Gadgets ! What's Next

 

 BAE Systems will lead a team of scientists that will develop miniature robots to improve military situational awareness. The company signed a $38 million agreement with the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to lead an alliance of researchers and scientists from the Army, academia and industry.

The Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) Collaborative Technology Alliance will research and develop advanced robotic equipment for use in urban environments and complex terrain, such as mountains and caves. The alliance will create an autonomous, multifunctional collection of miniature intelligence-gathering robots that can operate in places too inaccessible or dangerous for humans.

Fanatec today introduced the Porsche 911 Turbo Racing Wheel (MSRP: $349.99) for PC and Sony PlayStation 3 (PS3).

Licensed by Porsche Lizenz- und Handelsgesellschaft mbH, the Fanatec Porsche 911 Turbo Racing Wheel offers gamers latency free wireless USB technology (wheel and pedals), three force feedback motors and smooth belt drive, both of which help to deliver sensational realism, 6+1 speed H-pattern gear stick with realistic shifting feel, and authentic wireless pedals with realistic clutch pedal (with declining resistance) and brake with soft-stop. The wheel itself is covered with fine, automotive grade leather.

New to the VTech DECT 6.0 lineup is the customizable LS6117, which was inspired by skateboard and snowboard designs. The front offers all the key functionality of a cordless phone while the back side is dedicated to making a design statement.

With the LS6117, consumers can easily alter the back of the phone to feature one of five unique design inserts provided, or they can log onto http://www.vtechphones.com/ to create and print their own designs, including adding pictures, to slide into the phone’s back panel.

The UV-cured ink has a similar hardness to automotive paint, and a final coat of matte or semi-gloss acrylic further protects the colored surface.

Finally, to give each Futura a finished look, LapWorks air-brushes the outside edges with automotive-grade paint to match the printing. This is necessary because the ink jets spray downward only, leaving the ¼ -inch curved outer edges of the Futura with only a smattering of ink.

Because each Futura is custom-made, LapWorks is offering its customers a two-week window to inspect the product and return it, unused and in original packaging, for a full refund if it isn’t to their liking.