Dragon capsule (via SpaceX)

SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.) has recently announced that they will launch their Dragon free-flying reusable space craft on Tuesday May 22nd. This will mark the first time in history that a commercial company has launched a manned space vehicle into space to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

The Dragon re-usable space craft was designed using three main components which feature a nosecone that’s used as a shield during lift-off and houses the docking adapter needed to connect to external hatches found on the ISS. The second component featured is the spacecraft itself and was designed to be configured based on payload specifications and houses the avionics, RCS (Reaction Control System or thruster control systems) system, parachutes and other un-pressurized cargo/systems. The third component featured on the spacecraft is the Trunk which is used for un-pressurized cargo, solar arrays and thermal radiators needed to power the craft.

The re-usable vehicle will be launched atop of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 two-stage heavy-lift rocket which uses 10 Merlin 1C liquid oxygen and kerosene motors (9 on the first stage and 1 on the second). The mission will bring much needed supplies to the ISS as well as challenge the Dragon in a series of tests designed to test the feasibility of using commercial craft for future missions contracted through NASA and other organizations. If all goes well the launch will take place at Cape Canaveral at 4:15 AM Eastern Time and is expected to return a few hundred miles off the coast of California two weeks later. For those interested in watching the launch head over to SpaceX.com which will start broadcasting 40 minutes prior to launch.

Update: The rocket was scheduled to launch this past Saturday, the 19th. However, the team discovered a faulty check valve on the "Merlin Engine." The component was swapped, and not the historic flight will take place this Tuesday, the 22nd. The post was updated to reflect the change.

Update 2: The Falcon 9 is now in orbit. The launch was successful.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

Augmented reality give a new way to interact with technology, and ambitious companies are clamoring to be firsts in the field. One of those concepts being developed by the software giant is called MirageTable. The system lets the user interact with objects in both the real and virtual worlds on a table top.

For instance; a person could set up a series of virtual bowling pins that could then be knocked over with a virtual ball with only using one pin as a real model to clone the others. The researchers developed MirageTable with the idea that two people could interact with each other in the same space without actually being with one another (think of it as being like Star Trek’s Holodeck). To do this, the researchers used an Acer H5360 3D stereoscopic projector (1280 X 720) to display objects, as well as the other person, onto a curved screen. A Kinect is positioned on top of the screen and captures the objects that are being projected and also tracks the eye movements of each corresponding user. This is to give the corresponding user the correct perspective of what’s in front of them. To view the objects in an augmented reality 3D environment each user wears a pair of Nvidia 3D shutter glasses which makes them appear spatially registered in conjunction with the real world. Any object can be scanned and then cloned for interaction by either of the two parties in both the real and virtual space.

Virtual Bowling (via Microsoft)

Free-hand interaction (because no trackers, gloves or other hardware was implemented) with virtual objects in MirageTable was done by using software that takes all real-world objects and represents them as proxy particles, which are constantly updated and used for collision geometry in the virtual world. To process all of the dynamic physics constantly being updated the team relied on Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 580 along with their PhysX game software. This gives each person the ability to interact with both environments at the same time. The researchers admit that there are still limitations to overcome as the Kinect (at present) can only capture the front of an object and not all sides which leaves ‘gaps’ that make for bad texturing. Another problem the team faces is users can only scoop or catch objects from below instead of grasping or picking them up but hope to improve on these limitations with further development. I for one am very impressed at what they have already accomplished with MirageTable. What will its full capabilities be in the future if only as a gaming platform?

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

Have you ever been skiing and had to put up with the hassle of trying to answer your cell phone or listen to music? I have not, but Anthony Griesel has. This skier and software developer is recruiting people to contribute to his Kickstarter for a project Called Neva that will facilitate staying connected while outside in the cold elements.

The idea is simple, to avoid having to fumble with small devices while you are bundled up on the slopes, he has developed a smart ski pole that allows you to manage calls, SMS, and displays other useful information like time, temperature and elevation on a 0.96’’ extra bright OLED touch display placed directly on top of one of the ski poles. Of course, all of the electronics are kept safe inside by a waterproof seal.

The poles wirelessly communicate with Android and iPhone via a low power Bluetooth using a free downloadable app. This app has more features like using the GPS locations for calculating slope angle and aspect and can also track your route in Google Earth KML format.

The poles themselves are made with 7075 grade aluminum, which has properties comparable to mild steel. The included rechargeable battery is said to last 3 days between charges and will last about 500 charging cycles. It is charged using a generic USB connection, but this will not be included.

Griesel hopes that his system will prevent users from losing or damaging their devices, and he hopes that added features will provide valuable information as to avoid dangerous parts of the mountains or avalanche prone areas. He does mention  that there is no substitute for experience and good judgment.

So far Griesel's kickstarter has raised over $11,000, which is still far from the goal of $100,000 , but there are 21 days to go. The rewards for a pledge are very enticing. A modest contribution of just $150 will earn you your own set of Neva ski poles.

Eavesdropper

The Hybrid Memory Cube Consortium (HMCC) has recently announced that Microsoft has joined the conglomerate in an effort to integrate HMC technology into next generation systems. The HMCC are a group of electronic equipment manufacturers that include industry giants such as Samsung, IBM and Micron that are looking to develop and implement  advancement in DRAM memory technology called Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC).

The HMC features 15x the performance of DDR3 memory by utilizing a memory die that’s stacked using Through-silicon-VIA (Vertical Interconnect Access used to create 3D circuits- hence the ‘cube’). HMC technology has increased density that enables more memory to be packed into a space that’s 90% less over today’s DDR3 modules while utilizing 70% less energy per-bit.

The connections between the efficient stacked chips are shorter, which is why it takes up less of a foot-print over traditional DDR modules and is also significantly faster. This means that memory bandwidth and clock speeds can remain constant with each new iteration of CPU’s and GPU’s which isn’t limited to networks and PC’s but will also provide a performance boost for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets as well. Microsoft has recently join the Consortium, hoping its resources will get the technology developed quicker. If the Consortium is successful in their developments, the future will indeed be ‘cubed’!

Actual image of a HMC (via HMCC)

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

With today’s technology, it’s never been a better time to be a kid playing in a sandbox, and it's all thanks to researchers from UC Davis. The research team, headed by Oliver Kreylos, has designed an ‘Augmented Reality Sandbox’ as an interactive teaching tool for children to learn about earth sciences in places such as museums. The box can be configured for a myriad of topographical real-time representations at a scale of 1:100 and includes the ability to make it rain as well as water-flow simulations. To accomplish these feats, the team used a closed-looped Microsoft Kinect camera that grabs movement and objects at a rate of 30 fps. Then the system feeds the information to a computer running a combination of software derived from the Vrui VR development tool-kit and the Kinect 3D video processing framework.

The software, driven by a Nvidia GeForce 580 GTX, takes the information provided by the Kinect sensor and compiles a real-time topographical image complete with an elevation color map, topographical contour lines and simulated water based on how the sand is arranged inside the box itself. All the rendered graphics and real-time information is then projected back onto the sandbox using an overhead 3D data projector giving the viewer an unobstructed visual 3D model. While it may be a great learning tool, it makes me want to break out my MechWarrior Battle-Mechs and have a really cool war on a field with destructible terrain!

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

Droplet (via MIT)

The Information Ecology group from MIT’s Media Lab was on-hand to demonstrate some innovations in light-based communications at MIT’s open house (2012). First on their list is a device called Droplet that lets you transfer information from a monitor or other hub to mobile devices such as tablets through the use of an RGB LED. The Droplet glows green and red depending on the time it takes to grab whatever information you want from the screen. For example, in the demonstration, the Droplet was placed on a screen to download an event on a calendar. The device blinks red when downloading and then turns green when the information is finished transferring at which point it acts as a countdown timer to that specific event. To check how much time is left simply place the droplet on any touch-capacitive device (that has the corresponding software needed installed) to see how much time is left as a digital read-out. You can also modify those settings with the Droplet.

The second demonstration centered on the groups StackAR device which also takes advantage of capacitive touch and light-based communication.  However, instead of using a timer like the Droplet, StackAR makes use of a LilyPad Arduino unit which can then be used to display a schematic of the Arduino on the touch-screen display using the integrated UI software. This lets easily see how to wire-up the circuitry of the Arduino based on whatever project you’re using it for. The UI can also be used for a programming the unit, where routines can then be instantly uploaded to the StackAR through the light-based connection. Sure these are only prototypes and proof-of-concept devices, but their potential uses for light-based data transfer are incredible.

Eavesdropper

Envisat concept art (via European Space Agency)

April 8^th began the troubles for the European Space Agency (ESA). At a scheduled time, Envisat, a large environment satellite, did not make its transmission of data back home. The satellite is the largest and most expensive non-military satellite orbiting Earth. It measures in at 30 feet long, 16 feet wide, and also carries a large solar array that is about 16 feet wide and 46 feet long and collectively weighs in around 17,600 pounds (about 8,000 kilograms).

Although Envisat is not communicating as of the moment, efforts are being made to restore contact with the satellite. It is still floating around in a stable orbit and will be for 150 more years unless some outside force interferes with its path. Envisat was only planned to have a five year mission collecting data on environmental factors such as air quality, land masses, sea ice, atmosphere, and ocean conditions. However, the satellite lasted twice as long as planned and scientist were hoping it would  last until its predecessors could be launched and calibrated around the year 2014. 

Envisat supplied data using 10 different sophisticated instruments. The instruments used include a spectrometer, a radio meter that can measure the oceans temperature, and a radar altimeter. In addition, it used an interferometer which is a Fourier transforming  infrared spectrometer which transmits data about pressure and temperature along with information about atmospheric gases.

Scientists are worried about the gap in data that the loss of this satellite will cause. Envisat was the most advanced information collecting system in space. An agreement with Canada to use two of their satellites to continue collecting data is being looked into, however those two satellites combined will still not fill in all the missing information that Envisat would have provided.

For now scientist will have to get by with what they got. ESA has already been planning to launch newer satellites into space called Sentinels. The program will launch 5 different satellites into space over a period of 6 to 7 years. Hopefully engineers can find a way to fix Envisat, or else it will would become a billion dollar, bus-sized piece of technology added to the space junk collection.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14