It is nice to think that what we have in our head, and take for granted is a fantastic machine. Data centers across the country are using power like it is going out of style however when you put it into perspective that a computer with our brain power would use 10 megawatts of power we still have the data centers beat hands down.

"According to Kwabena Boahen, a computer scientist at Stanford University, a robot with a processor as smart as the human brain would require at least 10 megawatts to operate. That’s the amount of energy produced by a small hydroelectric plant. But a small group of computer scientists may have hit on a new neural supercomputer that could someday emulate the human brain’s low energy requirements of just 20 watts–barely enough to run a dim light bulb."

David Smith has built the smallest train I have ever seen. The Claim that it is the worlds smallest is probably true. Watch the video to see a good description of how the drive mechanism works. It is truly out of the box thinking.

"After carefully inserting the train-shaped tubing into its oval slot, I bonded the layout to a styrene support block that was in turn bonded to a mounting plate attached to the motor. This was an iterative process that involved fitting and sanding and fitting and sanding until the support block was exactly the right height. The mounting plate was made relatively large to provide a convenient means of attaching the mechanism to the layout under the building."

There is some great innovation coming out of the Elevator Space Race. The University of Saskatchewan’s Space Design Team has been in it from the start and has some promising technology. The video describes the monumental task quite well. It goes to show that with some prize money on the line a task as challenging as the space elevator is something that many will choose to pursue.

Via: Space Elevator Games

"The University of Saskatchewan Space Design Team (USST) is a team of highly motivated physics and engineering students and professionals. Building on a tradition of success, we aim to go higher and faster! The engineering challenges are great, requiring the skills of a variety of disciplines. Our success to date has relied on a multi-disciplinary approach, and expanding that approach can only make us better. Our climber makes use of solar cells to receive beamed power, and has an incredibly light superstructure. Although light, the compact design allowed us to handle wind quite well. The robot’s brain (the logic needed to follow the rules) is a microcontroller, programmed by U of S students. As the competition becomes more intense, the limitations of individual spotlights are becoming apparent."

The R1 Radio reminds me of a roller ball mouse without the roller ball. When you move it up and down you control the volume, right and left adjusts the tuning. We have seen some other fun music players that use physical movement to interact with them, I think there is a use for this technology other than just the cool novelty factor.

Via: OhGizmo and Dvice

"By using a wheel structure user can control the radio by physical movement. The ‘R1’ allowed users to turn gadget on or off and to control volume and tuning simply by physically rolling the radio forward, backward and sideways. Functionally, by using bevel gear system, I could increase a tuning range more than four times wider than before. There were too many channels in a narrow display before."

Who says you need a entire car to drive around in. This two seat car looks nice and comfortable. The only issue looks to be that it stops quite abruptly when reversing.

If you have a need for a DIY 30KV power supply have a look at this one that Daniel Eindhoven from megavolts.nl has built! You may have to scrounge for the parts for a few years though since it took 30 microwaves to get the needed parts. If you are thinking that you remember the name you are right, Daniel is also the one who brought us the MV CoilMaster Mark1 Coil Gun.

Kizomox has been working on some great high voltage experiments lately. You may remember the Potato that he Exploded with Defibrillator Capacitor that we featured before. Looks like he has moved way up in power since then! There aren’t very many people who have their personal pole transformer in their back yard.

Via Article comments.