The TRNDlabs Pokédrone
As one of the first tech brands to jump on the back of the Pokémon Go craze, TRNDlabs has customised its miniature drone so that Pokémon Go players can access Pokémon in difficult places and avoid walking into hazards, which is something that has become shockingly common since the game launched last week. The Pokédrone has been adapted specifically for the game, which has sparked a genuine cultural phenomenon. The idea is that, because the location of a lot of the Pokémon is randomised, they occasionally appear in hard-to-reach places, like in the middle of busy roads or hovering above bodies of water, making it difficult or impossible for fans to catch them. Enter the Pokédrone, which is paired with the app via Wi-Fi. The app then uses the on-board camera and GPS rather than the phone's in-built functions, whilst the interface remains on-screen.
Players place their phone into a bespoke controller, which also stores the drone when not in use and features a pair of joysticks to direct the vehicle in flight. Using its four tiny propellors, the drone can hover over a location while the player attempts to capture the Pokémon they find. The drone has auto take-off and landing functions, so users can focus on the game instead of worrying about their flying skills. TRNDlabs has adapted its existing Nano Drone to feature the standard Pokémon colours of yellow and grey. The device measures four centimetres from blade to blade, and weighs less than half an ounce, so it's surprisingly dinky and quite fragile. Still, as long as you're careful and have some experience with drones you should be catching all those rare Pokémon your friends have been coveting in no time!
“Pokémon appear everywhere. In the middle of the highway, in your neighbour's garden, and how about that gym above the ocean? The Pokédrone is the solution” TRNDlabs
The Cyclotron road bike with no spokes or tires
The idea behind the revolutionary “Cyclotron” bicycle is that a bike should be a versatile utility that is all things to all people, whether you're taking the kids to school, grabbing groceries or enjoying a gentle Sunday ride for the hell of it. The bike features two spokeless wheels, making it is the world’s first commercially available bike using this technology. Following this minimalist design language are the airless tires, which are made from solid polymer. All lights on the Cyclotron bike, meanwhile, are toggled by an automatic light sensor that switches them on or off according to the current time of day, tremendously enhancing visibility when riding on roads with no public street lighting. The self charging lithium ion battery pack powers the lights for more than 8 hours and the accompanying app gives notifications when the battery is low, so it can always be recharged when required.
The Cyclotron is made of space grade carbon fibre composite, which makes it rigid, stiff & ultra lightweight at the same time. Two layers of carbon fibre are combined with an ultra lightweight core structure. This way, fewer layers of carbon fibre and less resin are used, without impairing stability. All wires and cables run inside the frame, which also results in enhanced aerodynamics, no more dirt exposure and a clean and uncluttered look. The bike also features two different riding styles: sport and comfort, essentially giving riders the choice of two different bicycles to pick from at any time. The hub-less wheels, meanwhile offer space that can be used for storage purposes, and instead of having just air between the wheels, different modules can be added to the inside of the front or back wheel, which can completely alter the bike's functions. Put simply. This is the only bike you'll ever need. Renegade is currently reaching out for funding via a Kickstarter campaign which has already surpassed its goal!
The Renegade 3D pen recycles plastic
We've all seen those 3D pens that were all the rage as stocking fillers last year, but the Renegade is a 3D pen with a little more up its sleeve. It recycles plastic bottles into 3D printed sculptures. The Renegade was created with the aim of being the perfect solid tool to eliminate overpriced 3D printing filaments and to save the environment by directly recycling and reusing household plastic waste for 3D printing. The sustainable technology uses a robust and powerful extruder that includes a screw-feeder mechanism and heating system. These combine to transport, destruct, and melt the plastic tape produced by the included plastic bottle shredder, or even standard 3D pen filaments if you happen to have some lying around. The rotating screw forces the heated plastic to move forward evenly and extrudes it from the nozzle. The molten plastic then cools down rapidly into a solid and stable spatial structure. The tool uses a powerful drive motor and gearbox, eliminating the well-known issues in plastic material feeding that most 3D pens face.
The temperature of the pen is adjustable from 50°C to 320°C using a single controller and the speed is also controlled by a single button. The sustainable instrument can use 5 to 7 mm strips cut from PET plastic bottles, plastic bags, or plastic files with a thickness of 0.14 to 0.35mm. It can also use standard PLA, ABS, nylon, TPE, HIPS, wood and other types of filament with a diameter of 1.75 mm. It is available in two finish options: matte black and matte white plus features a removable attachment with a colourful spool for plastic tapes. Renegade is being funded via a Kickstarter campaign which has almost reached its goal!
NASA testing revolutionary electric aircraft system
NASA is reportedly planning tests of an experimental electric aeroplane, which could lead to reduced flight times and carbon emissions for future air travel. The X-57 aircraft will be used to test NASA's new electric propulsion technology, which is part of a wider ongoing shift towards electric aircraft. The US space agency hopes that by distributing electric power across 14 motors integrated into the wings, the plane will require five times less energy to cruise at 175 miles per hour. The technology used in the X-57 could also help to reduce flight times, noise, and operational costs for small aeroplanes.
NASA will build the plane by modifying an existing Italian-designed light aircraft, the Tecnam P2006T, replacing its two gas-fuelled engines with a long, skinny wings and 14 electric motors. The 12 motors incorporated into the wings will be employed during take-offs and landings. Two larger propellors on the tip of each wing tip will then be used to cruise at altitude. All of the motors will be powered only by batteries, eliminating all carbon emissions. X-57, nicknamed Maxwell after 19th-century Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, is part of NASA's decade-long New Aviation Horizons initiative, which also includes the development of five larger X-planes with the end goal of commercial production.
“The X-57's electric propulsion technology is expected to significantly decrease aircraft noise, making it less annoying to the public” NASA
UK Government pledges £30 million to driverless car competition
The UK Government is reportedly set to plough £30 million into research and development around driverless cars on UK roads. The money will come from the Government’s Intelligent Mobility fund and the competition, which launches next month, is being set up to distribute the cash to independent teams so they can research and develop innovative, connected autonomous vehicle technologies. Back in February £20 million of Government money was awarded to driverless car projects and an additional £19 million has been granted to driverless car projects in Greenwich, Bristol, Milton Keynes and Coventry.
In addition to the latest financial pledge the Government is also announcing a consultation on how automated cars should be used on British roads. New measures are already being put in place so that automated vehicles can be insured for use on the roads and the Highway Code is being altered so that it considers advanced driver systems that allow cars to change lanes on motorways by themselves and vehicles that can be parked by remote control. Motorway assist and remote control parking could be on the roads in two to four years, while driverless cars are expected from the mid-2020’s onwards.
“Our roads are already some of the safest in the world, but increasing driver assist and driverless technologies has the potential to help cut the number of accidents even further” Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin
Mini games consoles might be all the rage in 2017
It's quite likely you've already heard about the new, tiny NES Classic Console Nintendo are set to release later this year, as the announcement seemed to take social media by storm late last week, just as Nintendo's stock value was already soaring due to the success of Pokémon Go. It's essentially an emulation machine with 30 classic built in games that you can connect to your modern HD TV. It looks cool, but it's honestly a little behind the curve when it comes to real retro innovation. Far more exciting and exclusive, is the handmade, pocket-sized, solid walnut, portable console from Love Hultén, a Swedish artist, craftsman and retro gaming enthusiast.
Love Hultén was influenced by 8-bit handheld video game devices, primarily the game boy advance SP, as well as the NES and Atari 2600, when creating Pixel Vision. Measuring 95x95x45 mm, the solid american walnut console is built around a system that emulates a host of classic portable gaming console, with a cast acrylic interface that has a smooth satin finish. The unit reportedly provides up to three portable hours of gaming per charge, and can also be played while plugged in. In case you find yourself in a situation in which you need more battery time, any standard external USB power bank will also give you some extra hours while you’re on the run. Each console comes with a soft case that protects it from external damage; and the very unique friction hinge, which can be adjusted with a small hex key. The console also has the capacity to store over 10,000 games which can be added through a USB, allowing you to create your own personalised game library. As each unit is made-to-order and there's a limited edition run of 500, the asking price is a pretty substantial €429, but I know what just shot to the top of my Christmas list!
Benjamin Hiorns is a freelance writer and tech nut from Kidderminster in the UK.
