Toyota Fun-Vii

Toyota releases their vision for not-too-distant future vehicle called Toyota Fun-Vii which redefines the way people, cars, and society are connected. Mobility definitely can change the world. You can personalize this vehicle by changing the exterior or interior as easy as downloading an application. The whole body can be used as a display space, from advertisement, announcement, information to your own personal messages, the body color and content are changeable at your will.



Like we said above, even the whole Toyota Fun-Vii interior also functions as display space. Choose different themes of your interior based on your mood at the moment, the futuristic navigation system blends perfectly into the interior through out the use of augmented reality. Remembering Minority Report movie? This navigation virtual helper provides the passengers and drivers with driving information and guidance through a vocal interface.

The network system installed in this futuristic vehicle will ensure all you software versions for the vehicle’s drive, control and multimedia system always up to date.

Toyota Fun-Vii can link to other vehicles and infrastructure within its surrounding, in this way, this vehicle can detect other potentially hazardous vehicles, such as vehicles in blind spots. Passengers can also connect with other friends who might be driving nearby.

Toyota Fun-Vii brings out the theme of “Fun to Drive, Again” to many people again through out this fresh design proposal.

Self-perfuming suit new invention

At the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony last week, past winner Hyuk Ho Kwon unveiled his new invention.

Mr. Kwon was awarded the 1999 Ig Nobel Prize in environmental protection for inventing the self-perfuming business suit.

His new invention is a Swiss-Army-Knife-of-a-suit for hikers and others to wear in the wilderness. In case of emergency, the suit is capable of saving its wearer’s life in several different ways. This diagram gives a general 

At the Ig Informal Lectures, at MIT, two days after the ceremony, Mr. Kwon and a volunteer (whom we believe to be an adventurous MIT student] demonstrated many exciting aspects of the suit.

NYPD testing scanners to reveal concealed guns

NEW YORK — New York City police say they are testing a new way to find concealed guns by using radiation scanners that can detect people carrying firearms.

NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said the new technology can reveal a firearm concealed under clothing, the New York Daily News reported Wednesday.

The technology, similar to infrared imaging, can detect a natural energy known as terahertz radiation emitted by the human body, Kelly said during his State of the NYPD address Tuesday.

Because that energy cannot travel through metal, a concealed gun can be detected from the image captured by the detector, Kelly said.

"This technology has shown a great deal of promise as a way of detecting weapons without a physical search," he said.

The technology has been undergoing testing by the NYPD and the U.S. Department of Defense for the past three years.

The NYPD hopes to install the heat-seeking devices on police vehicles in the near future, Kelly said.

"We want to use new technology to protect the public and police officers from illegal guns," he said.

But civil libertarians say they worry the scanning devices will be unable to distinguish between a gun and other harmless metal objects such as an iPod.

If the technology only picks up only fuzzy images of possible guns, civil liberties lawyer Norman Siegel said, it could prompt police to make unwarranted stops.

Invisible Tanks Coming To The Battlefield Within Five Years

After nuclear chain reaction e-camouflage is one such concept which can change the entire scenario of modern warfare. By switching on to the invisible mode you can enter and create havoc in the enemy territory within a fraction of minutes. The British Army has dared to think of such a concept in the form of an electronic ink to make the tanks invisible. Unlike traditional forms of camouflage, this technique uses highly sophisticated electronic sensors that will project the surrounding images – making the tank to get merged in the landscape.

Till now, such concepts remained the subject matter of alien technology – also showcased in many Hollywood flicks. Scientists are hopeful that this new technology soon will be deployed in the war-ridden zones of Southern Afghanistan.

The invisible tank was conceptualized in the BAE’s Future Protected Vehicle Program, which is going to be implemented in seven different vehicles (manned and unmanned). The program majorly encompasses
Pointer (an agile robot), Bearer (a modular platform), Wraith (low signature scoutvehicle), Safeguard: (an ultra-utility infantry carrier), Charger (a lethal and survivable attack vehicle), Raider (a remotely or autonomously controlled skirmishing platform) and Atlas (convoy system).

The project is being considered as a reactionary response to the British Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) “Capability Vision” for armored vehicles. The commanders are hoping to execute the project within four years. Initially the tests will be conducted on lightweightvehicles powered by hybrid electric drives.

The project is not only limited to an invisible tank but is also in quest of some new technologies, like: fuel reduction technology, tougher bulletproof glass, biometric integration (for tracking the threats in highly crowded places) and many more.

“The trick here is to use machines to do what they are best at (and humans are not) – ploughing very quickly through dull, repetitive data to strip out the overwhelming bulk which is of no use and would take a long time and enormous human resources to process” — with these words Hisham Awad, Head of the the Future Protected VehicleProject, has concluded that casualities in the war zone can be limited to much extent by referring to these technologies.

Thorium-nuclear energy powered car

In the mid-twentieth century, in the wake of the introduction of nuclear power, it seemed that for this kind of energy – the future! It is cheap, it is practical and it is safe. And soon, even in vehicles nuclear energy to replace fossil fuels energy. This bold dreams never came true. And yet, attempts to create a nuclear-powered car from time to time occur. The latest example – a concept car Thorium.

During the study, researchers focused their attention on the chemical element thorium. This low-level radioactive metal was considered in the forties of the twentieth century as an alternative to uranium and plutonium for building nuclear reactors, but has not been taken into circulation because of the impossibility of using it for military purposes. In the Laser Power Systems also found that when trying to create a laser based on thorium, there is no directional beam of light, as it does in most lasers, and the strong heat waves. It is this effect and it was decided to use to develop the engine to the vehicle Thorium.

As considered in the Laser Power Systems, salt, based on one gram of thorium can replace the 7,500 liters of gasoline with high octane number, which would double bypass around the globe at the equator. And if mass production (in North India recently found a huge deposit of the metal), thorium will cost many times less uranium.

Moreover, the technology developed in the Laser Power Systems, is already working well, and not just exist on paper. It remains only to establish a secure car engine based on this technology and test it.

Superb gadget

Nikon has launched a gadget that some might think was inspired by science fiction and the movies, the Nikon Port UP.

The Nikon Media Port Up is a multimedia headset with a built in display, headphones, Wi-Fi, and built in memory of either 4GB or 8GB, motion sensors and a built in rechargeable battery.

The device is operated by moving your head up of down and left and right and then the built in motion sensors translate this to enable you to control the menu.

According to Nikon, viewing movies and content on the built in display is the same as watching it on a 50 inch screen from a distance of 3 metres.

The Nikon Media Port UP will also be able to surf the web and use programs like Window Media Player.

The Nikon Port UP is available now in Japan with the base model (4GB) retailing for around $580, there is no word on when it will arrive in the US and Europe.

Di-Cycle – The Amphibious Bicycle!

Di-Cycle, an outcome of a Dutch design competition is a conceptual vehicle. The stunning sleek body with humongous wheels on either side is nothing but an updated version of a regular bicycle. Designed by GBO, this amphibious vehicle could stroll wonderfully on water and land. The crisscross body with the seating that provides comfortable backrest makes exploring on this vehicle pleasurable. The large yet emaciated tyres might also help in covering distance faster. The spectacular work of art on the Di-Cycle is certain to make some heads turn!

Sophisticated Perseus Missile Travels At Thrice The Speed Of Sound

The new British missile called “Perseus”, named after the Greek mythological figure, will be the most potent missile in its class when it finally rolls out in 2030. Cruising at thrice the speed of sound or 2000 miles per hour, it will be almost three times faster than theexisting weapons.

The Perseus will also work as force multiplier as it can deploy two additional smallmissiles which can easily destroy a ship with extra weaponry. This can also confuse the radars. It will fly at a very low level, just few meters above the sea, making it very difficult to get detected by the radio detection.

The Perseus will remain invisible to radars until the very last few seconds before the two ton missile attacks. “The 800,000 pounds Perseus will be the most advanced missile system and will replace existing Exocet and Storm Shadow weapons” said Lionel Mazenq, the spokesman for part-British owned company MBDA that is developing the missile. The company supplies two-thirds of missiles dropped by RAF in Libya and Afghanistan.

He further said that the missile has been designed to attack the most advanced warships and targets. Powered by a Ramjet engine, it can over come the most advanced defense systems and can hit two to three targets at the same time with incredible accuracy. The missile can map the terrain with amazing accuracy and can separate one target from another with the help of its most advanced radar seeker and LASER radar. It will automatically divert itself if it is heading towards the wrong target and thus will be helpful in avoiding civilian causalities.

The Perseus can be launched from warships or fighter jets and MBDA aims to lure several armed forces of the world, including Britain’s military, towards it. Unveiled at the Paris Air Show, the stealth bomber missile has all the latest technological aspects and the required fire power to make it the most effective missile system in the world. With its Mach 3 speed and enviable accuracy to hit the desired target, it can be a rage among the big defense equipments importer countries.

Megacity Aviation

About the same size as a Mini Cooper and twice as fast, the Megacity Aviation concept was designed to transport goods rapidly through cities with major gridlock. The majority of the biofiber reinforced bioplastic frame is hollow like the bones of a bird, making it incredibly lightweight. Powered by two hydraulically operated coaxial rotors, it’s highly maneuverable and can carry up to 200kg.

Volvo Ants

A Volvo Ants, an aero neumatic transport systems. Through extensive research in biomimicry, this industrial designer has come up with transportation system inspired by ants. It implements ants behavior as a cohesive system as you know their ability to communicate with each other, distribute food, and all responsibilities in their community is intriguing. The overall concept starting from its models, systems, processes and elements take inspiration from ants in order to solve our problems.

Volvo Ants implement idea to lease micro-containers to multiple companies, in this way they can ensure that they are always filled to capacity. Their container union is flexible, therefore allowing better articulation in navigation and avoid jack knife accidents.

T-Box Wind Power Generator

T-box is a power generator that harnesses wind-energy when a train moves across thetracks. The box kind of merges with the sleepers on the tracks and houses all the components necessary to harness, store and supply converted power. What makes this project really cool is that it doesn’t rely on nature to be a source, instead it optimizes a human activity.