Tesla: Vampire Slayer

At least some some Tesla Model S' have had a problem with vampire current draw. I.e. processes in the vehicle consuming a significant amount of power when the vehicle is parked, with power, ostensively, "off". Draw was up to 4.5 kWh (7.5% of a 60 kWh battery, 13 miles, 21 kilometre) per day. A series of system software updates had apparently failed to cure the problem for some users.

For David Noland of Green Car Reports, the problem was finally traced to the lead-acid 12 Volt battery, which was failing to hold a charge & so was constantly being charged from the traction battery.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1088929_life-with-tesla-model-s-electric-draw-vampire-slain-at-last / LiIon Tesla Model S Elon kiloWatt kilowatt kilo Watt LiIon lithium ion battery lead acid 12 Volt battery charge recharge battery self discharge metre meter kilometer range Exide over charge overcharge warranty service replace defect defective replace fail /

Apple is winning the OS war

http://blogs.computerworld.com/mac-os-x/23229/apple-winning-os-war?mm_ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.computerworld.com%2F / future of computing fragmentation redux undermine undermines post PC age Apple fragmented fragment fragmentation mobile future mobile devices supplanted ambient computing. OS operating system Microsoft Windows dominant on PCs PC personal computer sales free fall tablet tablets TV TVs mobile devices significant presence mobile operating system fragmented not upgrading Android dominates dominate dominating dominated mobile OS terms of dumb sales devices market share running old versions OS upgradable Android devices sold current OS version obolete dated future OS X Mavericks tiny player PC landscape improving free OS mobile operating system heart of OS innovation platform platforms Mac continue make gains at the expense of Windows eventually mutate sub-branch of iOS Apple's iOS king of the jungle astonishing 70 percent iOS devices device running Apple mobile operating system most modern widely distributed OS mobile space update available devices over two years old contrast third Android devices stuck with ancient Jelly Bean hype surrounding introduction KitKat built-in obsolescence inherent to Google's mobile business plan/

I don't believe in global warming

Credit: Banksy/Today & Tomorrow


Credit: Banksy/The Wall Street Journal

The views expressed above do not necessarily represent the views of this site, nor the water bird.

More about this work:
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/dec/21/banksy-copenhagen-regents-canal / Politicians discussing global warming – when it is important to appear to be doing something climate change global warming greenhouse gas CO2 carbon dioxide methane carbon monoxide greenhouse effect fossil fuel fossil carbon heatwave weather heat wave flood rising sea level rise greenhouse green house gas carbon dioxide CO2 anthropomorphic anthropocene global warming climate change climatologist anthropogenic human methane CH4 /

Amazon has plans for delivery by drone

Credit: Amazon/USA Today



US federal regulations mean that this organization in Sydney, Australia may do it first. / Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos correspondent Charlie Rose 60 Minutes interview mystery room Amazon offices revealed secret R&D project Octocopter drone drones fly packages directly to your doorstep in 30 minutes audacious plan Bezos says requires more safety testing FAA Federal Aviation Administration approvals delivery-by-drone Amazon Prime Air available customers 4 to 5 four five years Charlie Rose story Amazon PR team octocopters octocopter pick up packages small yellow buckets Amazon’s fulfillment centers whiz through air deliver items individual customers 30 minutes hit the “buy” button online Amazon.com octocopter package delivery safe safety safely /

Trial complete: electric vehicles can work in Australia

Some of the converted Ford Focus cars used in the trial.
Credit: WA EV Trial consortium/The Conversation

Probably work in your country too.

https://theconversation.com/trial-complete-electric-vehicles-can-work-in-australia-18843

In the comments, mention is made of the oft-heard claim that, coal is burnt to generate electricity, so fossil fuel & electric vehicles must have the same carbon footprint. Not surprisingly, reality is much more complex than this simple argument suggests. See a discussion of the issues at:

http://hhg2t-long.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-does-electric-car-generate-less.html / Australia’s first electric vehicle trial completed early 2010 end 2012 11 electric Ford Focus foci 23 fast-charger fast charger charge fast-AC charging bays Level-2 level 2 found few technological barriers adopt adoption electric vehicles EVs EV vehicle Australia government incentive incentives early adopter adopters government program programme programs roll out roll-out fast-DC charging stations station Australia fully embrace start started trial electric cars major manufacturers availability available convert converted Ford Focuses conversions performed Western Australian WA company EV Works equipment equip equipped 23kWh battery pack 27kW DC motor 1000A motor controller used as regular fleet vehicles 11 project partners government and business demonstrate demonstrating usable use usability everyday driving cars achieved road tested test road-tested driving range 131km single charge dyno dynamometer testing resulted 143km range significantly exceeds exceed driving range Mitsubishi i-MiEV achieve achievement achieved 112km range identical road test road-test conditions charge charged charging stations installation instal installed 23 charging stations Level 2 AC fast Level-2 fast-AC charging charge charger Perth CBD international charging standard normal norm IEC 62196 European Type-2/Mennekes Mennekes connectors connector two advantages Type 1 2 Type-1/J1772 charging stations Type-1 US Japan US/Japan Type-2 Europe inlets outlet three phase provide three-phase power electricity charges three times faster achieves better grid balance stations charged 3.5 hours empty full slower home charge 10 Amp 10A power socket 10 hours data collection software development data recorded data loggers 3G modems modem picture vehicle movement charge charging patterns record vehicle vehicles' driving paths charging times use of air conditioning air-conditioning heating other major energy consumers team developed smartphone app useful drivers check EV’s status car on charge let driver know charging completed finished finish finishes complete car collect collected charge longer cars charged drivers charged cars renewable energy used charging emission-free emission free electric electricity utilities utility increase increased peak demand graph summarises summary results fleet EVs charging morning until mid-day mid day charging energy supplied by solar photovoltaics PV PVs company fleets early adopter adopters new car technologynlargest customer segment new vehicles market Australia power usage trial period public charging stations charging curve peak curve that almost ideally matches match solar PV curve graph below customer /

You've seen a joystick controlled wheelchair, but this is a tongue piercing controlled wheelchair

Credit: Digital Trends

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/new-tongue-piercing-gadget-can-drive-wheelchair/ / experiment experimental develop development gadget device test tested paralysis paralyze paralyze paralyzed wheelchair users user move around controlling control equipment magnetic piercing miniature joystick disable disability disabled people restricted movements movement independent independence researcher esearch teams team Atlanta Chicago coordinated staff Georgia Institute of Technology developed Tongue Drive System wireless technology pass communications between stud piercing other devices wheelchair computer provide viable alternative existing sip suck blow puff sip-and-puff control system users must blow straw intentions known group of patients paralyzed neck down test testing new tongue operated tongue-operated system maneuvering maneuver wheelchairs wheelchair variety of obstacle courses gadget control PC really powerful because so intuitive Jason DiSanto 39 Atlanta tester testers details research published Science Translational Medicine journal attracted attention medical experts expert limited ability control power wheelchair options Dr. Brad Dicianno rehabilitation specialist University of Pittsburgh Medical Center interesting promise tongue control technology used within laboratories laboratory study studies device production product available biomedical engineer Maysam Ghovanloo natural versatility tongue piercing advantage /

PowerUp turns your homemade paper airplane into an smartphone controlled flyer (video)

Credit: Shai Goitein

Make a paper airplane, attach a PowerUp, & fly, controlling it with an iOS or Android device (with Bluetooth 4.0/Low Energy).

PowerUp is a Kickstarter project. You can still get on board for as little as $30.

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/11/30/powerup-turns-your-homemade-paper-airplane-into-an-smartphone-controlled-flyer/

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/393053146/powerup-30-smartphone-controlled-paper-airplane / aeroplane air plane PowerUp 3.0 Kickstarter project fly control pilot homemade paper airplane smartphone PowerUp arbon fiber frame propeller battery powered BLE Bluetooth Low Energy LE receiver other opposite end receiver powered lithium polymer battery provides 10 minutes fly flight per charge 180 ft 55 meter range. fold favorite style paper airplane clip PowerUP special clips smart phone smartphone controller cool tilt gestures fancy maneuvering PowerUp 3.0 flown past $50,000 funding goal $200,000 stretch goals goal Android support toy May 2014 timeframe lithium ion LiIon battery charge recharge /