Aist -- Engadget

aist posts

AIST unveils flexible display created with microcontact printing

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 10th 2008 at 3:11PM

Fresh from its efforts to disguise solar cells as plant leaves, Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (or AIST) is now boasting about some advances it's made in flexible displays, which it says will offer a whole host of benefits for e-paper-based devices. The big deal with this one is that all the processes needed to fabricate the organic TFT were done with microcontact printing, which allowed 'em to achieve a pixel pitch of 127μm even in its their initial 6x6-inch prototype, with the display also working effectively over its entire surface. That doesn't mean that it's quite ready for commercial use just yet, however, although the institute is promising to have A4-sized prototype ready by 2010, with actual e-paper products set to follow sometime around 2015.

Japanese consortium disguises solar cells as leaves

by Donald Melanson, posted Jun 4th 2008 at 4:00PM

We've already seen a number of attempts to more seamlessly integrate solar cells into everyday environments, but none have quite gone as far as this latest prototype from the folks at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Mitsubishi, and Tokki Corp. As you can see above, they've come up with a solution that shouldn't look too out of place nestled in with some actual foliage, with a special protective film encapsulating each of the solar models to ensure they stand up to the outdoors. The institute (no stranger to unique concepts) apparently isn't stopping there, however, saying that it also has plans to expand its use of organic thin-film solar cells into other areas where design is important, including walls, windows, clothing, and livingware, to name but a few.

AIST turns transparent glass into mirrors to conserve energy

by Darren Murph, posted Feb 1st 2007 at 4:39AM

We've seen two-way displays and undercover mirrors before, but the latest two-faced invention to come from the depths of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) can pull double duty in regard to purpose and save a little energy in the process. The "switchable glass" has certain reflexive properties created by the twin coatings of "40-nanometer-thick magnesium-titanium alloy, plus a 4-nanometer-thick layer of palladium," which allows for the mirror to become transparent when a small amount of hydrogen is introduced between the two panes. Alternatively, tossing in a bit of oxygen forms a reflecting mirror, allowing users to "switch" the glass by injecting gases. Contrary to other commercialized approaches, this rendition can purportedly result in up to a "30-percent savings in energy costs" by having to run your air conditioner less, but there's still work to be done. Scientists at the AIST are still toiling away as they try to fight the relatively rapid deterioration that occurs from "frequent switching," but if they can add a dash of durability and get the price down to a respectable level, we could all be living in a house of mirrors before too long.

[Via PlasticBamboo]

Promet's little bro, the HRP-2m "Choromet" humanoid robot

by Evan Blass, posted May 30th 2006 at 3:07PM

It's no secret that we love us some humanoid robots around here, and while their skiing, fighting, and temp skills are always impressive, all we really wanna do is watch the little guys dance. Unfortunately for us, most of the dancing bots we see around here are crazy expensive -- see the Partner Ballroom Dance Robot, for example -- including the HRP-2m "Promet" model that costs over $70,000-a-year just to rent. Well apparently Promet's manufacturer, Kawada Industries, haven't found much of a market for their pricey life-sized bot, so they've teamed up with Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) and three other firms to build a smaller, cheaper version of the HRP-2m called the Choromet. Powered by Linux, this 35-centimeter tall version can perform most of the same tricks as its big brother (such as standing on one leg, or delivering a killer Voltron impression) at a much more reasonable $4,450, and is being targeted towards the academic and research communities (which is where Promet originally learned to shake his groove thing).

[Via I4U, thanks Bram V.]