technology | TechieTonics

Biomimicry: Baby Elephant with Parallel Mechanism Legs

June 12, 2014June 12, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Until recently, most robots were designed to assist humans, right from the kitchen to their office premises we have seen these bots performing multi-tasking. Many fascinated machines have been fabricated keeping the nature in mind and this has led to a new field within robotics called the biomimicry. Every now and then, researchers come up with mind blowing ideas and concepts which creates an awe amongst the masses and this time, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China has created the same wave with their ‘baby elephant’. The robot…

MindRider: Brain Monitoring Systems for Mapping Mental Experience

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at the MIT Media Lab are working towards creating a novel helmet system that would reflect bike rider’s mind in the real time. It will be able to mind map rider’s engagement level from relaxed state to focused level while navigating through the routes. Mapping Mental Experience Sensors are embedded within the foam of the helmet that would act as a bridge between the brain waves and translating those ripples into the display of level of engagement. The technique is based on EEG (electroencephalography) where the embedded sensors act…

MagnetoSperm Microrobots for the Nanoworld: Biomimicry

June 4, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Nature does not stop us marveling at its splendor be it at macro level or micro scale. There are limitless options to investigate and get inspired. Biomimicry is one such field in robotics, which is completely drenched with nature’s splash. Researchers do not leave any stone unturned when dealing with robos inspired from nature, lately a concept is put forward by experts at the University of Twente, Netherlands. They have taken inspiration from nature’s locomotion at microscale and have combined the process of two micro-scale entities like magnetotactic bacteria and…

Thermometer for Ultrasensitive Measurements: Temperature Control

June 3, 2014June 2, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Physics researchers at the University of Adelaide have successfully created a rare thermometer, efficiency of which is thrice the existing best thermometers so far. Reporting further, the experts expatiated that they were able to gauge temperature with the ‘nano-Kelvin thermometer’, through an accuracy of thirty billionths of a degree. Researchers asserted that they have reached the highest level of precision in terms of measuring temperature at room temperature. Talking about the innovation, Professor Luiten one of the lead researcher said that temperature at subatomic level is not static rather fluctuating.…

Neuroprosthetic Devices on Deep Brain Simulation Technology: Implants to Restore Memories

May 31, 2014June 18, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

A new initiative by the US military program focuses around treating defense personals from the after effects of being into war. In majority of cases, soldiers who come back from battle zones develop adjustment problems or psychiatric disorders to be more specific. For instance, combatants were diagnosed with “shell shock” during the era of WW I, “battle fatigue” during WW II and in Vietnam War, it was PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Backed up by President Obama’s brain initiative, DARPA has received a funding of $70 million from the US to…

10 Easiest Internet Tricks: Simplest Googling Tips to Remember

May 29, 2014June 18, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Lately, I realized that I have been using the following ten most simple tips while am working over internet. So I thought of jotting them down in form a post. Like me, some of you would find them equally interesting. I am sure, most of you have already know these tricks however, this post is for those who are still struggling and taking the long routes for particular tasks. So here we go, 1) Downloading music Type the following snippet into the google search bar. It’ll give you music downloads…

Nano- Bots to Enter into the Arteries for Delivering Drugs: High-Performing Nanomotors

May 27, 2014May 27, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Very soon, we would be witnessing a 3D world on microchips. During the beginning of this year, researchers at Penn State University demonstrated the movement of nanomotors in controlled manner inside living cells. And now, experts at the University of Texas Austin have developed one of the fastest spinning and relatively longer shelf life nanomotor. The newly fabricated nanomotor has an ability of spinning continuously for nearly 15 hours with a speed of 18k rpm. This is an innovative product in the league where the existing nanomotors display an efficiency…

Energy Storage into Structural Materials: No More Power Cords for Devices

May 23, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have come up with an intriguing prospect that has complete essence of futuretech in itself. Their current interest hovers around the likelihood of a more technologically enhanced capacity for storing electrical energy directly across applications including but not limited to EVs, laptops and home appliances. They have demonstrated this idea by fabricating small wafers that have the potential of storing and discharging considerable amount of electricity while they are put through static loads or moving forces like vibrations or impacts.

Stanford-MIT System Aims at Harvesting Low-Grade Heat: New Battery Technology

May 22, 2014May 22, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

It’s been more than a decade researchers across the globe are working towards harnessing waste energy into something useful. Most of the times, their energy focused around thermoelectric devices but efficiency of this approach was limited to the accessibility of materials Lately, researchers at Stanford University in collaboration with experts from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have come up with an innovative technology, which captures and morphs waste heat into electricity. The approach holds the low temperature waste heat, that is, less than 100 degrees Celsius.

Graphene Ushering the League of Viable Engine for Nanodevices: Lattice Mimics two-stroke Engine

May 18, 2014August 7, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Graphene is one of those rare gifts of nanotechnology that is still not unwrapped fully. Not long ago, we discovered that how sliding water over graphene generated electricity. Every time, researchers conduct an experiment, the lattice of carbon atoms pops up with different surprise. Lately, such revelation has brought to the fore by researchers at National University, Singapore. They have morphed a single layer of graphene along with certain amount of chlorine and fluorine atoms to create a two-stroke combustion engine. Similar mechanism although at a macro-scale is used for…

Ryden Dual Carbon Battery: The Energy Storage Breakthrough for EVs

May 17, 2014May 17, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Power Japan Plus, a Japanese power company has stated that they have come up with a revolutionary battery technology that can easily beat the energy density of stereotypical batteries used in automobiles. They have termed it the Ryden dual carbon battery. With respect to the existing lithium ion batteries, the product has an ability of charging 20 times faster without reaching to the highest level of temperature where it requires cooling or burst like lithium-ion battery. This makes it safer, reliable and sustainable relatively, claimed the company. Power Japan envisions…

Tesla’s Model X: Style and Functionality Combo Driving up the Research Budget

May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Stylish is the word that resonates well with Tesla Motors. This time, the coolness is reverberated by the Falcon Wings of the highly anticipated Model X electric car. A beautiful blend of an SUV and minivan, the electric powertrain boasts of providing an unfettered performance and brilliant functionality. Unlike any other SUV, the center of gravity is positioned at the lowest level providing nimble reflexes at every curve of the road. The automobile conveys moment torque during path progressions or while entering into a different lane deftly even when there…

Lamborghini Huracán: The New Italian Exotic Supercar Replaces Gallardo

May 10, 2014May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

21st century heralds the supercars that not only give preference to speed but also give equal importance to safety, reliability and spaciousness where minimum fuel consumption and less carbon emissions comes in as default features of course. The new Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 rolls in at the same time and earns full marks in all the set parameters. Huracán made its presence felt in the 2014 Geneva Auto Show, where it replaced Gallardo, the most sought after sports car from the same company. The exotic is expected to release somewhere…

Magnetic Fields in Electric and Hybrid Cars Involve No Threat: Cars under Safety Margin

May 7, 2014May 16, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Majority welcomed the vehicular era when electric and hybrid automobiles took to the center stage. While there were still others who were doubtful regarding the dangers that might affect the passengers including drivers imposed by the possibly generated electromagnetic fields. However, the increasing number of electric car ownership has thwarted this idea. Seven various electric cars, including hydrogen, gasoline and diesel powered cars, were put under survey by SINTEF, Norway and they discovered that exposure of the electromagnetic radiation was less than 20%. A limit, which was suggested by ICNIRP,…

10 Ways to Conserve Smartphone Battery Life: The Power Management

May 7, 2014 Pooja Kashyap

Technology behind smartphone is evolving at a very fast pace, unlike the past era, people are not reluctant to adopt the new expertise with respect to their devices. However, when it comes to battery life, the same people then take a back seat before delving deeper into the ocean of technology. Smartphones have witnessed a major leap in terms of huge screen, fast CPUs and other eye catching system features but batteries still haven’t crosses the initial threshold. Till the time, technology behind new super batteries make its heyday, we…