Future of Engineering

The Terminator: Why do you cry?
John Connor: You mean people?
The Terminator: Yes.
John Connor: I dont' know. We just cry. You know, when it hurts.
The Terminator: Pain causes it?
John Connor: No, it's when there's nothing wrong with you, but you cry anyway. You get it?
The Terminator: No.

A robot can think, analyse, calculate, perform actions, crawl, walk, dance and even play football. So what differentiates a robot from a human being?

Well it isn't programmed to have a cute little red heart, the symbol of love that's supposed to be the epicenter of feelings & emotions. That's why the Terminator couldn't understand the depth of a tear-drop.

Feelix Growing tries to bridge the gap between robot and humankind. It is developing software empowering robots that can learn when a person is sad, happy or angry.

Using cameras and sensors, the very simple robots being built by the researchers – using mostly off-the-shelf parts – can detect different parameters, such as a person's facial expressions, voice, and proximity to determine emotional state.

The main idea is, by being more in tune with human emotions, giving the impression of empathy, the robots should be more readily accepted by the people they may one day serve.

The Terminator: I know now why you cry,
[terminator wipes johns tear]
Guess what? It is something I can do too!

Source - ICT Results

Labels: Robotics

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University have developed an electronic-eye camera.

There are lot of developments happening in the world of digital camera. So, what's so unique about this electric-eye camera?

The answer lies in its curved nature. Currently when photos are taken, the picture is clear in the middle but at the edges it is blurred. The curved technology ensures that the entire picture is clean and clear.

"This is the first time we've demonstrated a camera on a curved surface to really make it look like a human eye," said Yonggang Huang of Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

Wow! So why didn't they think about this earlier?

They did. And also tried to implement it. But to their dismay when microelectronic components were transferred onto a curved surface it broke under pressure.

Transferring microelectronic components onto a curved surface without breaking them was the task before Huang and Rogers. Guess what? They've found a simple solution to prevent breakage.

"Huang and Rogers developed a mesh-like material made up of tiny squares that hold the photodetectors and electronic components. The squares are connected by tiny wires that give each component the ability to mold to a curved surface."

This fantastic development goes beyond vacation photos.The device could be used to make better imaging equipment, such as curved sensors to monitor brain activity that follow the contours of the brain. It could even be used in the development of an artificial retina or a bionic eye.

Source - PC Pro
Image source - Newscom.com

Labels: Design-Engineering, Robotics

Researchers in Portugal have created a "microcapsule" filled with perfume and embedded in fabric maskS unpleasant body odors when using textile products.

Actors have sported double-roles on screen to show off their skills. (Sometimes they do it to test our patience.) Now our clothes have decided to do the same. They've made a fashion statement. Now they want to make a scented statement. And they surely have caught our attention.

These microcapsules need no introduction. They have been used already in scratch-and-sniff stickers and peel-apart fragrance samples. But the textile industry has kept off from this scented technology for a good reason. They knew that current versions make use of formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent. Surely there would be no takers for such clothing.

The textile industry didn't use it. But the lingering fragrance refused to leave. And they couldn't stop thinking about it. So they turned to science to freshen up their attire.

"The researchers identified polyurethane-urea, a type of environmentally-friendly plastic that is compatible with fabrics, as a solution. They used the material to prepare microcapsules containing limonene, the familiar scent abundant in lemons and widely-used in perfumes, and applied the capsules onto wool and polyester samples."

In laboratory tests, the microcapsules showed good performance in terms of prolonged fragrance production and durability. There's a time for everything. Now, it's time to say goodbye to perfumes and deodarants. For your clothes, tailored to perfection would be performing a great double-role.

Source - American Chemical Society

Military Developing Brainwave Binoculars

Military binoculars may soon get information directly from the brains of the soldiers using them.

The brain is constantly processing images but most get filtered out. All the things identified by the brain doesn't make it to the conscious level.

The Pentagon wants to use the full potential of the brain, so it has awarded contracts to two defense firms to develop brainwave-aided binoculars. It hopes that soldiers can detect threats from miles farther away with the intelligent binoculors.

"Electrodes on the scalp inside a helmet will record the user's brain activity as it processes information about high-resolution images produced by wide-angle military binoculars. Those responses will train the binoculars over time to recognize threats."

Sensics, Inc., a Baltimore-based maker of panoramic head-mounted displays won $6.7 million and HRL Laboratories received $4.3 million for their research.

Source - Lasvegassun

Labels: Instrumentation-Engineering, Robotics

Industrial Designers Develop Harness to Provide Spine Support During Water Rescues

From small beginnings come great things. That's exactly what has happened at the University of Virginia Tech. A simple assignment has led to the creation of a life saving product.

Everyday the swift water rescue team is up against a mission that looks as difficult as Mission Impossible. Rough waters and an unconcious vitim means just one thing - disaster is just around the corner. Putting their life on the line they struggle to save lives.

Rescue doesn't stop with pulling out a victim. It's important to pull out the person without causing further physical injuries. That isn't a easy task. To minimise injury during rescue, the Hydrospine has been designed.

The Hydrospine is a rigid frame designed for use in water rescue situations, especially in fast-moving rivers. It is made from structural foam, a neoprene liner, nylon strops, buoyant buckles, and buoyant foam. It is intended to replace the metal framed harnesses currently used by rescue workers to stabilize accident victims with possible spinal injuries. The metal-free frame allows doctors to perform MRI and other scans at the hospital without removing the patient from the protection of the brace. The brace is designed to right itself if tipped upside down in the water, protecting the victim from drowning.

"The biggest thing we did was provide flotation, so if the unconscious person should become face down in the water, it will flip them over and keep them in the correct position in the water," said Varnerin.

Source - Virginia Tech

Labels: Engineering-Education, Safety

War and bloodshed has been here since the days of Cain and Abel. Till the 19th century warriors met on the field to prove their might. But the creation of bombs has redefined war. No place on earth is safe anymore. Explosives can be here, there or anywhere. And if you can't spot it, you can't control it.

To tackle terrorism, scientists have created a sensor chip that detects hydrogen peroxide vapor, which is often used in homemade explosives. It does this by monitoring the electrical conductivity of a thin metal film. The chip is made of two different thin films - one made of a cobalt compound and another made of a copper compound. When the chip was exposed to various fumes had responded in a similar manner. But when it was exposed to hydrogen peroxide vapor the films showed a difference in electrical conductivity.

When the sensor reveals this difference, you can easily spot the masked bomb. This is sure to fulfill the requirements of the bomb squad. Usually they have resorted to X-ray examination of luggages which wouldn't detect plastic or non-metallic devices. Sniffer dogs have helped out in various places, but come with a high price tag.

Source - DBIS

Labels: Metallurgical-Engineering, Safety

Undetected damage, like tiny cracks, flaws or weak points, is a big problem on airplanes. Now, chemists are testing a new paint that changes color to instantly reveal damage on planes.

Everyday an airplane is carefully inspected for flaws before it sets out on its daily mission. Yet visual inspection isn't hundred per cent fool proof. It's easy to miss out hidden damages on them. A cheap and simple solution has been found to keep an aircraft safe and sound.

"Microcapsules containing a colored dye are mixed together with aircraft paint. If the paint is scratched, dented, or struck the capsules break, releasing the dye. The change in color pinpoints damage. Visual inspections are easier and more accurate."

Initially this technology will be used in military aircrafts. Later on it will be used in commercial and private planes. The invention doesn't stop here. This color changing paint will soon find its way to the packaging industry to create tamper resistant packaging.

Source - DBIS

Labels: Aerospace-Engineering, Safety