Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

We could tell from the press shot that this here laptop bag was far and away the most beautiful of the TSA-approved bunch, and a recent review over at Gadling confirms it. Put simply, the Tom Bihn Checkpoint Flyer is “fantastic,” and even the reviewer found himself startled at just how much he dug it. The build quality was remarkable, the ease of use was commendable and the design itself was obviously worthy of praise. The only real rub is the bloated sticker; the price of admission is a stiff $220, and that’s before you add in any useful straps or extra packing cubes. Unfortunately, the critic didn’t actually attempt to clear security at an airport with the bag, though we don’t suspect you’ll have any too many difficulties. Check the full writeup and a hands-on gallery in the read link.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Robots

While a great many scientists are attempting to create autonomous bots for uses in surgery, a team of Stanford whiz-kids are having a bit more fun with it all. The crew in question has concocted an artificial intelligence system that “enables robotic helicopters to teach themselves to fly difficult stunts by watching other helicopters perform the same maneuvers.” Dubbed a demonstration in “apprenticeship learning,” the robots can actually learn by observing rather than having to be programmed, meaning that entire airshows could be reeled off by planes that simply keep an open mind when warm-ups are underway. Of course, they could also be used for more serious applications — mapping out hot spots of California wildfires, finding land mines in war zones, etc. — but even if none of that pans out, we’re cool with inventions being used purely for entertainment.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Here’s some amazing video of the new “Draganflyer X6 UAV RC” helicopter that can be rigged up to shoot professional quality aerial video and take digital photographs.

DraganFly

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

Now that the TSA has doled out the official verbiage about what it considers a checkpoint-friendly laptop bag, expect to see the usual players toss in an option or two for frequent fliers. Thus far, all we’ve seen are cases that get the job done while throwing style to the wind in the nearest dumpster; now, however, we’ve a better option to choose from. Tom Bihn’s stylish Checkpoint Flyer meets all of the TSA’s requirements while still looking like a briefcase we wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen with. The 2.6-pound bag is crafted from US 1050 denier ballistic nylon and 500 denier Cordura and includes a trio of pouches on the outside, splash-proof zippers and ten smaller pockets for stashing those increasingly rare bags of peanuts / pretzels. It’s available now in three colors for $220 (yeah, we know, but it’s made in the US of A).

[Via Electronista]

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Original post by Darren Murph

In response to our high power rocket post, Ken Denmead of GeekDad points us to coverage on their blog of the Rocket Mavericks event, with some awesome pics. The first one above is a time-lapsed night photo. The author of the piece, Steve Jurvetson, writes:

…the motor failed, and broke the rocket in two, but the avionics computer survived in the upper section, popping the parachute as programmed, and the blinky-LED nose cone drifted back to the playa like a spiral candy cane in the sky.

The second image is a rocket powered by a Q motor. That, claims the author, is equivalent to 64,000 Estes-type motors (what size Estes motors?) or four times the total thrust of a Cruise Missile booster! Unfortunately, the home-brewed motor had an air pocket in it and ruptured under pressure. Last year, this same builder launched a similar rocket at BALLS to over 31,000 feet! Here’s a vid capture of the apogee.

GeekDad Rocketry on Steroids

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

Via DIY Drones comes this video of the Stanford STARMAC (Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent) quadcopters:

STARMAC, the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent is a testbed of 6 quadrotor helicopter unmanned aerial vehicles that fly indoors and outdoors to experiment with autonomous agent algorithms. This video presents an overview of the control system, the vehicle capabilities, and the experimental applications for the testbed. Results of many experimental flights are shown, along with some fun flight results that push the limits of what the vehicles should be able to handle.

Stanford quadcopters rock!

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

Here’s a detailed how-to on building a modified SPAD3D mini plane that the author has named the “SPA3DT” (the “T” stands for “tubular”). The maker is using a “TT Pro .46″ engine for power and a “GP 10 ounce” fuel tank. Check out the specifics of how he did it at the link below.

SPA3DT

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

From Hack a Day:

German engineering firm Festo has created this flying manta ray. Dubbed the Air_ray, it’s a balloon made of an aluminum-vaporised “PET foil”. Inflated with helium, the Air_ray’s propulsion system is a flapping wing drive. Each wing has alternating pressure and tension flanks that are attached to an internal set of ribs. The flanks are connected to a remotely controlled servo motor. When pressure is applied to either of the flanks, the wing bends in the opposite direction. By alternating pressure on the flanks, the wings beat. The servos are powered by two 8V LiPo accumulator cells.

Flying manta ray

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

This was originally used for a hang glider, but I am sure it would work in other situations. Why not use it on a down-tube of a bicycle, or attached a DIY dolly?

The design requirements are pretty basic. The mounts needs to be light weight and robust to withstand my less than perfect landings (I’m still a Hang-1 at this time). It must be easily and quickly attachable/detachable without special tools - has to be done in the field after all. It needs to be adjustable so the camera can be setup to point in any direction.

Read more about Building a Hang Glider Camera Mount

Related:

The StreetGrip

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Original post by Marc de Vinck

BurnSim ($39) is a solid rocket motor ballistic simulation program (Windows only) now in its third version.

In a nutshell, input your motor, nozzle and propellant characteristics and BurnSim calculates the Kn (kilonewton) through the burn and predicts estimated chamber pressure and motor performance. Once your motor design is in BurnSim, you can tweak the parameters such as nozzle diameter or grain core diameter and instantly see how the Kn, chamber pressure, and motor thrust is affected. BurnSim will also optimize your nozzle design.

BurnSim 3.0

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Original post by Gareth Branwyn

This custom built throttle project shows you how to add a more realistic gaming experience to your boring flight simulator game. Pretty simple construction notes at the link below.

How to Build Dual Throttles For Your Flight Simulator

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

Yves Rossy, a former Swiss military pilot, spent 5 years developing these foldable carbon fibre wings that each hold two kerosene-powered jet engines allowing him to fly, literally, like a bird, horizontally. Pretty amazing project that looks like it came right out of the next James Bond film.

Yves Rossy - Photo Gallery of the Flying Man

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

Yves Rossy, a former Swiss military pilot, spent 5 years developing these foldable carbon fibre wings that each hold two kerosene-powered jet engines allowing him to fly, literally, like a bird, horizontally. Pretty amazing project that looks like it came right out of the next James Bond film.

Yves Rossy - Photo Gallery of the Flying Man

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

This homebrew paraplane called the “Black Rainbow”, functions as a payload lifter and spybot by carrying a 120 gram, 5 mega-pixel digital camera. Some pretty detailed info on its construction at the link below. Just make sure your neighbors know what you are up to before setting it loose.

Black Rainbow Homebuilt Parafoil

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Original post by Jonah Brucker-Cohen

Russell Shaw passed away Thursday night in his hotel room after suffering from a cold. His death was unexpected and certainly a shock to me. I consider Russell a friend and his insights into VoIP were always good often sprinkled with a dash of humor or some political angle since he also wrote for the Huffington Post. Russell is one of the "original" VoIP bloggers along with Andy Abramson, Om Malik, Rich Tehrani, and myself.

Apparently, Russell had been traveling for a few weeks to various events. I know how having a cold and flying can be dangerous. TMC lost our ITEXPO sales manager Hilary Inman a few years ago after having a cold and then getting a blood cot in her lung after flying home. She was very yound - in her low 30s and while there’s no proof the airplane flight caused her death, I am much more wary flying when I have a cold. I have to wonder if all the traveling/flying that Russell did while having a cold contributed to his untimely death. But enough of my speculation. I guess I just want to understand how I have lost a friend - someone that I enjoyed hanging out with at ITEXPO reception parties and having some VoIP discussions or political banter.

Russell Shaw also wrote the ZDNET IP Telephony blog and the Blackberry Blog. But you may not be aware that Russell also blogged for TMC’s RSS - Regulations, Statutes and Standards blog that he was just "ramping up" traffic-wise. I actually configured the blog for him on my blog server, so I still feel a part of Russell lives on within the ‘digital ether’ of my blog server.

Rest in peace Russell & may we meet again…

More:
Rich Tehrani - Russell Shaw & Frank Macari will be missed
Larry Dignan of ZDNet
Om Malik - Goodbye old friend! Russell Shaw, RIP
Dan Farber
Ken Camp
Jim Courtney
Andy Abramson
Another Loss - RIP Russell Shaw
Portland Loses a Blogger: Russell Shaw RIP

Tags: Russell Shaw

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Original post by nafiz