Solar Ship: The hybrid airship with a low-carbon twist

The Solar Ship could be used for a variety of applications - including tourism
In recent times there's been a resurgence of interest in airships for military and commercial uses as evidenced by Lockheed Martin's High Altitude Long Endurance-Demonstrator (HALE-D) and Hybrid Air Vehicles heavy-lift variant of Northrop Grumman's Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV). Like HAV's design, this concept from Canadian company Solar Ship is a hybrid airship that relies on aerodynamics to help provide lift, and like the HALE-D, it would have its top surface area covered in solar cells to provide energy and minimize its carbon footprint.

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Although the Solar Ship aircraft would be filled with helium, under normal circumstances they would rely on the aerodynamic lift provided by their wing shape to provide more than half the lift required to get them off the ground. Additionally, the aircraft could also fly when filled with plain old air. This means the aircraft will still be able to fly - and, more importantly, land safely - if there is damage that results in helium loss.
Solar Ship says the aircraft's electric motor can either be powered solely by the energy provided by the on board batteries, or by the solar panels covering the wing - a feat already achieved by a conventional airplane design in the form of Solar Impulse.

The company points out that such heavier-than-air airships provide numerous advantages over their lighter-than-air brethren. Firstly, no mooring infrastructure or ballast weight is required to keep the aircraft from floating away during loading or unloading, making them more practical for the remote locations in which they are designed to operate. Additionally, not relying on buoyancy for lift means the aircraft can be smaller than lighter-than-air aircraft carrying the same payload. They are also more structurally robust and more maneuverable and resistant to wind and weather conditions.

Small, medium, large

Solar Ship has designed three different concept aircraft, the smallest of which is the Caracal. This design has a claimed payload capacity of up to 750 kg (1,653 lb) for 2,500 km (1,553 miles) with a maximum speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Designed for remote areas where roads are a rarity and targeted at general, utility and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) markets, the Caracal can take off and land on strips as short as 50 m (164 ft) long but carrying the maximum payload requires strips of 100 m (328 ft).
Next step up in size is the mid-size Chui, which is targeted at ISR and cargo markets. Under solar power it can carry up to 2,500 kg (5,512 lb) over distances of up to 5,000 km (3,107 miles) at speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph). The take off and landing distances of the Chui are the same as the Caracal - 50 m (164 ft) empty and 100 m (328 ft) when fully loaded.

The third and largest Solar Ship class is the Nanuq, a dedicated cargo freighter designed to carry payloads of up to 30 tonnes (66,139 lb) for distances of up to 6,000 km (3,728 miles) at speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph). Empty the Nanuq can take off on strips 60 m (197 ft) long and land on strips 100 m (328 ft) long, while fully loaded requires a take off distance of 200 m (656 ft).
Solar Ship has already built and flown a 10 m (33 ft) prototype. The promotional video below provides a glimpse of the company's vision for the future in which it sees a wide range of uses for its heavier-than-air aircraft, from delivery of urgent medical supplies to remote communities and disaster relief, to environmental monitoring and military applications.
... and with several company's floating short take off hybrid airship platforms, this is definitely a space to watch over the next decade.

New method may lead to improved detection of nuclear materials

Scientists at Northwestern University have published details of a new method for detection of 'hard radiation'

Scientists at Northwestern University, Illinois, have outlined a new method for detecting electromagnetic radiation at the high energy end of the spectrum. The work could lead to the development of a small, hand held device able to detect this "hard radiation" and has implications for the detection of radioactive materials which could potentially be employed in terrorist weapons, such as nuclear bombs or radiological dispersion devices, as well as materials employed in clandestine nuclear programs.

The threat

Even a very crude bomb resulting in a so-called "fizzle" yield may have enough energy to bring down a large building, and the release of initial radiation and fallout would be extremely hazardous in a populated area. Investigation of such threats is the responsibility of bodies such as the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration and any new tools they may acquire can only be of benefit to the general population.

A new innovation

The Northwestern University scientists' response to this challenge comes in the form of a method they've called "dimensional reduction" which involves the creation of new semiconductor materials using heavy elements in which the majority of electrons are bound and unable to move.
"The terrorist attacks of 9/11 heightened interest in this area of security, but the problem remains a real challenge," said Mercouri G. Kanatzidis, who led the research. "We have designed promising semiconductor materials that, once optimized, could be a fast, effective and inexpensive method for detecting dangerous materials such as plutonium and uranium."
When incoming electromagnetic radiation hits the material, the resulting excitement of these "bound" electrons can be analyzed to determine what element is emitting the radiation. This would be extremely useful in assessing any potential threat.
Because heavy elements typically have a lot of mobile electrons, detecting the small changes in their excited states is a difficult task. The teams' solution was to find a dense material with a crystalline structure in which electrons would be mobilized when hard radiation was absorbed.
The researchers have had successful results with two materials: cesium-mercury-sulfide and cesium-mercury-selenide. A big advantage of these materials is that they can be employed for hard radiation detection at room temperature, unlike previously existing semiconductor detection materials such as High-Purity Germanium (HPGe) which are typically cooled using liquid nitrogen.
The end result of Kanatzidis' research may be hand held device able to detect high energy radiation which typically just passes right through most materials. For example, a geiger counter may detect some gamma radiation but at the high energy end of the spectrum the photons can pass through undetected.
There could also be civil applications for the new method such as in the field of medical imaging.
The Northwestern University research has been supported by the Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and is published in the journal Advanced Materials.

SteriPEN Freedom offers USB-powered water purification

The SteriPEN Freedom is a USB-rechargeable portable UV water purifier

Water purifier manufacturer SteriPEN has updated its lineup of portable products, with a UV-based unit called the SteriPEN Freedom. Billed as the smallest, lightest and first rechargeable UV water purifier on the market, it disinfects up to 16 oz (0.5 L) of water in 48 seconds.
We've previously covered numerous water purification solutions for the developing world, with LifeStraw, Moringa tree seeds, or even banana peels being notable examples. The new SteriPEN device, however, is defined as hiking and camping equipment by its manufacturer, rather than as a life-saving tool.
The Freedom features a germicidal UV light which destroys 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Forty-eight seconds is enough for the Freedom to deal with half a liter of water, while a liter simply requires repeating this operation. A green light gauge indicates when it's safe to drink the water.
Recharged via a micro USB B port from a computer, AC outlet or a compatible solar charger, the Freedom offers up to 40 treatments on a single charge. The overall battery and UV lamp life is estimated to last for 8,000 treatments of 16 oz (0.5 L). The device also serves as a flashlight.
Equipped with a removable lamp cover, the new purifier weighs in at 2.6 oz (74 g) and measures 13 x 3.5 x 2.2 cm (5.1 x 1.4 x 0.8 in). Sold with a USB cable, AC adapter and neoprene case, the SteriPEN Freedom will be available starting this fall (northern hemisphere), priced at US$119.95.

Sportiiiis turns ordinary sunglasses into heads up display eyewear for cyclists

Sportiiiis HUD for athletes can be mounted on virtually all glasses, wirelessly pairs with perfromance monitoring equipment and feeds back workout information to the user via colored LEDs and audio

Canada's 4iiii Innovations has developed a Head Up Display for athletes that can be mounted on virtually all glasses thanks to included universal attachment points, so there's no need to stop wearing your favorite pair of sport sunglasses. Sportiiiis - pronounced "sport-eyes" - receives crucial performance data from any paired monitoring device via ANT+ wireless technology, compares actual performance with desired workout zone parameters and then feeds real-time indicators back to the user via colored LED lights and audio updates.

Unlike systems like the SportVue retro-fit HUD for motorbike and bicycle helmets or the Transcend ski goggles, Sportiiiis doesn't offer graphic visuals that might cause cyclists to look away from the road ahead at a critical moment. Performance feedback from paired ANT+ devices such as heart rate monitors, power meters, and cadence or speed modules is provided via a simple LED notification system that informs wearers whether they're within a pre-configured optimum workout zone.
If the cyclist or runner sees a red LED light up on the flexible boom that sits in the space between the lens of the chosen eyewear and the user's eye, the athlete is working too hard and needs to ease off a little. Green means the user is in the zone and yellow or orange is somewhere in between.

The water-resistant device also features a built-in speaker for providing audio feedback - in English only at the moment but the company is working on other language packs - and doesn't cover the ear so is safe to use on the road or track. Tapping on the side of the unit prompts an instant audio update and double-tapping cycles through the paired devices.
Users configure the seven multi-colored LEDs and instruct the unit to respond to input from any ANT+ device using Mac, PC or smartphone software. Both the brightness of the LEDs and the volume of the speaker can be adjusted on the unit or via compatible Android/iOS smartphone applications. The company also says that the onboard battery should be good for around ten hours.
The Sportiiiis HUD for cyclists and runners is available from next month, prices start at US$199.

Pavegen tiles harvest energy from footsteps

Pavegen tiles harvest kinetic energy from pedestrian traffic

Can you imagine the power of 50,000 steps a day? Well, Laurence Kembell-Cook, the director of Pavegen Systems imagined it and created Pavegen tiles - a low carbon solution that aims to bring kinetic energy harvesting to the streets. Not surprisingly, the tile is receiving a great deal of attention as a solution for power-hungry cities with a lot of walking traffic.

Designed for use in in high foot-traffic areas, the tiles convert the kinetic energy from footsteps of pedestrians into renewable electricity, which can be stored in a lithium polymer battery or used to power low-wattage, off-grid applications like street lighting, displays, speakers, alarms, signs, and advertising.
Each time someone steps on the tile, a central light illuminates, "connecting" the person to the part they play in producing the 2.1 watts of electricity per hour the tiles can generate (and providing self-sufficient lighting for pedestrian crossings).

The tiles are made from nearly 100-percent recycled materials (mostly rubber) and some marine grade stainless steel. They can be retrofitted to existing structures and are waterproof as well as designed to withstand outdoor conditions.
Pavegen tiles were used as a dance floor at Bestival on the Isle-of-Wright and are currently being tested in East London. They have been successfully installed in a school corridor where they are currently being monitored for durability and performance while helping to power the building. Speaking of durability, each tile is claimed to have a life of approximately 20 million steps or 5 years.
In September 2011 Pavegen received its first commercial order for the London 2012 Olympics Site where they will be used in the crossing between the Olympic stadium and the Westfield Stratford City Shopping Center.

Bosco Verticale: the world's first vertical forest

Bosco Verticale is a planned 10,000 square meter urban forest, which will grow upwards.
Italian architecture firm Stefano Boeri Architetti hopes to merge vegetation and urban architecture, with its Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) project. The Milan-based firm has designed a model that could see the "reforestation and naturalization" of metropolitan cities, by growing forests sky-ways. "Bosco Verticale [is a] device for the environmental survival of contemporary European cities," says Stefano Boeri.

Milan will host the first example of Bosco Verticale, with two residential towers already planned for construction. The towers, measuring 110 and 76 meters (361 and 250 feet), will become home to over 900 trees and that's excluding a wide range of shrubs and floral plants. The basic idea is that if you were to take the building out of the picture, the amount of trees needed to plant a forest on the land surface should be equal to those growing vertically on the tower. In essence, you will be creating a 10,000 square meter (11,960 sq. yds.) forest, growing upwards.
The project also aids in filtering air pollution contained in the urban environment. This is achieved as the the plants help produce humidity, absorb CO2 and dust particles, and produce oxygen. This will improve the quality of living for the residents, and it also creates a canopy that protects the building from radiation and noise pollution.
An irrigation and filtering system will be installed, that recycles gray water for maintenance of the plants. Photovoltaic solar cells will help contribute to the building's energy self-sufficiency.
Bosco Verticale will cost EUR65 million (US$87.5 million) and is stage one of the proposed BioMilano, which is hoped to create a green belt around the city.