US Navy Firefighting Robot Combat And Douses Real Fire On Ship

The United States Navy firefighting robot, this Shipboard Autonomous Firefighting Robot (SAFFiR), successfully completed a significant test. It battled a real fire on the real ship and was effective during its test.

Its programmers through Virginia Tech assisted the two-legged robot to deliver the results. Last fall, the robot had successfully passed through several tests carried out aboard this decommissioned USS Shadwell.

The robot is really a joint project of Virginia Tech and also the US Office of Naval Research. A Virginia Technology spokesperson said that they have purposely held this release of SAFFiR's feat until Wednesday on this week.

The Navy wished to highlight their robot accomplishment at this week's Naval Foreseeable future Force Science & Technology EXPO in Washington, D. C, the location where the robot has been recently unveiled.

The robot is generally known as THOR. In this tests, the robot handled the situation created at USS Shadwell, docked inside Mobile Bay, Albama. The SAFFiR has three vision methods to detect and fight fires and the three systems incorporate stereo cameras, infrared digital camera and laser radar.

The development of the robot has obtained four years. But then also SAFFiR is usually a prototype and it will be, as per this Virginia Tech spokesperson, years before it's deployed. "These robots can work closely with people firefighters without firefighters being directly subjected to steam or heat, fire and also smoke", affirmed Tom McKenna, a plan manager with work of the U.S. Naval Research.

Source:: This above story is based on materials provided by the Uncover Michigan and image credit also.

Read More

Princeton University Researchers Develop Rice Sized Laser

Princeton University researchers have got built a rice sized laser powered by individual electrons tunneling through artificial atoms generally known as quantum dots.

Quantum dots usually are nanocrystals, that are made of semiconductor materials which are small enough to display quantum mechanical properties.

Jacob Taylor, an adjunct assistant professor on the Joint Quantum Institute, University of Maryland-National Institute regarding Standards and Technology and among the researchers, informed, “The device uses about one-billionth from the power needed to operate a hair dryer and represents a significant step in efforts to develop quantum-computing systems. I consider this to become really important result for the long-term goal, that is entanglement between quantum bits within semiconductor-based devices. ”

However, the researchers weren’t attempting to build a mini-maser. A maser is usually a device that creates coherent electromagnetic waves by amplification through stimulated emission. The word maser comes from the acronym MASER: ‘microwave amplification simply by stimulated emission of radiation’. The researchers wanted to explore the usage of double quantum dots, joining 2 dots together to form qubits. Qubits are the fundamental units of information within quantum computers.

Researchers stated which the goal was to get at double quantum dots to communicate with one another. They used extremely thin nanowires which were made of indium arsenide for you to fabricate the quantum dots. The placed the qubits 6 mm apart within a cavity that was created from niobium at the temperature near absolute zero (-459 degree Fahrenheit).

They found which the electrons flowed in a single-file by each dot, that emitted photons within the microwave region of this light spectrum. The photons bounced off of mirrors on either side from the cavity, creating a beam regarding microwave light.

“We designed dots to release photons whenever single electrons jump from the higher to a reduced vitality across the double dot. It is like a distinctive line of people crossing a wide steady stream by leaping on to a rock so small which it can only hold one person. They're forced to cross the stream individually. These double quantum dots are usually zero-dimensional as far as this electrons have concerned – there're cornered in all 3 spatial dimensions, ” described Jason Petta, an associate professor regarding physics from Princeton University and also leader in the research.

Source::
The atop story is based on materials provided by the Voice Chronicle and image credit also.

Read More

Computer Chaos Feared Over The Year 2015's Leap Second

The year 2015 may have an extra second — that could wreak havoc on the infrastructure powering the world wide web.

At 11: 59 p. m. upon June 30, clocks will count up entirely to 60 seconds. That will allow this Earth's spin to meet up with atomic time.

The Earth's spin is gradually slowing, by about two thousandths of the second per day, however atomic clocks are continual. That means which occasionally years must be lengthened slightly, to allow this slowing Earth to meet up with the constant clock.

However last time it occured, in 2012, it took down a lot of the Internet. Reddit, Foursquare, Yelp in addition to LinkedIn all reported troubles, and so did the Linux operating system as well as programs using Java.

The reset has happened 25 times simply because they were introduced in 1972, but the computer problems are receiving more serious as more and more computers sync up along with atomic clocks. Those computers and hosting space are then shown exactly the same second twice in the row — throwing them in to a panic.

If a computer is told to complete an operation at that time that is repeated, for example, the computer is unsure how to proceed. Or if an e-mail is received in this moment, it could find its way within the wrong bit of this server.

Last time, Google anticipated the issue and built a sensible update, which it named "leap smear". It modified its servers so they really would add a small amount of extra time every time they were updated, so that through the time of the leap second they were already caught up while using the new time. It said when it organized the plan in 2011 which it would use the same technique in the foreseeable future, when new leap seconds are declared.

Leap seconds were initially added at least one time a year, but have slowed since 1979. This U. S. wants to eliminate them entirely, arguing which they cause too much interruption, but others have contrary the change.

Britain, as an example, has said that this leap second should stay. Getting rid of it might mean the end regarding Greenwich Mean Time, utilized in some European and Africa countries, that is measured through the sun and would no more be accurate.

Source::
This atop story is based on materials provided by the USA TODAY and image credit also.

Read More

New Route To Mars May Make Manned Missions Much Easier And Cheaper

Traveling to Mars is costly, and can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Additionally, the launch time is restricted to only each 26 months, as this is the time when Mars and also Earth are optimally aligned corectly. Now, mathematicians have discovered a new route to Mars that handles these problems as well as makes traveling to Mars cheaper and also easier.

Gizmodo reports which Edward Belbruno and also Francesco Topputo have discovered a path to Mars that takes benefit of the planet’s very own motion. The method, that is called ballistic capture, may help in manned Mars trips, robotic missions, and also colonization.

James Green, director of the NASA’s Planetary Science Division, says which the discovery of the newest path is an enormous development, as in opposition to the Hohmann transfer method.

“It might be a big step for us and really preserve us resources and also capability, which is definitely what we’re searching for. ”

In accordance with Scientific American, the newest path to Mars will not lessen the costs for that launch and cruise. It will, nevertheless, lessen the spacecraft’s energy load, as traveling via the new path will signify the spacecraft won’t need just as much fuel to brake as it nears Mars. This mathematicians explained anything in further depth.

“Instead of shooting for that location Mars will be in its orbit the location where the spacecraft will meet up with it, as is conventionally finished with Hohmann transfers, a spacecraft is actually casually lobbed right into a Mars-like orbit so which it flies ahead from the planet. ”

“For ballistic capture, this spacecraft cruises a lttle bit slower than Mars itself as the planet runs their orbital lap round the sun. Mars eventually creeps standing on the spacecraft, gravitationally snagging it right into a planetary orbit. ”

Belbruno explains the particular ballistic capture as being a “flying formation. ” As well as lessening the load from the spacecraft, ballistic capture also eliminates the waiting period for that optical alignment of the planets which takes 26 months.

Although the new Mars way looks promising, additionally, it has its downside. Following the completely new route means adding a few months to the half-a-year trip to Mars, that is already mentally and physically taxing for that astronauts.

Despite this specific, the ballistic capture is still an interesting way to journey to Mars.

Source::
This atop story is based on materials provided by the The Inquisitr and image credit also.

Read More

Orion Spacecraft To Be Launched Today Following Yesterday's Mission Was Thwarted

A Spacecraft that could one day send out man to Mars will be test launched these days, after efforts to send it straight into space yesterday had been thwarted.

Orion was created by NASA as an exploration vehicle, with hopes which it will one day send astronauts upon deep space missions, eventually including the particular Red Planet.

Attached with a Delta IV Heavy rocket, Orion is prepared to circle the Earth twice this afternoon before crashing back off at 20, 000mph in to the Pacific Ocean.

The spacecraft is due to embark on a 4 and a half hour flight that it will travel a staggering 3, 600 miles from the planet - 15 times the length to the International Space Station.

Orion was planned to become tested yesterday, but the mission was postponed subsequent several push backs - including a new boat getting to near to the launching area, winds and technical issues involving the fuel and also drain valve.

Miss today's news briefing following #Orion's launch scrub? Watch now: http://t.co/5Jiq85hPRP Next launch attempt is at 7:05am ET Friday.
— NASA (@NASA) December 4, 2014

NASA will now attempt to launch the rocket today at 12: 05pm, in accordance with a tweet from the official account for Orion.

The mission will dsicover the rocket fixed with 1, 200 sensors to measure conditions throughout the flight, in order to ascertain if the trip could be suitable for human.

The flight, that will take off coming from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station within Florida, will become unmanned.

"Orion's flight test is built to test many with the riskiest elements regarding leaving Earth as well as returning home inside the spacecraft, " NASA mentioned.

"Testing these capabilities now will probably help ensure that Orion is definitely the next-generation spacecraft for missions within the 2020s that will certainly put Mars in the reach of astronauts within the 2030s. ".

Source::
The atop story is based on materials provided by the Express and image credit bbc.com.

Read More

NASA Creates The First 3D Printed Objects In Space

Astronauts recently made history by creating the 1st 3D object within orbit. The International Space Station includes a 3D printer and also the astronauts created its first 3-dimensional object in orbit. The object was emblazoned along with words “made-in-space” as well as “NASA”.

The impact of 3D-printing:

Mike Snyder (director regarding research and development) adds, “Manufacturing components upon demand will yield more efficient, more reliable as well as less Earth dependent space programs soon. ”

3D printing has been among the defining trends regarding 2014. Other notable achievements concerning the technology include the 1st concert with three dimensional printed instruments. President Barack Obama was also the 1st U. S. president immortalized within 3D-print bust.

Astronauts made history recently by creating the 1st 3D object in orbit. The International Space Station incorporates a 3D printer and also the astronauts created its 1st three-dimensional object in orbit. This object was emblazoned along with words “made-in-space” and also “NASA”.

The reason behind NASA’s project:

The primary purpose of this type of project is to create fabrication technology within low-gravity environments. Such technologies will slow up the need for rockets as well as re-supply missions to transport hardware materials to space although scientists will still need to send all raw materials to the space.

The technique officer for 'Made in Space', Mike Chen, told scientists they'd save a significant amount of cash with fabrication technology. It could also produce an even more reliable and productive space program for future years. 3-Printer’s Niki Werkheiser believes this is the truly historic moment because it might allow astronauts to print, email data files in space, replace tools, and much more. In mid-November, NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore fixed this printer and also performed tests onto it.

The 3D printer report isn't the only exciting thing to occur with NASA nowadays. The government plan is scheduled to launch Orion space capsule on the 1st test airline flight on Thursday. This will be the 1st-time a space ship designed to transport humans will launch into deep space in over 4 decades.

Source::
The atop story is based on materials provided by the ValueWalk and image credit also.

Read More

Wonder Material Graphene More Bullet-Proof Than Steel!

The Wonder material graphene has revolutionised batteries as well as super-conductors. Now it's been demonstrated by scientists that it really is 10 times much better than steel at stopping bullets.

In the experiment, scientists at the Rice University in the united states fired microbullets in supersonic speeds in graphene and found which it was better capable to withstand the impact of the bullet than either steel or Kevlar.

Graphene sheets are considered to be tough, with a new dense structure, but had in no way been tested for use as armour as yet.

The researchers setup a miniature firing range within their laboratory and utilised a laser to vapourise gold filaments to serve as gun powder. Micron-sized glass bullets were fired in the graphene targets at speeds as high as 10, 780 km/hour (about one 3rd the speed of the real bullet).

The sheets had the ability to dissipate the energy from the bullet by stretching and also forming tiny cracks to absorb this energy.

Analysis found which the graphene sheets performed twice along with Kevlar, currently utilized in bullet-proof vests, and up to 10 times better than steel.

If it may be produced in enough quantity and in a low price, graphene could form a much better bullet-proof vest, the final results found.

The results of this study were published inside the journal Science.

Source::
This atop story is based on materials provided by the The Economic Times and image credit discovery news.

Read More