TRACKING DOG: Is your dog a laid-back couch potato dog or the hyperactive, always active kind? The Whistle Activity Monitor fits on your dog's collar to collect data on its activities all day. The data then displays in an app on your phone and you can send it on to the vet if you need to. The 16 gram device contains a 3-axis accelerometer, a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery, and has Bluetooth 4.0 Dual Mode and Wi-Fi capability. Of course you can also share events and photos with others too. But fair's fair, you should wear a fitness tracker too.
HANDY ROBOT: Sally the robot has 4 wheels, a torso, 2 arms with hands and a couple of cameras to help her deal with potential explosives. A remote operator wears telepresence gloves to control Sally's arms and hands. The operator's hand movements are carried out by Sally's hands.
A motion tracking headset provides stereoscopic vision too, moving Sally's cameras in response. Sally's work roster could include IED disposal, vehicle searches, and checking out vehicles and people at checkpoints. Her movements are surprisingly human.
BOOMING FLIGHT: The Concorde supersonic jet had its day, but now the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency are working on a supersonic plane that can travel quietly faster than the speed of sound.
So far they have an 8 metre long model they plan to test later this year in Sweden. Continuing the great global tradition of testing potentially dangerous things outside one's own country.
