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Ghost Drone follows its user, and is controlled via their phone
By Ben Coxworth December 31, 2014
Ehang's Ghost Drone in action
It was just this June that we heard about the HEXO+ and AirDog drones, which were two of the first consumer multicopters to offer a Follow function – that's the ability to track the location of their user, and fly along above them. Since then, models including the Iris+ and Zano have come out with the same feature. Now, Chinese/American company Ehang is successfully raising production funds for its Follow-equipped GoPro-toting Ghost Drone. Developed in partnership with Duke University, not only is the quadcopter able to track and film its user, but it's also reportedly easier to fly than its competitors.
The drone is powered by an 11.1-volt 5,400-mAh lithium-polymer battery, which should allow...An included compact 'G-Box' communicates with the phone by Bluetooth, and then proceeds to...As with various other drones, if it loses contact, it will automatically return to its tak...Users can cause the GPS-equipped Ghost to automatically take off, land, fly to and from se...View all
That claimed ease-of-use comes courtesy of a smartphone-based iOS/Android control system, which Ehang tells us is more user-friendly than the control app used by the popular AR.Drone.
By pressing onscreen buttons, users can cause the GPS-equipped Ghost to automatically take off, land, fly to and from selected waypoints, or hover in place. It can additionally be set to Follow, of course, in which it homes in on the user's smartphone signal. As with the other user-following drones, however, it cannot sense and avoid obstacles while doing so.
The copter's movements can also be manually controlled, using onscreen sliders – if users have opted for the optional gimbal mount, they can additionally pan and tilt their GoPro. It looks like using those controls could be rather fiddly, however, which is why it's fortunate that the control app also offers a Tilt function. This allows users to steer the drone simply by tilting their phone in different directions, as is demonstrated in the video below.
The drone itself is powered by an 11.1-volt 5,400-mAh lithium-polymer battery, which should allow up to 30 minutes of flight time without the gimbal and camera, or about 20 with them attached. An included compact "G-Box" communicates with the phone by Bluetooth, and then proceeds to relay commands to the aircraft via radio signals up to a distance of 1,000 meters (3,280 ft).
As with various other drones, if it loses contact, it will automatically return to its take-off point. Additionally, if users would prefer to use a more traditional radio remote control unit with physical joysticks, a Ghost-specific one is currently in development.
The drone is powered by an 11.1-volt 5,400-mAh lithium-polymer battery, which should allow...
Ehang is currently raising production funds on Indiegogo, and has exceeded its goal. Additionally, it was announced yesterday that the company has received US$10 million in funding from two Chinese investors.
Pledges are still being accepted, though, with US$375 getting you a basic gimbal- and GoPro-less Ghost – units are already being shipped to backers. A pledge of $599 is required to get one with a gimbal included, while a package including drone, gimbal and GoPro Hero 4 Silver edition can be had for $879.
More information is available in the following pitch video.
Sources: Ghost Drone, Indiegogo
http://www.ghost-drone.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ghost-drone-aerial-filming-has-never-been-easier
http://www.gizmag.com/ghost-drone/35413/
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Mighty Click wearable lock keeps bikes secure and cyclists safe
By Stu Robarts December 31, 2014
The Mighty Click is a wearable bike lock
Locks are a necessity for keeping your bike secure between rides, but they can be a pain to carry around. U-locks are an awkward shape, wire locks can get tangled and thick chains can be very heavy. The Mighty Click is designed to provide both security and ease of portability.
The Mighty Click is a thick steel chain secured by a padlockThe Mighty Click is designed to be secure, but, at 3.5 lbs (1.6 kg), not be too heavy to c...The Mighty Click has a reflective strip on its protective cover to help with visibilityThe Mighty Click has a zippered pouch for carrying things like keys or coinsView all
The Mighty Click is, of course, very similar to the Hiplok from a few years back. There's a reflective strip on the cover to help with visibility and a strap that allows it to be clipped around a user's waist. The strap is adjustable and will fit waists from 26-in (66 cm) up to 38-in (97 cm).
The Mighty Click has a zippered pouch for carrying things like keys or coins
It doesn't come with an integrated lock, though. Instead, riders will need to use a separate padlock to secure each end of the steel chain protruding from the protective fabric cover. At 3.5 lb (1.6 kg), it's a little lighter than the Hiplok and features a zippered pouch for carrying small items like keys or coins.
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign is underway for the Mighty Click and has already exceeded its target. Individuals can still pledge to support the campaign though. Assuming all goes to plan, a pledge of US$25 will get you the security belt with no padlock (to which you add your own), while a pledge of $29 will get you a Mighty Click with a padlock included.
Sources: Lars Hundley, Kickstarter
http://www.yoyoplay.com/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1959663482/mighty-click-a-wearable-bike-lock-for-bicycles-and
http://www.gizmag.com/mighty-click-wearable-bike-lock/35409/
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Man-made ligament could replace ruptured ACLs
By Ben Coxworth January 2, 2015
An illustration depicting a ruptured ACL (Image: Shutterstock)
If you follow sports at all, then you've probably heard about athletes rupturing their ACL, or anterior cruciate ligament. It connects the femur to the tibia, and once it breaks, it's incapable of healing. Treatment most often involves reconstructing the ACL using grafts from the patellar tendon, which connects the patella (aka the kneecap) to the tibia – although this can present problems of its own. Now, scientists at Northwestern University in Illinois are creating a man-made replacement ACL, which could make treatment much more effective.
According to professor of biomedical engineering Guillermo Ameer, who is leading the project, the use of patellar tendon grafts often results in knee discomfort that never goes away. This isn't surprising, as the procedure involves removing part of the existing patellar tendon to take the place of the ACL – in fact, what's left of the patellar tendon can subsequently end up rupturing, too.
That's where his team's engineered ACL comes in. Its main body is made from braided polyester fibers, with a tensile strength similar to that of the natural ligament. At either end of it, however, those fibers are blended into a mixture of a porous antioxidant biomaterial developed previously in his lab, and hydroxyapatite (a form of calcium) nanocrystals – these occur naturally in bones and teeth.
In rabbit studies, holes were drilled in the femur and tibia, in order to receive each end of the artificial ACL. After the ends had been inserted and anchored in place, the animals' surrounding bone and tissue cells began migrating into the pores of the biomaterial/nanocrystal mix. It is hoped that given time, this could result in the ends of the ACL being completely incorporated into the femur and tibia.
"The engineered ligament is biocompatible and can stabilize the knee, allowing the animal to function," said Ameer. "Most importantly, we may have found a way to integrate an artificial ligament with native bone."
More studies will be required before human trials can begin. A paper on the research was recently published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.
Source: Northwestern University
http://www.gizmag.com/artificial-acl/35423/
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