Boeing aims sky-high with "Phantom Ray"

Boeing's experimental X-45 unmanned aircraft could soon be reincarnated as a prototype with a name straight out of the comic books.

The aerospace giant said Friday that intends to get its "Phantom Ray" technology demonstrator up in the air for its first flight in December 2010. The aircraft, intended as a test bed for advanced air systems, would make a total of 10 flights over a six-month stretch to show off its skills in missions ranging from surveillance to attack to autonomous aerial refueling.

Late in 2009, lab testing will begin for the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), and ground testing will follow in 2010. In putting the design through its paces, Boeing also aims to demonstrate its skills at rapid prototyping.
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Here comes the nanoneedle--can you see it?

I just can't wrap my head around this development--not because it's so big, but because it's so tiny.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a "nanoneedle" with a diameter of approximately 50 nanometers--about half the size of previously reported nanoneedles.

To put this in perspective, it turns out that the thinnest human head hair is about 10,000 times thicker than this new needle. Obviously, the majority of us won't find any use for a needle of this size. However, this is a breakthrough device with applications for biophysical research.
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Japan develops walking gel for future robots

Say what? This time, the innovative Japanese have dreamed up an invention that's just too weird for words. New Scientist describes it as a chemical gel that can walk like an inchworm. If you watch the video (after the jump), it rather resembles an orange peel doing a baby moonwalk a la Michael Jackson across the screen. Whatever it is, the roboticists at Tokyo's Waseda University say this morphable gel is just the start of what could one day form the components of a future robot. If that wears the face of Robert Patrick's Terminator T-1000 killer shape-shifter, be afraid, be very afraid. In the meantime, this remains a harmless blob, albeit a Flubber-like gel capable of independent motion, changing colors and performing calculations.
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Entecho's Hoverpod could be the way to travel

Ever since I had my first taste of an English Channel crossing on a hovercraft and puking my guts out, it's been a mighty long wait to see a more personal form of flying saucer materialize for public use. Now, thanks to Entecho, we could soon join the Jetsons zipping around in a world teeming with air cars.

Aside from wondering if these are as fun as bumper cars at carnivals if one accidentally knocks another flying pod off its axis, Entecho's application utilizes fan-forced flight. Hidden huge blades spin to give the craft lift, with the skirt around it providing directional manipulation. More on its intriguing takeoff technology here.

According to specs, this Aussie initiative can hover up to 1.5m above ground, cruise at a maximum speed of 120kmh, has a range of 3km, and can seat three comfortably. Too bad it's still in development stage, though by the time it emerges from its cocoon, the Entecho Hoverpod should be more than ready to deploy solar or even fuel cell technology to power its flight.

Via Gizmag

Flying car reaches sky in Holland

What seemed to be yet another fantasy flying vehicle may have moved closer to reality this week when a test version of the three-wheeler PAL-V One took off publicly in Holland.

Accelerating just some 500 feet along the A1 highway near the city of Amersfoort, the three-wheeler took off easily in front of the Dutch Minister of Traffic Safety and Water Affairs, Camiel Eurlings, and a massive group of curious journalists.

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