Innovation
VIDEOS

Steorn Orbo

The latest contender to claim a perpetual energy machine, Steorn claims they can gain energy from magnets. Over Unity technology claims to defy the second law of thermodynamics. Boon or bunk? You decide.

Shopping Robot

Shopping robot Robovie-II carries your shopping bag, reminds you to purchase items on your shopping list, and pitches store specials.

Cyber Surfer

Sugru

Sugru is a soft modelling clay that dries in 30 minutes at room-temp to a waterproof, heat/cold-resistant, dishwasher safe, flexible semi-solid. It's self-adhesive and bonds with many metals, glass, ceramic, plastics, etc. It can be used to make or fix or remake things from shoes to spectacles to plumbing-pipe.

ProDigits

Touch Bionics has developed a finger prosthesis system that is custom built to adapt to the needs of individual patients, allowing them to grasp and manipulate objects, and even to type on a keyboard.

Aluminum + Ice = Rocket Fuel

Combining metallic aluminum in non-scale power form with ice has been found to product rocket fuel.

Thought-Controlled Robotic Hand

A robotic hand has been successfully connected to an amputee, allowing him to feel sensations in the artificial limb and control it with his thoughts.

Scratchbot

The Bristol Robotics Laboratory at the University of Bristol, UK has built a robot that senses obstacles not with cameras, but sensitive whiskers at the front end.

Jetpack

The Go-Fast Jetpack H2O2-Z holds eight gallons of fuel that can propel it for 43 seconds at a maximum speed of 77 mph.

Cargomaster Stairclimber

Manual Handling Solutions has developed a robot that helps to lift heavy equipment up stairs.

Road Trains

Link up to a Road Train, then relax and leave the driving to the lead vehicle.

Fly Beneath the Waves

The Super Aviator personal sub operates using rudders, wings, thrust and lift, just like flying a plane underwater.

Web 3.0 - No Keyboard Needed

Move over social networking, here comes "social awareness." Soon tweets and status updates will become fully automated and generated by the world around us.

Solar + Salt = Energy

Mirrors are used to focus solar energy on a tower containing molten salt. The heat is released by passing the molten salt through a steam generator that drives a turbine to produce electricity. The cooled salt is then recirculated to the receiver for re-heating.

Hands-Free Crutches

Anyone who has ever used crutches would agree the Freedom Leg is a major improvement, giving you hands-free mobility, while your leg heals.

Eyeball Robot

Ever wanted eyes in the back of your head? The eyeball robot gives you a third eye you can wear on your sleeve.

LinguaMobila

Submitted by BinelikMan
LinguaMobila is an internet based MMS multilingual voice translation service for mobile phones.

Bottle Bank Arcade Machine

Not many people recycle glass bottles, probably because we don't get any money for them. Can we change this attitude just by making recycling glass fun to do?

Bipedal Petman

The Petman is a two-legged upright robot that simulates the walking motion of human beings. It can also crawl and perform various calisthenics, while perspiring from artificial sweat glands.

Locate the Nearest Life Saving Device

Lucien Engelen has developed a method that enables you to geolocate AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators) using the Layar Augmented Reality Browser to pinpoint the AED nearest you.

Blinky Fishing Lure

Submitted by T. Barmore
This is a patent pending fishing lure that attracts fish by it's light being on or flashing. Since it uses a LED it can come in many colors. It can be turned on by the hook or other means to save on the battery. The manufacturer determines with painting where the light will shine from the lure because it is made of clear plastic. The electronic package containing the light can be screwed into the lure keeping it watertight. (For Sale or License)

Rat Brain controls Robot

Rat brains are used to control this robot, and human brains will be next. It is the only robot that can truly learn.

Virtual Autopsy

Using the Virtual Autopsy Table, examiners can manipulate images of real scanned bodies, using the multi touch interface. What you see is not a 3D model, its a full volumetric description of a human body.

Coral Gardening

An amazing pilot project in Fiji that is bringing damaged coral reefs back to life, and restoring local fishing.

Piano Stairs inspire Activity

Making the steps into piano keys gets lazy subway patrons to use the stairs instead of the escalator.

Nissan's Land Glider

The Land Glider acts like a covered 4-wheel motorcycle, tilting into corners for a fun ride. The concept electric car is half-width with tandem seating.

PhotoSketch

Compose a rough drawing with objects that are given text labels. PhotoSketch, using a novel filtering system, searches the Internet and extracts the desired objects from existing photos and composites them into the desired layout.

Rolltop Portable Rollup Computer

This ingenious concept allows you to rollup your laptop into a neat package, while being able to use it in several different formats, from a 13" mini-notebook, to a graphics tablet, to a 17" flat screen monitor.

Electricity-Generating Backpack

Lightning Packs is developing backpacks that generate electricity with the motion of their users. As the user walks, the spring-mounted backback bounces slightly, turning a gear on a generator.

High Speed Robot Hand

Amazing human-like dexterity is demonstrated by Ishikawa Komuro Lab's high-speed robot hand.

iPhone ARider

This prototype shows how the iPhone ARider with retractible head mounted display, and original iPhone app could display directions in realtime.

Flying Saucer technology now a Reality

Aesir video of its prototype vertical take-off and landing unmanned aircraft, which uses the Coanda effect to generate lift by blowing air from a central fan over its curved surface.

YikeBike

Like no bike you've ever seen before. Smallest, lightest, electric folding bicycle.

Make your own RepRap 3D Printer

Create your own 3D objects from your designs, or designs you download from the web. For under $1,000 you can build your own RepRap 3D printer and produce your own goods.

ULTra PRT Transit Systems

Finally, a public transportation system that makes sense. You call a pod when you need it. Pods wait for you, you don't wait for a pod. Heathrow's system will begin operations in late 2009.

Not Quite on the Mark...

Some really bad solutions to everyday problems.

Free Energy for your Home?

MagniWork claims to have developed a magnetic device that generates free electric energy for home use.

Aspiral Clock

Instead of a dial, a spiral; instead of hands, a ball. Who said time couldn't be reinvented?

Touchable Holography

Nintendo Wiimotes track hand movement while ultrasound radiated from above adds tactile feedback to the hovering image. You can feel the rain drops.

Herding Sheep

Sheep herders with way too much time on their hands. Still... amazing feats and great imaginative fun.

Mirror Therapy for Phantom Pain

A new technique called "mirror image therapy" uses the reflection of the intact limb to trick the brain-in a good way and eliminate phantom limb pain.

Parajet Skycar

The Parajet Skycar is the first, two seater, high performance, road legal, bio-fuelled flying car; capable of providing rally car performance on and off road, and light aircraft performance after just a few minutes of wing preparation.

Time Travel: Is it Possible?

The joys, terrors and true possibilities of navigating the Fourth Dimension, with quantum physicist Michio Kaku and astrophysicist Charles Liu.

The Access: Inclusive Fitness

Fitness machines that accommodate wheelchairs.

AlphaGrip

With a scientifically designed button layout, the iGrip gives you fast, comfortable access to all the keys you need for high speed typing and gaming. Its handheld design enables powerful desk-free computing from any location in any position: standing, riding in a vehicle, relaxing on a sofa, or leaning back in a recliner.

Digilegs

Want to look really cool this Hallowe'en? Digilegs give you the instant appearance of a Centaur. Just add costume and go! Get yours at kimgrahamstudios.com.

AIRpod

The next contender to replace gasoline could be air. The MDI AIRpod, being released at the end of 2009, runs on compressed air, seats up to 3 adults and costs about $2.00 to take you 100 km.

Sixth Sense Mobile Computing

Interact with any surface, get instant feedback on products, with this wearable camera/projector/cell phone. Using natural gestures, interact with this projected data on any surface, even your own hand.