IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


This Week in Cybercrime: NSA Wants More Info from Firms

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 01:48 PM PDT



Plus: Data clearinghouses make the best targets, and "Icefog" hackers strike with precision

Previously Unheralded 2-D Material Exhibits High Charge-Storage Capacity

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 01:26 PM PDT



Three years of investigating applications for 2-D material turns up some good ones

Robotic Boat Hits 1000-Mile Mark in Transatlantic Crossing

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 10:59 AM PDT



This DIY robotic boat could be the first autonomous surface vessel to cross the Atlantic

Latest IPCC Climate Assessment Reaffirms Previous Findings

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 10:20 AM PDT



Report may err on conservative side but still leaves plenty to worry about

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Humans Loose Again, Robot Solves Rubik’s Cube in Less Than a Second

Fast Rubik's Cube Robot

Fast Rubik’s Cube Robot

Everybody has seen a Rubik’s Cube solving robot. They usually do a great job at it but, although they are faster than average humans, a trained human can usually beat them in terms of speed. This new robot solves the cube not only in the most efficient way possible, but is also the fastest at doing so, as shown in the video below.

If you are wondering how to make one for yourself, besides the custom acrylic work and modification of the cube, they are using simple stepper motors, probably a USB stepper motor controller and a webcam.

Here is a second video where you can see the robot in more detail:

Via Geekology.

     

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IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


Video Friday: PR2 Surrogates, Zombie F-16s, and Bot & Dolly's Box

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 07:42 AM PDT



Put yourself into the body of a robot: learn how, it's Video Friday

Roundup: KVM Switches and Remote-Access Apps

Posted: 27 Sep 2013 07:02 AM PDT



The clunky mechanical keyboard-video-mouse switches of yesteryear have been replaced with slick hardware and software

Testing Robotic Companions on a Simulated Mission to Mars

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 01:02 PM PDT



Can robots be good companions on long space missions? Simon Engler spent four lonely months finding out

Spray-On Technique Could Bring Carbon Nanotubes to Retailers’ Shelves

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 11:55 AM PDT



Spray-on process could bring carbon nanotubes into food packaging and for use on artificial skin

IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum


Two Concepts for China's Exploration of Mars

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:55 AM PDT



Chinese scientists dream of balloons, ground-penetrating missiles, and fleets of mini-satellites

World’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Syncs to the Grid

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:06 AM PDT



Ivanpah meets its first test on delivering energy

Scrambled Code Keeps Software Safe

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:00 AM PDT



A new form of encryption could make practically unhackable code

EnerJ, the Language of Good-Enough Computing

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:58 AM PDT



We could save energy in everything from smartphones to supercomputers by letting them make mistakes

Counting the Sins of China's Synthetic Gas

Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:07 AM PDT



The environmental footprint of synthetic gas production makes fracking look green

Smartphone With Curved Screen Is On Its Way

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 02:05 PM PDT



Samsung, which released a curved TV earlier this year, now wants to do the same with a handset display

Japan’s Isogo Power Plant Burnishes Clean Coal’s Credentials

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 01:41 PM PDT



Because it runs hotter, Isogo's ultrasupercritical steam leads to efficiency and carbon reduction

Real-Time Sensor Double Checks What's in Your IV Drip

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 01:00 PM PDT



Errors in administering intravenous drugs are all too common, but an optical sensor that checks what's in the fluid may help

First Computer Made From Carbon Nanotubes Debuts

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT



The modest 1-bit, 1 kHz machine could usher in a new post-silicon era

Techy at day, Blogger at noon, and a Hobbyist at night

Techy at day, Blogger at noon, and a Hobbyist at night


Led Tail/Brake Light Evolve

Posted: 25 Sep 2013 08:13 PM PDT

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Successful Unmanned Flight Test of F16

The term “Drone” is becoming more and more popular in everyday conversations due largely to its increased use in militaries around the world. Hobbyists have also jumped on board with the focus being on multi-rotor aircraft which are able to hover in place and be used for surveillance, but never really to add weapons. There are a variety of different military drones used which range in size from something easily carried in a backpack (small / micro sized) like the Wasp, to high altitude, long-endurance systems like the RQ-170 sentinel.

Although military UAVs have been used since around the Vietnam war, more recent UAVs like the Predator and Global Hawk tend not to be “armed to the teeth”. A recent test flight of a converted (old) F16 fighter aircraft may be an attempt to change this – potentially adding a new player to the field. The remotely (human) controlled test flight took place on September 19 over the Gulf of Mexico:

As always, this development fuels the debate as to whether or not it is ethical to arm large unmanned aircraft. The technology used to convert the fighter jet to remote (or even autonomous flight) is not new, especially considering commercial aircraft can fly almost entirely on their own. Keep in mind that although the F16 fighter jet is still used by many militaries (and still looks as attractive as ever), it was first flown over 40 years ago, and with the US army’s need for having the absolute best technology (coupled with the fact that as aircraft get older, servicing and expensive maintenance can only do so much to save them) there are many such aircraft sitting in massive graveyards waiting to be sold for scrap (Excess Defense Articles) or dismantled. At this point you might even be curious to know what an ex-military jet sells for.

What is most interesting is if the process of converting an old military aircraft to remote control becomes inexpensive enough, retired military aircraft could be put back into use for “one last flight”; for training / live fire exercises or even using the aircraft itself as a weapon in warfare. Until now, pilots undergoing training gained most of their experience in flight simulators, against small, slow-flying drones and in mock exercises against other pilots. Having the ability to reliably remotely control military (and other) aircraft from the ground can put these older fighter jets to some good use.

As a side note, this is not the largest remotely controlled converted aircraft flown: Discovery’s “Curiosity” TV show adapted a Boeing 727 for remote control back in 202. More recently, back in May 2013, a smaller remotely controlled Jetstream flew across UK airspace.

How comfortable would you be knowing large unmanned commercial and/or military aircraft were flying overhead?

 

     

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