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Time Telescope greatly improves optical data transmission, won't undo your past mistakes

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 1st 2009 at 3:06AM

Researchers at Cornell have developed a "time telescope" from silicon waveguides that work like the two lenses of a telescope (or microscope) to compress and decompress data. Using the method, they were able to shift a 24-bit light pulse from 2.5 nanoseconds to 92 picoseconds in length without losing any information -- delivering the it to its destination 27 times faster than traditional fiber optics. Of course, the current 24-bit limit is too small for real world use, but it is a start -- and since this uses industry-supported fabrication technology, there's a chance that we may actually get our hands on one of these things in the not-too-distant future. Insert your own Marty McFly joke here.

[Via Slashdot]

Cornell gurus look to carbon nanotubes for efficient solar cells

by Darren Murph posted Sep 17th 2009 at 10:21PM

You know what we love? Solar-powered gadgets, and carbon nanotubes. Oh, and Ivy League schools. Boffins from Cornell University are now looking to use the multifaceted carbon nanotube instead of silicon to develop efficient solar cells, and judging by the glacial pace at which solar cell efficiency is improving, we'd say the sector could use the boost. The researchers have already fabricated, tested and measured a simple solar cell (called a photodiode, just so you know) that was formed from an individual carbon nanotube. The tube was essentially a rolled-up sheet of graphene, and while the inner workings would take days to explain, the gist of it is this:

"The nanotube may be a nearly ideal photovoltaic cell because it allowed electrons to create more electrons by utilizing the spare energy from the light."

So, solar-powered F-350 trucks are now a possibility for next year, right?

[Via Graphene-Info]

Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Aug 3rd 2009 at 3:33PM

Cornell sure seems to be doing its part to usher in a world where robots call the shots and humans spend most of their time cowering in the corners of bomb-out buildings. Researchers at the school have variously applied their brain matter (and we're guessing the occasional government check) to such sticky problems as robot consciousness, distance walking, and complications related to using robotics in zero gravity. And now we've heard that the school has just won something called the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition. The vehicles entered in the 12th annual AUVC (which was held at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego) ran an underwater obstacle course that involved bombing things, firing torpedoes, and eventually recovering a suitcase with "secret documents" (or old issues of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, depending on who you believe). You can see the thing in action for yourself in the video after the break.

[Via GoRobotics.net]

Continue reading Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts

Quest for invisibility cloaks revisited by two research groups

by Ross Miller posted Apr 30th 2009 at 5:26AM

After a brief period of no news, it's time to revisit the world of invisible cloaks. Inspired by the ideas of theoretical physicist John Pendry at Imperial College, London, two separate groups of researchers from Cornell University and UC Berkeley claim to have prototyped their own cloaking devices. Both work essentially the same way: the object is hidden by mirrors that look entirely flat thanks to tiny silicon nanopillars that steer reflected light in such a way to create the illusion. It gets a bit technical, sure, but hopefully from at least one of these projects we'll get a video presentation that's sure to make us downright giddy.

Scientists develop 'coin sorter' for nanoparticles, first-ever nanofluidic device with complex 3D surface

by Ross Miller posted Apr 5th 2009 at 2:09PM

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Cornell University have banded together and formed what they're touting is the first nanoscale fluidic device with a complex three-dimensional surface. The staircase-shaped prototype is 10nm at its tiniest and 620nm at its tallest -- all smaller than the average bacterium, and a departure from the usual flat, rectangular-shaped fare. According to the press release, it can manipulate nanoparticles by size, similar to how coin sorters separate your pocket change. Potential uses includes helping to measure nanoparticle mixtures for drug delivery or gene therapy, or the isolation / confinement of individual DNA strands. Don your science caps and hit up the read link for the more technical details

[Via PhysOrg]

New robotic arm promises to mind Newton's third law

by Donald Melanson posted Aug 7th 2008 at 4:04PM

Don't you hate it how simply moving a robotic arm in a microgravity environment can produce enough negative reaction forces to alter a spacecraft's orientation? Well, a group of researchers from Cornell University have now devised a new type of robot arm that they say could make that pesky problem a thing of the past. To do that, they've employed a device known as a control-moment gyroscope (or CMG) instead of a motor to control the arm's joints, which not only reduces the amount energy required to move the arm, but lets it move faster as well. As you can see above, they've already tested the arm on board NASA's famous Vomit Comet, but there's no indication just yet as to when or if the arm will actually see action in space.

Cornell Ranger sets unofficial distance walking record for a robot

by Darren Murph posted Apr 8th 2008 at 8:58AM

Think you could keep pace with Cornell's Ranger robot? Just last week, the robot walker set an unofficial world record by trotting nonstop for 45 laps (that's 5.6 miles, for those counting) around the university's Barton Hall running track. After reaching that mark, the creature presumably fell over from battery exhaustion, but the team of creators are investigating to find out the exact reason it finally collapsed. Although Guinness officials weren't involved due to too much "rigmarole," the team has quite a bit to be proud of -- after all, an earlier version of the creature only made it 0.62 miles before calling it a day. Aside from garnering bragging rights, the crew is hoping to use Ranger to better understand the "mechanics of walking," which could be used to improve rehabilitation procedures or even athletic performance.

[Via Physorg]

Cornell designer concocts garb that prevents colds, shuns pollution

by Darren Murph posted May 7th 2007 at 7:01AM

We've seen sensor-laden, iPod-friendly, and electroluminescent garb in years past, but a crafty design student over at Cornell University wasn't satisfied with stopping there. Olivia Ong is hoping to get her career in fashion off to a very safe start, as her functional clothing lines include "a garment that can prevent colds and flu and never needs washing," and if that wasn't fresh enough, she's also conjured up another that "destroys harmful gases and protects the wearer from smog and air pollution." The prototype Glitterati garb was showcased at the school's Design League fashion show, and both articles contained "cotton fabrics coated with nanoparticles" that give them the unique qualities. No word on whether or not we can expect such protective (albeit stylish) threads to hit the strip anytime soon, but considering that "one square yard of nano-treated cotton would run you about $10,000," we doubt us common folk would be selling off assets to take it home anyway.

[Via MedLaunches]

Cornell researchers developing lie-detection software

by Darren Murph posted Mar 30th 2007 at 7:51PM

While most of the world simply takes what everyone else says at face value, there's always been a dark market for inconspicuous lie-detecting gadgetry for the overly paranoid, but researchers at Cornell University are hoping to take lie-detection to the next level by carefully analyzing emails and SMS messages for fibs. In a three-year effort to "compile a list of indicators of written deception," the team drew from some "40 years of research in linguistics and lies, including recent work in the context of computer media and reviews of Enron emails." By carefully inspecting word choices, verb tenses, and a variety of other textual factors, the software can purportedly use "contextual parameters" to spot lies, and they hope to market the goods to police agencies, upset spouses, and of course, corporate ethics committees.So if you're ever-so-suspicious significant other (or mischievous youngster) has just recently put down the Skype headset in favor of pounding out emails, rest assured, help is on the way.

[Via TechDirt, image via Cornell]

Cornell robot is "conscious," adapts to injury

by Thomas Ricker posted Nov 17th 2006 at 10:03AM

Oh great. As if the potent, robotic cocktail of self-replication, self-awareness, and wireless power weren't bad enough, along comes Cornell University with a robot capable of not only discovering its own nature (something we can't even do) but then adapts to overcome injury. This four-legged robot starts out knowing only what parts it has, not where they are or how to use them for locomotion. It applies a scientific method of theory and experimentation to develop computer models and ultimately, a set of commands to turn its motors for that first cautious step. Even when researchers remove part of the toddling robot's leg, the little guy still figures out a way to limp forward. Cornell scientists go so far as to say that the robot is "conscious," albeit on a primitive level since it thinks to itself, "what would happen if I do this?" Yeah, that's a stretch, but a step closer to our doom nevertheless. Although the robot used to demonstrate these cognitive gymnastics is quite simple, the algorithm could be used to build more complex robots for say, space exploration or defending itself while standing in line for a PS3. Well, at least The Robots don't currently have a place to coalesce under a common roof of intellectual ferment... oh God, no! Still, any robot which drinks puddle water can't be too bright, eh?

Solar flares to disrupt GPS for several hours in 2011 or 2012

by Cyrus Farivar posted Sep 28th 2006 at 1:24AM

Ok GPS fans, we're prepping you early for what could be a moment of pretty severe inconvenience in the not so distant future. Brace yourself, because in roughly five to six years, your beloved handheld devices won't work for several hours due to solar flare activity (sound familiar?). According to new Cornell University research, solar flares negatively affect GPS devices, based on observations of stellar phenomena in September of last year. In 2011 or 2012, when the sun reaches its next solar maximum, scientists expect it to cause a 90 percent GPS signal drop for several hours. While most of us will walk around, oblivious to these space fireworks, Alessandro Cerruti (pictured on the left), a Cornell graduate student who studies solar flare effects, envisions this horrific day as a "nightmare situation," given that all planes will likely have GPS signaling by that time. However, given these harbingers of doom, Dr. Paul Kinter (pictured on the right), Cerruti's advisor, has a brilliant solution: "I think the best remedy is to be aware of the problem and operate GPS systems with the knowledge that they may fail during a solar flare." See, it's just that easy, people.

Two-way OLED displays to provide solar power

by Paul Miller posted Sep 18th 2006 at 8:53PM

We've already got plenty of love for OLED. The technology provides cheap, flexible, and even transparent displays to our devices -- what more could we ask for? Well, some research types at Cornell University have developed a new version of Organic LED that not only emits light, but can take in solar energy to produce electricity. We're not so hot on all the science speak they're tossing around to make this possible, but it seems like the technology could be quite an exciting development for all sorts of products, from solar windows to self-charging screens. No word on how long it'll take this tech to go commercial, but they're already talking ways to make mass production a breeze, so that's at least a good sign.

[Via Gadgetbox]

Cornell researchers building video projector on a chip

by Paul Miller posted Aug 25th 2006 at 1:02PM

We've seen plenty of tiny projector concepts over the past couple of years, but some researchers at Cornell University are taking this idea to its logical extreme by building a whole display on a single chip. The crux of their idea is basing the device on carbon-fiber, since silicon proves too brittle to handle the 60,000 times a second line-scanning frequency of a traditional video display. Carbon-fiber, on the other hand, can withstand all sorts of abuse and keep on scanning. The chip design has an tiny 400 x 500 micron mirror supported by two carbon-fiber hinges, an array of which -- one for each horizontal line -- would be all that's needed to scan lasers across a screen for a full-fledged video display. Supposedly all this can be squeezed into a form factor small enough to power a cellphone-based projector, and the carbon-fiber springs might even work as a way to harvest energy from user movement for powering small electronic devices. Sign us up for both, please.

[Via Slashdot]

Galileo GPS system hacked at Cornell

by Darren Murph posted Jul 13th 2006 at 2:18PM

The insightful minds over at Cornell University's GPS Laboratory aren't messing around -- they only needed one week to hack the GIOVE-A (Galileo In-Orbit Validation Element-A, more commonly referred to as Galileo) and gain access to the European satellite system without those pesky PRN codes. If you're overwhelmed by acronyms, fear not, the jist is as follows: these guys at Cornell did the legwork in developing an algorithm to extract the pseudo random number codes that are used to give customers access to the Galileo GPS system, which unlike America's taxpayer-owned militarily-developed and free GPS setup, is funded by the European Union, European Space Agency, and private organizations (read: service comes at a cost). What those oh so hopeful profiteers obviously disregarded was the little known fact that, well, (right now) it's impossible to copyright physical data about the world, leaving them all but helpless here. So please, should you need access to another set of GPS sats, be our guest and snag all those previously unavailable and presumably costly PRN codes at your leisure.