Posts Tagged eco gadgets
Tree Planting Robot
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on August 21st, 2010
Imagine living in a world where all the trees are slowly dying, and all animals must be replaced with robotic couterparts. This would be the giraffe.
Actually, this particular robot is designed to prevent an environmental apocalypse. You see, this is a Tree Planting Robot, designed for reforestation projects.
The Tree Planting Robot is good for carrying 320 seedlings, with each one in a biodegradable plastic protective barrier that protects it from plant-eating insects.
Not only can this thing plant, but it can also weed. Apparently, it has hot steam to destroy “competing vegetation, such as choking vines that can affect other plants”. It can also plant in patterns, just in case you want some sort of landscaping done.
Yeah, this is a concept project for now. I suppose it could be used for cases where a volcano like Mount St. Helens blows away the forest area.
However, why should we limit this guy on just Earth? Isn’t there a way to put this on Mars, and have it plant all sorts of vegetation. Then we could have some serious atmosphere by the time we land there, if ever. Of course, I could be wrong about the science here. Still, we are talking about a robot that plants here. We’re sort of in the science-fiction realm.
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[ Tree Planting Robot copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Tree Planting Robot
Geneco’s VW Beetle runs on human waste, insert scatalogical joke here
Posted by admin in Car Gadgets on August 7th, 2010
Sure, there is a trend in cars toward electrical and hydrogen fuels, but this one from Geneco runs on human waste.
Yes, Geneco, a sustainable-energy company owned by Wessex Water, has presented us with a modified Volkswagen Beetle that runs on the compressed methane gas from human waste.
I believe that my source calls this a Dung Beetle, and that seems to be the best joke that I could think of. Hit the jump to find out more information, as well as some bad and obvious jokes.
Here’s how my source says it works:
Biogas is generated when filth from Wessex Water’s sewage works is put into a decomposition container, where oxygen-starved bacteria break it down to produce methane. The methane is then harvested and placed in tanks inside the boot of the Beetle, where it can be used to power the car’s slightly modified engine.
Okay, time for the jokes:
1) This gives new meaning to the expression “crap-car”!
2) All they would have to do is modify the car seats into toilets, and you would never have to stop at a gas station to refuel or use the bathroom. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
I was hoping to have three jokes here, but I’ve got nothing. Maybe you would like to insert a comment here about this possible new trend in automotive power. Please keep them as tasteful as you can.
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[ Geneco’s VW Beetle runs on human waste, insert scatalogical joke here copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Geneco’s VW Beetle runs on human waste, insert scatalogical joke here
Evatran Plugless Power Station for Wireless Electric Car Charging
Posted by admin in Car Gadgets on July 29th, 2010
Considering that there will probably be an increase of electric vehicles on the road in the next few years, it’s nice to see that the Evatran Plugless Power Station is already thinking of ways to improve the charging process for these electric cars.
It works with the user installing a shoebox-sized adapter in the car, which works as a wireless power receiver. The car with this apparatus gets near this power station’s parking block, and the charging takes place.
When I say “gets near”, I mean that the car probably has to park directly over this parking block. Only a distance of two inches is allowed, which is dangerously close when dealing with under-the-car devices like this. At least it is better than the in-touch charging devices like the Powermat.
Another bug in this particular process is that the Plugless Power Station only operates at eighty percent capacity, but hopes to achieve ninety at launch.
Clearly, what is going to sell this product is the time it will take to charge an electrical car wirelessly vs. the time it will take to do this with a plug-in wire. If Evatran can do it even ten percent faster, it will be worth the investment from electric car drivers.
The company hopes to launch this by April 2011, with a $800 pricetag.
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[ Evatran Plugless Power Station for Wireless Electric Car Charging copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Evatran Plugless Power Station for Wireless Electric Car Charging
DIY Water Powered Calculator
Posted by admin in DIY Gadgets on July 11th, 2010
Instead of purchasing an eco-friendly water powered calculator and tossing out your old one, only for it to slowly rot in a landfill, you could make your own. It seems to be a whole lot more eco-friendly to convert your current items into something eco-friendly rather than replacing the gadgets you already own. Thanks to a tutorial, you could easily make your own earth friendly calculator.
The tools you’ll need include a calculator, carbon or copper rod, a 1 by 1 inch piece of aluminum foil, a small cylindrical container, two 3 inch wires, multipurpose pliers and a glue gun. The materials are pretty basic, nothing you couldn’t get from your local hardware store. I imagine this will work like any other calculator powered by water. You just need to make sure to refill the battery with water when it’s needed.
Source: Instructables
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[ DIY Water Powered Calculator copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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DIY Water Powered Calculator
Washington State to have an “electric highway”
Posted by admin in Car Gadgets on July 3rd, 2010
This is a stretch of Interstate Highway 5 (I-5), which is not far from where I live. I’ve just learned that a part of I-5 spanning from Oregon to Canada is planned on receiving a huge makeover.
In fact, the government has granted $1.32 million dollars to turn this part of I-5 into an electric highway. This is not a highway that is completely electric, but one set up for the electric car. It will have 10 Level-3 charging stations at 80 mile intervals. Considering that the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf can handle about 100 miles on a single charge, that sounds like good spacing.
Of course, my source was quick to point out that charging a normal electric car could take as long as 30 minutes, and that would make for a long trip to the border. However, I wonder if that is what could make these electric stations on the electric highway stand out. I’ve seen many stops on the side of the highway which have business because they offer food and entertainment, so why not these electric stops?
Well, whatever the case, it is one more step into an electric car future. I suppose that if all the oil runs out like doomsayers say it will, then we will need more electric highways.
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[ Washington State to have an “electric highway” copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Washington State to have an “electric highway”
RoboCar from ZMP one more step for AI: Automotive Intelligence
Posted by admin in Car Gadgets on July 3rd, 2010
When I saw this photo, I couldn’t help but think that it was cute. After all, it is a car with a cute little robot head on it. I started to have Speed Buggy flashbacks.
As it turns out, this car is part of a serious car robotics platform study by a Tokyo-based robotics company ZMP. Apparently, these people believe that cars of the future will be intelligent vehicles, able to move and interact with each other independently.
They may not be able to drive around on auto-pilot like Knight Rider, but they can communicate with each other, which will allow scientists of the future to figure out how to avoid traffic jams. These robot cars will probably have some other terrific features like parking automatically and such.
So, are we looking at a future where the cars are these robots? I’m not certain whether I want my next automobile to have a giant head on its hood, even if it has the CCD stereo camera, range of sensors, and infrared laser system like these Robocars from ZMP.
Still, the idea that cars can be intelligent, even semi-intelligent, fascinates me. I really don’t see how having smarter cars could prevent traffic jams. You would think that drivers would simply avoid them. That, or make the cars so they could fly.
Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ RoboCar from ZMP one more step for AI: Automotive Intelligence copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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RoboCar from ZMP one more step for AI: Automotive Intelligence
Sanyo Pedal Juice introduced
Posted by admin in Audio Gadgets on June 29th, 2010
Sanyo is well known for their line of Eneloop products that comprise mainly of rechargeable batteries that work right out of the box, alongside a bicycle that has a built-in battery to help you tackle those mean uphill slopes if you happen to live in areas like San Francisco. Well, here is yet another effort from the Japanese electronics giant to keep the earth green in the form of the Sanyo Pedal Juice, which in essence is a a 9V DC Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery device that will target musicians who want to find a new (and cleaner, greener) way for musicians to power their effects pedals, multi-effect devices, and mobile recorders. Expect to see it hit leading national music retailers and distributors throughout the U.S. before the month is over for $199.99 a pop
Sanyo’s Pedal Juice is said to be developed to meet the needs of both professional and entry-level musicians, where a solitary Pedal Juice battery is able to offer up to 50 hours of non-stop, stable power for a single analog pedal or up to 20 hours of continuous power to three digital pedals. This is made possible thanks to the eneloop 9V rechargeable lithium-ion battery within that does away with the need for AC power. Apart from that, it will ensure that the output voltage remains much more stable for longer periods of time without running the risk of AC ground looping noise. You will be able to recharge the battery hundreds of times, hence doing your bit to eliminate the waste and inconvenience of disposable 9V alkaline batteries.
The Sanyo Pedal Juice will feature a couple of DC outputs, which means it can power multiple devices such as pedals, multi-effect units, and portable recorders. You will be able to use the Pedal Juice to offer portable battery power to a single pedal or can be used to power several pedals simultaneously. Sanyo also threw in a 3-stage visible LED power indicator to show the remaining power level with green, orange, and red LED lights, making it a whole lot easier for musicians to see at a glance. It is also water and shock resistant to JIS IPX3 compliance level, which means you can spray water all over the stage during rehearsal as a celebratory move without worrying about short circuiting this little battery that could.
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[ Sanyo Pedal Juice introduced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Sanyo Pedal Juice introduced
Robot Fish could help steer fish schools
Posted by admin in Future Concepts on June 4th, 2010
The other day, I was watching the news about the oil spill in the Gulf, and I had heard that a pelican had been saved. Apparently, the Pelican went in the spill to catch a fish, but a team managed to clean him off.
My first reaction was: “Man, why did that pelican go into the oil-infested waters for that fish?” Yes, there are more fish in the sea, but then again, it isn’t the pelican’s fault that we polluted his normal fishing waters.
Hopefully, we will make certain that there will be less polluted waters, but right now, research is underway to steer fish away from those infected areas. Professor Maurizio Porfiri of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University is working on that robotic fish that could be able to lead a whole school of fish away from polluted, infected, or otherwise dangerous waters.
Right now, this fish can only do a straight line, but if it is eventually capable of leading a bunch of fish, then it could be applied to a robotic bird. Then we can lead birds away from polluted areas.
Perhaps this professor should check out the Mecha Fish that we reported on about a week ago. It almost looks like the robo-fish is a complete success!
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[ Robot Fish could help steer fish schools copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Robot Fish could help steer fish schools
Electric Car to make 16,000 mile trip
Posted by admin in Car Gadgets on June 2nd, 2010
Anyone remember when we reported on the electric car that goes 1,000 km on a single charge? Well, there is an electric car from the Racing Green Endurance Team that plans to take their SRZero Electric car 26,000km (16,000 miles).
The SRZero electric car is sponsored by Imperial College London, and the trip it plans to make is down the Pan-American Highway, starting in Northern Alaska and going to Tierra del Fuego on the tip of South America.
As you can see here, the SRZero car is it weighs just 1,433 lbs and has a 363 V8 in the back. Of course, the batteries will make the car weigh more at 2,600 lbs, and they have a 248 mile range at 386 horsepower. I have included a video of it in action that you can see after the jump if you want to know more about its history.
It also bears a strong resemblance to the Mach 5 from Speed Racer. Maybe they will put one of those special contraptions in it that will make it jump and flip, but I’m pretty sure that Speed Racer’s car was probably not battery powered.
Still, the SRZero is built for some serious cross country racing. Perhaps if there is some electric car racing, it will be the first to cross the checkered flag.
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[ Electric Car to make 16,000 mile trip copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Electric Car to make 16,000 mile trip
Generator racing does away with batteries
Posted by admin in Kids Gadgets on May 24th, 2010
Whenever you get stuff for your little ones, especially remote controlled toys, chances are the maintenance of said toy will burn a larger hole in your pocket than the original no thanks to it running on batteries. With the Generator Racing, using batteries are a thing of the past since this £39.95 purchase will rely on a manual power generator to generate the required juice for your race car to move around the track. There are 30 pieces of the track as well, letting you create a whole bunch of various racing grounds for you and your competitors. We’re all for greener toys – how about you? This will literally force you to work for your victory, eh?
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[ Generator racing does away with batteries copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
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Generator racing does away with batteries