SapientNitro (part of Sapient) unveiled the world’s first smile-activated vending machine. Built for Unilever, a large ice cream manufacturer, this ice cream vending machine is an attempt to use the augmented reality in order to attract the passersby and potentially reward them if they manage to grin enough for the wending machine’s facial recognition algorithm…. »

The past few years have given rise to a growing number of microrobots, miniaturized mobile machines designed to perform specific tasks. Researchers at the University of Washington and Stanford University have developed an insect-like robot with hundreds of tiny legs. The robot is able to carry loads more than seven times of its own weight… »

After taking this project from the previous builder who didn’t complete the certification due to economic downturn, the new owners managed to construct the Helios NW Eco-House – the first vacation rental property in Oregon which received the LEED for Homes Gold certification. This modern home opened its doors as a luxury vacation rental property… »

Imagine you are the pilot of an aircraft that flies like a dragonfly, and with an on-board video camera, you see exactly what the pilot sees. Imagine no more because Parrot, a company that develops wireless devices for mobile phones, came up with AR.Drone – a remote controlled quadricopter. Unlike similar remote controlled flyers, these… »

We already wrote several articles regarding swarm robotics because it is offering innovative solutions to real-world problems by creating a new form of artificial intelligence based biomimicry of insect-like instincts. Mirko Kovac, from EPFL’s Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, is a robotics engineer who has already made leaps forward in the field with his grasshopper-inspired jumping… »

After postponing the original article in hope its price will fall through time, we’re finally publishing the article regarding a Dyson fan. The original version, which came out last fall, has wowed many, partially because it was innovating and partially because of its price. Aside from not dropping its price, the folks from Dyson made… »

To survive in its hot habitat, the sandfish lizard (Scincus scincus), like other desert-dwelling creatures, spends a lot of time underground. Unlike other creatures that live in burrows or sand traps, this lizard moves over and through the sand in its own unique way. That movement intrigued researchers and inspired them  to develop a robot… »

A company from California named Prysm has presented their high definition television with a Laser Phosphor Display (LPD) based on their patented method of using lasers reflected off a bank of mirrors to excite pixels on the television screen in a similar way to cathode ray tubes. Aside the high image quality and wide viewing… »