Hurricane Formation

 

Source: wunderground.com

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It is lit

 

• Title It is lit
• Released 21/08/2018 4:17 pm
• Copyright Roger Riedel/DLR
• DescriptionIf you cannot take the heat, stay out of planetary exploration.Rollin’ Justin, the humanoid robot developed by the German Aerospace Center, DLR proved to be able to handle it just fine.

  Last week ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst conducted the SUPVIS-Justin experiment, part of ESA’s METERON project that aims to demonstrate the technology needed to allow astronauts orbiting other planets to direct robots on the surface.

  Using a basic tablet with a dedicated app, Alexander interacted with Justin by sending a series of commands from the International Space Station. Justin, located at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, performed maintenance and assembly tasks for two hours in his simulated Mars environment.

  The demonstration honed in on Justin’s semi-autonomous ability to assess his situation and proceed from there. Alexander in turn had to supervise Justin based on the robot’s feedback. This feature was key in the second half of the experiment, which was designed to test how responsive the telerobotic systems are in unexpected situations. Tasked with retrieving an antenna from the lander and mounting it on a special payload unit, Justin encountered smoke coming from inside the unit. Alexander reacted by asking Justin to investigate further.

  The problem turned out to be a malfunctioning computation unit, imaged here, which Alexander commanded Justin to remove and place in the lander.

  Together, the duo successfully brought the situation under control, thanks to Justin’s situational awareness and the intuitive interface of the app.

  Advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence means we can better use robots to fulfil tasks normally left to humans, especially in more dangerous situations like inhospitable planetary surfaces. With the help of robots, humans can more safely and efficiently build habitats and scout the surface of other planets in the future.

  The experiment was first performed by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli during his mission in 2017, along with NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Jack Fischer. It quickly became a hit among the Space Station’s crew members. NASA astronaut Scott Tingle performed the second experiment last March. European researchers will work with the feedback from astronauts to improve the interface.

  Watch a replay of the experiment here. Follow Alexander for more exciting science during his Horizons mission.

  As for Rollin’ Justin, he will be back to run more METERON experiments in the future. 

• Id 398554

 

Source: European Space Agency: esa.int/spaceinimages…

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¿What is Artificial Intelligence?

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Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

 

The jewel in the crown is the car’s V12 engine, hand-built in Sant’Agata Bolognese, naturally balanced and longitudinally mounted in a central position.

The excellent acceleration capabilities at any engine speed, the lightning-fast reactivity, and the breathtaking roar of the Aventador demonstrate the incredible power of its engine, the true beating heart of the car which is capable of taking you somewhere anything is possible: once you get there, you’ll never want to go back.

The feeling you get when you exceed all commonly accepted limits is simply indescribable.

 

 

Source: Coconut Photography | Flickr

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Girl driving car

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2018 Chevrolet Spark

The 2018 Chevrolet Spark hatchback is the smallest Chevy on the North American market, and it’s become something of a forgotten model. The five-door minicar is a family car in developing countries, but in the States, its fuel efficiency and easy parking lack appeal in an age of cheap gasoline and surging sales of utility vehicles. The Spark is sold in three trim levels: the base LS, the mid-range 1LT, and the top 2LT. A Spark Activ adds body cladding, a few interior amenities, and body cladding. It’s offered with a manual or automatic transmission.

 

 

We rate the 2018 Spark at 5.0 out of 10 points. It’s small, easy to park, has a good touchscreen infotainment interface with big-car features like a wi-fi hotspot, and offers optional active-safety features rare in the segment. On the other hand, its minimal performance, back-to-basics interior, and fuel economy that’s far lower than any hybrid on the market may well disappoint shoppers who assume it’ll be similar to a compact car two classes up. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

First offered in 2013 in the wake of GM’s bankruptcy, the little Spark sold better than Chevrolet expected at first—enough to convince it to bring in a second-generation Spark for the 2016 model year. The current Spark looks more grown-up, but it’s still small even against the Sonic subcompact hatchback, let alone the compact Cruze hatchback. And its sales have stagnated as gas has stayed cheap.

Web: thecarconnection

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Self-driving cars will change cities: here’s how

 

When the number of people reliant on self-driving cars reaches critical mass, cities will evolve to become either more densely-packed, like New York, or decentralized hubs of suburban sprawl, like Dallas. That’s according to MIT’s Center for Real Estate, which conducted a study with funding from Capital One in order to make predictions about shifting trends in the world of real estate.

According to the study, self-driving cars will encourage already-dense cities like New York, San Francisco, and Boston to become even more dense, as self-driving ride-share services replace the need for car ownership. Fewer cars owned will result in reduced demand for parking lots and gas stations, both of which currently take up highly prized real estate that could eventually be used for wider sidewalks and more housing.

MORE: The 5 levels of self-driving cars explained

Parking in particular, the study says, currently accounts for up to 45 percent of the land in some cities, and some parking garages are already being built with an eye toward an eventual conversion to retail or residential space.

The effect is the polar opposite in cities that are already icons of sprawl, like Dallas, Houston, and Phoenix. Where commuters already drive great distances to go to work, the theory is that the tolerable level of commuting distance will increase if the time spent commuting can be filled with either rest or work. Compounding the effect, with fewer overall vehicles and less gridlocked traffic, the report predicts it will take less time to cover the same distance.

With more allowable commute time, and more distance covered in that time, suburbia is set to experience a considerable outgrowth. As a result, cities surrounded by under-developed land will experience a construction boom along their outer perimeters.

Of course, this assumes that the average worker won’t suddenly switch to some other emerging form of transportation. Statistically, speaking, they won’t. When it comes to getting to work on time, commuters overwhelmingly choose their own vehicle, part of a decades-long trend of refusing other forms of transportation in favor of private car ownership that seems unlikely to change with the advent of self-driving cars.

 

Web: thecarconnection

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