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The Information Sciences Institute at USC has developed a new type of bot, that of the modular kind. This Superbot system pairs cubes to function alone or combine with others. Each pair contains a microprocessor and six sides so that it can connect with others. When attached to its fellow modules, the Superbots can walk, run, creep, climb, and become a vehicle with wheels included, all while adapting to their environments.
ISI is hoping that the robots will be useful to NASA since they can reconfigure and therefore less parts are needed. They are also compatible with NASA’s other robotics. Check out the Superbot’s cool caterpillar, snake, and butterfly actions, and witness the space race’s next wannabe astronauts.
Read More 
| ISI
Gallery: ISI Creates Modular Bots
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The Garmin Zumo 550: GPS for Your Motorcycle
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: GPS, Transportation,
We find the notion of a Hells Angel needing a GPS device hard to visualize, but we guess sometimes they too need directions, just like the rest of us. The folks at Garmin accomodate with their latest, the Zumo 550, which comes pre-loaded with maps, offers text and voice directions, and even has Bluetooth and MP3 capability. The Zumo 550 is easily mounted onto a hog (or car). However Apple lovers are out of luck (for now), as Garmin’s MapSource software is not supported by Macs. CNET liked the Zumo enough to rate it an 8.3 out of 10.
Gallery: The Garmin Zumo 550: GPS for Your Motorcycle
Tesla-Coil Protects Cars
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Design, Misc. Tech, Science, Transportation,
We have always dug the Plasma Sphere that has become a mainstay at Spencer’s Gifts for as long as we can remember. This Tesla-coil automobile protector makes that phenomenon look like a mere toy. Australian Peter Terren placed a ring of electricity (which has been nicknamed “The Lord of the Rings’” Eye of Sauron) around the car by attaching a 4-inch coil to a boom on the roof of a rented vehicle since he doesn’t own one. We know it’s just a concept, still it is an awesome piece of work.
Read More | Tesla Downunder
Gallery: Tesla-Coil Protects Cars
The time has come for non-astronauts to journey into space if they can just afford the ticket. Case in point is Hungarian-born, 58 year-old Charles Simonyi, a former Microsoft engineer who now owns his own company. Simonyi paid more than $20 million to Space Adventure to accompany two cosmonauts to the orbital lab via a ten day journey on Soyuz TMA-10, and becomes the 5th paying visitor to the ISS. He also obtained his own space suit for the journey from the Russian company Sokol and we think he looks pretty dapper in it.
Simonyi’s quest to the final frontier will begin April 9th and you can monitor his progress by visiting his web site, which features blogs, images, links, a timeline, videos, and a “Kids’ Space.”
Read More | Charles in Space
Gallery: Charles In Space
National Geographic to Release its Own Phone
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Smartphones, GPS, Transportation,
The Talk Abroad Travel Phone is National Geographic’s endeavor into the techy world. Covering over 100 countries, their plan is pre-paid and there is no charge to receive calls in what they refer to as 60 “popular destinations.” The phone features an unlocked quad-band GSM, SMS Text messaging, and comes with 30 minutes of initial talk time and 24/7 customer service.
At a price of $199.00 and a due date expected in March, the Travel Phone comes with a universal wall charger and international plug adapters. Pre-order and they will toss in a gift card good for 10 free music downloads. We’re hoping we can get the a copy of “Hakuna Matata” or a little ditty from “Happy Feet.”
Read More | National Geographic
Gallery: National Geographic to Release its Own Phone
Mexican Airline Volaris Renting 5G iPods To Fliers
Posted by Lolita Beckwith Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation,
The iPod’s bid for world domination continues at a frenetic pace. Last week we reported how major airlines will be offering iPod seat connectivity by mid-year, but low-cost Mexican airline Volaris leap-frogged the competition this month by purchasing a stash of 30 GB 5G iPods and loaning them to fliers for free. After the test-run, the customers can rent the players for only 50 pesos ($5 USD). The devices are pre-loaded with music and Mexican programming, which will be expanded to include U.S. sitcoms and additional music genres. We’e thinking an ingenious someone at Volaris is getting a promotion right about now…
Read More | Reuters
Gallery: Mexican Airline Volaris Renting 5G iPods To Fliers
Google Earth Tracks Round-The-World Flight Simulator Race
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Google, Internet, Transportation, Video Games,
Where do computer geeks go when it’s vacation time? They participate in a week long Round-The-World Flight Simulator Race. Teams from AVSim, FlightSim, and Sim-Outhouse race around the world by following specific rules and conditions given to them 24 hours in advance. The race, which began at 10:00 a.m. last Friday, allows the teams to choose their own planes, has a route requirement, features bonus airports, and emergency techniques in case of a plane crash.
If you would like to track the participants’ competition this week, you can watch it on Google Earth, check for updates, and even listen in on the banter between the teams. This could start a new trend in vacations, and we’re thinking that the holodeck from Star Trek might be the next logical step.
Read More | Non-PC Geeks
Gallery: Google Earth Tracks Round-The-World Flight Simulator Race
The Bleeding Edge 149: Technocom Vehicle and Infrastructure Integration Technology
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: CES, CES 2007, Features, GPS, Science, Transportation, Videocasts, Videos,
|Download| - iPod-formatted H.264
|Download| - Apple TV High Resolution
|Download| - MPEG-4
Read More | The Bleeding Edge
Gallery: The Bleeding Edge 149: Technocom Vehicle and Infrastructure Integration Technology
Dacos To Release iHolic MultiMedia Player
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Movies, Music, Portable Audio / Video, Transportation,
South Korea’s Dacos Technology has launched the iHolic, a complete media player with audio, image, and video capabilities. It can be bundled with a remote and cradle for mounting on your car’s dashboard or table placement. Containing 2 GB of internal memory, it features a T-DMB receiver for digital TV signals, a 2.4-inch TFT LCD display, a 512MB flash memory, and a SD slot for additional storage. Equipped with a retractable antenna, the iHolic carries a MSRP of 188,000 So. Korean Won (~US $201.00.) Contact Dacos for future availability.
Read More | Dacos Technology via Aving
Gallery: Dacos To Release iHolic MultiMedia Player
Playing Xbox Live While Driving Via Google WiFi
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Google, Internet, Microsoft, Mods / Hacks, Transportation, Video Games, Videos,
So, my boy Jake Ludington dropped me an email this morning telling me that if I had been home this weekend and answered my phone, I would have been able to take part in this experiment that he was a part of where a group of people got together down in Mountain View, CA, and got their Xbox Live gaming on in a moving vehicle. Of course, Mountain View is the place where Google has blanketed the city in free WiFi, which is how this was all possible in the first place. In order to get it done, they used a Windows XP computer to connect to WiFi, and had the Xbox 360 pick up the shared Internet connection, thus allowing it to jump online for some Rainbow Six and Uno action. Check the video above for the proof.
