This device can sniff out a bomb from 20m away

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This device can sniff out a bomb from 20m away
The EU-funded OPTIX (Optical Technologies for the Identification of Explosives' team used advanced optical technologies that can be mounted on a compact remote vehicle and then used to detect quantities of less than 1 mg of explosives.
LONDON: Researchers in Europe have developed and tested a light-weight device capable of detecting extremely minute quantities of explosives from up to 20 metres away, providing an invaluable law-enforcement tool in the fight against bomb attacks.

The EU-funded OPTIX (Optical Technologies for the Identification of Explosives' team used advanced optical technologies that can be mounted on a compact remote vehicle and then used to detect quantities of less than 1 mg of explosives.

According to reports, no other research organization or company has managed to achieve this degree of sensitivity.

Armed with to lasers that can precisely identify the atomic and molecular structure of explosives, the OPTIX device can rapidly and remotely scan all objects in its field of vision such as a vehicle, piece of luggage or any opaque container, and pick up trace residue.

Lead researcher Alberto Calvo from Spain said, "Detecting traces of explosives at a distance of up to 20 metres can help to boost security across a wide range of scenarios. Not only would security be enhanced, but the inconvenience for citizens would be reduced significantly through the use of a non-invasive and non-hazardous explosive detection system."

To make the system portable, the team plans to integrate it into a wheeled platform, which could eventually resemble a bulked-up Mars Rover. The platform will move along a car park or a street, for example, scanning surfaces for traces of explosives.

A law-enforcement officer will control the roving vehicle remotely and monitor the data collected in real time.

Around 60% of all terrorist bombing around the world used Improvised Explosive Devices.

The OPTIX consortium received 2.4 million euros in EU-funding to improve the safety and quality of life of European citizens.

The OPTIX prototype has already been successfully tested in laboratory and outdoor environments, simulating real-life situations and in various weather conditions. The team plans to increase the sensitivity, precision and robustness of the system before making it available to European police and security forces.
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younger generation is somehow inherently more adept at using technology


Are children naturally better at computers?

May 26, 2013, 05.11 AM IST
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We're often astounded by the ability of children to pick up, use and master the latest technological innovations. You frequently hear stories from parents of how they left a tablet computer lying around and after a couple of hours they came back to find their toddler using it to play games, look at kittens on the internet or open an offshore bank account.

The idea that the younger generation is somehow inherently more adept at using technology is slowly taking hold. In a recent survey by John Lewis, the department store chain, 71 per cent of parents admitted that they consult their children for technological advice, whether that's help online (setting up social-media profiles ) or around the home (operating the remote). In other words, while adults are busy putting food on the table, children are becoming our technological overlords.

But how and why is this happening and why do some parents seem resigned to it? After all, modern user interfaces are getting simpler and, at least in theory, are designed for us all to operate.

"It's certainly an illusion to assume that kids can do these things intuitively," says Nigel Houghton, managing director of Simplicity Computers . "It's more the case that they're not fearful of looking around, and so they eventually work things out." Dr Mark Brosnan, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Bath and author of the book Technophobia , says that children's apparent expertise has little to do with youth.

"It becomes about inclination ," says Matt Leeser, head of buying for telecoms and technology at John Lewis. "Whether you're talking about Windows 8 or a smart TV, it's a question of whether one can be bothered to learn how to use it." But it's also to do with the learning process itself. "When kids get a device, they talk to their mates, they go through a process of swapping information ," says Houghton, whose company specialises in producing simpler, more straightforward computing interfaces. "But when older people see younger people using devices so easily, it provides a sort of deterrent: 'Oh god,' they think, 'I can't do that, I must be stupid.'"

It's a conveniently lazy mindset to develop, but it's one that's easily conquerable. Says Brosnan, "Some of the most confident, happy, least anxious users are silver surfers over the age of 65 — largely due to the fact that they're retired, they have some time to spare, and there's no pressure — no-one is watching them and evaluating how they're using it."
In other words, a solid relationship with technology seems to be a function of leisure time, something that parents can be woefully short of. --THE INDEPENDENT


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SIT students develop automated prosthetic leg, drawing robot

, TNN | May 25, 2013, 06.02 AM IST
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MANGALORE: Students and the teaching faculty of Srinivas Institute of Technology (SIT) have developed two innovative electronic devices - automated prosthetic leg and drawing robot.

To help physically challenged persons, final year mechanical engineering students - Abins Michael, Bonskey Samuel, Anoop Raj Rao and Clifford Aranha ---- under the guidance of project coordinators Neelakantha V Londhe and Sharathchandra Prabhu have developed the automated prosthetic leg.

This device is helpful for those who find it difficult to move their legs. The device reduces the effort required for walking by physically challenged persons.

Explaining how this device functions, students said the energy required for the movement of prosthetic leg is supplied by a compact 12 volt battery, which is fixed on the back of the waist belt of a physically challenged person. A small motor generates the movement of prosthetic leg, which is made of wood and aluminum, they said.

Each cycle of prosthetic leg movement involves three steps - first is to lift the thigh along with lower limb, then stretching of the lower limb and finally pushing back the entire leg forward or backward as required by the user.

Performance of the device can be enhanced using microcontroller. After charging the battery, this device can be used continuously for four hours.

Sharathchandra Prabhu told TOI: "Since we did research before designing this device, the cost to develop it was Rs 14,000. But the estimated manufacturing cost would be around Rs 6,000." To design this device for needy people, students have started approaching hospitals in this region, said Sharathchandra.

Drawing robot

Four final year computer engineering students - Janeeval P James, Jithu Sebastian, Margrette Thomas and Mobin KB -- under the guidance of computer science professors Janardhan Bhat K and GS Shivkumar have designed a drawing robot, a device which draws complicated civil engineering and machineries drawings.

Drawing robot will draw any type of pictures and shapes which is entered in android enabled mobile phone. This robot with a pencil holder is made of steel and fibre. The user of this device has to just connect robot with an android mobile phone through Bluetooth. Then user has to enter size and shape of the picture and the picture will be transferred from mobile to Arduino UNO - a microcontroller attached to the robot. With the help of microcontroller, robot will draw image specified by the users.

GS Shivkumar, who is also the head of department of computer science engineering, said this robot is useful to engineers as it draws complicated pictures of machineries with accuracy. "We spent around Rs 10,000 to design this robot," he added.
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