Sunday, 20 October 2013
Cadillac prices the 2014 ELR plug-in hybrid from $76,000:
A journey that began in 2009 with the Converj concept will reach its peak this upcoming January. That's when Cadillac plans to launch the ELR plug-in hybrid in major cities around the US. The luxury Volt will cost well more than expected, with a base price just under US$76,000.
Lenovo adds 8-inch tablet to Miix Series:
Lenovo's Miix multi-mode tablet is about to be joined by a baby brother. The new Miix2 is the company's first 8-inch tablet, and features a latest generation Intel quad-core processor, runs Windows 8.1 and is available with an optional stylus.
The Miix2 has an 8-inch, 800 x 1200 resolution IPS displayThe Miix2 is available with an optional cover and digitizer penThe Miix2 tablet from Lenovo packs one of Intel's new Bay Trail-T quad-core Atom processor...The Miix2 runs Windows 8.1, featuring Internet Explorer 11, improved searching and sharing...View all
The Miix2 packs one of Intel's new Bay Trail-T (Z3000 Series) quad-core Atom processors, with integrated Intel HD graphics and Clear Video HD technology for smooth video playback performance. It has an 8-inch, 800 x 1200 resolution IPS display that supports 10 simultaneous touch points.
The 5.18 x 8.48 x 0.32 in (13.2 x 21.5 x 0.8 cm), 0.77 lb (349 g) tablet features 2 GB of LP-DDR3 memory, and up to 128 GB of eMMC solid state storage (with microSD expansion), though US customers will have to make do with either 32 or 64 GB.
There's a 2 megapixel webcam to the front for high quality video chat, and a 5 MP rear camera for snaps. Completing the known specs are Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and 3G-GPS3 connectivity (though the latter won't be available everywhere), and an as yet unspecified battery that's claimed to offer up to 7 hours of use between charges.
The Lenovo Miix2 will be available later this month at US$299 for the 32 GB model, and $349 for the 64 GB version. You can also opt to add $20 to each price tag for a protective cover with a digitizer pen.
Source: Lenovo
Update 13/10/18: Lenovo has confirmed a few more specs. The Intel processor is a Z3740 running at 1.8 GHz, the battery is a 4730 mAh single cell unit, and 3G connectivity will not be included in US models.
Adidas gets in on the smartwatch action with the miCoach Smart Run:
It looks like the early smartwatches have been split into two camps. On one hand, we have watches like the Galaxy Gear and Pebble that aim, with varying degrees of success, to put basic smartphone features on your wrist. Then we have wearable fitness trackers that are gradually sprouting screens and becoming more like those straightforward smartwatches. Today Adidas added to that list with one of the smartest fitness watches to date, the miCoach Smart Run.
The miCoach Smart Run is obviously designed for the serious runner. We're looking at features like a heart monitor, the ability to play MP3s, and even a virtual coach shouting at you (or perhaps speaking politely) through your connected Bluetooth headset.
The device features a 1.45-in., 184 x 184 color touchscreen
The Adidas watch also, of course, tracks the basic stuff, like speed, distance, and route, courtesy of built-in accelerometer and GPS. Like most smartwatches, it gives your wrist a gentle vibration to let you know to look at its 1.45-in. color touchscreen. Unlike most other smartwatches, though, it's a standalone device, and doesn't require a constant smartphone connection to be useful.
Adidas is pitching the watch as your go-to accessory for interval training. Much like that pesky treadmill at the gym, the miCoach Smart Run breaks your workout down into four color-coded zones. Doing green zone speed during the red zone part of your workout? The watch will vibrate or speak to you (if you're toting that Bluetooth headset) to tell you to put on the brakes.
The miCoach Smart Run is pretty thick, at 15.6 mm
In terms of hardware, that 1.45-in. screen has a pretty low resolution, at 184 x 184 (just 179 pixels per inch). The watch weighs 79 g (2.8 oz), and is pretty beefy, at 15.6 mm thick. It has a stainless steel face and a silicone strap. Adidas estimates a mere four hours of "training mode" battery life, though that supposedly extends to eight hours if you adjust the data computing to once every five seconds.
This definitely looks like being one of the most advanced wearable fitness trackers, but we'd also expect to see many more devices like this within the next year. Another factor to consider is whether you'll eventually be buying a more general-purpose smartwatch. Current offerings from Samsung, Sony, and others include some fitness tracking apps, and the next round will likely add more advanced sensors and software.
The Adidas miCoach Smart Run will be available this November for US$399.
Panasonic outs tiny Lumix GM1 interchangeable lens camera:
Over the past couple of years we've seen camera manufacturers trying to strike the right balance between image quality and camera size, by fitting ever larger sensors in ever smaller cameras. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera which continues this trend, by somehow squeezing a Micro Four Thirds sensor into a body which is smaller than many compact cameras.
The Panasonic Lumix GM1 features a 16 megapixel Live MOS sensorThe LUMIX G VARIO 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 lens is being released alongside, and bundled with, the...On the rear of the Panasonic Lumix GM1 there's a three-inch touchscreen with 1,036K dots f...A magnesium-alloy shell with aluminum dials and buttons should give the Panasonic Lumix GM...View all
Featuring the same size Micro Four Thirds sensor (17.3 x 13 mm) as the likes of the Lumix DMC-GX7 and Olympus OM-D E-M1, the Panasonic Lumix GM1 should be capable of shooting comparable quality images as its larger brethren. Indeed it even takes the same lenses. But it's not just small for a Micro Four Thirds camera, measuring just 98.5 x 54.9 x 30.4 mm (3.88 x 2.16 x 1.2 inches), it's one of the smallest interchangeable lens cameras ever. In terms of miniaturization, it's right up there with the Pentax Q cameras, which have much smaller sensors.
The GM1's 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor is paired with Panasonic’s Venus Engine image processor and enables detailed images with an ISO range of 200 to 25,600. Burst shooting is possible at speeds of 5 frames per second if set to use the mechanical shutter, and 40 fps with an electronic shutter. A silent shutter feature also allows users to capture images in situations where the traditional click might be frowned upon.
Autofocus is dealt with by a contrast AF system with 23 points, and Panasonic claims the camera is capable of speedy focusing even in low light situations. There's a handy Focus Peaking function available in MF and AF+MF modes. The Panasonic GM1 shoots Full HD 1080p video at 30 fps and this increases to 60 fps at 720p. This being 2013, the camera also features built-in Wi-Fi for sharing images and video, as well as remote shooting via an iOS or Android device running the respective app.
The Panasonic Lumix GM1 features a 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor
A magnesium-alloy shell with aluminum dials and buttons should give the (slightly retro-styled) camera a solid-feel and physical controls include a mode dial, a switch for jumping between single, continuous and manual focus modes and a function button. All of which should keep enthusiasts happy given the overall small size of the device and lack of space to fit much more.
On the rear there's a three-inch touchscreen with 1,036K dots for composing and controlling shots. Space being at a premium, there's obviously no optical or electronic viewfinder, and it's worth noting that because there's no hot-shoe, it's not possible to add an external one either. There is however a pop-up flash should you need a bit of extra light.
Released alongside, and bundled with, the Panasonic GM1 is the LUMIX G VARIO 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 lens. Giving a 35 mm-format equivalent focal length of 24-64 mm, the retractable-type zoom unit is made up of eight lenses in seven groups, including ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass for minimizing chromatic aberration. Seven blades give the aperture a rounded shape which should also produce a smooth out-of-focus blur when shooting at larger apertures.
The LUMIX G VARIO 12-32mm F3.5-5.6 lens is being released alongside, and bundled with, the...
The lens also boasts MEGA O.I.S. (Optical Image Stabilizer) to make it easier to control shots with slower shutter speeds, and an inner focus drive system and stepping motor for smooth and silent operation whether shooting stills or video. While the new lens uses the traditional Micro Four Thirds mount, it's been specially designed to fit the size of the GM1 with a smaller diameter. Many Micro Four Thirds lenses are taller than the body of the Panasonic GM1.
This is where the discussion and boasts of small size get interesting. Because the GM1 has a relatively large sensor, its lenses still need to be big enough to cover that sensor with an image, while those designed for the smaller sensors of the Nikon 1 or Pentax Q can be smaller. This means that while the camera itself is pocketable, many of the lenses you might want to use with it certainly won't be.
The Panasonic GM1 will be available in November, bundled with the kit lens, for a price of US$750.
Aeromobil flying car prototype gets off the ground for the first time:
Klein says that in car mode the Aeromobil fits into a standard parking space and can be refueled at the same gas station as all the other cars – in other words, it does not require special aviation fuel like most aircraft. The flying car is extremely lightweight, coming in at less than half the weight of a compact car like the Ford Fiesta, which weighs 1,041 kg (2295 lbs). The structure is a steel tube frame with a carbon fiber composite shell, a configuration familiar to fans of racing cars.
Side view of the Aeromobil in airplane mode, ready for takeoff (Photo: Aeromobil)
The Aeromobil is a prototype intended to demonstrate to investors that the concept is viable. Klein is now shopping this striking flying vehicle to potential manufacturers and investors in order to make it a reality. Once such a deal is struck, he estimates that it would take two additional years to get certification for the Aeromobil to go into production, presumably under the existing Light Sport Aircraft rules.
Over the twenty year gestation of this flying car concept, Klien has created four different versions of his dream. The first version did not have folding wings at all, but was a boxy canard (tail first) design with tall wheels. The next versions featured the signature folding wings, but different tail configurations. Version 2.0 had an inverted V-shaped tail and this last version 2.5 was the first with two vertical tail fins enclosing the wheels. His web site shows drawings for Version 3.0.
Klein has a very interesting background, with degrees both in mechanical engineering, and in fine arts. He originally wanted to be a sculptor, but received his engineering degree first. He later studied design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava, the Slovak Republic and became the head of the Department of Transport Design at that school. As a professional, he worked on car designs for Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen, and won a national design award for a three-wheeled electric scooter, which he still drives to work each day.
Flying is in the Klein family, however, and his grandfather, father and brother are all pilots. He started flying as a teenager with his brother, and today flies both powered aircraft and gliders. For the Aeromobil, he is also the chief test pilot, which in unusual in these days of large aerospace companies.
Klein calls his Aeromobil flying car “the intersection of technology and art.” You can judge this for yourself by checking out the following video in which Klein demonstrates the road driving characteristics and then shows the first flight of the Aeromobil flying car.There is a saying in flying: “If it looks good, it will fly well.” Stefan Klein, a designer from the Slovak Republic, has announced the first flight of his Aeromobil Version 2.5, a flying car prototype he has been developing over the last 20 years. This vehicle is a strikingly beautiful design with folding wings and a propeller in the tail. But will its flight capabilities match its looks?
This earlier prototype of the Aeromobil flying car had just one tail fin (Photo: Peter Zak...Stefan Klein poses in the skeletal frame of the flying car. You can see the driveshafts fr...The Aeromobil cockpit is very snug, and has two steering wheels, one for the ground and th...A rear view of the flying car showing the propeller arrangement. The prop does not move i...View all
The Aeromobil V2.5 is a propeller-driven aircraft that also functions as an automobile – or you can think of it it a car with lofty aspirations. The aviation aspects seem to be prominent in the design, with a streamlined cockpit, super light weight, and sleek tail fins in the back. Propulsion is provided by a 100 hp Rotax 912 water cooled engine mounted behind the seats, with drive shafts leading both aft to the propeller and forward to the two front wheels for driving.
This project is not the only flying car around. There is also the US-based Terrafugia, which folds up its wings vertically on the sides of the vehicle. There is also a Dutch design called the PAL-V, where the ground vehicle is a three wheeled tilting motorcycle that turns into a gyrocopter at the airport.
The wings fold back to make the flying car fit on the roadways. It also runs on automotiv...
When the Automobil is a car, the wings are folded straight back along the fuselage and the engine drives the front wheels, while the small back wheels support the tail. There seems to be very little structure, and the entire vehicle weighs just 980 lb (450 kg) empty of fuel and passengers. There is room for two people in the very snug cockpit, and there are two steering wheels, mounted one inside the other in front of the driver/pilot. The larger wheel is for driving on the ground, and the smaller wheel is used for flying.
As shown in the video below, when the Aeromobil gets to the airport, the driver/pilot pushes a button and the wings fold out for a wingspan of 8.2 m (27 ft), which is comparable to other light sport aircraft of similar weight and power. The large flaps (moveable surfaces on the trailing edge of the wing) in this prototype flip over the wing and hang down to add lift for takeoff with the entire wing also tilting up a few degrees to assume the proper angle to the wind for takeoff.
The driver switches the gearbox to send power back to the propeller that is mounted at the very end of the vehicle between the two vertical tails. The Aeromobil then takes to the runway and accelerates for takeoff. In the video the airplane stays near the runway, as you would expect with a first flight. The airplane mode of the Aeromobil would have a top speed of 200 kph (124 mph) and a range of over 700 km (430 miles).
Friday, 11 October 2013
FRESH TECHNOLOGY NEWS
2014 Honda Accord Hybrid receives 50 mpg city rating from EPA:
Set to hit US showrooms at the end of the month, Honda's new Accord Hybrid milks enough fuel efficiency from its hybrid powertrain and tiny 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack to achieve 50 mpg (4.5 l/100km).
The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid in whiteSide view of the 2014 Accord Hybrid in blackA view toward the driver's seat of a right-hand drive 2014 Accord HybridRear cabin of the 2014 Accord HybridView all
The 2014 Accord Hybrid uses the same chassis and powertrain as does the Accord Plug-In, combining a 2.0 l (126 cu in) inline four cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine that provides 140 hp (106 kW) at 6,200 rpm with a 124 kW electric motor and a 105 kW electric generator driven by the gas engine. The key differences are that the Plug-In, which is currently available only in New York and California, has a much larger 6.7 kWh battery pack ... and has a starting price of over US$40K compared to the suggested $29,155 for the Accord Hybrid.
Drivetrain of the 2014 Accord Hybrid
This drivetrain provides the Accord Hybrid with three main operating modes. In all-electric mode, the battery runs the electric motor at a maximum level of 42 kW (55 hp). This power level is a design limitation for the battery/motor-generator control electronics. Not only are the battery and electronics easier to cool at this power level, but they are also less expensive to purchase. The 1.3 kWh battery in the Accord Hybrid holds the energy equivalent of about half a soda can of gasoline. As a result, pure EV operations are limited mainly to initial acceleration from a stop.
The 2.0 liter Atkinson-cycle gas engine is the heart of the 2014 Accord Hybrid
In combined gasoline/electric mode, the 2.0 l engine (above) runs a generator that supplies power to a drive motor (below).
Electric motor/generators mounted on the end of the Accord Hybrid's 2.0 liter gas engine
The Atkinson engine, a type of engine used in many hybrids, is about 15 percent more efficient than are more conventional Otto-cycle engines, but the user pays for this efficiency in reduced power density and less flexible operation. It's best suited to the role of generating electricity so that the electric motor can provide motive power. In combined mode, the 1.3 kWh battery pack is used to even out the power load, charging on a bit of excess power here, and providing a bit of extra acceleration there.
At higher speeds (above about 50 mph (80 kph)), the gas engine can be directly coupled to the driving wheels, providing a gas-powered overdrive. The occasional burst of acceleration can be provided by adding the 55 hp of the electric motor system.
The Honda Accord Hybrid has no transmission, despite the mention in Honda's literature and specs of an "electric continuously variable transmission." Honda is talking about the use of the gas engine-electric generator-electric drive motor chain to provide desired power levels when the vehicle is operating in combined gasoline/electric mode.
However, the electric motor is permanently locked to the driving wheels, enabling the EV-only and combined gasoline/electric modes, and a simple clutch locks the gas engine to the driving wheels in direct-drive mode. Avoiding the slippage of continuously variable transmissions is another reason the Accord Hybrid has such excellent fuel efficiency. Regenerative braking also helps, and can be set to various levels of aggressiveness.
The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid in black
Although the starting price of an entry-level Accord Hybrid is some $6,500 above that of an Accord Sedan, the Accord Hybrid is equipped with far more standard equipment, including Honda's Lane Watch blind spot display, a rearview camera, Expanded View driver's mirror, 17 inch alloy wheels, a ten-way power drivers seat, LED daytime running lights, multiple modes of data integration, and a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system. Some of the items which are standard equipment on the Hybrid are not even available on the LX Sedan, acting to make the cost of the Hybrid much more attractive.
On the other end of the price spectrum, the Accord Plug-In costs about $11.3K more than the entry-level Accord Hybrid. However, the options level of the Plug-In is about equal to that of the Hybrid Touring, a mere $5.5K cheaper. The remaining difference in price is a bit larger than usual for plug-in technology, but not offensively so.
The 2014 Accord Hybrid in white
Given that the Accord Hybrid Sedan is considered a full-size car, and that the powertrain can give 50 mpg driving in and out of the city while also enabling 7.5 second 0-60 mph times, the cost of this new hybrid seems justified. Early tests suggest that the Accord Hybrid might even get better gas mileage than the EPA figures in normal driving.
Team Austria wins Solar Decathlon 2013:
The US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a biennial competition that challenges college teams to build affordable, energy-efficient and aesthetically pleasing solar-powered houses. Team Austria (Vienna University of Technology) has just been announced the overall winner of 2013 event at Orange County Great Park in California, after the closest competition in its history. Second place went to University of Nevada Las Vegas and DesertSol, with the Czech Technical University achieving third place overall.
Covered patio of the AIR house by Czech Technical University. (Photo: Jason Flakes (Nomoi)...The lattice 'second skin' shades the timber walls of the AIR house by Czech Technical Univ...Interior of AIR House by the Czech Technical University. The house was constructed using c...The interior of the LISI house leaves mostly open floor area. Several types of wood were u...View all
This year marks the first time that all of the entries tied for a win in the Energy category, as every house was successful in producing more energy than it consumes.
The Austrian team also shared a joint third-place award for the Engineering category. The team's LISI (Living Inspired by Sustainable Innovation) house is a tribute to the forested regions of Austria, but also showed its relevance to the temperate Solar Decathlon site as a model for open space and outdoor living with generous deck space and a fully opening living area.
The interior of the LISI house leaves mostly open floor area. Several types of wood were u...
With a theme that stresses the importance of wood, the LISI house is built of 93 percent timber, including wood fiber and cellulose insulation, baked ash cladding, silver fir ceiling panels, oiled oak on the patio and ramp, and pressed bark chip on the walls of the bedroom and bath spaces. The team uses the analogy of a tree to explain the timber core as trunk and the lace-like curtain which surrounds the structure, as leaves. The curtain, the house’s most striking feature, is a Teflon fabric that has been cut in a pattern designed by the students but which is very robust despite its delicate appearance, and is similar to material used by the military for camouflage. It provides UV protection for the open areas of the house and light weather-proofing.
Measuring 60.9 sq m (645 sq ft) inside, the house includes patio/deck space at front and back with automated screens and awning for shade. The internal core of the house can be closed off in cooler weather with a series of triple glazed sliding doors. A sub-floor ventilation system maintains a comfortable internal temperature and is part of an overall energy system that includes photovoltaic panels connected to a smart management system, two high-efficiency air-water heat pumps to supply cold and hot water, an ERV heat exchange system and even a system for recovering heat energy from shower run-off.
The design is a cool, modern, elegant house with an extended roof at one side that creates a further enclosed side patio protected by an open timber wall. The bed and bathrooms are snug spaces that take up the minimum of the house’s free floor space, leaving the majority to the open living/dining/kitchen/patio spread.
While it makes for a cool, breezy living experience, the house will be modified with increased insulation for its future exhibition in Austria.
Second place overall went to the team from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for their DesertSol house, which was designed to reflect the "spirit" of the Mojave Desert. Materially, this was one of the more interesting houses with its weathered timber cladding and rusted metal patio screening and exposed steel elements. TimberSIL, a fireproof glass-infused wood product was used for the decking surrounding the house and reclaimed snow fence is used on the cladding. Internal details like the clerestory across the front wall and windows at varied heights and sizes, including floor-level openings, made this a more dynamic interior than we are used to seeing in these houses. The little hallway was given a dropped ceiling to emphasize the larger spaces of the kitchen/dining and bedroom at either end.
The DesertSol house designed for the Mojave Desert, by University of Nevada Las Vegas, mix...
DesertSol also has the full array of energy technologies, including passive elements such as shading and ventilation and a layered insulation system that brings it to an r30 rating for the walls (against a standard of around r18). The UNLV team were the only US team to place in the top three, and shared a joint third place for the Engineering award.
Another European entry, the AIR house (‘affordable, innovative, recyclable’), created by the team from the Czech Technical University, took the overall third place prize, as well as first place in the Architecture category and second place for Engineering. The most immediately notable feature of the house is the "second skin" a louvered timber screen that lines two sides of the house and "floats" over the roof, providing pergola-like walkways and shading the cladding from direct sunlight. The house was built using CLT (cross-laminated timber) in a structural capacity, a technology that has yet to be embraced in North America, where the resources exist but where prejudice to all-timber buildings is still prevalent. AIR was designed around the idea of creating a home for people aged 50 or more whose children have left home and who have retirement in mind. It follows a typology of Czech country retreats, but offers a model that can be used year-round.
The title also refers to "a breathable house," the team says, and uses all natural materials. AIR house has the standard (for the Solar Decathlon) high-tech energy systems, but these have all been hidden in order to emphasize the more natural experience of the wood.
The lattice 'second skin' shades the timber walls of the AIR house by Czech Technical Univ...
The indoor-outdoor design of all of the houses was tested in the high Santa Ana winds, common for this time of year, that hit the Great Park this week. And all were said by the organizers to have come through in great shape.
According to the founder of the Solar Decathlon and current director, Richard King, the event has gone beyond any of his initial expectations. He pointed out that the recent Solar Decathlon in China attracted 250,000 visitors. Asked how the competition has changed, apart from the increased sophistication of the technology, he says "the public have become much more knowledgeable, they ask a lot of hard questions about the how and the why." A sign, perhaps, that in the Decathlon’s home country more people might begin to embrace the possibilities of energy-efficient living
New software could allow cyborg insects to map buildings:
Living remote-control cockroaches are now a thing. They actually exist. Besides wowing people and sparking ethics debates, however, the cyborg insects may ultimately have some very worthwhile applications. A team led by North Carolina State University's Dr. Edgar Lobaton has brought one of those applications a step closer to reality, by developing software that would allow "swarms" of the cockroaches to map hazardous environments such as collapsed buildings.
The cockroach-guiding technology, which was also developed at NC State, involves fitting Madagascar hissing cockroaches with "backpacks" containing an inexpensive, lightweight, commercially-available chip, along with a wireless receiver and transmitter, and a microcontroller.
That microcontroller is wired into the cockroach’s antennae and sensory organs known as the cerci. When commands are sent wirelessly by a remote human operator, the controller electrically stimulates one or more of the antennae and/or cerci, dictating the directional movements of the insects.
In the building exploration scenario, a swarm of sensor-wearing remote-control cockroaches or other insects – known collectively as "biobots" – would be released into a damaged structure. Their human operators would give them some time to disperse in a random pattern, and would then send a signal causing the biobots to proceed to the nearest wall and follow along its base.
Although the locations of individual insects wouldn't be known (GPS doesn't work indoors), the insects' sensors would send a radio signal to the operators whenever two or more of the biobots got close to one another. After several swarms had been released and performed the "wall following" behavior, an algorithm in the software would take all of the accumulated radio signal data and use it to create a rough map of the building's interior.
First responders would then have some idea of where to go and what to avoid upon entering the structure themselves.
The technology has already been tested using computer simulations, and testing with robots is now under way (perhaps not unlike the existing MAST system). A trial involving actual biobots is planned to take place soon.
Down the road, it is hoped that insects equipped with other types of sensors could also be used to map the location of radioactive or chemical threats.
BayCycle bike kit puts commuters on the water:
The BayCycle Project is fast gathering attention for its crowd-funding campaign to bring a fully-fledged water-bike to the masses. BayCycle has released a number of eye-catching videos, including one of project founder Judah Schiller crossing San Francisco Bay on one (which is apparently a first). The project appears to be using off-the-shelf kits from Italian outfit SBK-KIT, whose Shuttle Bike we first featured back in 2005.
The project appears to be using off-the-shelf kits from Italian outfit SBK-KIT (Photo: Ba...BayCycle has released a number of eye-catching videos, including one of project founder Ju...BayCycle has released a number of eye-catching videos, including one of project founder Ju...The project appears to be using off-the-shelf kits from Italian outfit SBK-KIT (Photo: Bay...View all
As previously reported, the Shuttle Bike is a kit that can be worn as a backpack, which can be used to convert an ordinary bicycle into a water-bike in the space of about 10 minutes. The water-bikes featured on the BayCycle Project website and campaign appear to be SBK-KIT's Shuttle Bike. Judging by the BayCycle video, riders can work up to impressive speeds, though we're not sure if the 10 km/h top speed we reported previously is still the standard.
CNET reports that BayCycle intends to raise funds to buy Shuttle Bike kits from SBK-KIT to sell in the States. However, BayCycle's Indiegogo funding campaign page states that phase two of the project will be for research, design and prototyping. That being the case, perhaps BayCycle is using Shuttle Bikes to raise awareness of water-bikes generally, before going on to develop its own design. Alternatively, perhaps BayCycle has licensed SBK-KIT's technology, but hopes to refine it further.
If, however, CNET is correct, and BayCycle is merely hoping to buy kits in, perhaps it can save end users a few dollars in shipping by bulk buying these things in.
Questions abound at this point. We've asked BayCycle for clarification as to the arrangement with SBK-KIT in Italy. We've also dropped SBK-KIT a line to work out if Shuttle Bike kits can be ordered directly, and if so, for how much. BayCycle Project is asking for US$5,000 for a water-bike kit. We'll update this article as and when we hear back. We do wonder at the apparent lack of mention of SBK-KIT on BayCycle's official channels, though.
You can see BayCycle's water-bike in action below.
Update: after an exchange of emails with Judah Schiller, he has clarified that the intention is indeed to develop a new product. "Yes, the Indiegogo campaign is to raise money for design and development of new product," he writes. "We like the SBK Shuttle Bike (enough for me to ride one across SF Bay) and hope others do too. And it was designed in late 90s in Italy. You can imagine how much bike frames have evolved in the past 15 years (particularly in America). And in general, different types of cyclists will want different types of kits that match their skills, abilities, conditions and lifestyle preferences."
Update 2: BayCycle would like it to be pointed out that you do receive some other perks for your $5,000 pledge, but this is the lowest pledge which will, all being well, net you a water-bike.
Update 3: SBK-KIT has responded to our queries to confirm that it sells its Shuttle Bike kits over the internet for €1,098 (under US$1,500), which includes freight on orders placed before the end of the month. How BayCycle's proposed water-bike will differ from SBK-KIT's isn't clear (clarification: the bike kit you'll receive for this pledge is an existing SBK-KIT Shuttle Bike, even though it isn't named on the page), but potential backers will have to weigh up whether the extra perks (some of which you'll need to get to the Bay Area to take advantage of) and an unknown spec on top of a $1,500-Shuttle Bike kit are worth the extra $3,500.
Dangrous Technology of HAARP
The HAARP project directs a 3.6 [[megawatt|MW]] signal, in the 2.8–10 [[megahertz|MHz]] region of the HF (high-frequency) band, into the ionosphere. The signal may be pulsed or continuous. Then, effects of the transmission and any recovery period can be examined using associated instrumentation, including VHF and UHF radars, HF receivers, and optical cameras. According to the HAARP team, this will advance the study of basic natural processes that occur in the ionosphere under the natural but much stronger influence of solar interaction, and how the natural ionosphere affects radio signals.
This will enable scientists to develop methods to mitigate these effects to improve the reliability or performance of communication and navigation systems which would have a wide range of both civilian and military uses, such as an increased accuracy of GPS navigation and advances in underwater and underground research and applications. This may lead to improved methods for submarine communication or an ability to remotely sense and map the mineral content of the terrestrial subsurface, and perhaps underground complexes, of regions or countries, among other things. The current facility lacks range to be used in regions like the Middle East, according to one of the researchers involved, but the technology could be put on a mobile platform.2010/01/irans-nuclear-molemen/ Pentagon Scientists Target Iran’s Nuclear Mole Men
The HAARP program began in 1990. The project is funded by the [[Office of Naval Research]] and jointly managed by the ONR and [[Air Force Research Laboratory]], with the principal involvement of the University of Alaska. Many other universities and educational institutions of the United States have been involved in the development of the project and its instruments, namely the University of Alaska Fairbanks, [[Stanford University]], [[Penn State University]] (ARL), [[Boston College]], [[UCLA]], [[Clemson University]], [[Dartmouth College]], [[Cornell University]], [[Johns Hopkins University]], [[University of Maryland, College Park]], [[University of Massachusetts Amherst]], [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]], [[Polytechnic Institute of New York University]], and the [[University of Tulsa]]. The project's specifications were developed by the universities, which are continuing to play a major role in the design of future research efforts.
According to HAARP's management, the project strives for openness, and all activities are logged and publicly available. Scientists without security clearances, even foreign nationals, are routinely allowed on site. The HAARP facility regularly (once a year on most years according to the HAARP home page) hosts open houses, during which time any civilian may tour the entire facility. In addition, scientific results obtained with HAARP are routinely published in major research journals (such as ''[[Geophysical Research Letters]]'', or ''[[Journal of Geophysical Research]]''), written both by university scientists (American and foreign) or by [[U.S. Department of Defense]] research lab scientists. Each summer, the HAARP holds a summer school for visiting students, including foreign nationals, giving them an opportunity to do research with one of the world's foremost research instruments.Researches:HAARP's main goal is basic science research of the uppermost portion of the atmosphere, termed the ionosphere. Essentially a transition between the atmosphere and the magnetosphere, the ionosphere is where the atmosphere is thin enough that the sun's X-rays and UV rays can reach it, but thick enough that there are still enough molecules present to absorb those rays. Consequently, the ionosphere consists of a rapid increase in density of free electrons, beginning at ~70 km, reaching a peak at ~300 km, and then falling off again as the atmosphere disappears entirely by ~1,000 km. Various aspects of HAARP can study all of the main layers of the ionosphere.The profile of the ionosphere is highly variable, changing constantly on timescales of minutes, hours, days, seasons, and years. This profile becomes even more complex near Earth's magnetic poles, where the nearly vertical alignment and intensity of earth's magnetic field can cause physical effects like aurorae.The ionosphere is traditionally very difficult to measure. Balloons cannot reach it because the air is too thin, but satellites cannot orbit there because the air is still too thick. Hence, most experiments on the ionosphere give only small pieces of information. HAARP approaches the study of the ionosphere by following in the footsteps of an ionospheric heater called EISCAT near Tromsø, Norway. There, scientists pioneered exploration of the ionosphere by perturbing it with radio waves in the 2–10 MHz range, and studying how the ionosphere reacts. HAARP performs the same functions but with more power and a more flexible and agile HF beam.Some of the main scientific findings from HAARP includeGenerating very low frequency radio waves by modulated heating of the auroral electrojet, useful because generating VLF waves ordinarily requires gigantic antennasGenerating weak luminous glow (measurable, but below that visible with a naked eye) from absorbing HAARP's signalGenerating extremely low frequency waves in the 0.1 Hz range. These are next to impossible to produce any other way, because the length of a transmit antenna is dictated by the wavelength of the signal it must emit.Generating whistler-mode VLF signals that enter the magnetosphere and propagate to the other hemisphere, interacting with Van Allen radiation belt particles along the wayVLF remote sensing of the heated ionosphereResearch at the HAARP includesPlasma line observationsStimulated electron emission observationsGyro frequency heating researchSpread F observations (blurring of ionospheric echoes of radio waves due to irregularities in electron density in the F layer)High velocity trace runsAirglow observationsHeating induced scintillation observationsVLF and ELF generation observations[8]Radio observations of meteorsPolar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) have been studied, probing the mesosphere using the IRI as a powerful radar, and with a 28 MHz radar, and two VHF radars at 49 MHz and 139 MHz. The presence of multiple radars spanning both HF and VHF bands allows scientists to make comparative measurements that may someday lead to an understanding of the processes that form these elusive phenomena.Research on extraterrestrial HF radar echos: the Lunar Echo experiment (2008).Testing of Spread Spectrum Transmitters (2009)Meteor shower impacts on the ionosphereResponse and recovery of the ionosphere from solar flares and geomagnetic stormsThe effect of ionospheric disturbances on GPS satellite signal qualityProducing high density plasma clouds in Earth's upper atmosphere[11]Instrumentation and operation:The main instrument at HAARP Station is the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI). This is a high power, high-frequency phased array radio transmitter with a set of 180 antennas, disposed in an array of 12x15 units that occupy a rectangle of about 33 acres (13 hectares). The IRI is used to temporarily energize a small portion of the ionosphere. The study of these disturbed volumes yields important information for understanding natural ionospheric processes.During active ionospheric research, the signal generated by the transmitter system is delivered to the antenna array and transmitted in an upward direction. At an altitude between 70 km (43 mi) to 350 km.
(217 mi) (depending on operating frequency), the signal is partially absorbed in a small volume several tens of kilometers in diameter and a few meters thick over the IRI. The intensity of the HF signal in the ionosphere is less than 3 µW/cm², tens of thousands of times less than the Sun's natural electromagnetic radiation reaching the earth and hundreds of times less than even the normal random variations in intensity of the Sun's natural ultraviolet (UV) energy which creates the ionosphere. The small effects that are produced, however, can be observed with the sensitive scientific instruments installed at the HAARP Station, and these observations can provide information about the dynamics of plasmas and insight into the processes of solar-terrestrial interactions.Each antenna element consists of a crossed dipole that can be polarized for linear, ordinary mode (O-mode), or extraordinary mode (X-mode) transmission and reception. Each part of the two section crossed dipoles are individually fed from a custom built transmitter, that has been specially designed with very low distortion. The Effective Radiated Power (ERP) of the IRI is limited by more than a factor of 10 at its lower operating frequencies. Much of this is due to higher antenna losses and a less efficient antenna pattern.The IRI can transmit between 2.7 and 10 MHz, a frequency range that lies above the AM radio broadcast band and well below Citizens' Band frequency allocations. The HAARP Station is licensed to transmit only in certain segments of this frequency range, however. When the IRI is transmitting, the bandwidth of the transmitted signal is 100 kHz or less. The IRI can transmit in continuous waves (CW) or in pulses as short as 10 microseconds (µs). CW transmission is generally used for ionospheric modification, while transmission in short pulses frequently repeated is used as a radar system. Researchers can run experiments that use both modes of transmission, first modifying the ionosphere for a predetermined amount of time, then measuring the decay of modification effects with pulsed transmissions.There are other geophysical instruments for research at the Station. Some of them are:A fluxgate magnetometer built by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, available to chart variations in the Earth's magnetic field. Rapid and sharp changes of it may indicate a geomagnetic storm.A digisonde that provides ionospheric profiles, allowing scientists to choose appropriate frequencies for IRI operation. The HAARP makes current and historic digisonde information available online.An induction magnetometer, provided by the University of Tokyo, that measures the changing geomagnetic field in the Ultra Low Frequency (ULF) range of 0–5 Hz.The Station is powered by a set of five (5) 2500 kilowatt generators being driven by EMD 20-645-E4 diesel locomotive engineSite:The project site (62°23′30″N 145°09′03″W) is north of Gakona, Alaska just west of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. An environmental impact statement led to permission for an array of up to 180 antennas to be erected.[15] The HAARP has been constructed at the previous site of an over-the-horizon radar (OTH) installation. A large structure, built to house the OTH now houses the HAARP control room, kitchen, and offices. Several other small structures house various instruments. The HAARP site has been constructed in three distinct phases:The Developmental Prototype (DP) had 18 antenna elements, organized in three columns by six rows. It was fed with a total of 360 kilowatts (kW) combined transmitter output power. The DP transmitted just enough power for the most basic of ionospheric testing.The Filled Developmental Prototype (FDP) had 48 antenna units arrayed in six columns by eight rows, with 960 kW of transmitter power. It was fairly comparable to other ionospheric heating facilities. This was used for a number of successful scientific experiments and ionospheric exploration campaigns over the years.The Final IRI (FIRI) is the final build of the IRI. It has 180 antenna units, organized in 15 columns by 12 rows, yielding a theoretical maximum gain of 31 dB. A total of 3.6 MW of transmitter power will feed it, but the power is focused in the upward direction by the geometry of the large phased array of antennas which allow the antennas to work together in controlling the direction. As of March 2007, all the antennas were in place, the final phase was completed and the antenna array was undergoing testing aimed at fine-tuning its performance to comply with safety requirements required by regulatory agencies. The facility officially began full operations in its final 3.6 MW transmitter power completed status in the summer of 2007, yielding an effective radiated power (ERP) of 5.1 Gigawatts or 97.1 dBW at maximum output. However, the site typically operates at a fraction of that value due to the lower antenna gain exhibited at standard operational frequencies.Related facilities:In America, there are two related ionospheric heating facilities: the HIPAS, near Fairbanks, Alaska, which was dismantled in 2009, and (currently offline for reconstruction) one at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) operates an ionospheric heating facility, capable of transmitting over 1 GW effective radiated power (ERP), near Tromsø, Norway. Russia has the Sura Ionospheric Heating Facility,
in Vasilsursk near Nizhniy Novgorod, capable of transmitting 190 MW ERP.
Conspiracy theories:See also: List of conspiracy theories: Development of weapons technology
HAARP is the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Various individuals have speculated hidden motives and capabilities to the project, and have blamed it for triggering catastrophes such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, thunderstorms, earthquakes in Iran, Pakistan, Haiti and the Philippines, major power outages, the downing of TWA Flight 800, Gulf War syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Allegations include the following:
A Russian military journal wrote that ionospheric testing would "trigger a cascade of electrons that could flip earth's magnetic poles".
The European Parliament and the Alaska state legislature held hearings about HAARP, the former citing "environmental concerns".
Nick Begich Jr., the son of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich and author of Angels Don't Play This HAARP, has claimed that HAARP could trigger earthquakes and turn the upper atmosphere into a giant lens so that "the sky would literally appear to burn", and maintains a website that claims HAARP is a mind control device.
Former Governor of Minnesota and noted conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura questioned whether the government is using the site to manipulate the weather or to bombard people with mind-controlling radio waves. An Air Force spokeswoman said Ventura made an official request to visit the research station but was rejected-"he and his crew showed up at HAARP anyway and were denied access".
Physicist Bernard Eastlund claimed that HAARP includes technology based on his own patents that has the capability to modify weather and neutralize satellites.
Stanford University professor Umran Inan told Popular Science that weather-control conspiracy theories were “completely uninformed,” explaining that “there’s absolutely nothing we can do to disturb the Earth’s [weather] systems. Even though the power HAARP radiates is very large, it’s minuscule compared with the power of a lightning flash—and there are 50 to 100 lightning flashes every second. HAARP’s intensity is very small.”
Computer scientist David Naiditch characterizes HAARP as "a magnet for conspiracy theorists", saying that HAARP attracts their attention because "its purpose seems deeply mysterious to the scientifically uninformed". Journalist Sharon Weinberger called HAARP "the Moby Dick of conspiracy theories" and said the popularity of conspiracy theories often overshadows the benefits HAARP may provide to the scientific community. Austin Baird writing in the Alaska Dispatch said, "What makes HAARP susceptible to conspiracy criticism is simple. The facility doesn't open its doors in the same way as other federally-funded research facilities around the country, and it doesn't go to great efforts to explain the importance of its research to the public."
In popular culture:HAARP has been dramatized in popular culture by Marvel Comics, in the Tom Clancy's Net Force series (in the novel Breaking Point), and The X-Files.
A fictionalized HAARP was the setting for a stage in the X-Men Legends game.
HAARP was featured in the animated series G.I. Joe: Resolute and in the first episode of Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura.
The alternative rock band Muse named a live album after this facility. HAARP's various antennas also inspired the set design for the performance, which was recorded live at Wembley Stadium.
Shutdown:HAARP was shut down in early May 2013, awaiting a change between contractors who operate the facility. According to HAARP program manager James Keeney, "Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is expected on site as a client to finish up some research in fall 2013 and winter 2014."The temporary shutdown was described as being due to "a contractor regime change." The Alaska Native corporation Ahtna, Incorporated is reportedly in talks to take over the facility administration contract from Marsh Creek, LLC.Conspiracy theories:See also: List of conspiracy theories: Development of weapons technologyHAARP is the subject of numerous conspiracy theories. Various individuals have speculated hidden motives and capabilities to the project, and have blamed it for triggering catastrophes such as floods, droughts, hurricanes, thunderstorms, earthquakes in Iran, Pakistan, Haiti and the Philippines, major power outages, the downing of TWA Flight 800, Gulf War syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome.Allegations include the following:A Russian military journal wrote that ionospheric testing would "trigger a cascade of electrons that could flip earth's magnetic poles".The European Parliament and the Alaska state legislature held hearings about HAARP, the former citing "environmental concerns".Nick Begich Jr., the son of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich and author of Angels Don't Play This HAARP, has claimed that HAARP could trigger earthquakes and turn the upper atmosphere into a giant lens so that "the sky would literally appear to burn", and maintains a website that claims HAARP is a mind control device.Former Governor of Minnesota and noted conspiracy theorist Jesse Ventura questioned whether the government is using the site to manipulate the weather or to bombard people with mind-controlling radio waves. An Air Force spokeswoman said Ventura made an official request to visit the research station but was rejected-"he and his crew showed up at HAARP anyway and were denied access".Physicist Bernard Eastlund claimed that HAARP includes technology based on his own patents that has the capability to modify weather and neutralize satellites.Stanford University professor Umran Inan told Popular Science that weather-control conspiracy theories were “completely uninformed,” explaining that “there’s absolutely nothing we can do to disturb the Earth’s [weather] systems. Even though the power HAARP radiates is very large, it’s minuscule compared with the power of a lightning flash—and there are 50 to 100 lightning flashes every second. HAARP’s intensity is very small.”Computer scientist David Naiditch characterizes HAARP as "a magnet for conspiracy theorists", saying that HAARP attracts their attention because "its purpose seems deeply mysterious to the scientifically uninformed". Journalist Sharon Weinberger called HAARP "the Moby Dick of conspiracy theories" and said the popularity of conspiracy theories often overshadows the benefits HAARP may provide to the scientific community. Austin Baird writing in the Alaska Dispatch said, "What makes HAARP susceptible to conspiracy criticism is simple. The facility doesn't open its doors in the same way as other federally-funded research facilities around the country, and it doesn't go to great efforts to explain the importance of its research to the public."In popular culture:HAARP has been dramatized in popular culture by Marvel Comics, in the Tom Clancy's Net Force series (in the novel Breaking Point), and The X-Files.A fictionalized HAARP was the setting for a stage in the X-Men Legends game.HAARP was featured in the animated series G.I. Joe: Resolute and in the first episode of Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura.The alternative rock band Muse named a live album after this facility. HAARP's various antennas also inspired the set design for the performance, which was recorded live at Wembley Stadium.Shutdown:HAARP was shut down in early May 2013, awaiting a change between contractors who operate the facility. According to HAARP program manager James Keeney, "Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is expected on site as a client to finish up some research in fall 2013 and winter 2014."The temporary shutdown was described as being due to "a contractor regime change." The Alaska Native corporation Ahtna, Incorporated is reportedly in talks to take over the facility administration contract from Marsh Creek, LLC.
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