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Archive for the ‘energy’ category: Page 339

Feb 15, 2016

The Many Uses of Multi-Agent Intelligent Systems

Posted by in categories: complex systems, disruptive technology, driverless cars, energy, innovation, robotics/AI, software

In professional cycling, it’s well known that a pack of 40 or 50 riders can ride faster and more efficiently than a single rider or small group. As such, you’ll often see cycling teams with different goals in a race work together to chase down a breakaway before the finish line.

This analogy is one way to think about collaborative multi-agent intelligent systems, which are poised to change the technology landscape for individuals, businesses, and governments, says Dr. Mehdi Dastani, a computer scientist at Utrecht University. The proliferation of these multi-agent systems could lead to significant systemic changes across society in the next decade.

Image credit: ResearchGate

Image credit: ResearchGate

“Multi-agent systems are basically a kind of distributed system with sets of software. A set can be very large. They are autonomous, they make their own decisions, they can perceive their environment, “Dastani said. “They can perceive other agents and they can communicate, collaborate or compete to get certain resources. A multi-agent system can be conceived as a set of individual softwares that interact.”

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Feb 12, 2016

A metal that behaves like water: Researchers describe new behaviors of graphene

Posted by in categories: electronics, energy, materials, nanotechnology

Liquid metal.


Abstract: Graphene is going to change the world — or so we’ve been told.

Since its discovery a decade ago, scientists and tech gurus have hailed graphene as the wonder material that could replace silicon in electronics, increase the efficiency of batteries, the durability and conductivity of touch screens and pave the way for cheap thermal electric energy, among many other things.

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Feb 12, 2016

This $28-million yacht can run on all-electric power

Posted by in categories: energy, transportation

Wider has completed the first sea trials of the Wider 150 superyacht, an all-aluminum ship with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system.

Designed by Fulvio de Simoni and overseen by Tilli Antonelli, the 150-foot yacht functioned smoothly throughout each test and achieved its forecasted goals.

Wider 150 reached a top speed of 15 knots in diesel-electric mode and utilized new technology to reduce sound and vibrations to a minuscule level.

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Feb 10, 2016

Engineers Devise a Way to Harvest Wind Energy from Trees

Posted by in category: energy

It’s not much power, but it may be enough to matter.

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Feb 10, 2016

Venture company in Tsukuba plans city of robots

Posted by in categories: energy, health, robotics/AI

I don’t believe it! A City Comprised of Robots; it really is happening. Why do I all the sudden feel like I am watching an episode of “WestWorld” being played out in reality.


TSUKUBA, Ibaraki Prefecture–A start-up firm here is planning to construct a futuristic “city of robots” that relies on robotic and cybernetic technologies to assist with the daily lives of humans.

Cybernic City is the brainchild of Cyberdyne Inc. President Yoshiyuki Sankai, a professor at the University of Tsukuba, known for developing the robot suit HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb) power assist device for applications in health care and welfare.

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Feb 8, 2016

Quantum state of molecular ion measured live, non-destructively

Posted by in categories: energy, quantum physics

A non-destructive Quantum State.


The interaction of thermal energy from the environment with motional degrees of freedom is well known and often referred to as Brownian motion (also thermal motion). But in the case of polar molecules, the internal degrees of freedom — in particular the rotational quantum state — are also influenced by the thermal radiation. So far, the detection of the rotational state was only possible by destroying the molecule. However, a German research group has now demonstrated the first implementation of a non-destructive state detection technique for molecular ions.

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Feb 5, 2016

Space and Technology Review: Our Home Among the Stars

Posted by in categories: energy, food, materials, policy, singularity, space

At Singularity University, space is one of our Global Grand Challenges (GGCs). The GGCs are defined as billion-person problems. They include, for example, water, food, and energy and serve as targets for the innovation and technologies that can make the world a better place.

You might be thinking: We have enough challenges here on Earth—why include space?

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Feb 5, 2016

Porsche completes photovoltaic pylon

Posted by in categories: energy, robotics/AI, transportation

All they need to do is also make it capture wind energy…


Porsche defrays its luddite position on driverless vehicles with an impressive solar array that will power the Berlin-Adlershof Porsche center from 2017.

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Feb 4, 2016

NIST Develops Novel Technology

Posted by in categories: energy, space

A few years ago, my friend and I were brainstorming on some NextGen Technologies to look at for investment purposes. And, he suggested Polymer Coating. And, was he ever right. Google and others are using it for screen imaging on Lens, etc. Love this stuff.


Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have combined advanced nanometer-scale gratings and a Space Age-era thin-film polymer, to invent a novel technology. This technology can be used to fabricate routers and switches for optical signals, energy-efficient full-color video displays, and smart windows and coatings.

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Feb 4, 2016

How to efficiently convert carbon dioxide from air to methanol fuel

Posted by in categories: chemistry, energy

Convert carbon dioxide from air (at low temp) to methanol fuel — why not!


The carbon dioxide-to-methanol process (credit: Surya Prakash)

Researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute have created fuel out of thin air — directly converting carbon dioxide from air into methanol at relatively low temperatures for the first time. While methanol can’t currently compete with oil, it will be there when we run out of oil, the researchers note.

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