Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We all know the internet is not a big truck, and the rolling blackouts in California not that long ago showed our power grid isn’t either. Part of the solution could be a series of tubes, a new type of solar generator from a company called Solyndra that replaces the usual square solar roof panels with something that would make Senator Stevens proud. The company’s photovoltaic rods are able to catch rays from any direction, meaning they don’t need to be tilted to point at the sun. Also, since they’re not shaped like a silicon kite, they don’t need the same big, beefy installation brackets. This cuts installation costs in half and has helped to drive $1.2 billion in orders from eager would-be customers of this three-year-old startup. Want to see ‘em for yourself? Head on down to the Solar Power International Expo next week in sunny San Diego.

[Via Make]

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Original post by Tim Stevens

Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

We’ve seen some fairly fascinating things at CEATEC this year, but this one could be the biggest game-changer of ‘em all, if you’ll allow us just one buzzword. The LED-backlit 52-incher you see above comes attached to a not-at-all convenient solar floor panel which presumably provides at least some of the energy required to power this thing. We’ve no clue how close the design is to being viable for the commercial realm, but we’d say Sharp’s definitely headed in the right direction here.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Wearables

Oh sure, we’ve already seen solar jackets, backpacks and all manners of like-minded creations, but having an energized trinket around your neck just seems so much more useful. Dreamed up for Samsung’s Young Design contest, the Prometeo is an admittedly large box that could be worn around one’s neck or arm and used to suck in energy from the beaming sun; once it’s juiced, wearers can simply plug a couple USB devices in there and let the good times roll. Additionally, there’s an integrated power meter to let you know just how full / drained the thing is, though we don’t see any sort of AC plug in order to power it up in a pinch. We know, you’re balking at the size of this thing, but don’t you think folks looked at Mr. T funny back in the day? Trendsetting ain’t easy, people.

[Via DesignLaunches]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

We got the low-down (well, at much of a low-down as one can get from thematic designers) on KDDI’s latest au concept phones here at CEATEC, and the themes are — are you sitting down? — space and soup atomic elements. No, we didn’t make that up. If you’re still with us, hit the break for some pictures and explanations.

Continue reading KDDI au concept phones explained and pictured

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Original post by Joshua Fruhlinger

Now this makes a lot of sense in this day and age of energy efficient and seeking out alternative energy sources — using solar power to charge your cell phone.

After taking a look at the specs for Solar Cases that can power the Apple iPhone, a few pop out right off of the page, including a charge time of less than three hours and a weight of less than a quarter of a pound (100 g).

And while it looks simple to use, it actually is.

Here’s how it works, using the built-in rechargeable battery in the  Solar Case:
1. Insert iPhone into Solar case
2. Turn Power ON, iPhone will be fully charged within < 3 hours

Now, by solar power:
1. Insert iPhone into the Solar case
2. Turn the Power ON
3. PlaceSolar Case under sunlight.

To recharge the Solar Case’s built-in battery using AC/DC power:
1. Connect AC/DC Charger to the Solar Case
2. Four power indicators indicate percentage of power charged

Now, by solar power:
1. Turn Power OFF without removing iPhone from the case
2. Place Solar Case under sunlight.
3. Built-in battery will be fully charged within 12 hours

Price: $48.00

www.http://mobile.brando.com.hk

Tags: apple, iphone, solar case

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Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Transportation

First things first — when we say “partially” propel, we mean partially. Nippon Yusen and energy distributor Nippon Oil are teaming up to spend around $1.37 million in order to equip a car-hauling cargo ship with 328 solar panels. Rather than just provide energy for the crew’s on board entertainment system, it will be the first solar installation to actually produce a smidgen of power for the boat’s engine. If successful, the panels would provide 0.2% of the ship’s energy consumption for propulsion, and they’re hoping to raise that to a whopping 1% by 2010. Gives a whole new meaning to “baby steps,” huh?

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

QinetiQ just (unofficially) smashed the record for an unmanned flight by a solar airplane, sending its Zephyr craft into the air for a staggering 83 hours and 37 minutes, more than double the official record by “Global Hawk” in 2001, and a good margin more than its last flight. The plane was guided by autopilot and satellites to a height of 60,000 feet, and powers off the sun during the day, prepping its rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries for the night. Zephyr is being built for reconnaissance, communications and unofficially setting really bad-ass flight records.

[Via USA TODAY]

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables

There’s certainly no shortage of folks working to incorporate solar cells into clothing and accessories, but a team of researchers from Iowa State University now look to have devised a way to make the wearable technology slightly more discreet, with them using digital textile printing to print fabric that matches the pattern of the solar cells. The solar cells themselves are then attached using a “liquid stitch” method, although that apparently presented its own set of problems, as the application of the cells made it difficult to tie a knot. As the researchers helpfully point out in thier paper, however, a clip-on tie would solve that problem. Combine that with the special pouch for carrying your cellphone, and you’ve got a combo that can’t be beat.

[Via textually.org]

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Original post by Donald Melanson

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

It’s one thing to see competition unnecessarily push more and more megapixels into palm-sized cameras, but this game of leapfrog is one we can actually get behind. A pair of giant solar plants will soon be installed in San Luis Obispo County in California, covering 12.5 square miles and promising to generate around 800 megawatts of power. OptiSolar will be responsible for laying enough panels to generate 550 megawatts, while SunPower — the same company associated with the 14 megawatt installation at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada (pictured) — will provide the other 250. The energy will eventually be sold to Pacific Gas & Electric, though any sort of pricing arrangements are strictly under wraps for now. C’mon Nevada, you gonna let the Golden State do you like that?

[Via Slashdot]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Transportation

Just over a year ago, we passed off a far-out proposal that would turn highways into wind farms. Now, however, the state of Oregon is proving that such feats are actually within reach as it breaks ground on the first so-called “solar highway” demonstration project. The project will be installed at the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 interchange in Tualatin, where it will cover around 8,000 square feet and produce 112,000 kilowatt hours per year. The total cost for the 104-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system is $1.3 million, and believe it or not, it should be completed and operational in December of this year.

[Via Digg]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Just under two years ago, researchers at Boeing-Spectrolab managed to achieve 40.7% solar cell efficiency. Two years later, scientists at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have demonstrated their nerve by trumpeting an all new world record… one that’s 0.1% points better than the last. Yes, your new record now sits at 40.8% — tremendous progress, wouldn’t you say? Looking outside of the numbers, you’ll find that these cells differ “significantly” from the prior record holders, which enable them to be thinner, lighter, cheaper and altogether swanker. That’s it for now folks — come back in a couple years, we hear 40.9% is just around the bend.

[Via CNET]

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Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We’re always up for another way to harvest energy from the sun, but this new nanoantenna material developed by the DoE’s Idaho National Laboratory makes solar panels seem a little passe. The material, composed of tiny gold antennas set in polyethylene plastic is tuned to gather 80 percent of energy from infrared rays in its production version, and can gather energy from the sun, earth, or even your PC’s warmth. The antennas can be tuned to different parts of the infrared spectrum, and the thin material can be sandwiched together to cover the full desired range. Unfortunately, the resulting current generated alternates at rates too high to be converted to DC with current technology — new manufacturing processes will needed — but once that problem is solved, nanoantennas should easily best solar cells in efficiency and production costs.

[Via DailyTech]

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Original post by Paul Miller

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Household

Remember SunTable? After some delay and well-placed design touch-ups, the table made from teak, stainless steel and you guessed it, solar cells is now shipping. Better yet, it’s no longer priced at $3,600 either. For $2,200, UPS will ship the 45-pound weatherproof, 120 volt table with enough battery storage for about 4-hours of laptop or TV use or 6-hours of night time light from a 25 watt bulb — after a 4-hour direct sunlight charge mind you. As pricey as it is, we’re feeling compelled by the omniscient baby-Gore to place an order for the Engadget victory garden.

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Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables

Yeah, Noon Solar’s collection of sun-lovin’ bags are pretty stylish, but outside of that, we haven’t seen a single one we’d be caught dead (or alive) with… until now. sakku has introduced the Solar Buddy for those who just need something tossed over their shoulder, and while the solar panel is unmistakable, the bag still manages to go easy on the eyes. Reportedly, the knapsacks are constructed from recycled material, and while the “direct” model charges portable gadgetry directly (big shock, right?), the “akku” model actually includes a battery pack that can be juiced for use in darkened alleyways and the like. A tad steep at €175 ($271) / €245 ($380) in order of mention, but it’s probably a design premium we’d be willing to pay.

[Via Gizmodiva]

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Original post by Darren Murph

MIT is in a twisted, propeller-capped knot this morning heralding a new discovery it says will unleash a solar revolution. However, the “revolutionary leap” inspired by photosynthesis is not on the glamorous front-end of energy collection, rather, it’s related to a simple, highly efficient and inexpensive way to store that energy when the sun doesn’t shine. “This is the nirvana of what we’ve been talking about for years,” says Daniel Nocera, MIT neomaxizoomdweebie who with Matthew Kanan developed the unprecedented approach to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using the sun’s energy. The gases can then be recombined later inside a fuel cell. The key components to the process are a pair of catalysts (one consists of cobalt metal, phosphate, and an electrode; the other, platinum) which produce the O and H gases at room temperature and in neutral pH water (i.e., tap water). While similar solutions exist for industrial use primarily, these are very expensive and require specialized environments.

“This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind,” said James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis at Imperial College in London. “The importance of their discovery cannot be overstated since it opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production thus reducing our dependence for fossil fuels and addressing the global climate change problem.” Nocera concedes that further engineering is required to commercialize the approach but hopes to see it implemented in household fuel cell systems within the next 10 years. Click through for the video breakdown.

Continue reading Video: MIT develops solar storage “nirvana”: energy crisis solved?

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Original post by Thomas Ricker