As New Scientist reports, the folks from Lehigh University and Freedom Sciences are working hard at laser-guided wheelchair. In the video they show off some of their progress.
Monthly Archives April 2008
Is laser ban an overreaction?
Yes, it is. I agree with Marco Nero.
Helicopter pilot blinded’ by laser beam prankster
A HEATON Norris man endangered the lives of a police helicopter pilot, his fellow officers and people on the ground by temporarily blinding him with a laser beam.
Dean Bottomley, 20, of Larwood Avenue, was playing around with a high-powered green laser at home when he pointed it directly at a police chopper flying overhead.
More at Stockport Express
laser guided scissors rank second
Laser guided scissors rank second in top 20 most pointless gadgets, a survey by reevoo.com.
TOP 20 MOST POINTLESS GADGETS
1. Electric nail files
2. Laser guided scissors
3. Electric candles
4. Soda stream
5. Foot spas
6. Fondue set
7. Hair crimpers
8. Egg boiler
9. Electric fluff remover
10. Electric carving knife
11. Trouser press
12. Face steamers
13. Teas made
14. Mini disk player
15. Facial tanners
16. Egg slicer
17. Electric tin openers
18. Yoghurt makers
19. Towel warmer
20. Back scratcher
US adds new laser-capable JDAM bombs to its quiver
Boeing Co says it is making “smart” bombs even smarter, able to go after moving targets in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The company said last week it started shipping new laser seeker add-ons designed to use laser energy reflected from a target to guide a bomb to what is supposed to be a pinpoint hit, even as the target moves.
The first so-called Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition, or LJDAM, kits were delivered to the Air Force under a $28 million contract for 600 kits awarded in May 2007.
The upgrade adds a relatively low-cost laser sensor to the nose of a JDAM-equipped bomb, a mainstay weapon of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the Pentagon’s No. 2 supplier by sales.
More at Reuters
Laser harp DIY
Stephen Hobley worked out how to build a laser harp.
Now you can buy the complete plan for $19 to build your own laser harp from his website.
Stephen Hobley plays his laser harp.
beamz, a laser harp
The beamz lets music lovers become musicians by interacting with light and sound. The product has six laser beams and by breaking any one of the beams with your hand the system is triggered to play streams of musical notes or sounds customized by you. Every performance is a success because whichever beam you break, the music will always be harmonious.
The beamz, costs $599.00, is now available from The Sharper Image.
Robots fight with lasers
At a Blazer tournament held this week in Fukuoka City, Japan, Kondo’s KHR-1HVs were equiped with lasers and sensors and then battle in a mock-up city.
Laser Beams Save The Brain
A device called NeuroThera is being tested in clinical trials to treat stroke patients and other patients with brain injuries. The handheld device, about the size of a telephone receiver, delivers high-intensity infrared energy to a patient’s head when it’s held to the scalp. The idea is that the infrared energy delivered via laser will stimulate inactive mitochondria in brain cells — the small bits of protein that serve as power suppliers to cells. Once the energy-starved brain cells start receiving power again from the mitochondria, they should be able to resume function. More at WFTV Orlando
Laser dissection of depression
In a recent brain research, laser was used to dissect a region that suppose to be responsible for depression for study. Link
