Tech Universe: Tuesday 1 March

A Cubelet robot from Modular Robotics. Photo / Supplied

CUBOTS: So who knew robots could be modular? Cubelets from Modular Robotics are blocks about a couple of centimetres on a side that contain sensor, action, or operator functions. Blocks can drive or rotate, sense distance or temperature, or hold a battery, for example. Snap blocks together and they just work. Each cubelet contains a computer and communicates with its neighbours. Like. Want. More at ModRobotics and video on Vimeo.

A MOTE IN THE EYE: The trend is definitely for computers to get smaller and lighter, but now it's reaching the millimetre scale. A new prototype from the University of Michigan packs an ultra low-power microprocessor, a pressure sensor, memory, a thin-film battery, a solar cell and a wireless radio with an antenna all in the space of 1 cubic millimetre. The sensor could monitor pressure in the eye, warning of glaucoma. In the eye? Really? Eeww. Details at the University of Michigan.

ANOTHER PORT IN THE STORM: Intel's high-speed Thunderbolt connects computers and peripherals at up to twice the speed of USB 3.0. Over copper cables it should reach up to 10 Gigabits per second, while over fibre optic cable that top speed could be 100 Gb/sec. That'll be a bonus for transferring high definition video and other data intensive applications. A single cable can carry power, data and connections for peripherals. Fewer ports and cables - really, or just yet another one to add to the jumble? More at the BBC.

FAR OUT: Low-tech antennas throughout Europe combine with BlueGene/P supercomputer powered data processing to create a giant telescope, called LOFAR. The 15 Km wide array absorbs cosmic radio waves from the full sky, looking for pulsars and similar transient signals. The telescope's network transmits data at 10 gigabits per second. Well, pish, with Thunderbolt that's not such a big deal after all. Go fibre optic and increase that to 100. More at Lofar.

THE L IT IS: The Quadror is an ingenious structural support system for buildings, furniture, bridges and anything that needs holding up. 4 identical and interlocking L-shaped pieces are collapsible for transport but create a strong trestle shape when assembled. They can also be used as sound barriers. It's simple yet very effective. More at Quadror.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz