Helmet charges cellphone

Helmet that Charges Cell Phones Using Solar and Wind Power

.The latest invention coming from Pragnesh Dudhaiya and Aalok Bhatt, two students studying electrical engineering at the Nirma University in Ahmedabad, is a helmet that can be used as a cell phone charger.
By harnessing solar and wind energy, the helmet is able to charge a cell phone in about 40 minutes. The students announced that they are going to file for a patent for their latest invention. It is worth mentioning that the number of accidents in the city increases and more people get serious injuries due to the fact that they do not wear helmets, reports SiliconIndia.
According to Pragnesh and Aalok, their helmet will motivate people to use head protection while on the road. To be able to come up with the innovation, the students needed only three days. During the day the helmet uses solar energy to charge a cell phone, and at night it harnesses wind energy. Pragnesh mentioned that the price for helmet will be Rs. 1,000 (about $22).

Battery from paper

Latest Invention: World's First Battery Powered by Paper

Sony has recently announced it managed to come up with a battery powered by paper. However, the whole process is more complex than simply using a standard paper.
The batteries developed by the Japanese tech giant make use of enzymes in order to break down the glucose found in the cellulose of the paper (which by the way is made of wood pulp fibers).
It would be interesting to note that Sony was able to demonstrate its bio-battery. The demo took place at the Eco-Products exhibition in Tokyo. During the presentation the paper was placed into a mix of water and enzymes. After a couple of minutes the liquid started generating enough power to activate a small fan.
After enzymes broke down the paper, they were left with sugar that was produced from cellulose. Then they were able to process the sugar to produce hydrogen ions and electrons. The latter then went through an outer circuit to produce power. Mixed with oxygen in the air, the hydrogen ions were then able to create H2O.
"This is the same mechanism with which termites eat wood to get energy. Bio batteries are environmentally friendly and have great potential as they use no metals or harmful chemicals," explained Chisato Kitsukawa, a PR manager at Sony.

Naro-tartaruga

Coming Soon: Robot Sea Turtles That Carry Cargo in Their Shells

Naro-Tartaruga can carry plenty of payload and still move through the water with ease. Turtle Power!

Turtlebot One of the concept designs for the naro-tartaruga robot looks like a full-size sea turtle. ETH Zurich

The makers of quadrocopters and other fun robots at ETH Zurich may be landlubbers, but that does not stop them from designing objects that swim. The Swiss students are working on a turtle-inspired bot that can swim with efficiency while carrying plenty of cargo. The Naro-Tartaruga may not be as glide-y as a fish or eelbot, but it might be easier to build, and it is better for carrying payloads and robot parts like batteries and controllers.
As of now, the robot is a cylindrical aluminum vessel with turtle-inspired flippers, which will help it propel itself through the water. Concept designs include the more realistic-looking turtlebot seen above. The research team at ETH Zurich started with a tuna in 2008, studying how to imitate its movement in water. The main goal is to pick a winner between flapping fins and propellers. Whichever is more efficient could power new generations of ocean-inspired underwater autonomous vehicles.

language translator

Gadget that Translates Dog's Language

Want to understand what your dog is barking? For the first time presented in 2002, the Bowlingual comes back, the gadget examines a dog's bark and then identifies its emotion. The latest invention was developed by toymaker Takara Tomy, which looks forward to present the toy in August. Currently the gadget is expected to be sold only in Japan.

It is worth mentioning that Takara Tomy's latest invention was initially developed by an audio researcher and a veterinarian. The goal was to study and then convey the sound of a dog's bark. The company claims that its new device is able to identify and interpret six basic emotions.

The first version featured a microphone that had to be worn around a dog's neck. There was also a handheld unit that read the information sent from the microphone. The unit then identified the dog's emotion and showed the corresponding information on its screen. The current invention includes a more compact unit that incorporates a speech synthesizer that audibly informs you about the things your pet attempts to communicate. The unit also shows the information on the screen. You can find more curious and interesting latest inventions here at www.infoniac.com; please consider checking the links at the bottom of the story.

If the user wants to analyze the information later, they can save it. This latest invention also features an answering machine function, which allows the user to track the dog's feelings when the owner is away. It is worth mentioning that in 2002, when the invention was introduced, the Time Magazine marked it as a "Best Invention of 2002." Takara Tomy even gave several Bowlinguals to Vladimir Putin for his dogs.

Up till now there has been no information about the release date of new Bowlingual in the United States. When it hit the stores in Japan, the gadget will cost about $220.

smallest laser

Latest Invention: The Smallest Laser in the World Created by US Researchers

The latest invention of American researchers is the laser that claims to be the smallest in the world. They managed to develop the laser by squeezing light into a space that is even tinier than a protein molecule. Their latest invention could be a significant breakthrough in the field of optical technology, making one step closer to nanolasers, which can be used to investigate and manipulate DNA. In addition, the laser can lead to the creation of super-fast computers and improved telecommunications.
The team of researchers was led by Professor Xiang Zhang. He mentioned that the plasmon laser constricts light into a gap that is only 5nm wide. An important step was the ability to detain light in a small space for a specific period of time required for light to stabilize into a "coherent" laser state, having all of its waves synchronized.
It is worth mentioning that plasmons are in fact wave-like movements of excited electrons on the surfaces of different metals. By connecting light to these oscillations, scientists managed to compress it further than usually, reports The Telegraph. More information on lasers and latest inventions you can find here at www.IfoNIAC.com, please check the links at the bottom of the story.
Professor Zhang, from the University of California at Berkeley said: "Plasmon lasers represent an exciting class of coherent light sources capable of extremely small confinement. This work can bridge the worlds of electronics and optics at truly molecular length scales." Their latest invention was described in the online version of the journal Nature. The scientist who co-authored the research, Dr Thomas Zentgraf, from the University's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centre, stated: "The advantages of optics over electronics are multifold. For example, devices will be more power efficient at the same time they offer increased speed or bandwidth."

climate variation

Japanese Earth Simulator Predicts Seasonal Climate Variations

At JAMSTEC's Application Laboratory, Professor Toshio Yamagata, from the Graduate School of Science at the University of Tokyo, makes use of the Earth Simulator. This is part of a project meant to help forecast climate variations.
It was reported that seasonal prediction information simulated by the Earth Simulator allows specialists to figure out the mechanisms of global climate variations that take place as a result of global warming. At the same time the simulator makes is possible to improve infrastructure in developing countries in a way to prevent disasters.
In addition, the information provided by the Earth Simulator can be used to halt the spread of diseases, carried by vectors such as mosquitoes.
Information on climate variation can also be used in developed countries to predict the supply and demand for energy and food, alterations in prices, revenue from foods and beverages, as well as demand for various consumables.
Professor Yamagata also looks forward to using data offered by the Earth Simulator to provide information services around the world.