NooBee's blog

The UAV Invasion

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:58:52 -0700

I'm picturing a sky filled with flying robots. Believe me, I'm not being paranoid here. I know I keep going on and on and on about them, but they seem to be everywhere lately. Everyone's using them for something, and building better versions of them every day.

Remember that competition in Europe? Remember that European robotics contest back in May, that featured flying robots (a/k/a UAVs)? Turns out there was one that took place stateside back in July, in Fort Benning, GA: the International Aerial Robotics Competition.

How'd They Get That Shot?

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:03:22 -0700

More UAV posting. Have you ever watched a movie or even a television commercial and asked "How'd they get that shot?" I know I have, and I usually find myself wondering just how they maneuvered a helicopter to get that shot. Until now I thought that maybe it was due some pilots with very steady hands. Now it turns out there aren't any pilots at all.

Companies like 1 Advanced Technologies employ UAVs (those flying robots that haunt my dreams) to get some of the best shots in film and television. But some of these shots would be impossible with a helicopter. (Where's the wind?) That's where this little thing comes in.

Technorati Tags: technology robots television movies uav

Finland's Phone Toss

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:28:04 -0700

This is one I couldn't quite believe, especially after World Jump Day, but apparently the Finns have come up with a special day for every frustrated mobile phone user who's ever wanted to toss the darn thing.

Ever heard of the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship? It was held in Finland this weekend. Old phones were supplied for contestants who were allowed to pick which kind of phone they wanted to throw.

The men's winner threw his phone 292 feet. The women's winner tossed her phone 167 feet, a new world record according to the organizers. She said she has tossed a cell phone a time or two before.

Technorati Tags: phonethrow finland mobile

Flying Robots & Free Fuel?

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:26:12 -0700

I don't mean to go on about those flying robots. You know, the ones with the tentacles? In Europe? Yeah, those. I don't mean to go on about them, but they always seem to be in the news.

This time they're going by a different name: Stratellites. And they're taking up a new function: wi-fi.

Bob Jones has a lofty idea for improving communications around the world: Strategically float robotic airships above Earth as an alternative to unsightly telecom towers on the ground and expensive satellites in space.

Jones, a former NASA manager, envisions a fleet of unmanned "Stratellites" hovering in the atmosphere and blanketing large swaths of territory with wireless access for high-speed data and voice communications.

...Jones believes his solar-powered, helium-filled Stratellites _ so named because they would hang in the stratosphere -- could replace unsightly cell towers and cost less than satellites. Because of the airship's altitude according to Jones, its radio equipment can cover an area the size of Texas.

Cell towers are hampered by line-of-sight limitations and limited range. Geostationary satellites suffer from the quarter-second it takes a signal to travel out 22,300 miles and back -- insignificant in one-way TV transmissions, but terrible for two-way Internet computer communications.

The idea bubbled up and popped around the same time as the dot.com bust, yet it may be an idea whose time has come again. If so, Jones might want to consider some alternative fuels for getting his stratellites aloft.

Technorati Tags: hydrogen robots wi-fi stratellites physics

A Sputnik Moment?

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:48:59 -0700

Earlier this month I was somewhat obsessively following the story of China's space program and U.S. concerns about a looming "Sputnik moment" with China. Well, it looks like using "Sputnik" and China in the same breath may be appropriate as China teams up with Russia for a mission to Mars.

China and Russia are planning a joint mission to Mars that will not only bring samples back to earth but also land on one of the red planet's tiny moons, a Chinese space scientist here has said.

Ye Peijian, a leading scientist with the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, made the announcement at an ongoing forum on China's space technology development.

Ye said Russia will launch the spacecraft in 2009 and it will carry China-made survey equipment. It will collect samples on Mars and the planet's nearest moon.

Sun Laiyan, administrator of the China National Space Administration said last month at an international space conference that China is actively planning its deep space exploration over the next five years, focusing on lunar and Mars exploration.

"We will encourage other countries to take part in space science programs initiated by China, and Chinese scientists will participate in international space science programs," Sun said.

The lunar mission definitely jibes with previous reports of China's space-related ambitions. And the invitation for other countries to take part might bode well for similar U.S. ambitions, in light of China's earlier invitation to a NASA official to visit the country next month, and check out their space program.

But it sounds like the Russians are already on board. So does this qualify as a "Sputnik Moment" yet?

Technorati Tags: china russia mars sputnik

DIY Friday: Install Your Own Dish

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 11:39:57 -0700

I gotta admit, there are times when I'm just not feeling the DIY vibe. One of them is when I have a satellite dish that needs installing. The last couple of times I've moved, I've had someone some an install the dish for me, but apparently there are some folks out there who just want to do it themselves. And I salute them. After all, better them than me.

They may just be better at it than I am. Or more creative. I'm just a "bolt-it-to-the-side-of-the-house-and-call-it-a-day" kind of guy. Who knew there's a better way to do it? Well, some people do.

For example, can you spot the dish in this picture?

Technorati Tags: satellite satellitetv diy

Smart Cart to the Rescue

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:24:24 -0700

Of all the cool robot contraptions I've seen and blogged about lately, I haven't come across one that sound like something I can actually use in my every day life. Until now, that is. That's in part because I have a secret phobia: runaway shopping cart. When we go shopping on weekends, I fear a runway shopping (or one hastily abandoned, rather than being put away) cart will "ding" the car, or that ours will slip out of control.

But now that some University of Florida Students have invented a kind of Smart Cart, I may finally be able to shop for groceries without fear.

It looks almost like any other shopping cart, except sensors let it follow the shopper around the supermarket and slow down when needed so items can be placed in it. And it never crashes into anyone's heels.

"The immediate thing that jumped to my mind was all those times as a kid when my sister would accidentally hit me with a cart," said its inventor, Gregory Garcia. "It seems like the public would really want this, since everybody shops."

Sounds like a good idea to me. So I gotta respectfully disagree that the Smart Cart is a sign that we've become irredeemably lazy. (If you ask me, the advent of the Segway and the self-flushing toilet long since heralded that human reality.) It just means I no longer have to fear runaway shopping carts.

All I need now is map of the grocery store and I'm all set.

Technorati Tags: robots technology

Move Over Pluto?

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:32:23 -0700

That was quick. Just days ago Sebadoh brought news that Pluto might be on its way out of the solar system, at least as far as being considered an actual planet is concerned. Now it looks like Pluto may get some company and keep its out at the far end of the solar system

The tally of planets in our solar system would jump instantly to a dozen under a highly controversial new definition proposed by the International Astronomical Union.

Eventually, there would be hundreds of planets, as more round objects are found beyond Neptune.

The proposal, which sources tell Space.com is gaining broad support, tries to plug a big gap in astronomy textbooks, which have never had a formal definition for the word "planet." It addresses discoveries of Pluto-sized worlds that have in recent years pitched astronomers into heated debates over terminology.

The asteroid Ceres, which is round, would be recast as a dwarf planet in the new scheme.

Pluto would remain a planet, and its moon Charon would be reclassified as a planet. Both would be called "plutons," however, to distinguish them from the eight "classical" planets.

A far-out Pluto-sized object known as 2003 UB313, currently nicknamed Xena, would also be called a pluton.

It's not a popular idea, but it's an interesting one. Should someone start a contest for the best mnemonic for the new solar system? "Mary Very Easily Makes C_____ Jam Saturday Unless No Plums C_____ X_____"?

Technorati Tags: ceres charon pluto planets solarysystem astronomy

Disney Dumps Kid Tracking Service

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:54:31 -0700

I've been following the trend of mobile companies offering GPS tracking to families for a while now, starting with Sprint's announcement of its service back in April, and Verizon's launch of its "chaperone service." Now it looks like competition is heating up in that market, as I just came across the first announcement I've seen of a company getting out of the business. Disney is dropping its mobile tracking service.

Disney has shelved plans to launch a mobile virtual network operator in the U.K., saying the market is in flux.

The media giant had been planning to launch its family friendly mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) this year, piggybacking on wireless provider O2's network. Now Disney has changed its mind, putting the plan on ice indefinitely.

A Disney spokeswoman said the decision had been made as a result of "the rapidly changing competitive environment."

"Retail distribution outlets in particular have consolidated in recent weeks, which has impacted our distribution opportunities," she added.

Apparently, Disney's experience with market saturation in the U.S. influenced its decision in the UK. But the company is keeping an eye on the market, and may revisit offering its tracking service to customers in the UK.

Technorati Tags: gps disney mobile

Music via Wifi

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 12:07:17 -0700

I haven't listened to the radio regularly in years, but I've spent a bit of time lately covering the goings-on in the world of satellite radio, including the latest lawsuit-inducing players. I haven't yet been convinced to replace my trusty iPod with such a set-up. That is until I saw a couple of items that caught my eye with the ability to deliver music via wifi.

Gizmodo has a tantalizing review (including video) of the new personal communicator from Sony, which (among other things) let's users wirelessly stream music to other users in the area if there's a wifi hotspot nearby.

Compared to most Sony gear we've seen over the past few years, the mylo is a breath of fresh air. The media player does MPEG-4, digital audio, and pictures. But it also has a WiFi connection and a QWERTY keyboard, for chatting on Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger (No AIM support, sorry.) Wait, wait, wait! It also works as a wireless Skype phone! And it has an Opera browser. And it can wirelessly stream music to other mylo owners in the area, ala iTunes. Without cellular connectivity, its not going to best a Hiptop, but we love the open standard support. Full Stats and a video review after the jump.

Technorati Tags: wifi music sattelite

Parking Robot Gone Wrong

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 09:06:09 -0700

Every think it might be cool to have a robots take over some of the mundane tasks of life, like parking your car? Sounds good, at least in theory, right? And maybe it is when it works. But if the robot's software has a glitch, or the owner neglects to renew the software license? Well, then it's not pretty.

The robot that parks cars at the Garden Street Garage in Hoboken, New Jersey, trapped hundreds of its wards last week for several days. But it wasn't the technology car owners had to curse, it was the terms of a software license.

The garage is owned by the city; the software, by Robotic Parking of Clearwater, Florida.

In the course of a contract dispute, the city of Hoboken had police escort the Robotic employees from the premises just a few days before the contract between both parties was set to expire. What the city didn't understand or perhaps concern itself with, is that they sent the company packing with its manuals and the intellectual property rights to the software that made the giant robotic parking structure work.

Technorati Tags: robots software technology

Google Watching You Watch TV?

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 21:01:06 -0700

Sebadoh posted on Friday about Google getting into the satellite radio business. Well, it looks like Google is also making forays into television. Not producing, mind you, but monitoring what you watch and producing related internet content.

In a research paper presented last week at interactive television conference Euro ITV in Athens, Greece, Google researchers Michele Covell and Shumeet Baluja propose using ambient-audio identification technology to capture TV sound with a laptop PC to identify the show that is the source of the sound and to use that information to immediately return personalized Internet content to the PC.

"We showed how to sample the ambient sound emitted from a TV and automatically determine what is being watched from a small signature of the sound—all with complete privacy and minuscule effort," Covell and Baluja write on the Google Research Blog. "The system could keep up with users while they channel surf, presenting them with a real-time forum about a live political debate one minute and an ad-hoc chat room for a sporting event in the next."

Technorati Tags: google web television search+ads video+ads adwords

Blast from the Past: Hotbird 8

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 09:17:24 -0700

We've got another rocket launch for you. This time it's one from the more recent past. The HOT BIRD 8 broadcast satellite was place into orbit on Friday via a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle, and we've got the video.

We've also got a blog post from the HOT BIRD 8 team describing the launch.

We are thrilled to have a successful return to flight for Proton M Breeze M. After a long and sleepless night, 9 hours, 11 minutes, and 20 seconds after lift-off, spacecraft separation was confirmed and the HOT BIRD 8 SC was acquired by the Eutelsat ground stations. The Eutelsat team started the process of opening the solar arrays and beginning health checks of the SC, before flying her to her final destination. After having been up all night, we headed back to the hotels to catch a quick nap and freshen up before the post-launch festivities.

See the press release for more information.

Technorati Tags: satellite rocketlaunch rocket hotbird8

City Wi-Fi, Green Wi-Fi

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:30:23 -0700

It's been a long time since I blogged about my enthusiasm for municipal wi-fi, but news from Boston brought the subject back to mind again.

Boston's plan to create a citywide wireless Internet network entered a new phase yesterday as Mayor Thomas M. Menino named former high-tech executive Pamela Reeve to lead the search for a non profit corporation to build the network.
Reeve, a member of the mayor's Wireless Task Force and a former chief executive of software company Lightbridge Inc., also will talk to businesses, foundations, universities, and hospitals in an effort to raise between $16 million and $20 million for the project.
The money would be used to blanket city neighborhoods with fiber-optic cable and radio transmitters that would beam WiFi signals, enabling laptops, handheld computers, cell phones, and other portable devices to connect to the Internet at high speeds anywhere in the city.

As noted at GigaOm, this model is unlike any other in blending resources from government, business and non-profits. Can it work? Who knows, but if it does the next step might be to combine it with an idea like One Laptop Per Child movement, but with a domestic focus. Nigeria just ordered (and payed for) 1 million of the wireless-equipped laptops. It could happen in the U.S. too -- wi-fi access and low-cost wireless laptops opening up new opportunities for a lot of kids.

And as long as cities are launching wi-fi networks, the might want to consider making them green too.

The technical concept behind the Green Wi-Fi network is fairly simple. Each node in the network consists of a battery-powered router and a solar panel to charge the battery. The nodes are mounted on rooftops, and the network's Wi-Fi signals are transferred over a grid using a wireless network standard known as 802.11b/g.
The first seed money has arrived, enough to produce and test prototype nodes. It came from the One Laptop Per Child initiative (OLPC), which aims to construct a $100 laptop to be distributed to children in developing countries. OLPC showed immediate interest in the Wi-Fi initiative, Pomerleau said.

Technorati Tags: environment technology boston wifi

We Got Your Rocket Scientsts Right Here

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:29:22 -0700

Here's an interesting tidbit. Here in DC, I'm surrounded by rocket scientists. OK, not surrounded but it turns out the metro-DC area is home to a large percentage of the rocket scientist population. Higher than most cities, I bet.

The latest issue of The Washingtonian pulls some data from the Greater Washington Initiative's latest regional report, which puts the percentage of rocket scientists in the area at 32% of the population. (12% of the nation's physicists).

Impressive. But that's only about a third of the country's rocket scientists. Where are the rest of them? Where are most of them?

Technorati Tags: science rocketscientsts rockets