB gets improved object recognition

By Damir Beciri
One Comment9 May 2013

herb-robot-explores-objectsAs most researchers who work with computer vision know, it can be troublesome to discover objects in its surroundings. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute introduced properties such as object’s location, size, shape and even whether it can be lifted in order to enable a robot to continually discover and refine its understanding of… »

Using sunflower seed husks in concrete and construction

By Damir Beciri
One Comment6 May 2013

sunflowerSunflower seed and oil sector is the one the main industries in Turkey, so it is not surprising that a team of researchers at the Namik Kemal University in Turkey decided to devise ways to use sunflower seed husks – a huge byproduct of the vegetable oil and food industry. They found ways to turn… »

Ten features of shape resolution and shape-shifting mobile devices

By Damir Beciri
5 May 2013

shape-shifting-mobile-deviceResearchers at the University of Bristol have tested six variations of prototype mobile devices that can change shape on-demand. In addition to display and touch resolution, the researchers introduced the term ‘shape resolution’ and its ten features, to describe the resolution of an interactive device. The next time you discus about gadgetry with your friends,… »

Robo Raven successfully performs bird-like flight

By Damir Beciri
4 May 2013

university-of-maryland-robo-ravenResearchers at the University of Maryland have developed and demonstrated a new flying robot which flaps its wings completely independently of each other. Dubbed Robo Raven, the robot can be programmed to perform any desired motion, enabling the bird to perform aerobatic maneuvers. This is the first time a robotic bird with these capabilities has… »

Arthropod eye design inspires novel digital cameras

By Damir Beciri
One Comment2 May 2013

bugs-eye-inspires-hemispherical-digital-camera-1Inspired by eyes found in arthropods, an interdisciplinary and international team of researchers has created a digital camera with designs that mimic the ocular systems found in dragonflies, bees, praying mantises and other insects. The device could be used in surveillance devices, tools for endoscopy, and other applications where these insect-inspired designs provide unique capabilities…. »