FireExtinguisher
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DARPA fights fire with sound and electricity, hopes 'ionic wind' could save lives in the field
Fire, frenemy of humanity since time immemorial. Typical extinguishing methods have involved water, chemicals and even blankets, but DARPA wanted to see if there was another, more pragmatic way. Starting with the understanding of fire actually being a cold plasma, DARPA then explored fire's electromagnetic and acoustic qualities, and discovered two potential ways to quell the flame, one using electrons, the other, sound. The electron technique creates an oscillating field that separates the fire and fuel dubbed "ionic wind," the other method creates an acoustic field that increases the air velocity (thinning the flame boundary) and causes the flames to widen and drop in temperature, dispersing the fire's energy. The concepts have been proven, but scaling these up to real world solutions is a whole different matter. Light up the videos after the break to see them in action.
Phantom camera captures flamethrower vs. fire extinguisher in ultra slo-mo (video)
Korn's "Freak on a Leash," Smashing Pumpkin's "Tonight, Tonight" and Michael / Janet Jackson's "Scream" come to mind when thinking of stunning music videos of the past score, but we're guessing that a 3:19 clip from the good people in Dancing Pigeons will be joining that fray. The music video for "Ritalin" was shot entirely on a Vision Research Phantom and Canon EOS 7D, with the former handling the slow motion work. Which, of course, is the star of the show. You may not think 199 seconds of flamethrower vs. fire extinguisher would be entertaining, but you'd be wrong. Hop on past the break and mash play, but be sure to position a drip rag beneath your chin beforehand.
Rovio finds new purpose in life with fire extinguisher mod
The Rovio may not have inspired quite the same level of modding as something like the Robosapien, but it's far from completely lacking in the department, and RoboCommunity member Colt45 looks to have delivered one of the more impressive hacks to date with this new and improved fire extinguisher bot. As impressive as that top-mounted CF2ClBr fire extinguisher and remote-controlled nozzle is, however, the real standout piece may actually be the software, which apparently uses a machine vision app that can recognize fire and automatically extinguish it when necessary (assuming it remains around candle size). Unfortunately, there's no how-to for building your own just yet, nor is there any word of a planned face off with a Flame-o-Sapien, though you can be sure we'll let you know as soon as that happens. [Via SlashGear]
Russian fire extinguishers converted into speakers
Converting wine jugs and thinking men into speakers is one thing, but transforming nearly archaic Russian fire extinguishers into front towers is another thing entirely. Due to the entire how-to guide being penned in Russian, we'll confess that we aren't entirely sure what went on during the construction process. The good news, however, is that the guide includes a plethora of photographs that can be understood regardless of your native tongue. Now, how to go about finding a few of those canisters...[Via Hack N Mod]
Laser fire extinguisher simulator threatens arsonist's livelihoods
Look, we know how hard it can be to put out a fire with your typical, under -the-sink extinguisher. Sure, the flames are brightly colored and searingly hot, but it can be difficult to know where to aim that thing sometimes. Enter the BullsEye Fire Extinguisher Training System, which combines a laser-equipped, mock extinguisher, and a digital, on-screen "fire" display. Thanks to the BullsEye technology, you and your family and / or friends can learn to put out fires from the safety and comfort of your home or office, without actually have to burn down your safe, comfortable home or office.
Fire Fighter Flower douses oil fires, doubles as a fridge magnet
Look, we don't come up with this stuff, so don't look our way when that magnetic, fridge-mounted Fire Fighter Flower you bought ends up catching on fire and then destroying all of your 2nd grade pictures on the fridge -- it's your own dang fault. [Via Uber-Review]
An alternate solution to the Hello Kitty toy recall
Hello Kitty doll got your beloved tyke a little hot under the collar (due to leaking chemicals)? Recall, shmecall -- just stick one of these Kitty-branded fire extinguishers under his / her bed and call it a day. Stop, drop, and roll has never been this much fun.[Via Hello Kitty Hell]
