Humanoid Robot Works Side by Side With People

The first robots reached the world of industry over 60 years ago. Since then, for security reasons, they have performed their work isolated in cages, and that prevented collaboration between workers and machines. The research centre Tecnalia Research & Innovation is embarking on a new era by incorporating into European industry the first robot capable of working shoulder to shoulder with people. There are two aims: to improve the capacities of the workers in conditions of safety; and to increase the competitiveness of the factories in international markets. For this it has the robot Hiro, Japan's most closely guarded secret in recent years in the sphere of industrial robotics.

Assisted by Tecnalia, the robot Hiro has made its first trip outside Japan. For years, Japan, the leader in industrial robotics, has been developing this technology while regarding it as "protected national heritage" which it did not share beyond its frontiers. But now it has placed its trust in Tecnalia, so that Hiro can be adapted and join companies worldwide, starting with Europe.

Through Hiro, Tecnalia is aiming to ensure worker safety, increase the capacities of European manufacturing plants, and fight off the competition existing in international markets. So it has committed itself to combining the intelligence of the human being with the characteristics of industrial robots, since 99% of the tasks are more efficient if the two are combined. What is new about Hiro is that it is a social robot, in other words, it is built to share working space with people in conditions of absolute safety, and should it come into physical contact with any human being, it is programmed to stop automatically. It should be added that robots will undertake to carry out tasks that could signify a health hazard for the workers, and that way staff safety can be guaranteed to a maximum.

It is reckoned that within six years 60% of the industrial base state-wide that performs final product assembly work will have this type of robot on its production lines. The sectors set to benefit from this new technology will be the automotive, auxiliary, plastics, food, timber, beverages, agricultural, aeronautical, railway and energy ones, among others.

The robot inside and outside

The robot Hiro, developed by Kawada Industries, has a humanoid appearance in its upper part and a robot's body below. According to the Japanese philosophy, equipping robots with a human appearance encourages their entry into the labour environment and their interaction with the workers. That is why the upper part has a head, a trunk and two extremities ending in the form of a hand. It also has a total of four eyes, two on the face and one on each hand, to help it perform tasks that are uncomfortable or hazardous for human beings. But underneath it has a mechanism with wheels to enable it to move around, a more operational solution as it is a robot designed for industry.

Tecnalia is developing the robot's intelligence in order to adapt it to industry, so that it can carry out different actions in a range of scenarios depending on the needs of each factory and each client. It is about addressing the real needs of industry. For this purpose, Tecnalia was able to rely on the experience and industrial vision of the aircraft manufacturer AIRBUS, one of its strategic clients. Both companies went to Japan where they were able to analyse together the capacity of this robot to respond to the real needs of industry.

Source ; sciencedaily

Could Waste Heat be an Unseen Contributor in Global Warming?

Earth owes its inherent comfortable temperature level from the adequate heat given off by our sun within the “Goldilocks zone” of our Solar System. But despite the regulated heat levels given by this almost fateful mix of initial variables, the threat of global warming due to carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases always looms by.

But is it really fair for us to put all the blame on global warming in these heat trapping gases? Unknown to us, there might be other, more plain factors that might contribute to the overall increase in Earth’s temperature.

Generated Energy and Global Heat
There is a claim that every source of energy could potentially cause an eventual increase in the Earth’s temperature. This came from a research paper made by E. J. Chaisson that suggests waste heat, when added up together could be a contributing factor to global warming. Since waste heat is always inevitably produced by any source of energy, all power plants, engines, generators and even appliances and temperature control devices could be directly responsible for a possible global temperature increase.

Though the claim of this research might seem a little too outrageous, we cannot really deny the fact that our civilization had already experienced a significant and exponential increase in energy demand over the past century. A statement about waste heat affecting the Earth’s temperature would not really sound too surprising if we take our entire global energy production output today into account.

Implications and Predictions
We could probably see where this is heading now, but the primary implication of the waste heat idea is that global warming is an inevitable phenomenon that would eventually be caused by any kind of sufficiently advanced technology created by a planet-bound civilization. Even if we are to reduce carbon emissions to zero now, our alternative energy sources when combined together would still create enough waste heat as the number of power generation farms and plants grows.

In fact, the research predicts that if the world’s population plateaus at 9 billion by the year 2100, we would have had enough energy that would produce the waste heat required to increase Earth’s temperature by 3 whole Celsius degrees for the next 320 years after that. Of course, the problem would definitely get even worse if we can’t find a way to stop carbon emissions from increasing by then.

There are a few exceptions to this energy = waste heat relation though, and one is the use of solar energy. Unlike most other kinds of renewable energies that use chemical and atomic reactions to create energy, solar energy can directly “transform its fuel” into electricity with significantly less waste heat produced (within the system at least). Wind energy could also prove to be very useful in this regard, since it also produces relatively little waste heat, even if it has a few minor negative points that just might make it less eco-friendly than it looks.

Despite the supposed “doom talk” for alternative energy sources due to waste heat, it is important to realize that the research was not meant to downplay the importance of renewable energy in any way. We think it was simply meant to oversee the energy technology development curve of the human race as a single planetary civilization.

Source ; theenvironmentalblog

Buying a New Car vs a Used Car

Whether you buy a new or used car is a big question for buyers. Those in a financial position to do so obviously look to get new vehicles – they are more reliable and don't come with any expectant surprises.

Those who aren't are faced with a big decision. Do you take out a loan and get a new car that won't let you down or go the far more cost-effective option of a used car that is a bit pre-loved? The answer depends on your situation, with pros and cons available for both sides.

1. Car Insurance
   
   New cars have more safety features and driving advancements, giving them a big tick form car insurance companies. However, they cost more, meaning your premium and excess will also be higher.
   Naturally, used cars are the opposite – cheaper to insure but lacking the safety standards of their newer alternatives.
   In this category, used cars get the tick for their positive impact on your hip pocket.
   
2. Maintenance & Servicing
   
   New cars, depending on your model, can be more expensive to service. If you're buying a brand new sports car, expect to pay more for it to be maintained. If you're buying a popular brand and model, servicing won't be as expensive because parts will be common.
   Whilst used cars are cheaper to service, age and reliability aren't on their side, meaning more can go wrong. Each service presents new potential hazards for car owners which could make your quick trip to the mechanic a costly one.
   Researching your used car thoroughly to ensure it is up to scratch will alleviate any surprises.
   
3. Reliability
   
   Reliability is the main reason people buy a car. We want something that will get us from A to B efficiently. New cars are obviously ideal for this – they are in peak operating performance and won't let you down.
   Used cars, on the other hand, have a higher chance of breaking down and causing you headaches. The reliability factor is out the window because, at the end of the day no matter how many questions you ask, you'll never know the full history of the vehicle and what it could dish up during your ownership.
   New cars win this one.
   
The equation for buying a new car vs a used car is simple. If you have only a small amount of cash to work with and are happy to risk the possible long-term outlays, go for used. If you have money to burn, research whether a new car would suit you. Personal situation is always the underlying factor.

Source ; thebuzzinsurance

Toyota RAV4 Electric SUV

Are you ready to pony up nearly $50,000 for the Tesla Motors influenced RAV4 EV? 



Toyota hopes you are, as it recently unveiled the highly anticipated, all-electric SUV at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. Price for the vehicle specifically is $49,800, which can be pushed downwards with tax credits.

Toyota said the RAV4 EV will offer drivers a range of approximately 100 miles and a charging time of around six hours on a 240V/40A charger.

It will go on-sale initially in four California markets - Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles/Orange County and San Diego – in late summer, and the automaker projects sales volume over the next three years to be around 2,600 models sold.

Now the nearly $50,000 sticker shock will fade for some when the $10,000 in tax credits are applied, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which could make it a little more competitive with other EV offerings such as the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric.

But what exactly do you get for $39,800? Its maker, for starters, says this electric vehicle "combines a Tesla designed and produced battery and electric powertrain with Toyota’s most popular SUV model." Considering the base price for the 22/28 MPG 2012 model RAV4 is $22,600, it will definitely be an early adopter focus the electric version looks to go after.

As Forbes states so eloquently in its headline "In RAV4 EV, Toyota Has Luxury Of Not Caring If You Buy One,” the vehicle could really just be a niche product for some time to come. Considering this is one of the first true mainstream attempts at an all-electric vehicle that isn’t a car, is this the right strategy for Toyota to take? Could it quickly capture dominate market share in a nascent EV SUV market that has possible pent up consumer demand? A quote from Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division, offers some possible insight:

"We believe that the RAV4 EV will attract sophisticated early technology adopters, much like the first-generation Prius,” said Carter. “It’s designed for consumers who prioritize the environment and appreciate performance. We look forward to seeing how the market responds."

Toyota said the RAV4 EV “allows drivers to select from two distinctly different drive modes,” one of which allows for the vehicle to go 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds, with a maximum speed of 100 mph. The other option puts the vehicle at 0-60 mph in 8.6 seconds, with a maximum speed of 85 mph. Maximum output from the electric powertrain is 154 HP (115kW) @ 2,800 rpm.



In order to make the vehicle as aerodynamic as possible, Toyota has redesigned the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design to maximize air flow. The RAV4 EV also sports LED low beam projector headlights with halogen projector high beams and a manual leveling system that the automaker says allows customers to redirect the headlights when the vehicle "changes significantly in pitch due to a heavy load."

Source: tgdaily

Samsung Targets The iPhone With Galaxy S III

Samsung has debuted its long-awaited Galaxy S III, a slick smartphone loaded with some truly sweet and stellar specs that is sure to make even the most diehard Apple iPhone fanboi slightly envious.

The handset is powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS) and boasts a 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720 pixels), an 8MP rear camera, 1.9MP front camera and Wi-Fi Channel Bonding (doubles Wi-Fi bandwidth).

The Galaxy S III also introduces what Samsung calls "natural interaction," a featyure designed to enhance the normally mundane interaction experience between the device and user.

Essentially, the smartphone is capable of detecting individual faces, voices and motions - allowing the handset to offer a truly personalized experience by recognizing how you are using the device. 



The smartphone also features "S Voice," an advanced natural language user interface. Like Apple’s Siri, it is programmed to listen and respond to commands associated with various tasks, such as search, volume control, sending text messages, playing MP3s, organizing schedules, automatically launching the camera and capturing photos.

The Samsung GALAXY S III will be available at the end of May in Europe before rolling out to other markets globally. Prices will be announced at a later date.

Additional specs include: 


• 
Recording & Playback - Full HD (1080p).
• S Beam - Fast file transfer between Galaxy III phones. 

• Buddy photo share - Allows photos to be easily and simultaneously shared \directly from the camera or photo gallery.
• AllShare Cast - Users can wirelessly connect the Galaxy S III to their television to immediately transfer smartphone content onto a larger display, or share between devices.  

• Group Cast - Shares handset screen among multiple friends on the same Wi-Fi network. You can also make comments and draw changes at the same time with your co-workers, witnessing real-time sharing on your individual device.
• Pop up play -  Plays a video anywhere on your screen while simultaneously running other tasks, eliminating the need to close and restart videos when checking new emails or surfing the Web.
• 
Zero-lag shutter speed and Burst Shot function - Capture moving objects (up to 20 continuous shots) easily without delay.
• 
HD video - Improved backside illumination further helps to eliminate blur in photos that result from shaking, even under low lights.
Mobile payment -
• Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.
• Network - 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz3G (HSPA+ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz / 4G (Dependent on market).
• Video Codec - MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark.


 Source : tgdaily