World’s Fastest Brick-Laying Robot and Other Future Tech
by Q3 Technologies Q3 Technologies - Building Quality into Software#ItsMonday Welcome to another week of science &
technology news from around the world. Let’s get started with the latest digest
for today.
World’s Fastest
Brick-Laying Robot
Although 3D Printing is set to revolutionize the
construction industry, we see very little of the technology being employed
presently. But a recent time-lapse video of the world’s fastest brick-laying
robot caught our attention – the Hadrian X by Australia-based Fastbrick
Robotics – a 3D-printing robot that can lay 1000 bricks/hour.
“From the computer aided design of a house structure, [the
Hadrian X] 3D robotic end to end bricklaying system handles the automatic
loading cutting, routing and placement of all the bricks course by course. The
high level accuracy of the finished product allows following trades to
pre-fabricate from the CAD design then simply install,” they explain on their
homepage.
3D Printing has a lot of advantages in the construction
industry, and can improve occupational health & safety (OH&S), and
produce less waste. According to the company, their design “allows for maximum
mobility and is able to work on almost any block size”; the reduced construction
time allowing “for greater flexibility and time/cost savings to builders and
their customers.”
Communicating with
People with Locked-In Syndrome
Damage to the brain stem results in the ‘locked-in syndrome’
– a brain disorder that allows people to retain consciousness, yet, not
verbally express themselves. Now, NeuroSky – the company behind the ‘Star Wars
Force Trainer’ – has released the MindScribe headset, a
“MindScribe is a new communication system that will help
families struggling with locked-in syndrome. It is controlled using brainwaves,
so it can help maintain important relationships even in the final stages of the
syndrome when all muscle control is lost,” says NeuroSky, “We are launching a
crowdfunding campaign this summer to fund the development of new features like
typing and emergency signals that can help people dealing with the brutal
symptoms of ALS and other diseases.”
SpaceX to Spend $300m
on Mars Mission
We now know that SpaceX might launch to Mars as soon as May
2018. But, what many might not have inferred was the amount they’re spending to
get there.
According to SpaceNews, “[When] asked by the committee how
much SpaceX was spending, [Jim Reuter, Deputy Associate Administrator for
Programs in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate] indicated that the company’s
investment was 10 times that of NASA. ‘They did talk to us about a 10-to-1
arrangement in terms of cost: theirs 10, ours 1,’ he said, ‘I think that’s in
the ballpark.’ Given NASA’s investment, that implies SpaceX is spending around
$300 million on Red Dragon.”
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