Re-inventing the wheel – why not?

The wheel re-invented
Credit: Mike Zaia/DigBoston

“Don't re-invent the wheel” – how many times have you heard this advice?

GeoOrbital have rejected that oft-heard advice, & actually have a product that works. Check the video:



http://www.geoo.com/ / wheel design reinventing the wheel Michael Burtov founder CEO Cambridge-based GeoOrbital project engineering training movie Tron space inside the wheel motorcycle wheel film’s light cycles components empty space create wheel spin around hub orbits around a central mass business background funding engineers Venture Cafe networking event Cambridge Burtov Gideon Coltof GeoOrbital VP product senior engineer experience robotics renewable power program product design management product development Roomba iRobot Department of Defense Dakota Decker chief technology officer experience working US Air Force project leadership Space Exploration Technologies SpaceX first prototype mechanical work Artisan’s Asylum Somerville prototype developed assembled tested pre-production prototype existing models tweaks GeoOrbital’s production model electric wheel turn any bike into an e-bike Coltof battery motor control built into the wheel itself parts that spin rim tire remain static install throttle clamp onto handlebars pedaling front wheel 700c size wheel most popular size bikes 26-inch wheel rim tire tube standard sizes interchangeable e-bikes cheaper retrofitting kit tools low-level electrical engineering GeoOrbital kit standard bike urban commuter GeoOrbital prototypes commute regular bike shower get to work bicycle commuter urban bike commuters damp sweating no sweat /

Worst car ever built?

Track wider than the wheelbase is long, 3 wheels, rear wheel steering, fuel filler pipe running through the passenger compartment, petrol & exhaust fumes leak into the interior ...

If not the worst car ever built, at the very least, a leading contender.



http://jalopnik.com/what-its-like-to-drive-the-worst-car-ever-built-1735448480 / worst car ever built Yugo may as well be a Maybach Hoffmann actual worst car ever built astounding Hoffmann Lane Motor Museum worst cars unanimous vote 1951 Hoffmann wildly interested strange, streamlined zeppelin robotic tortoise odd asymmetrical curves details mis-aligned parts trim shape laws of physics Hoffmann made in Germany war M. Hoffmann real skill beautifully built lots of difficult metalwork fabrication laws of physics mechanics engineer hand-made few identifiable off-the-shelf-parts front axle Kubelwagen front axle lower torsion tube engine ILO 200cc single Hoffmann build-quality design decision absolute worst decision gas filler goes through the inside of the car fume-leaky rubber cuff rear-wheel steering design usable space inside the car awful car almost flips even when parked passenger seat roll fumes little two-stroke pumped terrible chemicals two-stroke oil Hoffmann Mobile Suicide Booth little silver nightmare /

Battery verses petrol — the lawn mower test

Regular readers will recall references to the inefficiency of internal combustion engines on these pages. In practice, around 20%.

Electric motors on the other hand are at least 80% efficient.

Fully Charged has done a side-by-side comparison of the efficiency of internal combustion engine & electric lawn mowers.

/ electric internal combustion engine ICE efficiency efficient battery charge recharge energy efficiency lithium ion LiIon cell charger fuel petrol four stroke 4 stroke rotary mower cycle cycles charge recharge cycle discharge tall grass mow mower /

Tesla Model S vs Australian performance cars (video)

1960s General Motors Holden 327 Monaro performance production car
Credit: Shannons

General Motors entered into some markets around the world, by buying up existing, local companies. In Britain, that was Vauxhall, in Germany, Opel. In Australia, they bought up a motor body manufacturer called Holden.

In the 1960s, when GM forbade factory support for motor racing around the world, Holden went racing anyway. Not quite that blatant: they called it the Holden Dealer Racing Team, financed it through advertising, & produced road cars with engines, gearboxes, suspensions & brakes which provided an effective foundation on which to build a circuit racer.



1960s General Motors Holden 327 Monaro production racer
Credit: bringatrailer.com

These days GM is a bit more relaxed about its cars being raced. One of the contenders for fastest production car in Australia is the Walkinshaw Performance Products W507. This is a Holden Special Vehicles GTS powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre LSA V8 with $8,000 of modifications by Walkinshaw to increase power & torque:

http://www.motoring.com.au/reviews/2014/large-passenger/holden-special-vehicles/gts/walkinshaw-w507-2015-review-48154

You've seen the videos of Teslas drag racing fast cars from around the world. CarAdvice set out to see how a Tesla Model S P85D compared to a W507 & then they ran it against a modern Holden production racer:



More about these races from CarAdvice:
http://www.caradvice.com.au/386305/drag-race-model-s-p85d-v-v8-supercar-v-walkinshaw-w507/?yt_desc / drag race Model S P85D insane mode P90D ludicrous mode V8 Supercar Walkinshaw W507 Supercheap Auto Racing’s V8 Supercar racer takes on world’s fastest four-door production car drag race motoring journos Supercheap Auto Racing drag race challenge Supercheap Auto Racing team competes V8 Supercars Championship Australia’s premier motorsport category track Victoria Winton Raceway team ace driver Tim Slade 650hp+ Holden Commodore V8 Supercar challenger world’s fastest four-door sedan supercharged turbocharged V8 V10 fully electric Tesla Model S P85D Insane Mode superseded Model S P90D Ludicrous Mode Model S P85D combined 567kW power over 750hp 0-100km/h 3.3 seconds Supercheap Auto Racing V8 Supercar over 480kW power 3.4-seconds V8 Supercar weight advantage 1400kg Model S P85D over 2000kg all-wheel drive 4 wheel drive track-specified V8 Supercar road fastest series-production four-door sedan built in Australia HSV GTS Walkinshaw Performance Walkinshaw Performance W507 tuned HSV GTS 507kW 680hp 6.2-litre supercharged V8 W507 challenge world’s fastest four-door sedan fastest Australian-built four-door sedans drag race Walkinshaw Performance W507 Tesla Model S P85D start line supercharger whine exhaust noise six-speed automatic gearbox throttle 850Nm torque rear tyres tyre smoke ease on the throttle standing 400 metre straight Insane Mode maximum current draw batteries creep off loud pedal torque Tesla Model S P85D 1150Nm torque all four wheels technical advantage off the line race starter drops his hands throttle Model S P85D rockets ahead traction fully-electric Tesla tapers off sprint four car lengths ahead stupendous acceleration off the line Tesla gains traction relentless push starts slowing 100km/h supercharged V8 road car full-blown race car slick tyres Slade warm up laps track noise side exhaust outlets almighty roar gear change naturally-aspirated 5.0-litre V8 engine uses Holden 308 cast iron block control cam shafts aluminium dry sump race seat three pedals gearbox trick six-speed sequential transaxle integrated spool differential triple-plate carbon 7 1/4 inch clutch giant AP Racing brakes 900 degrees Celsius under race conditions car weighs just 1400kg Model S P85D idle race fires up V8 Supercar Model S dead silent revving the car countdown starts vehicle’s launch parameters manual brake engine perfect rev band race-starter releases clutch rocket away from the line hot cold tyres traction off the line Tesla Model S P85D half way marker clear lead V8 Supercar locks full traction reeling in the electric Tesla I scan my rear-vision mirror just metres behind me finish line tight two car lengths hit the brakes travelling at almost 170km/h 47 metres per second V8 Supercar taking the racing line first corner fury and power under the bonnet V8 Supercar loud machine backfires drag race finish line Tesla Model S P85D straight-line speed road car and full-blown race car Supercheap Auto Racing rematch battery LiIon Lithium on charge recharge /

Did you get the best chip in your iPhone 6S? (update)

Credit: iDigitalTimes

Apparently, Apple is sourcing the A9 processor in its iPhone 6s from two different manufacturers. One is slightly faster, runs cooler & has longer battery life than the other.

World wide, chances are 60/40 in your favour.

This app will tell which chip you have:
https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/lirum-device-info-lite-system/id591660734?mt=8

Open the app & check the Model field. N66mAP or N71mAP is the chip you want. N66AP or N71AP is the also-ran.

More:
http://www.itworld.com/article/2990485/mobile/did-you-get-the-best-chip-in-your-iphone-6s.html

http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2015/10/iphone-6s-benchmarks-suggests-bad-cpu-can-give-20-lower-battery-life/?utm_source=Gizmodo+Australia&utm_campaign=4c9ad68c72-gizmodo_2015_10_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7a0c493e18-4c9ad68c72-278887065 / release 6S Apple splitting manufacture A9 processor Samsung hated rival business partner TSMC leading chip manufacturing company Asia split 60/40 favor of TSMC chips two firms not identical Chipworks teardowns reverse engineering devices Samsung uses 14nm TSMC uses 16nm TSMC chip a bit larger 104.5 square millimeters vs. 96 square millimeters Samsung chip A9 processor design Apple Samsung smaller chip Reddit user tests pair of 6S Plus phones TSMC chip eight hours of battery life six hours Samsung Reddit iPhone board Chinese site MyDrivers ran series JavaScript tests video playback tasks rates battery depletion Google Translate MyDrivers measurably faster battery drain Samsung powered phone TSMC version tests TSMC chip slightly faster Samsung chip benchmark tests Samsung chip runs hotter packaging phone buying Samsung or a TSMC processor download free app Lirum Device Info Lite app basic device info main page Model N66MAP N71MAP TSMC chip N66AP N71AP short straw Samsung chip 6S quite hot batteryquick to drain slow to charge compared iPhone 6 Mac boards /

Drones in space

Astronauts with drone helpers
Credit: NASA/The Economist

Drones have been on the International Space Station (ISS) since 2006. Because the ISS is a microgravity environment, they have no need to generate lift to maintain position. However, they do need to generate thrust to move around. Drones currently in use generate thrust using CO2 canisters. Planned replacements will use battery powered motors to compress ambient air for thrust.

How are drones useful in space? Current & planned uses include:
3D maneuverable camera mount
virtual eyes for ground controllers
lost property tracker/finder
sound level checker



http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21666115-crew-space-station-will-soon-be-getting-new-factotum-astrobusybee

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/311.html / crew space station new factotum Earth drones experimental 22cm across Synchronised Position Hold Engage Reorient Experimental Satellites SPHERES truncated rhombic dodecahedrons buzzing around International Space Station since 2006 new more advanced version Astrobee designed Ames Research Centre NASA laboratory Mountain View California Astrobee scheduled deployment 2017 30cm cube more complex SPHERES rely on beacons position positional information Astrobee computer vision orient itself navigate around powered propelled thrust space drone airborne space station free-fall appears to float with respect to the station’s walls need motors move itself around jets of carbon dioxide propel themselves canisters gas stored shipped station changed by the astronauts returned to Earth for refilling Astrobee compress air on board using battery power propulsion batteries steer several recharging docks astronauts are busy people new drone relieve them several routine tasks set of virtual eyes ground controllers station Chris Provencher Astrobee’s project manager astronauts regularly check sound levels noise damage the crew’s hearing full sound check two hours task easily automated Astrobee help keep station neat and tidy tracking down floated away proper places station’s managers radio-frequency identification RFID tags found go missing pressurised portion station looking for missing items RFID-tagged time-consuming Astrobee crew new drone flight controllers camcorders fixed arms high-definition camera controllers position /

Printer case to test patent rights for refurbished goods (update)

When you no longer have a use for something, you may pass it on to a family member or friend. You may choose to sell it. Ebay & others have business models built on the latter case.

Does anyone question your right to do this?

Does it make a difference if you repair it before sale?

Does it make a difference if you have the skills to return it to "as new" condition?

Does it make a difference if you buy second hand for the purpose of repair & resale?

Does it make a difference if you employ others to help with the work?

Refurbishment is frequently described as returning an item to “as new” condition, or even "remanufacturing" & in some cases, resold with new warranty. Some manufacturers claim that sale of one of their products after it has been refurbished infringes their patent(s).

Lexmark International Inc & printer cartridge refiller Impression Products Inc are fighting it out before a dozen judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Drug, biotech & medical device industry representatives, smartphone & computer manufacturers have joined in.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-02/printer-case-to-test-patent-rights-for-revamped-car-parts-drugs / Court hears appeal dispute refilled printer cartridges Silicon Valley Big Pharma Pharmaceutical companies lawsuit used printer cartridges proxy fight consumers buy refurbished resold goods car parts computers case argued dozen judges U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit dispute inkjet cartridges sold Lexmark International Inc refilled sold Impression Products Inc. Lexmark infringe infringed infringing patents cartridges paid once patented inventions cartridges were first sold exhausted its patent rights multifront effort scale back manufacturer’s rights control who repairs refurbishes products after sale Jacob Kramer antitrust lawyer Bryan Cave Washington not involved case drug biotech medical device industries representing Pfizer Inc Johnson & Johnson filing briefs restrictions resale products safety reasons smartphone computer manufacturers Google Inc Samsung Electronics Co arguing limits confusion paid supply chain complex electronics refurbished goods appeal consumers lower prices more choices innovation Kramer case U.S. US overseas trial judge Ohio agreed argument cartridges initially sold U.S. sold overseas refurbished cartridges effectively deemed new product infringed U.S. patent rights appealing argument lost closely held company Charleston West Virginia appeal 2013 Supreme Court decision allowed resale copyrighted materials initially sold abroad no difference between patent and copyright law argue drugmakers ruling in favor overseas sales issue open the door firms buying cheaper medicines overseas shipping U.S. Government price controls economic issues lower costs other countries HIV medicines Circuit Judge Pauline Newman questioned drugmakers lose their rights selling medicines HIV drugs court should overturn older ruling medical device makers restrict use products single use restrictions sales contracts regulatory means resorting patent law lawyer Edward O’Connor Avyno Law Encino California sell it hearing technology companies Google Intel Corp Samsung LG Electronics Inc drug maker’s concerns U.S.Food and Drug Administration strict rules limiting re-importation medicines manufacturer electronics companies components modern devices mobile phones computers patent owner multiple bites at the same royalty apple complicate negotiations higher prices consumers patent exhaustion sale patent rights exhausted Andrew Pincus Mayer Brown Washington arguing computer companies retailers victory Impression boon $318.2 billion after-market after market refurbished auto parts industry re-sterilizes repairs orthopedic devices Lexington Kentucky Lexmark printer companies makers razors sells product low cost relies sale essential replacement parts ink cartridges blades profit business model at stake Lexmark program charges less money agree return used cartridges judge unenforceable medical device manufacturers limits single use products purchasers chose bundle of rights buy Lexmark lawyer Constantine Trela Sidley Austin Chicago user right reuse cartridge buy it printers biotechnology crop science industries restrict use inventions recoup billions dollars research new medicines plants printer cartridges software smartphones Barbara Fiacco Foley Hoag Boston biotech agriculture companies Federal Circuit heard case argue lawyers representing arguments Obama administration decision Lexmark International Inc. v. Impression Products Inc Patent Law Lexmark International Inc Tech Alphabet Inc Samsung Electronics Co Ltd Washington Law U.S. Court of Appeals Products Inc Pfizer Inc /