INVENTION -- WORLD

2008-07-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tough All-Terrain Military Robot Unveiled

Researchers unveiled today a unique unmanned military vehicle prototype that combines mobility, payload-carrying capacity, and ruggedness to aid troops in combat.

The "Crusher" is a 6.5-ton vehicle made of high-strength aluminum tubes and titanium nodes protected by a steel skid plate that can absorb shocks from impacts with rocks and other objects.

The vehicle navigates on its own through tough terrain and overcomes obstacles such as ditches and boulders. It can also carry more than 8,000 pounds in payload and armor.

With electric motors set in the vehicles' six wheels and powered by a hybrid system that uses a turbo diesel generator, the Crusher can travel almost 26 mph.

"We're developing Crusher to provide technology insights to the broader Army community to show people what can be done and pave the way for the future," said John Bares, director of the National Robotics Engineering Center and the principal investigator for the project. "Although it's not being designed for production, Crusher could be matured further to withstand the rigors of military fielding."

Automated forces like Crusher might initially be used in support roles and later for tactical functions, researchers predict.

2008-07-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Minuscule Motor Runs on Sunlight

Scientists have developed tiny four-stroke engines that run on sunlight.

The nanomotors --so small that 3.8 million of them lined up end-to-end would barely span the width of a penny--generate absolutely no waste.

Each little motor is just 5 nanometers in length, macaroni-like in shape, and has a ringed structure at one end that moves back-and-forth like the pistons under your car's hood.

Energy, in the form of photons from sunlight, excites one end of the molecule, which sets off a four-step process. Electrons are transferred along the molecule until they reach the ring structure, causing it to slide 1.3 nanometers forward on the molecule.

As the electron continues its path, it reaches a section that recycles it back to the beginning. This causes the molecule to "reset," and the ring returns, piston-like, to its original position.

The whole process takes about 100 microseconds.

Each step is similar to the mechanical functions of the four-stroke engine that powers a car down the road--fuel injection and combustion, piston displacement, exhaust removal, and piston replacement.

Except in this case, the exhaust is an electron, not smog-producing pollutants.

The molecule, called rotaxane, forms naturally. It's also autonomous, meaning that it will continue operating as long as energy is available.

It can work with others, or function all by itself. It can be driven at high frequency, and in mild environmental conditions it is quite durable, staying stable for at least 1,000 cycles.

While the nanomotor is less efficient than some fuel-powered engines--it has an efficiency of only 2 to 12 percent--the researchers point out that it doesn't need refueling and that sunlight is free.

TOYOTA PRIUS

2008-07-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

The Toyota Prius a hybrid electric mid-size car.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the

2008 Prius is the most fuel efficient car sold in the U.S.

The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, making it the first

mass-produced hybrid vehicle. It was subsequently introduced

worldwide in 2001. In May 2008, worldwide cumulative sales of the

Toyota Prius passed 1 million. The Prius is sold in more than 40

countries and regions, with its largest markets being those of Japan

and North America.

2008-07-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Tata OneCAT

OneCAT is the upcoming compressed air car. India's Tata Motors is

with collaboration with Air engine developer Guy Nègre of the MDI.

It has airtanks that can be filled in 4 hours by plugging the car

into a standard electrical plug. MDI plans to also design a gas

station compressor, which would fill the tanks in 3 minutes.

There are no gasoline costs (except approx. one-third electric bill,

US fare 2008) and no fossil fuel emissions.

OneCAT is a five seat vehicle with a 200l trunk. With full tanks it

will run at 100 km/h (62 mph) for 90-kilometre (56 mi) range in

urban cycle. It is actually a dual fuel car but it is more efficient

than any present Hybrid cars.[citation needed]

It will be priced in a range ($5,100 to $7,800) within reach of

consumers in a developing economy. The production of another CAT

car for local markets might begin early 2009 in Spain and Australia.