A round-up of the latest technology news from around the globe.
TREV ZERO: Trev is an Australian three-wheeled electric vehicle designed for urban commuting. It's competing in the Zero Race around the world. The Lithium-ion polymer batteries drive the car up to 250Km on a single, three to four hour charge. The Aussies know how to name their vehicles. Details at TeamTrev, photos on Picasa and video on YouTube.
INFLATED MILITARY: Russia's newest military vehicles look like tanks, fighter jets and missile launchers, even to radar and thermal imagers. But they don't sound like tanks. That's because they're low-cost, light weight, blow-up decoys designed to inflate the size of the military presence in an area. Cheap and cheerful. More at the MoscowTimes.
FIND THE DRIVER: Google has several automated cars on the roads in California. They use video cameras, radar sensors and a laser range finder to "see" other traffic, as well as detailed maps to navigate the road ahead. So far they've travelled 225,000 Km. A trained human driver is ready at all times to take over if needed. That would be an Instant Driver. More at GoogleBlogs.
ROBOT PHYSIO: Berkley Bionics' eLEGS exoskeleton is a robotic suit that allows paralysed people to walk as rehabilitation exercise. Crutches pass information about the wearer's intentions to robotic legs that then move the wearer forward. eLEGS supports the wearer's weight while the crutches provide balance. That's a real support programme. More at NewScientist.
GRAB THIS: The Australian Longreach bazooka fires an expanding lifebuoy 150m out to someone in distress. When the lifebuoy hits the water expanding foam is activated into a life-ring to provide buoyancy and give rescuers more time to assess the situation. That definitely beats throwing a life ring by hand. More at News.com.au and video on YouTube.
- Miraz Jordan knowit.co.nz
