Can Robots Be The New Firefighters?

  SAFFiR, the US Navy’s experimental firefighting robot, may be in for some competition. That’s because researchers at Italy’s IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia have successfully tested a new-and-improved version of the WALK-MAN humanoid robot, which is designed to support firefighters. WALK-MAN was developed through a European Union-funded project that also includes the University of Pisa in Italy, the École Polytechnique Fédérale […]

Translating Text Into Audio

  A Japanese company is in the midst of developing a pair of smart glasses that can help those with visual impairments or comprehension problems to read written text more easily. Called the Oton Glass, the spectacles are meant to translate text into audio using two cameras and an earpiece, both fitted to its frame. Half of the lens is a mirror that reflects the […]

Helping Hong Kong Clean Up Its Air Pollution

  Architect Suraksha Acharya from Midori Architects has proposed a pair of ultra-green translucent towers for the Hong Kong skyline. The futuristic Aero Hive skyscrapers are clad in an organic facade interspersed with greenery that leads up to the towers’ expansive open-air rooftop gardens. The concept is based on creating an iconic symbol of sustainable design for the city – a unique highrise designed to adapt […]

Paper Fuel Cells The New Battery

  Many disposable diagnostic devices, often used for pregnancy tests and glucose level monitoring, contain a small lithium battery. Only one percent of that charge is used before the item is tossed away. While batteries are small in size, their impact on the environment can be significant. That’s why Juan Pablo Esquivel created a new paper battery, Fuelium. Since beginning his […]

Self-Inflating Camper Done In 90 Seconds

  The Air Opus Camper makes on-the-road living easy with an amazing self-inflating system that pops up in 90 seconds flat. Simply flick a switch and the camper automatically expands. When it’s time to leave, a quick-release valves deflate the camper in 30 seconds. The entire structure can be folded up and ready to go in under two minutes. The Air Opus Camper uses Air Pole […]

Take Your Drone Underwater

If you’ve ever wanted to explore the underwater world using your own ROV (remotely-operated vehicle), there are now a number of consumer modelsin the works. The Sibiu Nano is one of the most recent to hit the scene, and it’s being made with the do-it-yourselfer in mind. Created by Spain’s Nido Robotics, plans call for the ROV to be available either […]

Colpac’s New PaperBoard Solution For Ready-Meals

  Responding to retailer calls for easy-to-use, food packaging solutions for chilled and frozen ready-made meals and take-away, Colpac, one of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of food packaging solutions, will launch the unique, ovenable, Cookpac® range at the forthcoming Packaging Innovations Show. Significantly, the Cookpac® range is dual-ovenable and, as an all-in-one solution, responds to growing calls for […]

Smartphone Becomes Microscope

Modern smartphones feature incredible image sensors that are much better than professional equipment from only a few years ago. They’re great for microscopy and simple attachments in front of the lens can give great views of blood, cells, and other specimens. The only problem is that the sample has to be illuminated and having LEDs inside of smartphone clip-on microscopes made […]

Send A Distress Signal Using This Hiking Lamp

  Wearable safety lamps that take a more rounded approach in order to spread more light is something we’ve seen a bit of lately, but the OliLight takes things a little further. It is essentially a LED strip that can be worn like a belt for 360-degree illumination, and also doubles as a personal rescue beacon should you get into trouble […]