The continuing increase in gasoline prices around the world over the past decade has also seen an increase in the practice of hypermiling – the act of driving using techniques that maximize fuel economy. One of the most effective hypermiling techniques is maintaining a steady speed while driving instead of constantly stopping and starting. Unfortunately, traffic lights all too often conspire to foil attempts at keeping the vehicle rolling. Researchers at MIT and Princeton have now devised a system that gathers visual data from the cameras of a network of dashboard-mounted smartphones and tells drivers the optimal speed to drive at to avoid waiting at the next set of lights.

The new system, dubbed SignalGuru, was tested in both Cambridge, Massachusetts, and in Singapore. In Cambridge, where traffic signals are on fixed schedules, the researchers say the system was able to predict when lights would change with an average error of only two-thirds of a second and helped drivers cut fuel consumption by an average of 20 percent. In Singapore, where the duration of lights varies continuously according to changes in traffic flow, the error increased to an average of slightly more than one second, with one particularly light in densely populated central Singapore seeing an average error of more than two seconds.

The version of the system used in the tests graphically displayed the optimal speed for avoiding a full stop at the next light, but a commercial version would probably use audio prompts said Emmanouil Koukoumidis, a visiting researcher at MIT who led the project. The researchers also modeled the effect of instructing drivers to accelerate in order to catch lights before they changed, but decided that wasn’t the safest option.

"The good news for the U.S. is that most signals in the U.S. are dummy signals," (signals with fixed schedules), says Koukoumidis, who launched the SignalGuru project at MIT with Li-Shiuan Peh, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science who came to MIT from Princeton in fall 2009. But Koukoumidis says even an accuracy of two and half seconds, "could very well help you avoid stopping at an intersection." He also points out that the predictions for variable signals would improve as more cars were outfitted with the system, collecting more data.

Koukoumidis says cars are responsible for 28 percent of the energy consumption and 32 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and that, "if you can save even a small percentage of that, then you can have a large effect on the energy that the U.S. consumes."

But it isn’t just more economical driving that could benefit from the technology. Koukoumidis says the computing infrastructure that underlies the system could be adapted to a variety of applications that could be useful to commuters, such as capturing information about prices at different gas stations, the locations and rates of progress of city buses, or about the availability of parking spaces in urban areas. The system could also be used in conjunction with existing routing software, to recommend ducking down a side street instead of slowing to a crawl to avoid a red light, for instance.

A speedboat, submarine and airplane wrapped in one

Outfitted with a 1500cc engine, a watertight cockpit and six dolphin-like fins, the Innespace Seabreacher redefines personal watercraft. The 17-foot vessel can reach 50 mph on flat water, cruise beneath the surface, and launch 18 feet into the air. It’s also got an iPod-compatible sound system and a digital periscope. Summer may never be the same.

Check out this video of the Seabreacher X in action:

Tail Fin

The Seabreacher’s top rear fin acts like a car spoiler. When the craft is underwater, aiming its water jet toward the tail fin produces drag that pushes the craft’s rear downward and the nose upward, launching the vessel out of the water.

Water Jet

A single jet controls propulsion and steering. Drivers aim it with two foot pedals in the cockpit. Pointing the stream left or right initiates a turn; directing it down pops the tail up and aims the craft’s nose down for a dive.

Engine

The 260-horsepower gas engine–similar to a Jet Ski’s–generates speeds of 50 mph on the surface and 25 mph beneath. Air intake at the dorsal fin lets the craft cruise underwater while getting oxygen to the engine.

Side Fins

Two manually controlled side fins add maneuverability. Tilting the fins forward sucks the vessel deeper into the water; tilting them backward helps it rise. One forward and one back forces the craft to roll onto its side underwater or on the surface.

Cockpit

The two-seat, pneumatically sealed cockpit is outfitted with a GPS, an iPod dock and speakers. LCD screens display live footage taken from a camera mounted on the dorsal fin, which acts like a digital periscope.

Get It: Innespace Seabreacher X, From $81,000; Innespace

Airline Cabins in 2050 The "vitalizing" cabin

Airbus has seen the future, and it’s spacious, sunlit and full of interactive screens. Oh, and cocktails will be served in the virtual bar, assuming someone isn’t playing 18 holes in there.

After revealing its larger vision of what aviation hardware will offer us in 2050 at last year’s Paris Air Show–reduced emissions, lower fuel consumption, reductions in noise and increases in speed–the company has turned its attention toward the passenger experience, offering a sneak peak of the future via the video below.

What does the future have in store? Well, assuming populations begin growing less obese and the economics of packing as many people on a flight as possible are discarded (in the future, air travel–like society–will know no class), the future is much more comfortable.

When flights are at less than full capacity, unneeded seats at the rear of the plane will collapse and all seats will redistribute themselves to offer everyone an equitable boost in legroom. These seats will also morph to fit passengers’ bodies.

Those who need something more than a spacious, morphing seat in steerage will be free to join others in the interaction area, which can be anything from an interactive map room to a virtual golf course to a conference room or bar/lounge, depending on what passengers require. And a “revitalizing zone” in the nose of the aircraft offers panoramic views of the Earth below while re-energizing travelers with “vitamin and antioxidant enriched air, mood lighting, aromatherapy and acupressure treatments.” Right.

But perhaps the most easily digestible part of this vision is the structure of the aircraft itself, which taps a largely-hollow, lightweight bionic structure that mimics the bones in birds and could allow for the kind of transparent canopy pictured above. Airbus isn’t sure what it would be made of yet, but it could be 3-D printed–a technology that we know Airbus’s parent firm EADS is investing heavily in.

The first JetLev R200 jetpacks are set to hit the water, and while it won’t let you beat traffic on your daily commute – unless your home and workplace are conveniently located along the same body of water – it does look like a whole lot of fun.

Unlike self-contained jetpack designs, such as the famous Bell Rocket Belt and the ducted-fan-driven Martin Jetpack, Jetlev has managed to keep the weight and bulk of the actual jetpack to a minimum by shifting the propulsion engine, fuel and related systems to a small autonomous boat that is tethered to the jetpack and follows the pilot around.

Not only does this design reduce the size and weight of the jetpack to greatly improve the thrust-to-weight ratio, but it also allows water supplied via the tethered supply hose to act as the jet propulsion medium. The boat unit delivers low pressure, high flow water through a 33 ft (10 m) hose to the jetpack where thrust is generated by forcing the water through the nozzles located on either side of jetpack, which the company says is much more effective than using gas as the propulsion medium.

Although the Jetlev can generate upwards of 500 lbf (2,220 N) of thrust from its four stroke 250 hp engine, the unit has been limited to a maximum thrust of 430 lbf (1,900 N). This allows the Jetlev to propel a 150 lb (68 kg) pilot to speeds of up to 22 mph (35 km/h) at heights of up to 28 ft (8.5 m) – although the unit can accommodate pilots from 4.9 to 6.5 ft (1.5 – 2 m) in height and weighing from 88 to 330 lb (40 – 150 kg). With a fuel capacity of 26 US gal (100 liters), pilots will be able to enjoy the views for about one hour at full throttle, or for around two to three hours at cruising speed.

Intended as a recreational device with holiday resorts the target market, designers say the Jetlev is as safe and easy to fly as possible. The first obvious safety feature is the limitation of using the device over water, which will provide a much softer landing than solid ground if something goes wrong. Other safety features include a 5-point quick-release harness, protective backrest and head support and inherent flotation to ensure you don’t sink like a rock while still in the drink.

Jetlev Technologies says most people will be able to learn to fly solo with just a few minutes of in-water instruction thanks to a simple fly-by-wire digital throttle flight control system. Thrust is controlled with a twist of the grip, while moving the control arms up and down changes the angle of the nozzles to allocate thrust for lift and propulsion in forward, neutral or reverse. Differential nozzle angles also allow for yaw turns, while shifting weight from side to side allows the pilot to turn.

The Jetlev is designed for both fresh and salt water use with all exposed metal pieces made of either stainless steel or hard coat anodized aluminum with Teflon coating to protect against corrosion and abrasion. The jetpack itself measures 38.25"H x 35"W x 21.25-24.25"L (97 cm H x 89 cm W x 54-62 cm L) and weighs around 30 lbs (14 kg) when dry, while the tethered boat unit measures 127 in (323 cm) long and 48 in (121 cm) wide at its widest point.

The 2011 R200 model Jetlev-Flyer retails for US$99,500 with Jetlev Technologies planning to produce 70 units for delivery to North and South America, Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, and South Africa markets between May and July 2011. The company then plans to up production to expand to other markets later this year, starting with Mexico, the Bahamas and Caribbean regions, before moving into Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, and selected other Central America and Asia Pacific markets late in 2011. The company is taking orders now.

The uniquely shaped and textured Michelin Protek Max bicycle inner tube is said to compress punctures closed, instead of blowing them open

Michelin has released a product that takes the concept a step further. The company’s Protek Max tube not only contains a sealant, but is designed to compress when punctured to assist the self-sealing process.

The two things you’ll notice about the Protek is that it has a square cross-section, and funny little bumps on its surface. The square shape helps align it within the tire casing and against the rim well, which Michelin says eases mounting and eliminates the twisting problems that can occur with traditional sausage-shaped tubes.

When the tube is fully inflated within the tire, its textured surface causes the rubber to compress instead of expand when under pressure. This means that the internal air pressure actually closes holes off, giving the sealant a better chance at taking care of them for good.

The tubes also are claimed to hold air longer – when tested against Michelin’s self-sealing AIRSTOP tube, the Protek was said to maintain proper pressure for twice the amount of time.

Commuters and mountain bikers, but not road racers, can get a Protek MaxBicycles to fit their tire. It is available in sizes of 700 x 35-47c (200 grams) and 26 x 1.4-2.125 inches (260 grams), with Presta or Shrader valves, for a suggested retail price of US$8.99.

Anyone who has taken a long haul flight will know that getting some shut eye during the flight can be a bit of a challenge at the best of times. Dealing with crying babies or restless children is only compounded by being crammed into seats that become more and more uncomfortable as the hours go by. Earlier this year we looked at the efforts of a number of airlines to make future air travel a more comfortable experience, including Air New Zealand’s "cuddle class" which features an Economy Skycouch. The new seat designs are now available in the airline’s new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with some of the first passengers to take advantage those on the aircraft’s inaugural flight from Los Angeles to London.

As well as the Economy Skycouch, Air New Zealand’s 777-300ER’s also offer lie-flat seating with thicker memory foam mattresses and full size pillows in its Business Premier class, while a Spaceseat is designed to provide unmatched legroom in Premium Economy. Air New Zealand covers a number of long haul routes, including non-stop flights from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Vancouver to New Zealand, as well as Los Angeles to the Cook Islands. The airline also flies non-stop from Los Angeles to London and London to Hong Kong. However, the "cuddle class" seats will initially only be available on flights between Los Angeles and Auckland or London. Whether the redesigned seats lead to a growth in the numbers of people joining the mile high club remains to be seen.

Air New Zealand is now taking bookings for flights with the new seating options departing from this month.

German company PC-Aero is trying to win NASA’s CAFE Green Flight Challenge, and Saturday they took a big step toward doing just that. The company’s Elektra One aircraft, designed by PC-Aero’s founder and president Calin Gologan, made its successful first flight. But this one-seater isn’t your average single-prop. Elektra One flies on electricity alone.

The Green Flight Challenge seeks a demo aircraft that can fly 200 miles in less than two hours on the energy equivalent of less than one gallon of fuel per person. Elektra One didn’t push the envelope that far just yet–the maiden flight hit a ceiling just above 1600 feet and lasted just 30 minutes, burning just half the 6 kWh stored up in its batteries. But the fact that the lightweight aircraft was able to comfortably circle the airfield for half an hour– more or less silently, we might add–is nothing short of impressive.

And the timing for such a flight couldn’t be better. A study released Tuesday claims that airplane contrails–those long, white condensation trails jets leave in the sky–may warm the planet more on the average day than all of the carbon emissions spewed from airplanes in the history of modern aviation.

The carbon lingers longer of course–the contrails and any heat-trapping cirrus clouds they cause dissipate in hours or days, while the carbon remains for decades–but still, that’s a lot heat being trapped on any given day. Electric planes, as you may have surmised, wouldn’t contribute to warming on either front. See Elektra One take flight in the video below.

The Zero S electric supermotard

The transparent CPT002 Aston Martin Concept Phone from Mobiado

British car maker Aston Martin is looking to leverage its luxury brand into the world of consumer electronics by teaming up with Canadian mobile phone manufacturer Mobiado to produce a line of high-end handsets to be launched in May of this year. Until then, the company has provided a tantalizing peek at possible future designs with the CPT002 Aston Martin Concept Phone that takes the ‘slab of glass’ design of many current smartphones to the next level. With a solid sapphire crystal capacitive touchscreen, the CPT002 is completely transparent.

To allow the screen of the CPT002 to be transparent, Mobiado has incorporated the battery, electronics and SIM card into the sides of the device, which are crafted from platinum. The only things blocking the view when looking through the phone when it’s in standby are the Aston Martin and Mobiado logos, what appear to be battery and signal strength indicators along the top and a series of dots along the bottom that appear similar to the dots on the iPhone that let you know which screen you’re on – although it’s not ‘clear’ whether that’s actually what they are.

A transparent touchscreen has already popped up on LG’s GD900 mobile phone, but only in the form of a touchpad that displays the phone’s number pad. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait a bit longer for a phone with a transparent full touchscreen display with Mobiado’s upcoming range not sporting a phone with such a design. However, other features of the CPT002 Concept Phone that are designed to integrate with an Aston Martin vehicle are more of a possibility.

Firstly, the phone would act as a key for your Aston Martin, automatically unlocking the doors as you approach and connecting directly to the car display without the need to pull it from your pocket. The phone also uses the vehicle’s GPS to show your current location on FourSquare, with the car’s display also showing the location of friends and venues of interest.

The social networking features continue with the ability to set cameras integrated into the vehicle to periodically take happy snaps and video that can be uploaded with information about passing cities and landmarks to Twitter and FaceBook – perfect for making your friends green with envy over the exotic locales you’re visiting in your luxury automobile.

Mobiado also makes use of the CPT002′s accelerometer in an innovative way. In the event of an accident, accelerometer information from the phone sitting in the driver’s pocket is transmitted to the car to provide information about the driver’s movement from within the car seat to allow for more effective deployment of safety features such as airbag sequence, timing and seatbelt stiffening.

Whether any of these features will appear in Mobiado’s upcoming Aston Martin range or whether the collaboration will simply result in phones with the usual feature set with an Aston Martin logo emblazoned across them remains to be seen. All will be revealed in May when Mobiado launches its Aston Martin range.

K-MAX unmanned helicopter sets payload record

The Unmanned K-MAX helicopter being developed by Kaman Corporation and Lockheed Martin has further demonstrated the potential of this type of aircraft in the field by completing a list of airdrop firsts. The milestones in payload weight and altitude were reached during a recent series of tests at the Army’s Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona where the KMAX UAS made guided airdrops via sling load at an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level including a payload of 4,400 lbs.

The K-MAX unmanned aircraft system (UAS) is based on Kaman’s single-seat vertical-lift helicopter which was certified in 1994. The design has no tail rotor, instead using twin counter-rotating, intermeshing main rotors. The advantage of this approach is that without a tail rotor drive system, all engine power is directed to the main rotors to maximize lift. The piloted K-Max can more than its own 6,000 pound weight.

The single seat has been retained for the unmanned version and Lockheed Martin says it will remain "optionally piloted" to give it the flexibility of performing the occasional manned mission. Having a pilot onboard also its advantages for testing of the autonomous control system.

The Unmanned K-MAX airdropped 16 payloads during the recent tests. In addition to the milestones in payload weight and altitude, the aircraft also achieved the first airdrop of four guided Joint Precision Aerial Delivery Systems (JPADS) from a sling load, the first helicopter sling load airdrop for the High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) parachute system and a demonstration of non-line-of-sight re-targeting using JPADS.

The Unmanned K-MAX is being developed for battlefield cargo resupply with the goal of removing the need for ground convoys which require large numbers of troops to support them.

"Ten years from now there will be fleets of fully-autonomous cargo aircraft operating probably worldwide," says Garf Cooper, Flight test director for the Unmanned K-MAX program.

The following video from Lockheed Martin provides an overview of the K-MAX UAS:

The Solowheel electric unicycle from Inventist has a top speed of 12mph, a range of 12 miles on one charge and to move off, a user puts both feet on the platforms on either side of the wheel housing and leans forward

The fat wheeled eniCycle, the stylish and graceful U3 from Honda or the slightly scary prospect of the UnoMoto have all shared more in common than being one-wheeled, self-balancing personal transport solutions. They’ve all had somewhere for the user to sit. Inventist’s Solowheel is a little different – you ride this electric unicycle standing upright, like a Segway or skateboard. It has a useful carry handle and fold-away foot platforms, is gyro-stabilized and the Li-ion batteries offer a range of about 12 miles between charges.

For those who work in the city but don’t actually live there, leaving the car at home and getting to the office by train, tram or bus is becoming a more attractive prospect. For those who don’t relish the sometimes long walk from the station or terminus to the workplace, there are now numerous electric personal, short haul transport solutions – from the Segway to the YikeBike or even the FlyRad – to take some of the strain away.

Weighing 25 pounds (11 kg), sporting folding leg platforms on each side and a carry handle on top, the 17 x 19 x 5-inch (43 x 48 x 13 cm) Solowheel from Inventist is sure to turn some heads as you trundle along at up to 12mph. The durable external housing hides a Li-ion battery that’s said to be good for two hours of use between charges and a 1000-Watt electric motor, and a self-balancing gyro system. Its battery is reported to take 45 minutes to charge but a regenerative system returns energy to the battery when the rider slows down or the unit goes downhill, which could help extend the range.

The electric unicycle’s creators say that it’s easy to use and quick to learn, the feet are quite close to the ground and the legs rest against each side of the housing which help with balance and steering. With both feet on the vehicle, you just lean forward to start going. When you want to slow down or stop, you lean back. You use the legs to steer, much as you would on the Magic Wheel.

I can see the Solowheel being a useful, fun and quite affordable way to trundle from the railway station into work and back again. Have a look at the following demonstration video and see what you think: