Space-age sensor for Earth

Miniaturised ceramic sesors, originally developed for the European Space Agengy(ESA). find increasing applications here on earth;in medical analysis , sports training and even environmental protection.....................

It all began in 1993 when the institute of Space Systems(IRS) of the University of Stuttgart started to develop special ceramic gas sensors to measure re-entry conditions for spacegraft.The sensors were used-at time -to measure oxygen levels in the wind tunnels which tested the various heat shield materials that would be used in spacecraft design."The sensors avalible then were no good for testing spacecraft systems because they were big.heavy and used a lot of heating power". explains Rainer Baumann from the Technical University of Dresden who participated in the development of this very small type of sensor.

"so we had to develop a new type of senor to measure re-entry conditions for spacecraft.The sensors had to be very small and capable of measuring oxygen at high altitudes and during re-entry.Although the sensors were originally developed for the space programme the technology when shown to industry at a series of presentation by ESA's Technology Transfer Programme-attacted a great deal of interest for possible use in earth-based applications.The main mission of ESA's Tecnology Transfer Programme Office is to facilitate the use of space technology for non-space applications.The TTPO is also responsible for the funding of such start-up companies that will aid in the initiative.

As a result three IRS employees, together with thw former head of the IRS institute founded the Germany-based company ESCUBE Space Sensor system GmbH in 2000 to further develop and market the sensor for use in the field of modern gas analysis.

ACCURATE HUMAN BREATH ANALYSIS

Its very easy to find terrestrial apllication for this miniaturised gas sensor.It reacts very fast and this is useful in many cases where you need to measure ambient conditions on Earth.

"One application where the sensor is particularly useful is measurement of the human breath.With this sensor we can measure oxygen ,carbon dioxide and obtain the results immediately something which is impossible with conventional systems"."The very quick time makes it possible to obtain a very accurate breath -by-breath analysis.As the sensor is light and very small it can be incorporated in the mask and used for instance in hospitals and clinics or by top athletes during extrame strain conditions.Further development could even lead to a special mask for monitoring and evaluating the health of astronauts undertaking space mission.

REDUCING ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

Another terrestrial applications for the sensor the researcher says that is the control of exhaust gases in heating systems for home and industry.The majority of the man produced pollutants on the Earth originate from burning processing in automotive industrial and domestic applications and the sensor can be used to control and optimise these combustion processes."If you place the sensor in the exhaust gases you can control the heaters in real time by using a special algorithm and ensure that the burner operates at an optimum level "says Baumann

"This system can reduce the exhaust gases that are harmful for the environment and at the same time-by ensuring the heating system works at an optimum level -it can also reduse fuel consumption by about 10 to 15%

SPOTTING HYDROGEN LEAKAGE

Another terrestrial application for the miniature sensor is the development of handy easy-to-use portable system to test for hydrocarbon leakage in industrial installations such as the ones used for manufacturing fuel cells."Technology Transfer is not a one way street "

BOUNCING IDEAS

Clemson University Ph D student Keqin uses strands of coiled nanotubes to prepare a bed of tiny shock-absorbing carbon springs which could be used to protect objects such as cellphones and car bumper from damaging impacts.
Scientists make beds of coiled nanotubes that have potential as shock absorbers;
say these nano springs could be used in armour, car bumpers and cellphones.......
Electronic devices get smaller and more complex every year.But it turns out that fragility is the price of miniaturisation especally when it comes to small device ,such as cell phones, hitting the floor.Wouldn'nt be grate if they bounced instead of cracking when dropped.
A team of reserches at US' Clemson University-led by Apparao Rao,professor of physics- has invented a way to make beds of tiny,shock-absorbing carbon springs,which possibly could be used to protect delicate objects from damagins impacts.With collaborators at the University of Callifornia at San Diego, the team has shown that layers of these tiny springs called coiled nanotues -each a thousand times smaller than a human hair -can act as extreanly resilient shock absorbers.Similar coiled carbon nanotubes have been made before, yet Clemson nanotube
reseachers say this is unique since beds of coiled carbon nanotubes can be grown in a single step using a properietary hydrocarbon -catalyst mixture.
The group also envisions coiled nanotubes in sodiers' body armour , car bumpers and bushing and even as cushioning elements elements in shoe soles."The problem we have faced in the past is producing enough of these coiled carbon nanotubes at a reasonable cost to make a difference" said Rao "Because our current method produces coiled nanotubes quikly in high yield it can be readly scaled up to industrial levels".
"After formation the coiled nanotubes can be peeled off in one piece and placed on other surfaces to form instant cuhinoning coating " he said.In earlier studies ,Rao and his team tested more conventional straight carbon nanotubes against coil-shaped nanotubes .When a satinless steel ball was dropped onto a single nanotube layer the coiled nanotubes completely recovered from the impact while the straight ones did not."Its like an egg toss" said rao. "If you move your hand backwards as you catch the egg and increase the time of contact over which the impact occurs, the impact will be less forceful and the egg will not break.It is the same phenomenon experienced in catching a ball."
His studies with carbon nanotubes have been ongoing for quite some time,Rao said."Each step along the way has led to the next breakthrough,and each time we have learned more about how they grow and what their applications could be,We belive that carbon nanotubes have tremendous potential for the lives of each one of us,"he added.

MIND GAMES

Now ,a "Mind-Control" interface to play video games without a controller

Students at the US-based Drexel University have taken a "hands-off" approach and developed a novel game controller that allows players to execute action using only their mind.The device looks like a headband and is equipped with sensors that measure brain activity.
By shining near-infrared light into the skull and measuring the intensity of light reflected back,oxygen levels corresponding to brain activity can be recorded .The device is orinally developed to monitor the brain of the patients under anaestheia,serves as a computer for the Drexel-developed video game Lazybrains.
USE THAT THINKING MEAT.........
Lazybrains features Morby ,a curch potato transported to a dangerous fantasy world as punishment for not exercising his brain.Morby must use his mental power to navigate through obstacles to find his way back home.
Players must use keyboard to Morby jump and run; however special action such as lifting a manhole a conver require players to put the controller down and use their brain .When game sense thatn enough mental power has been exerted ,the manhole cover is lifted and the player can proceed.The most immediate application for the brain-machine interface is in machine."said Dr Frank Lee.
Games like lazybrains can help kids who have Attention deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD)learn how to concentrate in fun and freindly environment.As the underlying technology behind Lazybrains matures,they may become as easy to use as Wii Controller.

Power Walking

Two Chennai-based doctors have come up with what they claim is a novel power-generating system,by which activities such as walking,climbing stairs and driving over speed breakers could end up producing electricity.
Their patent-pending "simple generator",they said,uses a lever that is compressed when subjected to weight.This sets into rotation a gear,which is attached to dynamo.
The electricity thus produced could be used directly or stored in batteries for later usage they added.
Dr Parikumar, an ophthalmologist,and Dr Samuel J K Abraham -a cardiac surgeon and researcher in stem cells project one night,when they became victims to a power failure that affected their lab.
Since then,the doctors have dicussed various ways of generating power using normal day-to-day activities.
"Different versions of our system have already been built by reserchers in foreign countries" When incorporated in a our device also helps generate valuable electricity when people work out,"
This makes it win-win for both our helth amd the earth. The protype stairs that doctors have desinged produce 48W of energy.Depending uop the number of stairs and number of steps in each staircase, the energy output could be increased;and the same could be fitted in restaurants, theaters,and similer public places .
The scientists have also developed a smaller device ,fitted in the hell of footwear.when demontrated by scientists it was capble of producing enough light for torch.The best part :"This energy is emmision -free eco-freindly and doesn't need water or fossil fules .He informed that the device could be used to operate a small music system, and even charge a cell phone and other similler gadgets.The prototype device,he explained ,could be further modofied.It would cost only sruond Rs 4$-5$ for a shoemaker to incorporate it into footwear.
The doctors have been sopproted by a public charity trust,Hope foundation Chennain and Nichi-In Bio Science Pvt Ltd an Indo-Japan joint venture company who plan to approch Japanese collaborators to imporve the device in areas such as avoiding tranmission loss,incresed efficiency of storsge and usage of the produced electricity.
As for the ADL energy stairs, the boffins are now planning on approching the Ministry of Power for a live demo.

Small Wonder Grows Up

With the Asus Eee 1000H network PC sporting a 10-inch screen and wide keyboard,the game-changing laptop is ready to play with the big boys,feels Peter Svensson.
when Taiwan's ASustek brought out the Eee PC last year,it created a whole new category of tiny,cheap laptops.But despite its success, the compute had one confounding element:Its keyboard was really good for kids ,may be but not for adults.
Now,Asus has expanded its line with laptops that are just big enough for a full size touch-typist,and at least one of the models hits a sweet spot,keeping weight and price low while providing great features and battery life.In fact ,it compares well with laptops that are three or four times the price.
I tested the 10-inch screen Eee PC 1000h -which retails in India for Rs.29,990.The first Eee PC model had 7-inch screens which went for Rs.18000.
While the new model is substantially bigger and more like "real" laptop,its still terrifically portable,weighing in at 1.4Ks.That's the same weight as the vaunted macBook Air,Which Apple Inc calls the thinnest laptop ever.
So to whom want to by laptop this is great choice for them.