Some robots are built for industry, others are designed to be eerily lifelike, yet more as toys and then there are the companion bots. The Lovot from Groove X is made to be loved. This strange creature out of Japan hosts a bunch of sensors that feed machine learning brains so that it can make its owners happy, as it […]
Cuddable Companion Robots
Oi Bike Bell Back Better
Back in 2016, Australian manufacturer Knog successfully Kickstarted its quirky Oi, a streamlined ring-shaped bicycle bell that encircles the handlebars. Now, the company has introduced the new-and-improved Oi Luxe. Like the original Oi, the Luxe consists of an injection-molded stainless steel inner mounting ring, over top of which is suspended the CNC-machined half-ring-shaped resonator (aka the “ringer”). A spring-loaded thumb-operated […]
Fingerprint Scanners To Replace Car Keys
Hyundai has committed to becoming the world’s first auto manufacturer to ship cars that open and start without any keys or smartphones whatsoever. The 2019 Santa Fe SUV will use fingerprint sensors for its door locks and ignition. The fingerprint sensors will sit in the car’s door handles and in the start button on the dash. Touching either will switch […]
7 Holiday Side Hustles You Can Start Today
The holiday season can mean different things to different folks. For some, it’s about spending time with family opening presents around a Christmas tree. For others, it’s about escaping family and spending a week on a ski slope. Whatever the case may be for you, it’s impossible to deny the absolute “cash cow” the holiday season poses for retailers. The […]
Mono Soundtrack Made More Immersive
A stereo sound system will give you a good feel for where instruments have been placed in the soundscape created by the production team. And there are headphones that can custom tune the listening experience for more immersion. Now researchers have developed a machine learning system that can work out the direction of sound in a mono recording by examining […]
“Steel Blade” In The Wallet
A key goal when it comes to designing everyday carry items is combining maximum utility with minimum inconvenience, and the form of a credit card is proving an increasingly popular way to get the job done. The Lynx from Jho Knives is a titanium-coated implement shaped to slide in and out of a wallet for slicing and dicing when needed, […]
Keeping Yourselves Warm During Winter
The advent of heated jackets is a real game-changer when it comes to staying warm while outside during the winter. These coats combine some of the best materials and insulators from the outdoor industry, with integrated heating elements, and efficient battery packs to create a cozy option for those who simply can’t stand the cold. Wearing one is lot like […]
Robotics To Help Warehouse Workers
Consumer electronics giant LG will be taking a refreshed version of its CLOi SuitBot to CES 2019 next month, as it inches closer to commercial availability. Updated versions of the company’s PorterBot, ServeBot and CartBot service robots will also be on show. The CLOi SuitBot was unveiled last year at the IFA tech expo in Berlin. It’s a lower body […]
Biodegradeable Straws
It’s no secret that conventional plastic drinking straws are very eco-unfriendly. Manufactured in the billions, they’re typically only used once, and then end up in landfills or the ocean. Finnish startup Sulapac is attempting to address the problem, with marine-biodegradable straws. Developed in partnership with renewable materials company Stora Enso, the new straws are made from Sulapac’s patented 100-percent biodegradable […]
World’s First Wooden Football Stadium
Zaha Hadid Architects has won planning permission for the world’s first wooden football stadium, which will be built in Gloucestershire, England. When complete it aims to be the world’s greenest football stadium, constructed entirely from timber and powered by sustainable energy sources. It was the second attempt to gain planning permission for the 5,000-seat timber stadium for the Forest Green Rovers […]