A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
AIR-POWERED PLANE: Flying a plane usually means adjusting flaps, such as elevators and ailerons. The DEMON unmanned air vehicle from the UK instead blows blades of air from slots along the back of the wing to control lift. This technique uses fewer moving parts, means less maintenance, and makes the aircraft more stealthy. Blades of air; who
would have thought? More at BaeSystems and video on YouTube.
WATER-POWERED YACHT: The carbon-fibre Tang yacht has sails of course. But while it's moving under sail propellers in the wake charge a 144-volt lithium ion battery pack. When the wind drops the batteries drive twin E motion 18-kilowatt permanent-magnet motors. The batteries also power onboard devices offering all the comforts of a land-based home. Recycled motion, FTW. More at CNET.
GAS-POWERED BIKE: The SiGNa electric bike has a canister of sodium silicide strapped to the carrier. When water is added, the mix creates hydrogen gas that generates electricity. Instead of recharging just swap in a new cartridge of powder. The bike can travel around 95Km on a single charge. Where to get the powder from is a whole different
matter. More at Wired.
NUCLEAR-POWERED CAR: Uranium nitride rips the hydrogen atoms off a carbon atom but destroys itself in the process. If scientists could discover how to stop its self-destruction they could use uranium nitride as a portable source of nuclear power, perhaps in car engines.
Not in New Zealand, they couldn't. More at DiscoveryNews.
CAR-POWERED TRAFFIC: An MIT project called CarTel collects and analyses data from GPS devices in cars to provide real time traffic reports. CarTel can receive more than 600 data points a second, so even passing cars can exchange useful information. CarTel uses a combination of WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular connections as appropriate. Better hope there are no cellular message delays. More at DiscoveryNews.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
