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From Autoblog: Video: Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles

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Cadillac XTS tech

Five years ago, GM engineers, a variety of partner companies, and Carnegie Mellon University built a Chevrolet Tahoe that autonomously traversed 60 miles of urban traffic in less than six hours, taking home the DARPA Urban Challenge win. Later this year, some of that technology will make its way to production in the 2013 Cadillac XTS.

The list of active safety systems in the XTS is easily on par with what the Germans offer, including adaptive cruise control, intelligent brake assist, forward collision alert, automatic collision preparation, lane departure warning, blind spot alert and a heads up display (hit the jump for the full, exhaustive list).

The incorporation of all these systems is something GM is calling “sensor fusion,” which combines multiple inputs and serious processing power to, in the words of Bakhtiar Litkouhi, GM Research and Development lab group manager for perception and vehicle control systems, “provide advisory, warning, and control interventions to help drivers avoid collisions and save lives.”

It’s also the first step in bringing both semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles to market, something Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all actively working on.

Get a brief primer on the philosophy behind sensor fusion in the video and accompanying release below the fold.

Continue reading Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles

Cadillac XTS to feature safety tech developed from autonomous vehicles originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From Geeks are Sexy Technology News: Building the Lego Super Star Destroyer

I am out and I get a call on my cell from a dear friend of mine. He just informs me that he is setting aside the rest of his day to build his new Lego Super Star Destroyer. My first reaction?

“You bought this massive Lego Star Destroyer with your very own hard earned money and you have the GALL to tell me you are starting without me??”

I promptly invade his home and insisted that I be a part of this massive undertaking.

Let me tell you. This is not a task for the easily distracted. Or Poor. The commitment to build the Lego Super Star Destroyer is a commitment not easily broken. Once you open that telephone book of instructions to this incredibly detailed 50 inch (1.27 meters) Lego masterpiece, you better have a lot of time on your hands.

Tran, Ken and I set out to build this set while our better halves decreased Tran’s wine reserves.

The Display Title with statistics.

Chassis assembly.

Partial hull detail with (not to scale) bridge interior.

Outer plating installed.

Another look at (not to scale) bridge interior. Includes holographic Emperor piece!

For scale, an Imperial Class Star Destroyer flies alongside.

Detail of bridge.

Rear view.

Tran making final adjustments.

The finished product.

This set is truly a masterpiece. This massive set comes packed in separate numbered bags. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said the instructions resembled a phone book. It is quite daunting. We were constantly amazed at the clever construction methods, and giggled like children when we saw the tiny Imperial Class Star Destroyer and minifigs.

Thanks again to Tran, who let me share in this amazing day of Lego building.

Lego Death Star is next on the list!

 
from Geeks are Sexy Technology News

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From Engadget: Nanoshells trap light for more efficient solar panels

Nanoshells

Scientists at Stanford are hard at work trying to improve the efficiency and durability of solar panels— two key factors that have kept the Sun from becoming a more popular source of energy. Their latest effort involves nanocrystalline-silicon, a material that has proven resilient and highly conductive, but not very good at absorbing light. Their solution, nanoshells — hollowed out spheres of silicon that trap and recirculate light much like a whispering gallery does sound. Balls of the crystalline material are dipped in silicon, then hydrofluoric acid is used to eat way the center of the sphere, leaving a path for light to enter. The shells trap the light, allowing more of it to be absorbed, and also reduces the effect of non-optimal angles on energy production. Hit up the source for a few more details.

 

from Engadget

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From Autoblog: Video: Translogic visits Europe, first to drive the Lightning GT

The Lightning GT all-electric supercar has been inching its way towards production for years now. The last time we talked about itwas November 2010, but it’s back thanks to Translogic.

The video series from our colleagues at AOL Autos took a trip to Europe and managed to score the very first drive of the Lightning GT before anyone else. Not even Top Gear has sat in this thing and it’s being developed in their backyard.

The specs for the car as they stand today are 400 horsepower from its electric motor powering the rear wheels for a 0-60 time of around 4.5 seconds and a maximum range of 150 miles. The folks behind the Lightning GT even claim that their lithium-titanate batteries (sourced from the U.S.) can be recharged in just 10 minutes when paired with a big daddy ultra powerful off-board charger.

Bold claims for sure, and we’d likely describe the Lightning GT as vaporware if Translogic didn’t just drive it. Drive it they did, though, so follow the jumpto watch Translogic host Bradley Hasemeyer be the first to put foot to floor in the Lightning GT.

Continue reading Translogic visits Europe, first to drive the Lightning GT

 

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From MAKE: Instructables Giving Away $50,000 3D Printer

Our pals over at Instructables are always having one cool contest or another, and have given away some fabulous maker dream-prizes in the past including four Epilog laser cutters, now, in a series of annual contests. But with their new Make It Real Challenge, they have truly outdone themselves: The grand prize is an Objet30 from Israel’s Objet Geometries, which manufactures some of the highest-performing and most sought-after 3D printing equipment in the world. It’s described as a “desktop” model, but it’s priced like a luxury car at $51,995. Here are the juicy technical deets straight from Objet’s website:

  • Layer Thickness: 0.0011 inch (28µ)
  • Accuracy: 0.0039 in (0.1 mm)
  • Material: VeroWhitePlus, VeroBlue, VeroBlack, VeroGray, DurusWhite
  • Net Build Size: 11.57 x 7.58 x 5.85 in (294 x 192.6 x 148.6 mm)
  • Tray Size: 11.81 x 7.87 x 5.9 in (300 x 200 x 150 mm)
  • Resolution: 600 x 600 x 900 dpi
  • No. of Print Heads: 1 modeling head, 1 support head
  • Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
  • Size: 32.28 x 24.4 x 23.22 in (82.5 x 62 x 59 cm)

As if that weren’t enough, each of ten first prize winners gets a $4,000 Up! 3D printer, and each of twenty runners up gets a coupon for a single 3D printed object costing up to $1,000. The challenge is to “post an Instructable that shows how to turn a virtual item into a tangible object,” and the deadline is April 30. Details here. [Thanks, Randy!]

 

from MAKE