Nanotech is beautiful

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Monday, January 21st, 2008

… and there is no denying it! Check out these first place winners from the Science as Art competition.

Nano-Explosions Color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of an overflowed electrodeposited magnetic nanowire array (CoFeB), where the template has been subsequently completely etched. It’s a reminder that nanoscale research can have unpredicted consequences at a high level. (Image: Fanny Beron, École Polytechnique de Montréal, Montréal, Canada)

Bamboos for Vibration Control Ni-Mn-Ga melt-extracted fibers with an approximate diameter of 100 µm showing a bamboo-type structure (imaged with a backscattered electron detector in an FEG-SEM). Melt-extraction is a unique and novel method to prepare single-crystalline particles for magnetic shape memory composites. (Image: Oliver Gutfleisch, IFW Dresden, Institute of Metallic Materials, Dresden, Germany)

Dirty Dice Self-assembled 200 micron size nickel dice, imaged using scanning electron microscopy in the lower secondary electron (LEI) mode. The dice were colorized using Adobe Photoshop. (Image: Timothy Leong, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA)

Definitely really cool!

Link.

Tags: nanotechnology, art

Posted in: News, Tech News.

Invention of the Year

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Monday, January 21st, 2008

What would happen if a material was invented that could act like muscle?

NASA’s Macro-Fiber Composite, or MFC, can be attached to a structure to bend it, reduce vibrations and monitor force. A team at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., created the flexible and durable material that uses ceramic fibers. By applying voltage to the MFC, the ceramic fibers change shape to expand or contract and turn the resulting force into a bending or twisting action on the material. Likewise, voltage is generated in proportion to the force applied to the MFC material.

It almost sounds as if it is too good to be true!

The device primarily is used in industrial and research applications for vibration monitoring and dampening.

That’s interesting… However I’d be researching more about how it could act as a motor alternative for humanoid robots. Would it be lighter, or heavier? Would there be more control, or less control? To what degree is it sensitive to the voltage?

Hmm, all questions one should think about!

Link.

Tags: muscle, material, NASA

Posted in: News, Tech News.

Sit wherever, whenever!

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Thursday, December 27th, 2007

Neat, check this out:

I wonder how they react though, when they crash into something or get stuck? And they don’t really seem comfy, but that’s probably intentional, as it is only temporary sitting (we hope)! Worthy of a blog, anyway.

Link.

Tags: robot, chair, moves

Posted in: News, Tech News.

Japan’s Robot of the Year

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Thursday, December 27th, 2007

 

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) 2007 Robot of tthe work-horse, industrial robot from Fanuc Ltd. called M-430iA. The multi-axis, greaseless (read: sanitary) robot is part of a food and pharmaceutical handling system. Unlike your unemployed uncle with his GED, this bot can work non-stop, 24 hours a day, accurately picking up 120 items per minute as they roll down a conveyor belt.

That’s cool, they have an annual ROBOT AWARD! I would get a kick out of it if it was named Yeti though. All jokes aside, a greaseless food handling system sounds great. Yet, with these robots comes unemployment issues. As the article mentions, "Unlike your unemployed uncle with his GED, this bot can work non-stop, 24 hours a day, accurately picking up 120 items per minute as they roll down a conveyor belt." that is great, but there should be a limit. Unemployment sucks, and many small towns depend on their local manufacturing plants to keep a steady payroll. I’m all for innovation, within limits.

Link.

Posted in: News, Robot News, Tech News.

Nice Bookshelf

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

We all know the Christmas lights controlled by music on a garage radio station that annoy neighbours to the extreme, but this is a different approach. I like it a ton since it is useful all year round.

Maybe during summer I could make things like this! That would be cool!

Link.

Posted in: News, Other News, Tech News.

Happy Birthday, Transistor!

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Sunday, December 16th, 2007

Here’s to the transistor turning a big ol’ 60 today.
I hope they eat lots of cake… or not.

Link.

Posted in: News, Tech News.

NanoQuébec to receive $11 million in Quebec government funding

Posted by Erin, the RobotGrrl on Friday, November 30th, 2007

Today at a major gathering of businesspeople and scientists, NanoQuébec it to be awarded significant Quebec government funding, to the tune of $11 million over the next three years. The announcement will be made by Mr. Raymond Bachand, minister of economic development, innovation and export trade, tourism minister and minister responsible for the Montreal region. The occasion is the official launch of NanoQuébec’s funding program for key research facilities selected through a recent competition.
In the long run, this funding will help consolidate Quebec’s leadership position in Canadian nanotechnology and create wealth in Quebec by accelerating the development and adoption of nanotechnology in the province’s industrial sector.

This is great news, but how is Quebec affording everything?? They are making a huge, extravoguent park with waterfountains and glorious gardens in the middle of new huge boulevards. Also, they are going to be spending gazillions on roads and overpasses. And, what happened to the new two hospitals they are going to build? Something doesn’t sound right… :S

Link.

Posted in: News, Tech News.