Datum 2014
Tongue-Controlled
Wheelchair
System
vesting solar energy, allowing it to
in place and hover. The choice of
gather enough energy to power it-
flippers was an important key in the
self and still transmit an additional
development of the robot, because
50 kW wirelessly to the ground as
they enable it to move through the
ward and backward as well as turn
electromagnetic waves.
Researchers have refined
environment without disturbing the
a system that allows people with
water and stirring up silt from the
tetraplegia (paralysis of all four
seabed, which would decrease vis-
at high altitudes where they would
limbs) to control their wheelchair
ibility.
not be disturbed by weather or air-
with their tongue.
OrbSys Shower
Recycles Water While
You Wash
The system, called Tongue
Drive System (TDS), consists of a
headset that holds sensors just
outside the cheeks and a barbell-
shaped, magnetic tongue piercing.
make it easier to send power to
remote locations or provide assistance during a natural disaster.
Jellyfish Inspire
More Stable Flying
Drones
you wash, cutting water use by up
the changes in the magnetic field
craft, and their aerial nature would
Sys Shower purifies water while
The headset’s sensors detected
The drones would operate
The water-recycling Orb-
to 90 percent.
caused by the tongue changing
position in the mouth, then relayed
the information to an iPod that
lar to those used on space shuttles,
through water has inspired a small
sent the commands to the paired,
features a closed-loop system that
flying drone able to maintain a
powered wheelchair.
filters the soapy, used water, puri-
more stable flight without the need
fies it and then sends it directly
for a complex control system.
The shower, which is simi-
The
jellyfish’s
‘flight’
The system debuted last
back into the flow. The water re-
year, but now has been stream-
tains most of its heat during the
lined with the elimination of the
process as well, and the filtration
been
then-required dental retainer.
process leaves the water even
mechanisms of insects such as fruit
cleaner than typical tap water.
flies, but that form requires a se-
U-CAT
Turtlebot Explores
Shipwrecks
Many robotic drones have
based
around
the
flight
ries of complicated adjustments in
Creating a Power Plant
in the Sky
order to remain stable. In contrast,
the new, jellyfish design features
a set of four wings arranged like
By placing a network of
flower petals. The motion of the
unmanned drones at high altitudes,
wings resembles the pulsing mo-
The U-CAT robot was de-
a UK firm hopes to harvest energy
tions of a jellyfish, enabling the
veloped to explore shipwrecks,
from a variety of sources for trans-
drone to hover, ascend and fly in
where
mission to ground-based receiving
designated directions while also
stations.
remaining stable.
its
small,
turtle-inspired
body can squeeze into places too
tight or dangerous for humans to
venture.
The company, New Wave
Eliminating some of the
Energy, is developing technology
complicated
Instead of the typical pro-
that will see a network of drones
weight and frees up extra space,
pellers, the U-CAT is equipped a
hovering in the sky and harnessing
paving the way for smaller and
camera that collects footage of
wind and solar power. Each four-ro-
more energy efficient drones.
the wreck for later study and four
tor drone would be equipped with
flippers that allow it to move for-
wind turbines and a panel for har-
12
stabilizers
reduces