Google's Self-Driving Car: technology of the Future

Google self-driving car

Introduction:

This essay is about a self-driving car made by Google.(1) The project is currently being led by Google engineer Sebastian Thurn. Thrun’s team, which consists of 15 other engineers working for google, created the robotic vehicle which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. The prize was 2 million US dollars.

Main points:

·          The US state of Nevada passed a law in june 2011 permitting the operation of driverless cars in Nevada and California.

·         Google has tested several vehicles, including Toyota Prius, Audi TT and Lexus RX450h, equipped with the system, driving 1000 miles without any human intervention.

·         The vehicle drives at the speed limit it has stored on its maps and maintains distance from other vehicles using sensors. The vehicle provides an override that allows a human driver to take control of the car.

·         There have been two accidents since the vehicle has been licensed on the roads. In August 2011, a human was controlling the vehicle at the time of the accident and the other incident involved a driverless car being rear-ended while stopped at a set of traffic lights.

·         (1)Googles driverless test cars have about $150,000 in equipment including a $70,000 laser radar system, which is mounted to the roof of the vehicle.

                        

Problems it solves:

·       (2)Fewer traffic collisions.

·       Reduction of physical road signage, as the vehicle has all the data saved.

·       Improved fuel efficiency

·       (2)Elimination of redundant passengers-drivers will not have to be present in the vehicle, the vehicle will act like a taxi.

Paradigm:

·         Robot Drivers- react faster than human drivers and do not get distracted, sleepy or intoxicated, they will also also save lives.

·         Intercoms- alert the driver of crossroads and pedastian crossings

·         Speed limit- the vehicle will obey the speed limit unlike human drivers.

Conclusion:

This essay was about three technologies that will change society in the future. I chose the Google Self-Driving Car for the technology that will change society in the future.

References:

The third reference is a short clip on youtube of a golf caddy which is self-driven.

·         1).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_driverless_car

·         2). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_car

·         3). http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rOWhu_aa9kM

Google's Project Glass: Technology of the Future

By Mylvio Mendes

Introduction:

The Google’s clandestine Google X Lab, a branch of the company that focuses on futuristic projects, has released one of its concepts that might be going to change completely the way people work, live and communicate [1]. Not far from the future shown in movies like Star Wars, the Google Project Glass is just the flag of what is coming about Artificial-intelligence Software.

 

The Project:

The new concept, called Google’s Project Glass, is an augmented-reality glasses that seems to bring the web, location services and social media straight to your eyeballs, with nothing in between [2]. In few words, it could be described as a multimedia, networked, wearable computer and personal assistant technology [4].

How it works:
The Project Glass is operated by voice commands, what makes the connection between user’s and internet and multimedia facilities faster [3]. Other benefits would be the reduction of barriers between the web and the real world, as the user at a point of view could combine both images at the same second. The small screen on the glasses flashes information straight way above the right eye, allowing the user to set up meetings with friends, get directions, find a book in a store and even video-conference with friends [1].

New Paradigm:

The project is based on a new paradigm. In the race for the better technology, when the market focuses on internet connectivity speed (3G, 4G), numbers of point in the screen (2 points, 5 points, multipoint), make the devices easy to handle, with or without keyboard and even size of the screen, Google’s goggles are focused  in Artificial-intelligence Connectivity, communication without touch, wearable computers (hands-free), voice commands, one eye screen projection integrated with what the user can see at the same time.

Conclusion:

This project has everything to achieve its goals in term of technology. Although some people as rejection on the idea that everybody could have the same device on top of their eyes, but, like or not it is coming and is going to change the way the society connects with the internet. Its benefits, such as faster connection, faster use of multimedia and faster way to make calls, will be enjoyable explored by developers. And it is just the beginning of the Artificial-intelligence Software presence in the society.

References:

[1] Taking Google Glasses in Context, Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelisrael/2012/07/06/taking-google-glasses-in-context/

[2] Google’s Augmented Reality Concept Video, IEEE Spectrum, http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/consumer-electronics/portable-devices/googles-augmented-reality-concept-video

[3] Google’s Project Glass: You ain’t seen nothin’ yet, CNET, http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57410443-76/googles-project-glass-you-aint-seen-nothin-yet/

[4] Google begins testing ‘Terminator’-style smartphone glasses, Foxnews.com, http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2012/04/04/google-begins-testing-terminator-style-smartphone-glasses/

The Beam Remote Presence: One Technology of the Future

By Innocent Matthew

If people enjoy the use of webcams and Skype, then they would enjoy the more advanced way to interact with other people. This is where the Beam remote system comes in. Granted it’s expensive, but one can imagine being in one place, yet their presence is felt anywhere in the world, in just a click of a button, or in this case a remote.

 What is The Beam Remote System?

The Beam is a new technology that has arrived in the market and is possibly a technology that will change the society. It is basically a form of video conferencing chat, except it is more advanced in a sense that it is controlled by a remote and moves wherever you tell it to. It’s basically like working at homes, except the beam makes you feel like you’re in an office. Research has shown that “it only takes about 20 minutes on average before a person forget they’re interacting someone via Beam and begins to take for granted that they are simply having a conversation with a colleague” [2].

How it works and what problems with will solve

The Beam dock

Beam is like a virtual car, it has a beam Dock that allows the beam to be parked while it recharges for the next day.  Already that’s a problem solved, as people won’t really have to use your car as much to drive to work and thus using less fuel and conserving global warming. Another problem it solves missing scheduled meetings, maybe due to a time clash or distance. In this case the beam is said to “let people be in two places at the same time- literally” [2].

The Beam Pilot Software client: This is responsible for connecting with the owner/company’s Beam remote devices anywhere in the world [1]

Impact of the beam remote in the society

The beam will only create convenience for everyone that owns it. As technology continues to advance, it is very likely that the workplace will have these types of gadgets while everyone works at home. As seen on the video http://youtu.be/z23UeJi_uJ4 [4], the use of multi-tasking, that is being in more than two places at once, is just the technology that is needed in the future.

Reference

[1] How Beam works, 11/12/2012 - https://www.suitabletech.com/beam/   

[2] Announcing suitable technologies beam remote presence system-11/12/2012-http://www.willowgarage.com/blog/2012/09/25/announcing-suitable-technologies-beam-remote-presence-system

[3] Suitable Technologies introduces beam remote presence system, 11/12/2012-http://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/home-robots/suitable-technologies-introduces-beam-remote-presence-system

[4] Beam remote presence from suitable technologies, 11/12/2012-http://youtu.be/z23UeJi_uJ4

Making Sola Power More Economical: One of the Grand Engineering Challenges of 21th Century

Making solar power more economical

Solar energy provides less than 1% of the world’s total energy but it has the potential to provide much more.[1]  

We should make solar power more economical because if more people use solar energy it will not only benefit them financially but it will also help to protect the planet. Also the fossil fuels being used today oil, natural gas and coal will not last forever. The suns exchange of energy from the sun to the earth is free.

If a new product was produced to make solar energy more economical and make more people choose solar energy do you think they would make the switch? Well here it is the Qbotix Solar Robotics.

Qbotix Solar Robotics is a start-up company in California its goal is to make solar energy more economical.

The company built a small robot which travels around a tracking system, like Wall-e on a roller-coaster.

The function of this product is to adjust solar panels so their angled towards the sun to absorb maximum energy from the sun.

A mechanical arm built into the robot adjusts the angle of the solar panel.

The cost of one dual axis tracking system Qbotix solar robotics has not yet been released yet although it is the same price as a single axis tracking system it also comes with a spare robot so while one is on the track adjusting solar panels the other can recharge. The dual axis tracking system also takes out 50% of the steel used so that 50% of the cost is gone because most of the cost goes towards the steel.

Qbotix claims it can cut total energy costs by 15% while increasing electricity generation by 30% to 40% over systems that don’t track the sun. [2]

The tracking system also does not require a specific landscape modifications, it will work on the side of a hill.

Conclusion

The challenge of making solar power more economical is not only an important challenge but also a challenge that is being solved by Qbotix solar robotics. In the future solar power might be used more around the world.  

References

[1]http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9082.aspx

[2]http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/09/04/can-solar-robots-cut-the-cost-of-renewable-energy/

Providing Energy from Fusion: One of the Grand Engineering Challenges of 21th Century

Providing energy from fusion

Fusion is one of the alternative energy sources that will challenge engineers in the future. Fusion is the energy source for the sun[1]. The fuel for fusion reactions is readily available. Deuterium and tritium are virtually inexhaustible.

Unlike the burning of coal or other fossil fuels, fusion does not emit harmful toxins into the atmosphere.

 

Although the fuel for fusion reactions is ready now scientists have not yet been able to contain a fusion reaction long enough for there to be a net energy gain [2].

The basic fusion fuels which deuterium and tritium are extracted and generated are water and lithium 70% of the earth’s surface by water. There is enough deuterium for millions of years. [3]

Conclusion

With the facts provided it can be clearly seen that fusion energy is the way forward and it is only a matter of time before more people realise that.

References

[1]http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/challenges.aspx

[2]http://library.thinkquest.org/20331/types/fusion/advant.html

[3]http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/

Providing Access to Clean Water: One of the Grand Engineering Challenges of 21th Century

By Andrew Gorman and Dominika Szymkowiak.

Introduction

Engineering has become the key ingredient for our survival and for the world we live in today. For over thousands of years, humans have been faced with great difficulties and challenges, forcing them to adapt and come up with a solution.

Engineering has allowed the population of the earth to evolve and to become embed into a much more advanced and sophisticated lifestyle. There is still a great demand for our generation to progress and evolve this lifestyle much further, but there is also a greater demand for more vital essentials, and without them, could have drastic consequences. For example; to provide access to clean water, provide energy from fusion, and to make solar energy more economical [1].

Providing access to clean water

With the world evolving at a rapid pace, a simple underlying problem is still growing and effecting millions. The issue of providing access to clean water is currently causing havoc across the globe. About 1 out of every 6 people living today is currently unable to gain access to fresh drinking water, resulting in nearly 5,000 deaths from diseases due to poor water sources, ie; diarrhea. [2]

Poor water sanitation also leads to much more underlying problems ranging from, slowing down agricultural and industrial productivity, due to sheer shortage of water, or to poor toilet facilities effecting schools and reducing education as a whole.Today’s engineers are working to come up with a viable solution to tackle this problem head on. In a desperate attempt many engineers are focusing improving recycling of wastewater and sewage treatment. [2] Most of today’s solutions involve reducing the waste of water, in both agricultural, industrial and household.

Conclusion

It is un -questionable that as humans, we are faced with great challenges and difficulties, whether it may be from the everyday simple things or to the complex and sophisticated world of engineering and science. We are forced to overcome and adapt to these challenges in order to sustain the lifestyle that we have become so acquainted too.

The issue of providing access to clean water is a good example of this, it is vital to introduce a much better means of tackling this problem and prevent such severe consequences, especially in today’s time.

References

[1] “Introduction to the grand challenges for engineering” , Internet: the National Academy of Engineering, http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/challenges.aspx , 2012, (Accessed on: Dec. 12, 2012).

[2] “Provide access to clean water” , Internet: the National Academy of Engineering, http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9142.aspx , 2012, (Accessed on: Dec. 12, 2012).

[3] “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene” , Internet: United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, http://www.unicef.org/wash/ , 2012, (Accessed on: Dec. 12, 2012).

Automobile - One of the Greatest Engineering Achievement of the 20th Century

By Dale

What is an automobile?

An automobile is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor. Most definitions of the term specify that automobiles are designed to run primarily on roads, to have seating for one to eight people, to typically have four wheels, and to be constructed principally for the transport of people rather than goods.

Who designed the automobile?

Tomas Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931)

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world

When Thomas Edison did some future gazing about transportation during a newspaper interview in 1895, he didn't hedge his bets.  "The horseless carriage is the coming wonder," said American's reigning inventor.  "It is only a question of a short time when the carriages and trucks in every large city will be run with motors."  Just what kind of motors would remain unclear for a few more years?    

1901 - The telescope shock absorber developed

 C. L. Horock designs the "telescope" shock absorber, using a piston and cylinder fitted inside a metal sleeve, with a one-way valve built into the piston. As air or oil moves through the valve into the cylinder, the piston moves freely in one direction but is resisted in the other direction by the air or oil. The result is a smoother ride and less lingering bounce. The telescope shock absorber is still used today

1902 -  Standard drum brakes are invented

 Standard drum brakes are invented by Louis Renault. His brakes work by using a cam to force apart two hinged shoes. Drum brakes are improved in many ways over the years, but the basic principle remains in cars for the entire 20th century; even with the advent of disk brakes in the 1970s, drum brakes remain the standard for rear wheels.

1908 -  Model T introduced

 Henry Ford begins making the Model T. First-year production is 10,660 cars.

Cadillac is awarded the Dewar Trophy by Britain’s Royal Automobile Club for a demonstration of the precision and interchange ability of the parts from which the car is assembled. Mass production thus makes more headway in the industry.

1911 - Electric starter introduced

 Charles Kettering introduces the electric starter. Until this time engines had to be started by hand cranking. Critics believed no one could make an electric starter small enough to fit under a car’s hood yet powerful enough to start the engine. His starters first saw service in 1912 Cadillac’s.

1914 - First car body made entirely of steel

 First car body made entirely of steel.

Dodge introduces the first car body made entirely of steel, fabricated by the Budd Company. The Dodge touring car is made in Hamtramck, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit

1919 -  First single foot pedal to operate coupled four-wheel brakes

 The Hispano-Suiza H6B, a French luxury car, demonstrates the first single foot pedal to operate coupled four-wheel brakes. Previously drivers had to apply a hand brake and a foot brake simultaneously.

1922 - First American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes

 The Duisenberg, made in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the first American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, replacing ones that relied on the pressure of the driver’s foot alone. Hydraulic brakes use a master cylinder in a hydraulic system to keep pressure evenly applied to each wheel of the car as the driver presses on the brake pedal.