devilx-science

P50 Peel ~ World's Smallest Production Car

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:25:26 +0100

The Peel P50 is a three-wheeled microcar originally manufactured from 1962 to 1965 by the Peel Engineering Company on the Isle of Man. The 1963 model retailed for £199 when new (about £1400 in 2010, or $2200 USD), and currently holds the record for the smallest automobile to go into production. It has no reverse gear thus proving difficult to maneuver in tight situations.

Designed as a city car, it was advertised as capable of seating "one adult and a shopping bag." The vehicle's only door was on its left side, and equipment included a single windscreen wiper and only one headlight. Standard colors were Daytona White, Dragon Red and Dark Blue.

In 2010 production of a replica version was started by a newly formed company, called Peel Engineering Ltd based in England But the original Peel Engineering Company was from the Isle of Man. Externally this car was very similar to the original but with many major mechanical differences in the suspension, steering and drivetrain. Driven by an electric motor and with a top speed of 16 km/h (10 mph), this version was produced as a display vehicle and was not road legal. In 2011 production commenced on a new road legal petrol version.

Invisible car advertises Mercedes F-Cell fuel cell technology

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:53:53 +0100

Those of us who have been following the progress of eco friendly cars know that given the right investment, resources and know-how, EVs could replace conventional cars in the future. The going will be long and arduous, of course, since there are hurdles to overcome in terms of cost of production and performance. But with time, the world will have to change its mindset as fossil fuel reserves aren’t going to remain full. Mercedes recently came up with a marketing gimmick aimed at getting people to notice its zero emission F-Cell automobile. Word quickly traveled on the internet and for good reason: the model takes on the properties of a chameleon, blending into its surroundings using LEDs.

How did it achieve this feat, you ask? Well, Mercedes installed LEDs along the length of one side of the car and a Canon 5D Mark II on the other side. The camera recorded the surroundings and projected the footage onto the LED display. Of course, just one side of the F-Cell is camouflaged so in order to see the gimmick at work, you’ll need to look at the left side of the car.

The result is a clever marketing technique to get people to notice the F-Cell by giving the illusion that it’s invisible. It works on the same principle used by movie makers who utilize the blue screen to create a background of images and video.

The invisible car will be taken on a road tour of Germany to highlight the use of hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars as well as the F-Cell itself. The gimmick has received a host of comments from bloggers and internet surfers with some lauding the technique and others expressing doubts. What needs to be kept in mind is that Mercedes doesn’t intend to mass produce this particular camouflaged car; it only seeks to advertise the F-Cell and fuel cell technology.

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Hydrogen fueled robot successfully mimics jellyfish

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:16:22 +0100

Whenever we think of robots, many of us are bound to have reveries of those glimmering metallic contraptions moving around and doing our bidding. However, in this case, some scientists at Virginia Tech from United States have managed to notch it up a level by creating a robot that replicates one of the most ethereally beautiful natural organisms found in our marine eco systems; that is jellyfish.

According to the designers, they chose jellyfish because of its simple yet organized form of swimming action, which can then be aptly mimicked by an artificial mechanism. But, beyond the novelty of form and uniqueness of movement, the 'Robojelly' does fulfill one criteria that endows it with green credentials; the whole conception is powered by hydrogen fuel.

In fact, touted as the first successful underwater robot that utilizes external clean hydrogen as a fuel source, the contraption's delicate movement is intrinsically related to its power generation. For example, the robot maneuvers with the help of embedded circular muscles in the inside of its inverted bowl shaped bell. These muscles contract and relax, thus opening and closing the bell to propel the robot forward, just like a natural jellyfish. To achieve this naturalistic pattern, the scientists have utilized special shape memory alloys for the 'muscles', wrapped in carbon nanotubes and coated with platinum black powder. So, when the robot is submerged in water, there is a series of heat producing chemical reactions between the oxygen and hydrogen in water and the platinum on its surface. This generated heat in turn is used by the muscles to be reshaped, thus powering and driving the robot like its biological marine counterpart.

Moreover, from the aforementioned process it can be derived that the contraption doesn't require any external power source. As a matter of fact, the robot 'autonomously' creates its own power while moving through the water.

NEC's organic battery is just 0.3 mm thicknec

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 11:09:03 +0100

Wouldn’t it be fun and eco friendly if your iPhone was thinner and lighter and its battery could last weeks or even months instead of just a day? With the invention of organic batteries, that far away dream may just be possible. Organic batteries are the ‘in-thing’ in the area of battery research at the moment, given the potential and benefits they possess to power our gadgets in the near future. NEC is one of the leading companies in organic battery development and since 2001, has been working on polymer-based batteries which had their first major release in 2005. NEC’s latest invention, the 0.3-mm thick organic radical battery has secured a place in the list of eco friendly batteries of the future.

Organic batteries are far more desirable than conventional ones since considering their size, they have a very high energy density, are super thin, and use no heavy metals. The 0.3-mm ORB’s size is less than half the thickness of existing batteries. The size reduction was accomplished by using printing technology which enables negative electrodes to be formed on circuit boards. The prototypes feature a 3-centimeter thickness, a 0.3-millimeter edge, 3mAh capacity and 5kW output power density per unit volume.

The prototypes are capable of 360 continuous flash firings, 2,000 display screen updates and 35 location transmissions in just a single charge. Charge and discharge discharge tests show that the batteries can maintain 75 percent of their initial charge and discharge capacity even after 500 cycles which is equivalent to the same performance found in lithium-ion batteries used for mobile phones. The recharge for this prototype takes approximately 30 seconds.

Batteries as thin as NEC’s creation can be installed inside products that are limited in thickness such as a smart card, a sheet of e-paper or even a credit card. They will also pave the way for electronics manufacturers to develop even slimmer gadgetry.

See through solar panels for energy generating buildings

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:59:58 +0100

Solar energy appears to making waves now with many commercial establishments cashing in on its benefits. The clean power it delivers is what makes it so attractive. While most PVs are seen hoisted up onto rooftops marring the skyline, there’s rumor of an invention that could change the way we use panels. It is the world’s first PVGU or transparent photovoltaic glass unit. With this, you may just be able to have your windows collecting sunlight and converting it into energy. Putting PVs on windows to generate power isn’t a new idea but with PVGU, existing buildings and windows can be integrated with solar cells. In addition, the unit will also be able to harness energy from artificial lighting, making it viable for use during the night as well.

Most solar panels are expensive and in order to ensure that adequate power is harnessed, they need to be set up on a large scale. But a Swiss professor named Michael Gratzel has developed low cost solar cells that if manufactured commercially, may give ordinary folk a chance to generate their own electricity at a fraction of the cost. The new technology is applicable for single family homes.

Standard solar window films usually sell for about $20 a roll. Solar window blinds, meanwhile, retail for $100 per window. The price goes even higher for ultraviolet light-blocking drapes costing over a $100 for a window. Professional installation charges are extra though it is always better to get the help of an expert to set it up for you. Sometimes, using solar films on double-paned windows can void the warranty. Moreover, some films absorb all sunlight causing the panes to heat up which can tear the factory seal. When this happens, you’ll probably need to replace it with another one, driving up costs even more.

a) See-through solar film for ordinary windows

New Energy Technologies is a company that provides renewable energy solutions for the modern world. It recently developed a process for transparent spray-on solar cells. The technology is still patent-pending. Once it’s ready for mass production, converting ordinary windows into solar harnessing ones will be simple. All that needs to be done is to spray SolarWindow on ordinary glass panes and have them transformed into sunlight harvesters. The technology will also allow for harnessing of artificial light sources so the windows will be active at night. No word on pricing yet but it’s expected to be affordable, giving people a chance to truly go green with a minimum of effort.

b) 3M’s see-through film can insulate windows while harvesting solar energy:

3M has developed a see-through film that not only harvests sunlight but insulates windows as well which will significantly cut down heating bills. The flexible near-transparent film can be placed over existing windows. What’s great about 3M’s technology is that while the film insulates windows and keeps homes warm during winters, it has the ability to keep interiors cool during hot summer months. The company has said that it hasn’t decided when the film will be mass produced or how much it would cost but people will no doubt be waiting for the green signal when they can finally make use of this innovative technology.

c) Octillion develops innovative solar window for generating electricity

Octillion Corp’s Nano-Power Window Technology has transformed how ordinary homes and offices generate power. The company uses silicon nano particles to achieve this feat. It’s been a long time coming for Octillion who experimented with transparent ultra-thin conductive coatings, conversion efficiencies and made refinements to the process of electro spray deposition. The silicon nano particles were created through an electrochemical and ultrasound process wherein they become identically sized. The particles can provide varying wavelengths of photoluminescence as well as having a high quantum down-conversion efficiency of shorter wavelengths.
d) Chin Hua solar window

The Chin Hua solar window is a product of China that generates electricity while providing interiors with light. The semi-transparent window delivers 2W of power and can become more efficient if the haziness of the pane is increased. The semi-transparent nature of the panes can also offer users privacy without blocking out light. The invention was showcased at the International Optoelectronics Week in Taipei.

Future battery

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:33:26 +0100

Mind you, this is not a “Green” concept and neither does it claim to be “Eco Friendly”. It’s just a helpful solution for a tricky situation. The situation being: you running out of juice on your mobile phone. So what do you do? Remove the battery from the back of the phone; give it a few good turns around your index finger and its gathered enough power to last you a conversation or a safe trip to your charger and electric point.

Designers: Song Teaho & Hyejin Lee

New OLED displayinn

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:16:49 +0100

One of the main advantages of OLED is that it can be flexible—so flexible, in fact, that it can be wrapped around a pencil. Taking 2007′s .3mm prototype Sony’s made a new one just 80μm-thick.

That’s about ten times the size of a red blood cell, or just a tiny bit thinner than a single hair. The whole OLED measures 4.1-inches in size, and has a 432 x 240 resolution and a contrast ratio of under 1,000:1.

It’s another world first, boasting that it’s the first time an OLED panel can still stream video while being rolled up (around a cylinder with a 4mm radius) and stretched.

'Artificial leaves' produce electricity

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 10:25:55 +0100

A North Carolina State University-led team has created 'artificial leaves – water-gel-based solar devices which can act like solar cells to generate electricity.

The devices show it's possible to make solar cells that more closely mimic nature, and could also be less expensive and more environmentally friendly than current silicon-based solar cells.

The flexible devices are made of a water-based gel infused with light-sensitive molecules – one version uses plant chlorophyll – combined with electrodes coated with carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes or graphite.

The light-sensitive molecules become excited by the sun’s rays to produce electricity - in a similar way to plant molecules which become excited to synthesize sugars and grow.

Lead author professor Orlin Velev of NCSU says the research team hopes to "learn how to mimic the materials by which nature harnesses solar energy". Although synthetic light-sensitive molecules can be used, Velev says naturally derived products like chlorophyll are also easy to use because of the devices' water-gel matrix.

Now that they’ve proven the concept, Velev says the researchers will work to fine-tune the devices, making them even more like real leaves.

"The next step is to mimic the self-regenerating mechanisms found in plants," Velev says. "The other challenge is to change the water-based gel and light-sensitive molecules to improve the efficiency of the solar cells."

Velev suggests that in future, roofs could be covered with soft sheets of similar electricity-generating artificial-leaf solar cells.

"We do not want to overpromise at this stage, as the devices are still of relatively low efficiency and there is a long way to go before this can become a practical technology," Velev says.

"However, we believe that the concept of biologically inspired 'soft' devices for generating electricity may in the future provide an alternative for the present-day solid-state technologies."

PEVo an efficient electric bike by Pulse Motors

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:42:05 +0100

Electric vehicles may not be hype around the world but according to Micah Toll,a mechanical engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh, electric vehicle are going to be popular as they are facing the same situation as the computers faced in 1970. According to him, we are on the verge when market is going to open up for electric vehicles and the people will start accepting them. Apart from being a student Micah Toll is also the founder, CEO of Pulse motors that designs and produces a two wheeled electric vehicle named Personal Electric Vehicle Zero (PEVo).

PEVo is an efficient electric motor bike which can drive more than 100 miles just costing US$0.25 of electricity. When the bike is fully charged, it can travel around 30 to 45 miles and is capable of attaining speed up to 20 mph. The bike is also convenient because it can be charged from any standard 110 volt outlet using its on board charger.

At present PEVos is designed, produced and sold within Pittsburgh but Toll plans to expand the business at International level within next few years. The bikes are also leased by Pulse to college students of Pittsburgh on monthly or semester basis for about a dollar a day.

Via: Inc

Mitsubishi’s special MiEV Prototypemist

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:39:10 +0100

Mitsubishi is to take part in the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) with a specially built prototype version of its famous i-MiEV electric car, known as ‘Mitsubishi i’ in the U.S market. Famous racer Hiroshi Masuoka will pilot the purpose-designed i-MiEV car for Mitsubishi at the Race to the Clouds, to be held on July 8, 2012.

Interestingly, Mitsubishi’s race car for the Pikes Peak has little similarity with the production model. The original version of the electric car, which has been in production for three years, is an egg-shaped five door hatchback car. On contrast, the i-MiEV race car is a single seat closed cockpit EV and is developed to get maximum downforce during the race.

But, the Japanese automaker says that the same EV drive components are used to manufacture the race car. The company plans to look over the performance of the car during the race. These details will help Mitsubishi enhance reliability and durability of its projected electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

A team of Mitsubishi i-MiEV engineers along with reps from its suppliers of motors, battery and other EV components will be present at Pikes Peak to analyze the car’s performance. Of course, it will help the car maker and supply partners develop more powerful and efficient EV vehicles in coming years.

Hiroshi Masuoka is a two time victor of the Dakar Rally. Anyway, Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype is not the first electric car that takes part at the PPIHC. In 2011, the battery-powered Summit HER-02 and Nissan Leaf were in the race with the former, driven by Iuko Hanawa making it into the victory. Hopefully, Mitsubishi is to introduce Masuoka for nothing, but the win.

Via: Insideline