Archive for April, 2009
Remote Controlled Beetles – DARPA / MIT
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/22039/
Be sure to click the video link to see actual video footage!
The Army’s Remote-Controlled Beetle
The insect’s flight path can be wirelessly controlled via a neural implant.
By Emily Singer
 |
||
| Cyborg beetle: Shown here is a giant flower beetle carrying a microprocessor, radio receiver, and microbattery and implanted with several electrodes. To control the insect’s flight, scientists wirelessly deliver signals to the payload, which sends electrical signals through the electrode to the brain and flight muscles. Credit: Michel Maharbiz |
||
|
Multimedia
|
A giant flower beetle with implanted electrodes and a radio receiver on its back can be wirelessly controlled, according to research presented this week. Scientists at the University of California developed a tiny rig that receives control signals from a nearby computer. Electrical signals delivered via the electrodes command the insect to take off, turn left or right, or hover in midflight. The research, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), could one day be used for surveillance purposes or for search-and-rescue missions.
Beetles and other flying insects are masters of flight control, integrating sensory feedback from the visual system and other senses to navigate and maintain stable flight, all the while using little energy. Rather than trying to re-create these systems from scratch, Michel Maharbiz and his colleagues aim to take advantage of the beetle’s natural abilities by melding insect and machine. His group has previously created cyborg beetles, including ones that have been implanted with electronic components as pupae. But the current research, presented at the IEEE MEMS in Italy, is the first demonstration of a wireless beetle system.
The beetle’s payload consists of an off-the-shelf microprocessor, a radio receiver, and a battery attached to a custom-printed circuit board, along with six electrodes implanted into the animals’ optic lobes and flight muscles. Flight commands are wirelessly sent to the beetle via a radio-frequency transmitter that’s controlled by a nearby laptop. Oscillating electrical pulses delivered to the beetle’s optic lobes trigger takeoff, while a single short pulse ceases flight. Signals sent to the left or right basilar flight muscles make the animal turn right or left, respectively.
Most previous research in controlling insect flight has focused on moths. But beetles have certain advantages. The giant flower beetle’s size–it ranges in weight from four to ten grams and is four to eight centimeters long–means that it can carry relatively heavy payloads. To be used for search-and-rescue missions, for example, the insect would need to carry a small camera and heat sensor.
In addition, the beetle’s flight can be controlled relatively simply. A single signal sent to the wing muscles triggers the action, and the beetle takes care of the rest. “That allows the normal function to control the flapping of the wings,” says Jay Keasling, who was not involved in the beetle research but who collaborates with Maharbiz. Minimal signaling conserves the battery, extending the life of the implant. Moths, on the other hand, require a stream of electrical signals in order to keep flying.
The research has been driven in large part by advances in the microelectronics industry, with miniaturization of microprocessors and batteries.
Remote Controlled Sharks (BBC NEWS)
| http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4767428.stm
Last Updated: Thursday, 2 March 2006, 16:44 GMT  |
|
US ‘plans stealth shark spies’
|
|||
Pentagon scientists are planning to turn sharks into “stealth spies” capable of tracking vessels undetected, a British magazine has reported. They want to remotely control the sharks by implanting electrodes in their brains, The New Scientist says.It says the aim is “to exploit sharks’ natural ability to glide through the water, sense delicate electrical gradients and follow chemical trails”. The unusual project was unveiled last week in Hawaii, it says. ‘Steering’ sharks The research is being funded by the Pentagon’s Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), according to the magazine.
It aims to build on latest developments in brain implant technology which has already seen scientists controlling the movements of fish, rats and monkeys. “Neural implants consists of a series of electrodes that are embedded into the animal’s brain, which can then be used to stimulate various functional areas,” the magazine says. It says such devices are already being used by scientists at Boston University to “steer” a spiny dogfish in a fish tank. The next step for the Pentagon scientists will be the release of blue sharks with similar devices into the ocean off the coast of Florida. As radio signals will not penetrate the sea, communications with the animals will be made by sonar. The US navy has acoustic signalling towers capable of sending sonar signals to a shark up to 300km (187 miles) away, the magazine says. It says the scientists will be particularly interested in the animals’ health during the tests. “As wild predators, it is very easy to exhaust them, and this will place strict limits on how long the researchers can control their movements in any one session without harming them. “Despite this limitation, though, remote-controlled sharks do have advantages that robotic underwater surveillance vehicles just cannot match: they are silent, and they power themselves,” the magazine says. The project was discussed at the 2006 Ocean Sciences Meeting of the American Geophysical Union in Honolulu, Hawaii.
|
|||
Remote-controlled sharks do have advantages that robotic underwater surveillance vehicles just cannot match: they are silent, and they power themselves 
Drunk Driver at DNA fest, Velvet Lounge DC
Yep. I like these guys.
Florida Trip Part II – Photojournal
These photos mainly feature the beach and the aquarium museum that we visited in Florida. I can’t remember the names of either, but I’ll try to add them later.
Beach Beth, Florida 2009
Beach Florida 2009
Beach Beth, Florida 2009
Beach Beth, Florida 2009
Beach Beth, Florida 2009
Beach Beth, Florida 2009
Beth, Florida 2009
Birds, Florida 2009
Birds, Beth, Beach, Florida 2009
Linda and Lee Conrad, Florida 2009
Clown Fish and Anemone, Florida 2009
Fish, Florida 2009. What type of fish is this? Comment?
Jellyfish, Florida 2009.
Archetuethis “The Giant Squid” Corpse, Florida 2009. They have this guy displayed in a watery sarcophagus.
Archetuethis “The Giant Squid” Corpse, Florida 2009. Notice his beak.
Large enough Squid Corpse, Florida 2009. Beth likes it.
Look at us. Photo: Linda Conrad.
Beth and I went to Ladew Gardens for our 2 Year Anniversary
For our two year anniversary, Beth and I drove to Ladew Gardens. Here are some transposed light images.
Beth at home after our trip.
Beth at Ladew Gardens.
Beth at Ladew Gardens.
Beth at Ladew Gardens.
Beth at Ladew Gardens.
Beth at Ladew Gardens. This is the Buddha Bush.
Ladew Gardens 2009.
Ladew Gardens 2009. Are these Coy Fish or are they a Japanese Giant Goldfish? What’re they called? Comment pls.
Ladew Gardens 2009. They came right up to us like little fish puppies, they’re very aware.
Ladew Gardens 2009.
Noel at Loch Raven Reservoir, photo by Beth.
Natural Sustainable Technological Architecture.
We are in an age of humans determined to create a society of sustainability. Can this be achieved? Of course it can. However, the human animal will only be able to thrive indefinitely if it returns to a tolerable place in nature. There will always be death and entropy, but there will also always be life and growth.
Why is there so often a mental separation between nature and technology? Technology is simply a humanization of nature in a sense. We humanize nature to work for our needs and wants. We manipulate existing natural technology. There seems to be a tendency to separate the human from his environment. To be “protected from the elements.” We are part of a system and to separate ourselves from that system is to cut off essential life giving elements. Nature is harsh and unforgiving, but we are adaptive and rugged.
It is my dream that human architecture will begin a movement towards organic structural development. This following simple example may illustrate my underlying idea:
A man has a mouse problem in his house. The mice are coming in through small fissures in the architecture of his house. He traps numerous mice with mouse trapping devices. The mice are leaving their feces and urine in the walls, in clothing, in food products. The situation is detrimental to the man’s health and lifestyle. After killing over a dozen of mice in traps, the man still has not solved his mouse problem, the mice are breeding in the walls.
The man adopts a cat. After finding the cat playfully and proudly killing a mouse one night, he cleans the remaining debris left by the mice. After several days the man notices no more evidence of mice sharing his living space. The man receives endless joy from the cute behavior of his intriguing feline house companion. The cat also appears healthy and happy to be sharing the space with the man, being well fed and well treated. Psychologically, as well as physically, the man has been bettered by bringing into his home this separate entity. Equally, the cat, who had previously been living in hospital-like conditions, is now able to enjoy a rewarding, safe hunting and living situation.
The mice, which are serving their function outside the human domicile are thriving as well. They are not being killed every night, as they have learned that this location is no longer safe. They couldn’t be taught that they would be killed by traps so easily, but they knew they had to leave to avoid their natural predator.
These basic principles should designed into the very architecture of the man’s home.
Why is there not a place designed for birds to perch on the exterior of his house?
Why was there not previously space designated for the habitat of his feline?
Why is the sunlight blocked by a flat roof? Could it not be reflected and harnessed as lighting and energy sources?
Why is his water source sent only to his toilet, sink and shower? Could it not be used to heat and cool the insides of his walls, even as an energy source itself?
Stretch farther. Why does he need to go to a market to buy his vegetables? Couldn’t this man have a small designated hydroponic situation built into his house? He has a large electronic refrigeration unit, just like all his neighbors. Could that space not be used to grow his own food, using reflected and stored sunlight?
Why has he flushed whole trees worth of paper down his toilet? Why doesn’t he have a fast growing plant in his bathroom? A leafy aloe-like plant would do the trick, it would be so soothing.
Humans are complicated mammals.
We are not insects.
We should not live in inorganic hives.
These things should be common sense. You should not work all day to pay someone else for your right to live. You should work all day to create an amazing existence. Living like insects should not be tolerated, it should not even be an option. Not to say that there isn’t a lot to learn from the lives of insects.
Photographic Insects? Pollinating Robots.
The bees are dying, or so they say. They plants need to be pollinated, we need the plants. Nanotechnology is reaching the point where insectile robots are certainly feasible. Could robotic bees be produced to safely pollinate genetically engineered plants? They would need an optical device to function. Their visual information could feed directly into a digital recording mainframe. Using visual algorithms, their view could be extrapolated into three dimensional interpretations. Once recorded, these landscapes could be used to view specific multidimensional spaces at specific times. Can you be sure that this sort of idea is not already the case and that the observers are simply unknown to you?
No commentsBig Crunch Audio Repair Baltimore, Shawna Potter and Brooks Harlan.
This was my first professional shoot. I think it turned out well. Please contact me to commission photography. This is abridged, the files are large so I chose my favorites so this page doesn’t take forever to load. Contact me if you’d like to see more from this session, there are 60 photos.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Brooks Harlan and Shawna Potter work together as Big Crunch.
Celebrated Summer Records Presents Masshysteri, Double Dagger and Deep Sleep 2009
Tony Pence’s Celebrated Summer Records hosted a show for Masshysteri from Sweden, Double Dagger, and Deep Sleep. The show ruled! Here are photos! There are videos only on here, search Masshysteri or Deep Sleep or hit the “Videos by Noel” link to the right.
Masshysteri at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Masshysteri at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Masshysteri at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Masshysteri at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Masshysteri at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Nolen Strals of Double Dagger at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
2/3 Double Daggers at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Double Dagger performing in the crowd at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Deep Sleep at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Deep Sleep at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Deep Sleep at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
Beth and Dana at Celebrated Summer Records, Towson Maryland
I like when Beth is around when I’m going to develop film, I get to use the last shots on her!
Visit to the Conrad Complex 2009 Part I. GojiGirl’s Collection!?
I got to visit my parent’s new villa in Florida. They’ve moved my Grandparents in as well. It’s a very nice situation. My mom, also known as GojiGirl has the most amazing Godzilla toy collection. See it for the first time here! When you’re finished drooling over it on your screen, visit www.chibigojitoys.com and start your collection today! She sells the most amazing toys from that site. I recently redesigned it for her as a Christmas present to make it easier to work and view. Now, on to the main attraction!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
GojiGirl’s Most Amazing Collection!
Me with my parents, Lee and Linda
GojiGirl with Godzilla’s Creators! M1 Eiji Tsuburaya!
GojiGirl with Godzilla’s Creators! M1 Eiji Tsuburaya!
My Grandfather Robert “Pap” having breakfast!
Two generations of awesome, Robert and Linda!
Two generations of awesome, Robert and Linda!
My creators!
My creators!
My creators!
Beth in front of a painting handed down from my Grandfather Conrad’s second wife, Nancy.