Your's Web Tech Power Blog's: May 19, 2010

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Latest Posts on Coolest Gadgets

The Pincher is designed to take out explosives
This iPhone Has A Growth
Anybots Avatar Robots
Balancing Cube Robot from Zurich!
The iAngle simplies your gadget loving life
Lovable Robot USB Hubs
Gadget Thumbnails for 17-May-2010

The Pincher is designed to take out explosives

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:40 PM PDT

I know what this looks like. You’re probably thinking that: “Oh no, it is a Star Wars/Terminator/Matrix/Battlestar Galactica/any other science fiction franchise robot that is designed to take out enemies. Are the humans its next target?”

Actually, from what I have been reading from my sources, this robot, also known as “Pincher” is designed to disable Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from a long distance. It apparently uses rockets the size of pencils to destroy the explosive charges, which will make them burn, not explode in a process known as “deflageration”.

I’m guess that it does this via remote control with a video camera and laser pointer. Then it uses “pyrophoric” rockets for its job.

In other words, this is not designed to be a weapon. Sure, I suppose that you could reprogram the thing so its pyrophoric pencil-sized rockets could be targeted at us fleshy mortals, but you can always use something technological to hurt someone. Heck, you can do that with a dang brick.

In a way, the Pincher is unique as it is designed to disable weapons, not shoot weapons. It is designed by Israeli roboticists, and I don’t have any word about when it would be used on the battlefield.

Source

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[ The Pincher is designed to take out explosives copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

This iPhone Has A Growth

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:25 PM PDT

The iStand makes all of your tiny handheld gadgets look like they’ve acquired a very strangely colored zit. You’re not going to want to pop this one though since it is meant to make using your phone or MP3 player a little bit easier. Don’t worry, it won’t damage the back of your iPhone either, it just attaches by a suction cup leaving your phone no more damaged than it was before.

These strange balls allow for your iPhone to sit up on your desk, letting you watch videos without holding it in place. Then you can also just hang onto the ball itself so that your hand doesn’t get in the way of anything you’re doing on your handheld device. These come in white, pink, orange, blue, purple, black and green. You can purchase one for £4.49 or about $6.60 through LazyBone UK.

Source: NerdApproved

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[ This iPhone Has A Growth copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Anybots Avatar Robots

Posted: 18 May 2010 03:12 PM PDT

This is a prototype “Avatar robot” from a company called Anybots. It works just like the avatar program in Avatar, but instead of putting yourself inside a giant blue person, you put it in a robot.

Okay, the technology isn’t quite there yet, but you can access the avatar robot from the Internet, and this robot known as QB activates its 5-megapixel camera. From there, you can manipulate the “head” to about five or six feet up for a better view. Speaking of views, you will may note the screen on top. This was made to have a face shot of the controller.

You will note that it appears to be perfectly balanced on two wheels, a la Segway. I would imagine that it could probably be pushed over if you really want to. For example, if your boss decided to micro-manage you, and one of these QB robots was constantly hovering over your shoulder.

I suppose these robots could also be used for attending a meeting, provided the robot doesn’t distract the attendees.

Well, the QB will be available this fall from Anybots, and it will cost about $15,000. Yes, that is a lot of money, but just imagine how much that you would pay to be in two places at once?

Source

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Anybots Avatar Robots copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Balancing Cube Robot from Zurich!

Posted: 18 May 2010 02:51 PM PDT

I realize that the title of this sounds like some low-budget science fiction film from the fifties or the sixties, but is a real thing.

I have included a video of this product from Sebastian Trimpe and Raffaello D’Andrea at the Institute of Dynamic Systems and Control researchers. This is the Balancing Cube.

Yes, don’t ask me why it called the Balancing Cube is called a cube when it is clearly some triangular 3D star thing. I guess they didn’t like the sound of that.

Anyway, special sensors and motors manage to shift the weights around in it so it will stay perfectly balanced on a point.

Can I just say that this is a very neat technology working here? Or are we just used to technology offering us perfect balance? Yes, we live in a post Segway world, but I think we have lost all sense of wonder with perfect balance. I mean, it took me years to master riding a bike when I was a kid, and it was always the whole balancing part that just amazed me.

Anyway, I noticed in the video that too much of a push caused this guy to topple over and then put it back up to balanced again.

I say they should make this so it will “roll” and shift the points that it balances on. Of course, this feels rather obvious to me. I’m sure they are working on it.

Source

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[ Balancing Cube Robot from Zurich! copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The iAngle simplies your gadget loving life

Posted: 18 May 2010 02:22 PM PDT

Some of the best of gadgets are the most simple ones you’ll find. This one even has more than one function, but it does it so simply that it’s a breath of fresh air. Plus it means you’ll have less clutter in your laptop bag and even your pockets. Should you have an iPhone or iPod Touch this is the way to watch your movies and keep from having to hold your iPhone the whole time.

After you’ve finished watching your movie and want to move on, it has a completely separate function. You know those earbuds that tend to stay tangled in your pockets, this will actually help you keep them a little more organized. The absolute best part of the iAngle is actually the price though. Being such a simple little plastic piece, it will only cost you $9.99.

Source

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ The iAngle simplies your gadget loving life copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Lovable Robot USB Hubs

Posted: 18 May 2010 01:23 PM PDT

Now this is a robot you don’t have to worry about taking over the world. When everything has been taken over by robots, these will stay happily neutral thanks to their simple function. Even their look is completely harmless, since they look more similar to what we believed robots would look like about 50 years ago. Now that we’re closer to an age of robots, we have a much more sophisticated idea of robots, obviously.

The robot has a total of 4 USB ports, one on each arm and then one on the bottom of each foot. The location of the second set seems a little inconvenient. In order to use all 4 you’d have to lay down the robot flat instead of letting it proudly stand at attention on your desk. This comes in 6 different colors and each color has a different design. You can pick it up in red, pink, black, gray, light blue and yellow. Each one costs $18.95.

Source: ChipChick

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