Friday, June 24, 2011

Meet The World's Most Advanced Robot

World first: Ecci's creators say it is the most advanced robot ever created with tendons, muscles, bones, a brain and the visual capability of a human

The Real Life C-3PO: World's Most Advanced Robot Has Muscles, Tendons... And Ability To Correct Its Own Mistakes -- The Daily Mail

It looks like a stripped-down version of Star Wars character C-3PO.

But this robot is science fact not fiction - and one of the most advanced in the world.

Ecci, as it has been named, is the first ever robot to have 'muscles' and 'tendons', as well as the 'bones' they help move. All made of a specially developed plastic.

And most advanced of all, it also has a brain with the ability to correct its mistakes - a trait previously only seen in humans.

Read more ....

Sunday, June 5, 2011

A Leap Forward For DNA-Based Computers

A wiring diagram illustration depicts a system of 74 DNA strands that constitute the largest synthetic circuit of its type ever made. The circuit can compute the square root of numbers up to 15, though very slowly. (Lulu Qian / Caltech / June 2, 2011)

Research Marks A Leap Forward For DNA-Based Computers -- L.A. Times

A system involving 74 DNA strands can calculate square roots of numbers up to 15, though very slowly. Scientists say the goal is to devise computers that can interact directly with living cells — and perhaps fight disease.

Caltech researchers have produced the most sophisticated DNA-based computer yet, a wet chemistry system that can calculate the square roots of numbers as high as 15.

The system is composed of 74 strands of DNA that make up 12 logic gates comparable to those in a silicon-based computer, the researchers reported Thursday in the journal Science. But the system operates a little more slowly than a conventional computer: It takes as much as 10 hours to obtain each result.

Read more ....

Saturday, June 4, 2011

How Quantum Entanglement Will Help Computers Cool Themselves

The Tianhe-1A Supercomputer NVIDIA

Quantum Entanglement Means Computers Could Cool Themselves By Deleting Information -- Popular Science

But don't wipe your hard drives just yet.

It’s common empirical knowledge that computing generates heat--go ahead, touch the bottom of your MacBook--but a new paper in the journal Nature claims that it doesn’t have to. In fact, under the right conditions, theoretical physicists say that deleting data can actually produce negative heat--that is, it can have a cooling effect. That’s right, this is a quantum mechanics post. Exit now if you don’t want a headache to start the weekend.

Read more ....

Friday, June 3, 2011

Phase Change Memory-Based 'Moneta' System

A view of the internals of the Moneta storage array with phase change memory modules installed. (Credit: UC San Diego / Steve Swanson)

Phase Change Memory-Based 'Moneta' System Points To The Future Of Computer Storage -- Science Daily

A University of California, San Diego faculty-student team is about to demonstrate a first-of-its kind, phase-change memory solid state storage device that provides performance thousands of times faster than a conventional hard drive and up to seven times faster than current state-of-the-art solid-state drives (SSDs).

Read more ....

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Lockheed Martin Buys A Brand New Quantum Computer

Quantum Computer Courtesy D-Wave

Lockheed Martin is Buying One of D-Wave's Brand New Quantum Computers -- Popular Science

The very notion of quantum computing is a bit mind numbing, and the technology is so nascent that researchers aren’t even really sure of the best way to go about constructing a quantum computer. Nonetheless, D-Wave Systems Inc. has just sold one of its eponymous D-Wave One quantum computing systems to none other than Lockheed Martin, along with a multi-year contract to keep the thing working.

Read more ....

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Robot Breaks Rubik's Cube Record by Solving Iconic Puzzle In Just 10 Seconds



Thinking INSIDE The Box: Robot Breaks Rubik's Cube Record by Solving Iconic Puzzle In Just 10 Seconds -- The Daily Mail

Ruby beat previous android record of 18.2 seconds, set by the Cubinator
Human record of 6.24 seconds is held by Feliks Zemdegs

A robot that can solve the Rubik's Cube in just over ten seconds has been developed by scientists.

The android - called Ruby - first scans the initial status of the scrambled cube before setting to work.

She is able to both survey and solve the iconic puzzle in 10.18 seconds.

Read more ....

My Comment: OK .... I am impressed.

More below ...