Japan – Page 2 – NerdBeach

Computer controlled waterfall makes designs, writes words

A waterfall in Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka, Japan is probably one of the more unique water falls. The computer controlled waterfall can make designs and even spell out messages in falling water. Among the falling water designs are suns, moons, starts, lightning bolts, interconnecting rings, and more.

The waterfall is used for advertising in the entertainment complex, and while watching the video below I really have the strong urge to see this thing up close. To be honest I would like to touch the falling water, and watch a complex design pour over my hand. That would be cool and no doubt refreshing.

via

Robotic Buoy Can Help Track Oil Spills

Greg Chaffins

Osaka University has developed a robotic buoy prototype that is designed to help in the case of a large scale environmental disaster such as an oil spill. The prototype, called SOTAB (Spilled Oil Tracking Autonomous Buoy), is a 110kg GPS-equipped robot measuring 2.7m long with a diameter of 27cm.

The concept is to have the buoys installed on an oil tanker, and in the event of an accident the buoys are automatically deployed. The designer, Naomi Kato, professor of submersible robotic engineering at the Department of Naval Architecture at Osaka University, Japan, states that the buoy will,

conduct education and research on underwater robotics, biomechanics on aquatic animals and its application to engineering, computational hydrodynamics of viscous flow fields

Basically the robot will submerge to a depth of about 10m and use four very sensitive on-board cameras to track the spill above it. The device has its own lighting in order to track the spill at night or in adverse conditions, and it will also track:

water current speed
water temperature
wind direction
wind velocity

This information, along with the GPS data, will allow the robot to tell both where the oil spill is and where it is heading. The project is currently in development, but it is hoped that units can be deployed in the field within three years.

via

Sanyo Announes New DMX-HD800 Xacti Digital Camcorder

Greg Chaffins

Sanyo has created a successor to its excellent HD700 Xacti digital camcorder with its new DMD-HD800 Xacti unit, and it has held up the name. The new camera sports an impressive 8 megapixel CMOS sensor, and it can shoot 720p video at a smooth 30 fps, saving to a MPEG4 file format.

The HD800 camera also incorporates "Three Dimensional Noise Reduction" for improved image sharpness as well as having the ability to track 12 faces in a scene for optimum settings. Other features include a 5X optical zoom (optical is the only real zoom), and it has great light sensitivity that allows it to record down to 3 lux.

The HD800 records on SDHC cards, comes in a range of colors, and is set to release in Japan for around $460. It should be releasing into the rest of the world shortly thereafter.

via

Bicycle Riding Robot Proves Robots Can Have Keen Balance

Greg Chaffins

Robots can now ride a bike, and probably better than a lot of people. Murata Boy was developed in Japan, and proves to be an excellent cyclist.

Gyro sensors detect position and balance, and cameras can detect surface quality and obstacles. A remote computer receives images and processes them for further analysis. Murata Boy can navigate a wide variety of obstacles and still keep on riding.

The goal of the project is to create a robot that can lift heavy loads and assist in rough and perilous terrain. Like a pack mule of times past, you could theoretically load up a bike riding bot and he would follow you over the mountain and through the woods.

via