In an article on Smithsonian Magazine, scientists have completed mapping the largest genome ever fully sequenced of a rare Mexican salamander called Axolotl. Salamanders have a unique ability to regenerate almost anything you cut off them, even spinal cords, eyes and parts of their brains. This means that if we can figure this part out, we may learn the secrets to regenerating tissue and possible organs and limbs. I guarantee that the first human tests will be on a super soldier or military application. Can you imagine a soldier that losing a limb in battle and then growing it back months later.
Purdue University researchers have developed a robotic hummingbird that can pull off
the real thing's characteristic aerial stunts(Credit: Purdue University/Jared Pike)
This new hummingbird drone was designed and built by researchers at Purdue University. The coolest part of it is that it actually flies like a hummingbird. The 3D-printed body has wings made of carbon fiber membranes.
It has an electrical sense of touch and AI algorithms that can analyze those touches, basically creating a map to see in the dark. Bio-inspired robots and drones have been around for a long time, but this one seems closer than ever. Check out the video below.
If you think it's hard to see stars at night now, wait until Pepsi starts advertising in space. That would just be the beginning of the end as more and more advertisers would jump on the bandwagon. I really do like the idea of seeing some of the future stuff that I have written and drawn start to turn into reality. I am after all a huge sci-fi fan, but if this happens It will start to look an awful lot like this.
A Russian startup wants to launch tiny satellites into low-Earth orbit that’ll illuminate advertisements in the night sky.
StartRocket says it will launch what it calls the Orbital Display by 2020, and start displaying ads in the night sky by 2021. Its cubesats will orbit at an altitude between 400 and 500 kilometers (about 250 to 310 miles) and will only be visible from the ground for about six minutes at a time, a company representative told Futurism. See video below.
Boston Dynamics research and development firm has brought us all kinds of interesting robots over the years. One of their newest creations is Spot, and Spot Mini; a four legged robot that can do many things. Up to this point, Boston Dynamics really hasn't offered any of their technology to the general public or corporate use, but apparently that will soon change. Check out the video below.
Here is a statement from their site: SpotMini Good Things Come in Small Packages
A nimble robot that handles objects, climbs stairs, and will operate in offices, homes and outdoors. SpotMini is a small four-legged robot that comfortably fits in an office or home. It weighs 25 kg (30 kg if you include the arm). SpotMini is all-electric and can go for about 90 minutes on a charge, depending on what it is doing. SpotMini is the quietest robot we have built. SpotMini inherits all of the mobility of its bigger brother, Spot, while adding the ability to pick up and handle objects using its 5 degree-of-freedom arm and beefed up perception sensors. The sensor suite includes stereo cameras, depth cameras, an IMU, and position/force sensors in the limbs. These sensors help with navigation and mobile manipulation.
I'm sure you've heard about the infamous pole dancing robots at a strip club in Vegas by now. If not, well you're in luck. Obviously this is a gimmick to get people into the strip club. Guess what, it worked!
The Sapphire Club in Vegas employed two pole dancing robots to attract some new customers and get their name in the headlines. I think they are mildly interesting to say the least, but my guess is they are here to stay and version 2.0 will do a little more than shake their asses. One of the disturbing things about them though is their 80's style surveillance camera heads. It says to me, "You are watching us but we're watching you."
Check out the video below to see them in action for yourself.
There's a new flying machine in town, and they're calling it the speeder. The company Jetpack Aviation that brought you this jetpack, is now making what almost looks like a jet ski that fly's. It looks amazing unless you run out of gas or get sucked into the jet. Here is their info, and now they are taking pre-orders. Check out the video animation at the bottom.
The world’s first flying motorcycle.
JPA's Recreational SpeederTM represents the ultimate in personal transport. It is fully VTOL (vertical take off and landing) capable and can effectively take off from anywhere the size of a small car space. Originally intended only for Military, Government and Commercial clients JPA is also designing a version of the SpeederTM for the recreational market. It will be lighter than most 125cc motorcycles, fully stabilized and simple to fly.
Flying the Recreational SpeederTM will be just light riding a motorcycle but in the sky!
Being fully stabilized means that minimal pilot training will be required.
It will take off from practically anywhere and will fly at over 150 mph*
It will also fly at up to 15,000ft but we don’t expect many of our customers to need this!
We plan to build two versions of the Recreational SpeederTM: The Ultralight Version and the Experimental Category Version.
The Ultralight Version (UVS) will not require a pilot’s license to operate – all training will be provided by JPA or one of our authorized training centers. The Ultralight version will be limited to carrying 5 gallons of fuel and to 60 mph flying speed.
The Experimental Version (EVS) will require a private pilot’s licence to fly and will have no fuel or speed restrictions. As the owner/pilot of the EVS we will host you in our manufacturing facility and you will be part of the aircraft completion process. This will satisfy the FAA rules around Experimental aircraft production.
Full training will be provided at the JPA training facility in California where we remain the only FAA authorized jet-VTOL instructors in world.
Italian researchers have developed a soft robot that climbs and curls
like a plant tendril(Credit: IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)
A Plantoid robot, yep you read that right, is a plant inspired robot designed by Italian researchers to mimic curling plant tendrils, think living vines like we saw in Jumanji. It seems like humans always mimic nature when it comes to machines, after all it is nature that has spent an eternity working out the problems of walking or slithering a certain way. Anyway, it's a little creepy but check out the video below you to see for yourself.
