June 23, 2005 | Back

NASA, Xerox Unveil 'Virtual Crew Assistant'

Intelligent conversation with robots - long the bread and butter of science fiction authors - soon may take another step closer to reality for astronauts on the International Space Station. Called Clarissa, the system was developed in an effort to ease astronaut workload. "Clarissa is a fully voice-operated 'virtual crew assistant,' enabling astronauts to be more efficient with their hands and eyes and to give full attention to the task while they navigate through the procedure using spoken commands," said Beth Ann Hockey, project lead on the team that developed Clarissa at NASA Ames.

Clarissa is "hands-free" and responds to astronauts' voice commands, reading procedure steps out loud as they work, helping keep track of which steps have been completed, and supporting flexible voice-activated alarms and timers. Astronauts now perform about 12,000 complex procedures to maintain life-support systems, inspect space suits, conduct science experiments, perform medical exams and other routine tasks. The Xerox methodology allows Clarissa to more accurately analyze each utterance. It can recognize words, sentences and word context and can act on a variety of commands phrased in different ways. Sounds like Clarissa may be a suitable spouse replacement too.

> Source: Xerox
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 14, 2005 | Back

Alcoa Fastening Systems and U. of Michigan to Produce a Solar Vehicle

Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS) is sponsoring the production of a next-generation solar vehicle at the University of Michigan (UM) for the North American Solar Challenge, a special edition competition to design, build and race solar-powered cars from the United States into Canada. Dozens of AFS associates around the world have provided their time and expertise to help the UM students manufacture a solar car with an exciting, lightweight and aerodynamic design.

AFS has contributed more than 130 varieties of thousands of fasteners representing the latest in fastening system technologies to Momentum, the solar car designed by UM students. The specially selected AFS products increase the strength and durability of the vehicle while reducing its weight and assembly time. One question... Will it run in Alaska?

> Source: Alcoa - North American Solar Challenge
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:45 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 13, 2005 | Back

AeroMobile Technology Showcased on Boeing Worldliner

The wireless providers will surely need to come up with a new calling plan - in-state, nationwide, and now UNIVERSAL? The Boeing company's new B777-200LR Worldliner will be equipped with flight-proven passenger mobile cellular technology from AeroMobile to leverage the systems already installed on the majority of today's long-haul commercial aircraft. The architecture making this possible will also support future broadband satellite solutions as they become available, yielding a future-proof solution for in-flight mobile connectivity. Now, if they could only figure out a way to order enough pillows...

> Source: Telenor
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 08, 2005 | Back

University of Waterloo Wins The MathWorks Award for Model-Based Design

Rev em up... The University of Waterloo is the recipient of The MathWorks Crossover to Model-Based Design Award at Challenge X, the three-year student engineering competition sponsored by General Motors Corporation (GM) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

The University of Waterloo was presented with the award based on its outstanding achievement in creating, simulating, and analyzing models for vehicle design and subsystem control using Model-Based Design with The MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink. In addition to winning the award, the University of Waterloo also won Year One of the collegiate competition, which challenges 17 North American student-engineering teams to reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox with the goal of improving on-road fuel economy and reducing emissions, while maintaining performance and safety. Hopefully they will teach GM a thing or two.

> Source: MathWorks
> Estimated price: Not for Retail Sale
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 09:04 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

June 01, 2005 | Back

Gillette M3Power Nitro Chopper on eBay

If you love your "Chopper" as much as I do, you will definitely want to check this one out. One of the most unique customizations from Orange County Choppers -- The Gillette M3Power Nitro Chopper -- is currently available for bidding on eBay. The customization and fabrication of the chopper, which is inspired by the new Gillette M3Power Nitro razor for men, was chronicled on two episodes of the Discovery Channel's hit series, "American Chopper." It looks like a razor, feels like a razor, and sounds like a razor!

"This is one of the most unique bikes we've ever built. It has the longest and leanest frame of all of our bikes and the wheels on the Chopper clearly reflect the three-blade system, all of which replicate the look and feel of Gillette's new razor," said Paul Teutul, Jr., Orange County Choppers. "The owner of this bike will enjoy the ride and the experience of owning a customized chopper. We were honored to work on this project with Gillette and are pleased that the money raised will go to the National Prostate Cancer Coalition."

> Source: Gillette
> Estimated price: Start your bidding!
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments

May 20, 2005 | Back

Modine Provides Components to Volkswagen for New Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle

Modine Manufacturing Company, a designer and developer of heat and mass transfer technology for fuel cell systems, is now supplying humidification and water management components to Volkswagen for their fuel cell hybrid vehicle - the Touran HyMotion. This is Volkswagen's latest endeavor into the fuel cell hybrid automobile market, and part of the car company's global effort to reduce vehicle emissions and lessen the world's dependence on oil (imagine that!). Automakers have finally figured out that rising oil prices and tougher environmental rules are increasing the public's interest in vehicles that use less fuel with reduced tail pipe emissions.

Hybrids increase fuel efficiency by capturing the energy normally lost to friction braking and storing it in a battery for later use when driving power is again required. Unlike internal combustion engine hybrids, Volkswagen's hydrogen fuel cell hybrid emits - WATER. Pure and simple.

> Source: Modine
> Estimated price: N/A
> Date released/expected: N/A

Posted at 01:56 PM | Permalink | Email to a friend | Comments