Measuring How Birds Take Flight

Measuring How Birds Take Flight

Understanding exactly how birds lift off has proven to be difficult for scientists. However, engineers at Stanford have created a device that can precisely and humanely measure the forces generated by a bird’s wings during flight. The work can provide the answer to the many mysteries of how birds take flight. These answers can even aid in the design of innovative and more efficient unmanned aerial vehicles, such as drones. The measurements of the lift forces of birds in free flight has been attempted many times before, with every technique producing uncertain results. Many of the techniques considered are inhumane to the birds being tested, including one technique where a laser is required for measurement. However, this new device allows the birds to fly freely in a nice environment and still provide clean and precise data. It features highly sensitive force sensors located on the bottom of a box the shape and size of a large birdcage with two perches inside. When the bird flies from each perch, the beat of its wings pushes against the air, which then pushes against the bottom of the box and sucks down the ceiling slightly.These forces are recorded and provide a precise measurement for each stroke of the bird’s wings, with the sensors taking a measurement every 1 millisecond. The system is so sensitive that the air conditioning in the lab has to be turned off to avoid the vibrations from the ventilation system being recorded. They have tested the device with two parrots and have already gotten interesting results. They have discovered that, during their downwards stroke, birds produce life equal to two times their body weight, while producing virtually no lift on their upwards stroke. This new device has made it possible to effectively understand how animals fly which can improve designs for drones and get instant and certain feedback.

Link to original article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150116110349.htm

Cool Pocket Synths

What can $59 put into your snug pocket? A cool, miniature pocket synthesizer! Among the years, synthesizers have been used an a captivating musical instrument in many popular songs. The expense of this machine to the music and technology industry is immense. There have been synthesizers created by Roland, Mood, Korg and other, but nothing seems to come close to the more affordable gadget designed by the company: Teenage Engineering. Teenage Engineering, proclaimed makers of the expensive OP-1 synthesizer, have engineered three nifty mechanisms at a measly price of $59 USD (Compared to the OP-1 which is $850 USD). This simplistic machine is powered by two AAA batteries, while the board itself is stripped back to give a rustic appeal. Each synthesizer has it’s own retro casing in the colors: cyan blue, neon green, and tangerine orange. The PO-12 (“Rhythm”) dry machine comes in green, the PO-14 (“Sub”) bass synth in blue and the PO-16 (“Factory”) melody synth in orange. Each designed comes with a sleek checkerboard design of different press-and-play knobs and two 3.5mm ports to interconnect and chain all three devices together for a superior beat making experience; all "bells-and-whistles" included. The main differences between this device and previously made synthesizers are simplicity and size. Usual synthesizers are as large as two checkerboards combines, while these three pocket synthesizers are the sizer of basic calculators. Size can also be a downside to the synthesizer trio. While the small size may prove useful in smaller settings, lack of a larger plethora of sounds and mixes might place a limit on the artist's creativity. How might YOU use the synthesizer? 

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/21/teenage-engineering-pocket-operator-synths/

Teixobactin Fights Resisting Bacteria

The new antibiotic teixobactin brings in new promises and hopes to scientists who are searching for a way to treat chronic bacterial infections such as MRSA and tuberculosis. Its discovery began with NovioBiotic and the iChip, which is a modernistic method that enables uncultured bacteria to grow in their natural environment. Over the course of its lifetime, the NovioBiotic iChip has discovered 25 new antibiotics. The researchers at Northeastern University that discovered the antibiotic discovered the teixobactin compound while doing a routine screening using the NovioBiotic iChip to gain access to MRSA and testing the compound to find that MRSA did not portray any mutated versions of it. Teixobactin works by binding lipids utilized in the construction of the bacterium cell wall. It prevents the cell well from building up, making the bacteria weaker. With this innovation, the team aims to develop teixobactin into a drug and ultimately  put a stop to chronic bacterial infections.

"This chal­lenges the dogma that we've oper­ated under that bac­teria will always develop resis­tance. Well, maybe not in this case." - Professor Kim Lewis


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/01/150108124854.htm

Biomimetic Ocean Robots

Engineering researchers at the University of Singapore are working on biomimetic ocea robots that not only act like the real aquatic animals, but also have a brain of their own. Biomimetics is the study and development of synthetic systems that mimic the functions of structures of biologically produced substances and materials and biologic processes or mechanisms. These new robots will be able to perform tasks too hazardous for humans to perform. For example, the team could create a group of tiny robotic fish and sea turtles to detect nuclear wastes underwater which would be much too dangerous for a human to do. Researchers at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department of the University of Singapore are looking towards nature to solve technical challenges. They have created a robotic sea turtle that is smaller and lighter than other underwater robots due to its lack of a ballast system for its diving and sinking functions. However, since it is smaller and lighter it is able to carry bigger payloads, allowing it to perform more complex tasks such as surveillance and water quality monitoring. Being smaller and lighter also increases its energy efficiency. The NUS turtle is also agile and able to turn sharp corners without a loss in speed. It is able to self-charge, eliminating the need for it to return to base for charging. To be able to create this and other life-like biomimetic robots, researchers had to study the functions of real ocean animals such as the energy efficient and maneuverable movements of fish. One of the professors working on the project says he expects to invent robots that are able to perform collaborative missions in three to five years. They also hope to develop robotic fish that are able to respond to external stimuli and make critical decisions to complete a mission.  

Link to original article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/12/141223084136.htm

Walkman NW-ZX2: What's the fuss?

In a massive cellular age consistent of MP3 audio, what happens to the old, clunky has-been mechanisms of the Walkman? Apparently, it’s been brought back from the dead by Sony Corporations. The Walkman NW-ZX2, coexisting as an amped version of the NW-ZX1, has given consumers light to high quality sound in their audio books, music, and pod casts. The catch to this yesteryear memory, however is the price. At a whopping 1200 USD, one can obtain the refined music player styled with a black-and-gold aluminum body and eccentric circuitry. The pride of the Walkman has been brought forth to compete against Apple’s iPod market. The impressive sound quality of the NW-ZX1 is recognized as high-resolution audio; a proud declaration made by the ever insistent Tokyo-based company. High resolution audio isn’t something that’s particularly new nor anything captivating to the American consumer. Consistent on embracing their own technological format to refute the iPods third-party format, the decline of Walkman users has since caused been on the rise due to the inconvenience of purchasing Sony formatted music. Scarce visibility in US retail has caused a controversial question for the company’s progress: Are Walkmen going to debut once more?

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/01/09/sony-pins-hopes-on-high-quality-sound/

CES: Visions of cas on Auto pilot

CES: Visions of cas on Auto pilot

The driverless car was introduced in the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) by  Dieter Zetsche, the head of Mercedes-Benz cars and chairman of of Daimler AG, in Las Vegas. It allows the consumer to simply connect his smartphone and sit back for, and I quote, a “Luxurious ride.”

“Just like our phones, cars are getting much smarter,” Mr. Ahn, chief technology officer of LG Electronics, said As technology continue to develop , we continue to try and find new ways of improving, and in a way, bettering our ways of life; which in a way is exactly what engineers do.  Mr. Scott Ahn said “We’re seeing an increasing need to connect our smart devices to cars." This driver-less car would rely strictly on GPS and would be able connect with our smart phones, this concept would prevent lots of deaths caused by car crashes. An estimated 30 000 lives is claimed every year by fatal highway crashes. Crashes caused mostly by texting and driving. If we implement this idea of a driverless car, allowing the passenger to just connect his or her device to it, this would reduce a great quantity of car crashes related to texting while driving.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/ces-visions-of-cars-on-autopilot/?ref=personaltech