'Innovation' Archive

KASPAR: The Friendly Robot

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Meet KASPAR: A small, human-like robot designed to teach children with autism about social interaction. KASPAR stands for Kinesics and Synchronisation in Personal Assistant Robotics and was developed by the Adaptive Systems Research Group at the University of Hertfordshire.
According to the Adaptive Systems Research Group, the goal of the project is not to create [...]

Chicago Gets a New View from the Top

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

The famous Sears Tower in Chicago, IL will be getting more than a name change this year. Engineers have created a “skydeck” on the 103rd-floor of the famous building. Visitors will be able get a view of not just the city skyline, but down below as well. The glass box will extend almost 4.5 feet [...]

New “Green” Power Cables on the Horizon

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Engineers at the University of Southampton are part of a team developing new “green” power cables which can be recycled at the end of their lives.
The project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is being undertaken by a multidisciplinary team drawn from the University of [...]

Utilities Enter the Digital Age

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

According to an article in The Washington Post, many local utility companies are taking the initiative to improve energy consumption through smart-grid technology. The Maryland technology firm, Current Group, is on the forefront of this breakthrough.
Current Group aims to improve the communication between consumers and energy suppliers using a broadband network. Current’s Senior Vice [...]

Man’s New Best Friend: The Robotic Dog

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

Boston Dynamics, a Boston-based engineering company, has recently demonstrated its prototype of BigDog, a robotic dog.

The PlayPump System

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008

Engineers realized this untapped energy source by creating The PlayPump, a simple machine powered by kids at play.

WoodWorks Announces Educational Partnership with California Polytechnic University and Other Leading Colleges

Wednesday, August 13th, 2008

Designing and Building large scale non-residential buildings with wood is not something most engineers and architects take seriously. The Great Chicago Fire can be cited as a pretty good reason why not to use this material. Only 137 year ago the city was destroyed by a major fire which grew in strength primarily [...]

Engineering students compete to build a robo-mower

Tuesday, August 12th, 2008

“The students who created this mower took some of the design from biology’s example of a cockroach. While cockroaches don’t have brains, they are good at navigating and avoiding hazards, which is basically what a self guided lawn mower needs to do.”

How to Build an Electric Car Charging Infrastructure: Smart Grids, Fast Charging and Universal Access

Friday, July 25th, 2008

“Green studies are among the fastest-growing degree programs at some universities” (posted Yesterday Green Degrees Environmental Courses Signal a Shift in Learning) making the topic of electric cars one that should interest both students and professors. Engineers will most likely be behind designing and implementing the grid system that will power these cars. gas2.0 [...]

Pop Culture and Engineering Intersect

Monday, July 21st, 2008

The new Film Wall.e released by Pixar in conjunction with Disney, succeeds in bringing attention to engineering education. The robot, Wall.e, creates discussion around current environmental concerns and technological innovation.
Could a robot like Wall.e someday exist?

Related Links: Robots and Beyond: Exploring Artificial Intelligence at MIT Robots of the Future Will Show Empathy, Be [...]