Important Innovations

  DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                          By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane FLYING TO ANYPLACE IN AN HOUR OR LESS                                         Source:  Stargazer                                 Source:  Hypersonic Jets Houston, TX-based Venus Aerospace is developing a hypersonic passenger aircraft designed t...

   DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF                                                                                                  By Journalists Edward Kane & Maryanne Kane COULD THIS BE YOUR FUTURE FLYING CAR?                                                                                     Source:  Lazzarini Design Studio Renowned Italian design studio Lazzarini has unveiled a stunning, Star Wars-like jet flying concept, the AirCar 4x4 Powered by...

  Major Scientific Milestone - Fuel Produced on Water                                    Source:  University of Cambridge New Clean Fuel Source From Sun, Water & Artificial Leaves Scientists at the UK's University of Cambridge have invented a new, innovative way to create clean fuel with lots of potential.  They've invented innovative, artificial leaves that convert sunlight and water, that the leaves are immersed in, into clean fuel.  The prestigious University is calling this a major scientific milestone.  They say it is the first time that clean fuel has been generated on water.   Nature's Way This intriguing concept was inspired by nature.  The artificial leaves work by photosynthesis, just the way real plants do when they convert sunlight into food.  Scientific testing of the devices on the River Cam shows the artificial leav...

  University of Cambridge, Artificial Leaves, Clean Fuel                                    Source:  University of Cambridge New Clean Fuel Source From Sun, Water & Artificial Leaves Scientists at the UK's University of Cambridge have invented a new, innovative way to create clean fuel with lots of potential.  They've invented innovative, artificial leaves that convert sunlight and water, that the leaves are immersed in, into clean fuel.  The prestigious University is calling this a major scientific milestone.  They say it is the first time that clean fuel has been generated on water.   Nature's Way This intriguing concept was inspired by nature.  The artificial leaves work by photosynthesis, just the way real plants do when they convert sunlight into food.  Scientific testing of the devices on the River Cam shows the artificial l...

"Artificial Chameleon Skin" Source:  University of Cambridge Big Advance in Nanotechnology to Mimic Nature From scientists at the University of Cambridge in the UK a new innovative material that changes color when exposed to heat or light. The team calls it "artificial chameleon skin" and says it has wide application from active camouflage to large-scale dynamic displays.  The skin is powered by nanomachines.  The scientists say their work represents a big advance in using nanoscale technology to do biomimicry or mimic nature. Dramatic Color Changes The scientific inspiration came from color changing animals like chameleons and in particular their color changing skin cells, chromatophores.  The team essentially created artificial chromatophores by using tiny particles of gold, coating it with a polymer shell and then squeezing it into tiny drops of water in oil.  When exposed to heat or light, the nanoparticles stick together and dramatically change co...

Robotic Hand with Rhythm Source:  University of Cambridge Piano:  Very Challenging & Complex Test for Robotic Passive Movement Systems Engineers at the University of Cambridge in the UK have developed a robotic hand that can play the piano by just moving its wrist.  This is a passive movement robotic system.  The fingers don't move independently.  Because of the complexity of playing the piano, the roboticists believe it was the ideal test for their new innovation system. PianoHand The hand is 3D printed.  It replicates all the bones and joints in a human hand.  It doesn't include replications of the tendons and muscles.  Because the fingers don't move independently of the wrist (passive movement), the robot is able to achieve different styles of piano playing without changing the material or mechanical properties of the hand.  That's important new robotics. More Natural Moving Robots Experts believe this passive movement co...