10 sci-Fi technologies invading our reality

Cool technology, which previously was mentioned only in science fiction are invading our reality at an accelerated pace. In some cases, earth scientists have proven that can be developed, seemingly impossible technologies, but still remains a number of obstacles that must be overcome. In other cases, these technologies are already with us.

Liquid роботы



If you watched the movie "Terminator 2", you've probably seen robot T-1000, which could pass through hard to reach places, turning into a liquid. He could also regenerate itself. Scientists from mit have made their own version that embodies the T-1000 a reality.

The defense Agency advanced research projects Agency DARPA wanted deformable (or "liquid") of robots that behave like octopuses. This means that they can reach inaccessible places and to grow, to overcome large distances. As surgical applications for such liquid, the robot could penetrate to a certain point in the human body without causing damage to blood vessels or organs, and then to perform the assigned surgical task. In the process of search and rescue robot, fluid could seep through the rubble and find survivors.

To achieve these goals, scientists need a material that can go from a hard state (when the robot holds the tool or performs the task) to soft (when the robot is seeping between objects). As stated in the press release, Anette Hosoi, an MIT Professor, "you can just make a jar of Jell-O, because if he needs to manipulate an object, he's just deformed, not putting pressure on the object that tries to move".

Ultimately, the scientists chose an inexpensive polyurethane foam that can be compressed to extremely small sizes and later expands. Then coated it with wax. Heated via wires passing through the layers of foam, wax melts, making the surface soft. Current can be left if necessary. Under action of heating the robot can also recover.

Control inanimate objects with the power мысли



With the development of technologies to control inanimate objects with the power of thought moves from the category of fiction and myth to the reality.

The aim of the project called Brainflight, which is funded by the European Union is to create a plane that uses only the signals of the human brain. The researchers want to make flying easier, cheaper from an educational standpoint and more accessible for most people. They believe that this will increase safety by reducing the load on the current pilots.

The first results of the tests were remarkably accurate. Wearing a helmet with attached EEG electrodes, the pilot was able to convert brain waves into commands for the aircraft. The pilot did not touch the equipment or the remote control. They moved as if by themselves. Although it is not mind reading, but simply processing algorithm developed by scientists. The position of the aircraft was smooth, and its a brilliant fit — and all with the power of thought.

In the flight trials simulator was attended by seven people with different levels of training. One of the participants did not have real experience of driving the aircraft, but everyone was able pretty accurately to pass the test to obtain the license of the pilot is its practical part. Many of the participants were even able to land successfully in conditions of poor visibility.

Improvement погоды



In science fiction works are often mentioned ways of stopping hurricanes or changing the weather in one way or another. But it is only the fruit of the imagination of the writer. Even in our world there are conspiracy theories on the subject of weather control. However, until recently, these theories were completely baseless.

Researchers from the University of Central Florida and the University of Arizona learned how to shoot a laser beam of high energy into the clouds to cause rain or lightning. Other scientists could reproduce the electrical events in the sky, although the lightning call failed.

Scientists Florida and Arizona have faced similar problems. First, they had to be sure that the laser beam of high energy will not dissipate until you reach the goal. They also had to direct the beam from a safe distance to avoid being struck by lightning. To solve these problems, they decided to use a second laser beam which will surround and support the primary beam of high intensity. With the secondary laser, which acted as a reservoir for the energy of the primary laser beam was able to walk much further than before. Such a "laser cable" to reach the clouds.

With this method, scientists were able to increase the coverage of the laser to approximately two meters. However, they believe that soon it will be possible to cover 50 meters area of the cloud. This will trigger rain and lightning in a particular area.

Traction beams

Tractor beams that use energy to move objects or even entire spacecraft, often used in fiction. But for a long time they seemed impossible in our world. Recently, scientists at the Australian national University developed a tractor beam for use on the water. According to the team leader, Dr. Horst Buntzman, they "found a way of creating waves that can force a floating object to move against the current." In other words, this wave tractor beam pushes the object to the goal.

Using the wave tank, scientists were able to move the ball ping-pong table in the desired direction by manipulating the frequency and size of generated waves. They found that these three-dimensional waves cause currents with different patterns on the surface of the water. One of those patterns is a tractor beam, which can be particularly useful in containing oil spills or maneuvering objects against the flow of water.

Physicists from the University of Dundee have also developed an acoustic tractor beam that can move an object of size 1 cm. Still with this type of beam it was possible to move only microscopic objects. The scientists were able to use ultrasonic energy to apply force behind an object and movement in the direction of the ultrasonic device. They believe that this technology will be extremely useful in healthcare.

Трикодеры



One of the most interesting devices the universe of Star trek was the tricorder, a handheld scanner that Dr. McCoy used to scan patients. Among other applications of such a scanner — find isreport or analysis of the surface of planets. In our world, such technology already exists and promises to spread in the near future.

Scientists from Southampton University are developing a handheld medical sensor that uses electronic components as chemical sensors. One day he will allow to analyze protein samples, without departing from the bed of the patient. These scanners will reduce the cost and time required for treatment, as it will eliminate the need of sending samples to the lab.

Other scientists at the University of Missouri are developing a different type of tricorder that uses the radiation source in size with a chewing gum. Their tricorder would be a hand x-ray scanner that is used in medicine, detection of dangerous objects or even in the interplanetary research.

The scanner no larger than a mobile phone. In addition to reducing medical expenses, this tricorder could deliver x-ray diagnostics anywhere, in poor and remote areas, for example. It can also be used for x-ray dentistry.

As a fighter against terrorism, this tricorder could search the cargo for weapons and other prohibited items at the border crossings. In addition, these scanners can be equipped with sensors needed for the study of other planets.

Payments based on biometrics

You see, it's a common phenomenon in science fiction — to use the retina scan or other biometric methods to access top-secret information. Frederick Leifland, student of the faculty of engineering at Lund University in Sweden, has taken this concept as a basis and applied it to biometric payments that serve an important Bank account. As of April 2014, 15 restaurants and shops of Sweden took a vein scanning technology on Board to make payments from customer's Bank account. At the same time, about 1,600 users actively using this system as an alternative to paying with cash or credit card.

This method of payment, scanning of Vienna, promises to be easy, fast and secure. As reported by himself, Lapland the article Lund University, "a model of vein each patient is completely unique, therefore this system cannot be committing any fraud. To make the payment, you always need to bring a hand to the scanner".

Robonaut space ногами



Humanoid robots are constantly flashed in science fiction movies, books, comics. We do often write about robots that are being developed here and there. In fact there are robots that are even out into space — for example, Robonaut, created jointly by General Motors and NASA.

However, the humanoid Robonaut 2 (R2) will go even further. Initially, the robot living aboard the International space station was just a head and torso with two arms. The astronauts had to work with the robot. R2 will be equipped with two legs to take the weight off of the astronauts. Its main task is to work outside the station. In the future, such robots will be useful on the moon, and Mars.

Reflecting щиты



The students of the University of Leicester has written an interesting article about the possibility of creating reflective shields, as in "Star wars", to protect the spaceship from enemy laser fire in today's world. According to the students, you need a powerful magnetic field to retain the dense superhot plasma field around your ship. To reflect high-frequency laser pulses, you need an extremely dense plasma.

It may seem incredible, but we already use a similar technique for telecommunication and radar. The ionosphere surrounding our planet is a plasma field. It reflects radio transmissions back to Earth, like a shield around the ship that reflects laser fire.

Although the magnets with the necessary strength is already possible today, there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. First, the power source should be so large that the ship is simply not enough space. Our science has not yet developed a power source that can be made in such sizes. Another problem is that pilots can be blinded by the shield. Any shield, reflecting the light radiation, will not allow light to reach the pilot. You will need another source of light beyond the frequencies of light radiation. For example, an ultraviolet camera.

Of course, we are not going to build a fleet for the glory of the Emperor, but here on Earth, there are useful applications of this technology. For example, instead of reflection of radiation, nesterovskiy students offer to capture it for use in a fusion reactor.

Camouflage устройства



In fiction, cloaking devices appear in many different forms, from the invisibility cloak of Harry Potter to the perfectly camouflaged Predator.

We are not yet able to hide a spaceship, but real cloaking technologies are being developed for our world of light, sound, touch and heat. Many of these technologies use artificial metamaterials, which refract the light in such a way that the object will be invisible. Not so long ago scientists have developed an unfocused laser light which will help produce metamaterials at the nanoscale. Metamaterials are also being developed to isolate the sound and touch.

There are many obstacles that must be overcome before metamaterials become part of our everyday reality. One of the problems is the cost. The other is the scalability. But scientists are making steady progress in this area, develop the technique nontransversal printing, which will allow you to create large objects from metamaterials.

According to engineers from the National University of Singapore device like that used by the Predator, you can create right now. They managed to create camouflage that can simultaneously provide the illusion of disguise and make the object in some way "invisible" by blocking his heat signature. That is, a man can not be traced by the heat of his body.

This method of cloaking soldier is cost-effective because it uses natural, self-heating materials instead of using complex metamaterials. The thermal cloak is ready for military use.

Robots горничные



Even cartoons can inspire people to create technology. Rosie the robot from "the Jetsons" was a maid. In the early 60-ies, when this cartoon appeared, it was pure fiction. But today we have come a long way to implement this concept. Today almost everyone can buy or rent a low-cost robot that can clean the house or to detect a gas leak.

There are other interesting options. Not so long ago in the world there are robots that can assemble themselves without human intervention. Engineers have created self-assembling robots and origami that you can put yourself on your feet for four minutes, leaving the sheet flexible plastic. Robots are in the experimental stage, but already promises inexpensive and functional future application of such self-assembling mechanisms. Because they can literally print on the printer.

Source: hi-news.ru