Tech Universe: Tuesday 28 June

The WISPER system uses a canister of discs for signal - when strength drops a disc is shed, ensuring constantly strong signal. Photo / Thinkstock

HOT WIRED: The prototype WISPER system is designed to track firefighters and other emergency responders, especially when radios fail. Firefighters wear a small canister of tiny wired discs encased in heat resistant silicon. The canister senses communications signal strength and drops a disc when the signal's weak. Each disc acts as a repeater and if one's damaged, the others reroute the signal. A Site Commander can monitor each firefighter from a safe distance. Discs can withstand heat up to 260 C. Signal repeaters: obvious in hindsight. More information here and video here.

WEAR ARE YOU?: In Ohio some children or senior citizens may start wearing tracking bracelets so they can be easily found. If a wearer goes missing, family alert the Police Department who contact EMFinders, the suppliers. They signal the bracelet which returns a signal through the Emergency Communications System giving the wearer's location. Good for trampers and others too, surely. Find out more here.

PAWSIBILITIES: Naki'o's bionic legs allow him to run, jump and swim. He was a rescue dog whose original family had abandoned him as a puppy. Icy conditions meant his paws had to be amputated, leaving him unable to walk. The prosthetic legs mimic the muscle and bone of dog limbs, meaning Naki'o can now do everything a normal dog would do.
That's a lot of good luck after a bad start for Naki'o. More information here and video here.

TRAINED TRAVELLERS : Australian design firm Hassell have an idea to make travel between Melbourne and Sydney easier while producing less
CO2: high speed electric trains. At 400 Kph the trip would take less than 3 hours. Double-decker trains could offer spacious interiors, with dining, meeting and shopping facilities on-board. That's one way to have a fast meeting. More at here.

FLYING HIGH: The Austrian carbon fibre D-Dalus is a new type of aircraft. For propulsion it uses four mechanically-linked contra-rotating cylindrical turbines, each running at the same 2200rpm. Servos can alter the angle of the blades, providing thrust in any direction. It can launch vertically, hover still and move in any direction. A joystick is the control. The craft could be used as a drone, or for lifting and carrying heavy loads. Because of huge forces on its blades, its inventor had to also invent his own near-frictionless swivel-bearing to handle the stresses. The aircraft just needs to be wrapped up in a saucer shaped exterior now. Details at Gizmag.

- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz