Knightscope K5 - A Guard that Never Sleeps !!

Knightscope Inc. is developing an "Autonomous Data Machine" which will not only guard places better than a human security guard but will also be cost-effective. The company has already started securing beta customers for its first two models, the Knightscope K5 and K10.

The robots will share a passing resemblance to R2-D2 and collect real-time data via network of sensors. These sensors include a 360-degree high definition sensor, infrared sensor, radar, ultrasonic speed and distance sensors, lidar, air quality sensors and optical character recognition technology. The data the robots collect would be fed into a centralized data center with law enforcement also able to access data in real time, giving them a unique vantage point to assess the situation before arrival. The company says that the robot will be able to analyze historical data collected over time to help predict crime and allow companies to make better business decisions. Depending on the sensor loadout, the units can be used to monitor differences in temperature; calculate the traveling speed and distance of surrounding objects/people; observe night- time activity using infrared technology and provide precision 3D mapping of an area.

The K10 model is intended for vast open areas and on private roads, while the K5 robot is better suited to more space-constrained environments. The beta testing is due to commence at the end of this year and soon it will be launched so keep an eye if you want one.

Source: Knightscope

Kingston HyperX PREDATOR - Store everything in your pocket !!

In today’s times we all use pen-drives for either office or personal use and memory is one thing that sometimes makes us unhappy. Having a 4gb pendrive and want to transfer an important file having greater memory than that puts us in difficult situations. One of my friends recently brought a 250gb pendrive from japan and we all were amazed. The word “ 250 gb” makes us excited to have it and to actually use it. Having a 250gb of memory in a small chip once was just a dream!!

That was just the beginning; I totally went speechless when I recently read a news stating that Kingston brings up 1TB memory pendrive. I just went “Whoa! “ and this is the reason why I love the way that technology is progressing. The pendrive is named HyperX PREDATOR which offers a whopping 1TB of storage space, and fret not about spending huge amounts of time whenever you transfer data to and from it, as it will feature USB 3.0 connectivity to get the job done as fast as possible. Having the Kingston HyperX PREDATOR around is definitely a boon, especially for those of you who do plenty of traveling and carry a portable hard drive around. The physical dimension of it is extremely small compared to even the smallest 2.5” portable hard drive we normally use.

Basically, the HyperX PREDATOR 1TB USB 3.0 flash drive is superbly amazing in all areas, but there is one major drawback to it. It has a humongous price tag, the 1TB model retails for $1,306.63!! Which is seriously too high.

Imagine the number of portable hard drives you can purchase with that kind of money! But it really depends on what you want to sacrifice – size or price?

Source: Kingston

Lamborghini Veneno - A Debut on an Aircraft !!

Lamborghini Veneno- a 6.5-lite, 12-cylinder engine mated to a fast-shifting seven-speed single-clutch ISR transmission giving the vehicle a maximum output of 750 hp and propels it from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.9 seconds, on the way to a top speed of 355 km/h. The Italian automaker chose the naval aircraft Nave Cavour for the public debit of this superb beast.

Some people say that due to its sharp, angular lines and arrow-shaped front end, the Lamborghini Veneno has always had a slightly military feel. The Veneno Roadster’s all exterior parts are made from carbon-fiber reinforced polymer, it tips the scales at 1,490 kg giving the Roadster a power-to-weight ratio of 1.99 kg/hp. Described as an "open racing prototype," the Veneno Roadster is a fully road legal, open top supercar, meaning there's no roof with just a rollover bar between the driver and the open sky.

The company says the vehicle complies with all safety and registration requirements worldwide, with airbags and an adapted ESP handling system among the car's safety features. Only nine of the Veneno Roadster's will be built next year, with each selling for €3.3 million and this amount is excluding tax !!

Source: Lamborghini

US Navy launches Drone from submerged Submarine !!

On 5^th December, the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) announced that it had successfully launched a drone from a submerged submarine. The all-electric eXperimental Fuel Cell Unmanned Aerial System (XFC) was launched in the Bahamas from the Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Providence (SSN 719) using a system that allowed the drone to be deployed without modifications to the boat, or requiring it to surface.

The XFC unmanned aircraft was developed by the NRL in less than six years from initial concept to current stage. It’s all electric and powered by a fuel cell that allows it to stay aloft for more than six hours. According the the NRL, the UAV is relatively low cost, flies at low altitude, and is designed for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The craft has folding wings and is designed to be launched from a pickup truck or small surface vessel. For the submarine test, the XFC was placed inside of a “Sea Robin” launch vehicle. The Sea Robin fits inside of a standard vertical Tomahawk missile launch tube, such as those aboard the USS Providence. After launching, the Sea Robin rose to the surface and took on the appearance of a spar buoy. After the Sea Robin opened, the XFC used its electrically assisted take-off system to raise itself vertically out of the container, and after reaching operating speed and altitude unfolded its wings for horizontal flight. The XFC flew for several hours as it beamed back a video feed to the Providence.

It then returned to the submarine and its surface support vessels before landing at the Naval Sea Systems Command Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), on Andros Island in the Bahamas.

Source: US Naval Research Laboratory

Led Carpet - A Shine at your Feet !!

After developing some innovative ways to add LEDs to wallpaper, and even the backside of televisions, it looks like Philips is setting its sights on lighting the floor beneath our feet as well. The company recently partnered with Desso, a high-quality carpeting producer, to create a new type of carpet embedded with LEDs that can turn any floor space into a customizable lighting array.

The project is still in its infancy, so neither company has revealed many details on how the final product will actually work, or even an official name for it yet. All they've mentioned so far is that it will involve a layer of LEDs beneath a special light transmissive carpet, giving it the appearance of an ordinary carpet until it's lit. With each LED shining through distinctly, the carpet could be programmed to display important messages, directions, or other information, much like an electronic billboard. The goal is to replace the usual signs and notices in some high-traffic indoor areas, such as airports and offices, with this light-up carpeting. Besides freeing up some wall space, the two companies believe the proposed lighting system could catch people's attention more readily, since many people tend to look down when walking. When it's not displaying a message though, the light transmissive carpet could also glow softly to give the room a distinctive tone or ambiance.

Once it launches, the carpet will be available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes to suit almost any space. The two companies have already presented a few examples of specific places where their idea could be implemented, such as replacing the "Do Not Disturb" signs in hotels. Probably the most useful idea they've mentioned however is to have the carpet display guide lights in an emergency and direct people on a safe route towards the exits, much like on an airplane. Both companies hope their invention will also give interior decorators a new tool to work with when designing a room.

Philips and Desso are already looking for buildings in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to begin installing their LED carpet, though the actual product name won't be revealed until it officially launches sometime in 2014.

Source: Philips