Toyota Developing Solar Cars?

Toyota Developing Solar Cars?

Author ColGlobe | 02.01.2009 | Category Japanese Technology, automobile

Japan is moving towards a solar powered vehicle

Don’t get too excited yet, but early leaks from the Toyota Motor Corp indicate that solar energy powered cars may be on the very near horizon. The new cars, with are rumored to use existing technology electric fuel cells, will be chargeable by home and work powered solar generating stations, and may even be supplemented by solar panels placed on the tops of vehicles.

As the world becomes more and more conscious of the dangers of fossil fuels, technology focuses increasingly on renewable resources, of which nothing known to mankind is more dependable or longer lasting than the sun. Of all possible fuel sources, sunlight is the only one which is already being supplied in vast quantities to the earth’s surface, where it is contributing to feared global warming. Harvesting that raw energy could have far reaching environmental repercussions, beginning with reduced carbon emissions, and progressing all the way through the gamut of ways to combat human-influenced global warming.

Robotic Housekeeper (1 of 2)

Author ColGlobe | 01.11.2008 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

This robotic assistant does the floors, the laundry, and serves breakfast in bed.

Japan, eager to find ways to cope with a growing ratio of elderly, has been actively pursuing robotics as one way to cope. The newly unveiled “AR”, as it is named, is intended to be a robotic maid, vacuuming, picking up, and doing the laundry.

The project is developed by the University of Tokyo and Toyota Motor Corp, among other major japanese electronics firms.  The protoype unit weighs in at 130Kg (286lbs), and is able to locate objects using prototype stereoscopic vision.

You can see a short video of the AR in operation. The robot is not yet available for use, but should be coming soon.

Toyota Scion Comes To Canada

Author JoeDigital | 22.10.2008 | Category Japanese Technology, automobile

Canada is going to get a chance to buy the Toyota Scion after all!

Japanese automaker, Toyota Motor Corporation, has decided to introduce it’s fuel efficient Scion to Canadian markets after all.  Earlier, Toyota had stated that Canadian urban attitudes did not warrant the marketing of the Scion in the country, but this summer’s rising fuel prices has prompted a change of heart, and now the vehicle is scheduled for introduction in 2010.  Even though this a change of heart for Toyota’s announced plans, the Scion name has been trademarked in Canada for quite some time.

The scion is targeted for urban youthful markets with concerns about the economy and fuel economy, areas in which the Scion excels. 

Toyota denies allegations that this move is an effort to unload unsold stocks that aren’t selling well in American markets due to the tightening of credit and budgets, which have reached the lowest levels seen in 15 years.  Regardless of the reason, the Scion is sure to be a hit with those who are conscious of global warming and fears of impending Peak Oil production.  

Interestingly, studies have shown that 72% of those who purchase a Scion have never purchased a Toyota vehicle before, but once they’ve bought one, are far more likely to become loyal Toyota customers for future purchases.

Japan Envisons the First Space Elevator

Author ColGlobe | 19.10.2008 | Category Japanese Technology

Riding to the stars in an elevator may only finally be on the horizon

Scientists have known for decades that a safer, cheaper way of getting out of the Earth’s atmosphere would the use of a space elevator.  The problem is that technology is only now getting to the point where such a device is possible, and now Japan is looking into turning a science fiction byline into reality.

Space elevators require 100 times (or more) less energy to move a cargo into space than conventional rockets, and can be reused repeatedly for years.  Until recently, the problem has been the ability to construct the “cables” needed for the elevator to ride.  But now scientists and universities all over Japan are turning to this concept as a feasible means of moving exponentially larger amounts of cargo, from supplies to construction materials, out of the atmosphere and into the great beyond.

And while it may still be 10-20 years before such an ambitious project can even be tested for actual use, at least the time has come for the idea to be taken seriously.

Honda Develops Faster, Safer Airbag

Author ColGlobe | 17.10.2008 | Category Japanese Technology, automobile

Honda has developed a faster, safer airbag for passenger of all sizes.

Honda Motor Co Ltd announced Sept 18, 2008, that it has developed a new automobile airbag that both deploys more quickly, and provides increased protection to people.  The new design is meant to fill up with gas more quickly, but hold the inflation for a longer period, resulting in a benefit to passengers, regardless of the sitting situation in the vehicle.  The new system is scheduled to debut in the “Life”, next month.

The problem so far has been that most airbags are better suited for taller drivers.  Shorter people sit closer to the steering wheel, and the design meant an increased chance of impact against the steering column befor ethe bag had a chance to inflate, while using an inflator device meant the taller people would be hitting more forcefully by the bag on expansion.  The new design inflates using a sprial seam design, allowing the bag to infalte in stages as the sprial seam spearates to allow continuous and effective expansion.

Japanese can rent HAL Robot Suits

Author JoeDigital | 13.10.2008 | Category Japanese Technology, Robotics

Robotic Assitive Mobility devices are now for rent in Japan.

You may recall an article posted here not long about the HAL robotic suits invented by Cyberdyne Systems, of Japan.  These exo-sketal attachment can multiply the flesh and blood force of legs or arms by an exponential factor.  And Japan is putting them to use.

The leg units will be available for rent in japan, and will be targeted at empowering the disabled.  For less than $3000 per month, a needy person can strap on the bio-assistive devices, and it becomes possible for even severely weakened legs to help their own walk again.  Cyberdyne says that the unit s can be rented individually also, at roughly half the cost of renting a pair.  But that brings up an interesting question.. would wearing only one give too much power to one side, and make navigating difficult?

Sony Ericsson goes earth friendly

Author JoeDigital | 13.10.2008 | Category Consumer Electronics, Japanese Technology

Sony Ericsson is currently establishing new goals to support its environmentally concerned consumers as well as environmental preservation in general as it comes up with new phones and programs that in their own ways help the environment.

Sony Ericsson’s GreenHeart mobile phones are slowly making its way to the global market, boasting its features that are friendly to mother earth. This includes mainly having parts that are not harmful to the environment and recyclable such as bio-plastic housings and power saving features.

In line with this, Sony Ericsson also has an environmental warranty that promises its consumers that they recycle and dispose of their own phones or phone parts that are handed to them in representative stores world wide. Any person who wants to dispose of a Sony Ericsson phone can just give them up to any branch all over the world regardless of where the phone was bought and the company will assure that the phones will be dealt with in an environmentally sound way.

3D LCD and OLED Cell Phones by KDDI

Author ColGlobe | 02.10.2008 | Category Japanese Technology, Telecommunications

Japanese telco KDDI has announced the upcoming release of two new cellphones, one with a 3D LCD display panel, and another using an OLED display panel.  The LCD panel, developed in conjunction with an unnamed Japanese company, employs a 3D technique known as parallax barrier method,” which uses optical strip shaped barriers that encourage a different view by the left and right eyes.  KDDI claims the device can convert 2D to 3D images in realtime.

3D images are coming soon to Japanese Cellphones

The other panel is a 3 inch OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display panel, and was developed by Korean Samsung.  It displays QVGA (400×200) images using an innovative pixel array called PenTile by its creator,  Clairvoyante Inc.  The new panels are targeted for being commercially available in late 2009.

PenTile pixel display offers crisp sharp cellphone displays

One note of interst on the OLED panel is that Samsung has already announced the development of a 3.1 OLED display which provides WVGA (800×480) images.  This is likely to affect the finished KDDI products.