Tesla Model S P85D AWD with auto-pilot

On 10 October, I reported on these pages about the announcement of Tesla D all-wheel-drive system & auto-pilot.

Below is a video of a Tesla Model S P85D AWD, with auto-pilot, in action:
• following a road with no assistance from the driver
• reading & obeying speed signs
• changing lanes when instructed with the turn indicator
• following another vehicle at a safe distance

/ luxury electric car maker Tesla Motors Model S sedan upgrade faster safer all-wheel-drive CEO Elon Musk something else dual motor rear-wheel-drive power front wheels powering rear heavy less efficient optimizing optimise optimize top speed 155 mph 130 mph rocket SpaceX safety features steer itself lane brake automatically move the car over a lane when driver turn signal use cameras read speed limit signs adjust car's speed auto pilot drive itself driver-assist features Raj Rajkumar pioneer self driving self-driving car Carnegie Mellon University /

Red fire ant infestation in Sydney, Australia

Credit: www.orkin.com

Fire ant bites cause a severe burning sensation in humans, & a small number of deaths have occurred. They also pose a risk to crops, animals, farm equipment & native flora & fauna.


Yes, you do want fire ants eradicated.
Credit: Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry

Natives of South America, fire ants first appeared in Australia in Brisbane, Queensland in 2001. At least in part, due to an inadequate response by successive governments, that infestation continues to this day. In their defence, where a fire ant infestation has been established, fire ants have not been eradicated from any country in the world. To date, in Australia, federal, state & local governments have spent $281 million trying to eradicate them. In 2009, a government report estimated the cost of the infestation to Queensland, at $43 billion over 30 years.



Genetic testing indicates that the Sydney infestation is not related to that in Queensland.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/red-fire-ant-outbreak-in-sydney-could-cost-economy-billions-20141208-1212nb.html

Identification:

Fire ants are small, ranging in size from 2-6 mm, with a variety of sizes within each nest. Head & body are coppery-brown & the abdomen darker.

Fire ant mounds may be found in open fields, & can be up to 40cm high, but may also be flat, like a patch of disturbed soil. Nests may also found under timber, logs, rocks, pavers, bricks or other objects on the ground. Infestations of buildings can occur.

Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry fire ant website:
https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/weeds-pest-animals-ants/invasive-ants/fire-ants / feral pest highly serious incursion red fire ants Port Botany Sydney New South Wales Austrlaia cost economy billions eradicated eradication efforts Department of Primary Industries colony arrived cargo ship Brazil Argentina genetic tests emergency response team of biosecurity pest experts odour detection dogs ants highly aggressive serious exotic pest inflict painful bites people pets livestock NSW Minister Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson Invasive Species Council chief executive Andrew Cox outbreak threat community contain containment contained disaster environment transform our way of life spread other parts of the country open areas grassy areas DPI director invasive plants and animals Dr Andrew Sanger outbreak contained one colony at intensive surveillance conducted within 2km initial discovery contain exotic ants outbreak spread suburbs first outbreak funding eradication efforts stop the ants spreading investigation red fire ants arrived foreign cargo ship bite bites severe burning sensation deaths reported small number of cases damage crops farming equipment threaten native flora and fauna Exotic Plant Pest Hotline /

Fast charging the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung has introduced Adaptive Fast Charging in its new Galaxy Note 4: 0-50% in 30 minutes is claimed. To make it work you need three things:

• the charger that came with the phone. Clearly labelled:


Credit: Android Central

On the other side is a clue to how this works: Output: 9.0V – 1.67A or 5.0V – 2.0A

• the cable that came with the phone. Not so clearly labelled.

• Fast charging option enabled:

Settings > System > Power saving > Fast charging



Some other manufacturers are making similar claims.

If your battery is low, & you only have a short time to charge, Zap&Go or Pronto will give you a better result. / removeable battery mAh LiIon lithium ion charge recharge fastcharge micro USB cable adapter /

Steve Wozniak talks about the garage, the Apple I, ][, Steve Jobs

Designing the Apple I: “I worked for a couple u’ weeks every night ‘till 4 in the morning … it had to be that artistically perfect … it represents yourself when you do a great design.”

“Steve Jobs … he’d pop into town, see what I was up to – the latest thing I’d designed for fun, & then he’d somehow turn them into some money for both of us.”

“The garage is a bit of a myth.”

Original price of the Apple ][: “The retail price was six hundred & sixty six dollars & sixty six cents because I, as a mathematician, liked repeating digits.”

/ Apple Computer revolution board component layout design designer top 10 most disruptive ideas in recent history co-founder interview origins company Steve Jobs debunked breadboarding prototyping planning products manufacture manufacturing co-founder Steve Jobs first computer to sell over 1 million units high school brink computer revolution create things design new show future technology The Woz host /

Parrot Bebop Drone (video)

Indoors is OK too!
Credit: DIY Drones

Parrot has created a new level of performance for the dollar, with their Bebop Drone. Like their other drones, control is via WiFi using an app on your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android). Range is 200 metres, or with the purpose-built Skycontroller, 3.2 km. Augmented reality glasses supported too.


Skycontroller & augmented reality glasses
Credit: SlashGear

Parrot promo video – definitely worth a look, even if you have no interest in the drone!



http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/sneak-peak-of-parrot-s-amazing-new-bebop-drone

http://au.pcmag.com/robotics-automation-products/26213/news/hands-on-with-the-parrot-bebop-drone

http://techcrunch.com/2014/11/19/parrots-14mp-bebop-drone-to-take-flight-in-december-for-500/

Manufacturer’s website

http://www.parrot.com/au/products/skycontroller/?gclid=CjwKEAiAkpCkBRCtstKQo5ia5nESJACsCikRZbra08ESGIhm8hSCQ5J6e1fdWA9D7XZj2O7h9xBrSBoC4i_w_wcB / Parrot price drop dropped price high definition drones starting price of $US500 DJI entry level Phantom drone quality camera novel tricks controllable control smartphone tablet big upgrade cheaper AR Drone serious drone technology keep price down safe to fly indoors inside flight capabilities range extender controller range 2 kilometer limit stream streaming captured video smartphone built in GPS downward facing cameras keep drone in place high altitude flying f2.2 fish-eye lens 180 degree angle of view 14 megapixel sensor 1080p full-HD resolution; the AR.Drone 2.0 is limited to 720p. Video is recorded to the Bebop's 8GB of internal storage (there's no microSD or SD card slot) in MP4 format. Photos can be captured in JPEGs or Adobe DNG raw format digitally digital pan zoom picture stability stabilize three axes cut costs light weight 410 grams 14.5 ounces compact software based 3 axis image stabilization Bebop’s sleek body dedicated controller extend extends Bebop’s range 200 metres meters 2 kilometers pilot view drone’s camera output VR AR glasses goggles Oculus Rift controller amplifies connected smartphone tablet wifi signal analog joysticks buttons more precise control standard SkyController GNSS chipset with GPS Glonass Galileo built in /

Waka Waka Power Charger

Credit: Off-Grid Solutions /The Gadgeteer

Because you are reading this, you are probably not one of the people the Waka Waka Power Charger was originally designed for. Waka Waka ("Shine Bright" in Swahili) Power Charger was developed for the energy poor. People who have no household electricity. Their homes are illuminated with lamps or naked flames. This is both dangerous, & increasingly expensive. Wakk Wakka Power Charger was developed to provide electricity & light in such circumstances. It includes a solar charger & lithium ion battery so that it can be operated with no ongoing costs.

Energy poor communities, often leap-frog a wired telephone network, straight to mobile (cell). Mobile phones need to be charged, which is typically difficult &/or expensive for the energy poor. Wakka Wakka Power Charger is offered for sale on credit. Typically, repayments for the Wakk Waka are less than owners were previously paying for lighting fuel.

Although developed for the energy-poor, Wakka Wakka Power Charger can provide light & phone charging for you too:

Review

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/06/14/waka-waka-power-charger-review/

Manufacturer’s website

http://us.waka-waka.com/ / device Kickstarter portable personal solar charging station lamp light humanitarian efforts Off-Grid Solutions WakaWaka Power energy poverty solar light dangerous kerosene sale donated micro-loans assistance in need hand-up model communities build their own economic futures OGSbuy one give one promotion Clinton Global Initiative distribute programs conservation USB cable electronic devices USB input port microUSB micro USB bright light reading study grades reader level light intensity levels flashlight lighting needs reader SOS S.O.S. flashing beacon Morse code black power button self-charging battery status check charge charging solar charging indicator photovoltaic panels exposed to light propriety solar panel system 200% more efficient /

Will Toyota lose money on its hydrogen fuel cell car?

Credit: Autoblog Green

It is widely accepted that Toyota lost money on every Prius is sold for a number of years. Something similar happened, & is probably continuing, with cars such as the Nissan Leaf & GM’s Volt.

Pat Cox of TransEuropean Networks has estimated that Toyota will lose €50,000 to €100,000 on its fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai. Thats $US60,000 to $US120,000 – more than the asking price of $US57,500.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1095773_how-much-money-does-the-2016-toyota-mirai-lose-a-lot-perhaps / All automakers expect to lose money at first when they launch expensive new powertrain technologies European official experience alternative fuel infrastructure 2016 Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel cell sedan losing maker manufacturer lot of money Challenge Bibendum green car competition Chengdu China panel discussion fueling recharge charge charging infrastructures for different green vehicles included some cost estimates Pat Cox, a former president of the European Parliament. Cox currently works with TransEuropean Networks agency promoting better connection and coordination among businesses and infrastructure in the European Union 2016 Mirai sell sells federal state incentives sale fueling hydrogen fuel cell vehicles first mover advantage costs carmakers fueling companies government support kickstart hydrogen infrastructure Autoblog Green parties agreed commercially viable for profit sector /