Sci-Tech

Serpent robot evolves into Snake Monster

MAY 29 (Reuters) — Researchers have taken their serpentine machines, developed over decades at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, and connected them to a central hub to create one of the most robust robots ever developed. Its creators have named it the Snake Monster. At the technology’s core, says robotics professor Howie Choset, are modules which connect to each other, allowing researchers to easily assemble and program task-specific robots in minutes. “These modules […]

Taiwanese man creates full body replica of Iron Man suit

Taiwanese Wu You-ting has taken Iron Man fandom to a whole new level. Wu, 28, had always considered himself a fan of millionaire-turned crime-fighting cyberborg comic hero Iron Man, but it was not until he saw the film’s third installment at a local theater that he was inspired to build his own suit of armor. “I really like Iron Man. Once I went to see the movie and saw the movie theater placing the (full […]

US appeals court reverses part of Apple’s $930 million verdict vs Samsung

A U.S. appeals court on Monday (May 18) reversed part of the $930 million (USD) verdict that Apple Inc won in 2012 against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, saying the iPhone maker’s trade dress could not be protected. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the patent infringement violations found by the jury. But the $382 million awarded for trade dress dilution will have to be reconsidered by the lower court. Trade dress […]

Google’s new self-driving cars to hit roads, with steering wheels

Google Inc’s self-driving cars will begin testing on public roads this summer, but it turns out they will have steering wheels and brakes, which is not what the company envisioned a year ago. Engineers will operate 25 prototype vehicles designed by Google, which use the same software as Google’s Lexus RX450h sport utility vehicles that have already self-driven about 10,000 miles (16,093 km) a week in recent months, the company said in a blog post. […]

New radar technology already saving lives in disaster zones

MAY 8 (Reuters) — With the earthquake in Nepal having decimated its capital and countryside, millions of dollars in aid and assistance have flown into the Himalayan nation, including the latest radar technology designed to find survivors buried in rubble. One such device is FINDER, Finding Individuals for Disaster and Emergency Response, which sends out low-powered microwave radar to detect human heartbeats. “FINDER is a very low-powered radar that puts a low-powered radio signal towards […]

China iPhone sales boosts Apple; shares up modestly

APRIL 28 (Reuters) — Apple Inc beat Wall Street’s revenue and profit forecasts on Monday (April 27) as it sold more iPhones in China than the United States for the first time, but the company gave no sales figures for its new AppleWatch. Apple’s iPhone sales in China soared, increasing its revenue in the country 71 percent to $16.8 billion, although that was helped by gift-buying for Chinese New Year. “And for the first time […]

‘Safest bike ever’ devised by British entrepreneur

A British entrepreneur has designed what he calls ‘the safest bike in history’ and hopes its manufacture could help those currently reluctant to cycle, due to safety concerns, to get in the saddle. Crispin Sinclair and his team have created the Babel Bike, which they are seeking to fund via crowd-sourcing website Indigoego. According to Sinclair, the Babel’s protective cage positioned around the rider, combined with a double seat-belt and host of other safety features […]

Chip Shot: The Intel® Compute Stick – A New Mini-Computing Paradigm, Available Now

The Intel® Compute Stick, a new pocket-sized computer based on a quad-core Intel® Atom™ processor running Windows* 8.1 with Bing, is available now through Intel Authorized Dealers for much of the world. The Intel Compute Stick can transform any HDMI display into an entry computer capable of working with productivity apps, playing local or streamed content, driving basic digital signage or enabling thin clients. It will support Wireless 802.11 b/g/n, a microSD card for expandable […]

Getting around without draining your phone battery

For the most part, Global Positioning System (GPS) works great. It gives people the ability to get from point A to point B with a simple press of a button on a smartphone. That’s until you hit a big city. Tall buildings and satellite signals don’t like each other and in an era where companies like UBER and YELP depend on accurate navigation, Pete Tenereillo of California start up Pathsense has this to say. “GPS […]

China tests brain-controlled robot

A RESEARCH group with the National University of Defense Technology has recently tested its self-made brain-controlled robot in Hunan City, central China’s Hunan Province. The small robot can move forward and make turnings flexibly, which are all directly controlled by human brains. “This is our brainwave electrode cap which can collect human brainwaves. The facility can enlarge the weak brainwaves and send back to our computers. This is the collected brainwave produced by human brain […]

SpaceX rocket blasts off for resupply mission on second attempt

THE launch of an unmanned SpaceX rocket – and an innovative attempt to land it on an ocean barge – got under way successfully on Tuesday (April 14) after bad weather postponed the launch on Monday (April 13). The rocket, carrying a Dragon cargo ship bound for the International Space Station, blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, located just south of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 1610est (2010gmt) Once the rocket dispatches its […]

Robot chef serves up the future of home cooking

A robotic chef that can whip up professional quality meals in a matter of minutes has been developed by engineers in the UK, who call it the world’s first Automated Kitchen. The system was created by UK-based Moley Robotics, which aims to develop a consumer version with an affordable price tag within two years, supported by an iTunes-style library of recipes that can downloaded for the robo-chef to cook in the home. It features two […]