CareJack vest takes soft (and smart) approach to lifting heavy loads

The CareJack vest uses flexible, soft electronics to aid caregivers and workers in carrying heavy loads (Photo: Fraunhofer IPK/IZM)

Being a nurse, construction worker, or grocery stocker is a taxing and potentially risky job. Claiming almost 10 percent of lost days of work in Germany are due to lower back problems, Fraunhofer researchers in conjunction with industry partners are developing CareJack, an orthopedic prosthetic embedded with flexible, smart electronics to ensure those lifting heavy loads don't have to go home early.

A typical orthosis is based around a rigid exoskeleton, hampering the flexibility needed in the workplace. CareJack instead features a flexible and light construction that stores the wearer's kinetic energy and releases it when needed to lift and support. In this way, it obviates the need for a heavy external power source.

The active vest, which can be worn over regular clothing, also aids the wearer in maintaining proper posture. Sensors monitor movement patterns and a warning lamp flashes when the user isn't moving optimally – bending over with a rounded back to lift a heavy load rather than squatting and lifting with a straight back, for example. The vest adjusts its rigidity to compensate for the movement, though the wearer can specify how much support they want.

Obviously these electronic systems are as compensation for not using a rigid support system in the first place. However, the electronics and sensors needed for the CareJack vest are miniaturized and flexible enough to embed into the vest to cut down on extra weight or physical resistance.

It's not a far cry to extend the use of CareJack's technology to other fields like the military, where we've reported on numerous designs of human exoskeletons, both in combat and in making difficult tasks easier for longer periods.

Fraunhofer anticipates that a prototype vest will be finished this year and hopes to enter series production in one to two years.

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Snug Vest addresses anxiety by inflating

An inflatable sports and outdoors-style vest relieves anxiety and stress with deep pressure therapy, a clinical method that essentially simulates a good firm hug

Sometimes, when you're feeling anxious, all you need is a hug. But the thought of actually hugging someone might instil yet more anxiety. That's where the Snug Vest comes in. It uses a clinical method known as deep pressure therapy to essentially simulate a hug, which has been found to help reduce anxiety and stress and to be an effective treatment for people with autism or ADHD.

The Snug Vest is fitted with a hand pump that wearers can use to put pressure on their shoulders, back, and sides. The theory is that this allows pressure to be more evenly-distributed and less restrictive than weighted vests or neoprene vests with velcro straps. This pressure is supposed to simulate the sensation of being hugged, which induces a calming effect.

The anecdotal evidence in both clinical practice and more general day-to-day wear suggests that the Snug Vest and its weighted alternatives have a significant positive impact on children with autism and other sensory disorders as well as on adults with anxiety or stress disorders, but the science is less conclusive.

A 1987 study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy found that deep pressure therapy had some subjective benefit for people with anxiety, while a 1992 trial of the squeeze machine (a deep therapy apparatus based on a cattle squeeze) suggested that its benefits in treating autistic children vary from one child to the next. And a 2009 review in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders of several studies determined that weighted vests are ineffective in treating children with autism and other behavioral disabilities.

The Snug Vest has been clinically trialled twice – once by the University of Victoria, with Snug Vest as one of the sponsors, and once by Snug Vest's product team, with funding from National Research Council Canada. Both studies found highly-positive outcomes that suggest the vest both reduces anxiety and tantrums and increases positive emotions in children by activating the parasympathetic nervous system (which regulates unconscious actions). But the sample sizes used (i.e. the number of study participants) are too low for these studies to be considered in any way conclusive and little research has been conducted into the benefits of the vest, or deep pressure therapy in general, in adults.

Scientific uncertainty aside, Snug Vest has found great success since its commercial introduction in 2013. The Vancouver-based startup has sold hundreds of vests worldwide and earned plaudits in international awards such as the 2011 Red Dot Design Awards and 2014 Medical Design Excellence Awards.

The Snug Vest is designed for general everyday use, with a sporty style that shouldn't draw any extra attention to the wearer and a fit that shouldn't affect mobility in any way. Its pressure can be varied as desired via a hand pump, and it can be adjusted up to two inches (5 cm) in length to fit growing children or multiple wearers. An attachable hood blocks out light and visual distractions for when the wearer needs a moment of peace, while two front pockets can safely hold whatever knick-knacks are needed.

It doesn't come cheap, however. A single Snug Vest in either red and black or turquoise and black will set you back CA$395 (US$312) plus the cost of shipping. For buyers who need one for medical reasons, the Snug Vest website includes information on how to get government funding support or reimbursement through an insurance provider in Canada or the United States.

The video below shows Snug Vest creator Lisa Fraser explaining the thought process behind its design.

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Biohackers develop night vision eye drops to see in the dark

Biohacking group Science for the Masses has been experimenting with night vision eye drops (Photo: Science for the Masses)

It sounds like something from a science-fiction movie, but a biohacking group in California has managed to develop eye drops that temporarily give a human being excellent night vision. The chemicals used are still very much at the experimental stage – this isn't something you'd want to try at home just yet – but the first trial has been a successful one.

The main ingredient in the eye drop solution is Chlorin e6. It's found in certain deep sea fish, enabling them to find their way around underwater, and it's also been used to treat humans with poor night vision. Essentially, it creates a microscopic chemical reaction that amplifies low light sources as they pass through.

By combining Ce6 with insulin in a saline solution, the Science for the Masses group was able to create a mixture that gave excellent night vision for several hours. The solution was dropped into the the conjunctival sac between the eyeball and eyelid, where it could be absorbed into the retina. The initial black color disappeared after a few seconds according to the researchers.

The members of Science for the Masses ran through several tests using different distances and backgrounds, though the main volunteer Gabriel Licina was forced to wear sunglasses indoors to counter the effects of the interior lighting. Licina was able to recognize people up to 50 m (164 ft) away in a wooded area, even in total darkness.

"The Ce6 subject consistently recognized symbols that did not seem to be visible to the controls," the team explains in the full report. "The Ce6 subject identified the distant figures 100 percent of the time, with the controls showing a 33 percent identification rate."

That's quite a difference, though the organization says it's fully aware this is a one-off experiment and plenty more research will be required to ascertain the safety and suitability of this particular biohack. By the morning, the Ce6 subject's eyes had returned to normal, and no ill effects have been reported 20 days later.

The team says the next stage is to use a Ganzfeld stimulator and an electroretinograph, devices which can be combined to accurately measure the level of electrical stimulation and activity in the eye. This will give Science for the Masses more data to play with and more evidence that their Ce6 solution is working as it should (and working safely).

Science for the Masses is made up of professionals in the research, technical design, and healthcare industries, and like the members of several other biohacking groups they devote their spare time to testing the limits of the human body. The idea of using science to extend the capabilities of human beings doesn't sit well with everyone, but the rise of these types of projects and high-tech wearables means it's an issue we're going to have to deal with in the near future.

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Ideum announces new 4K resolution capacitive multitouch table

The new 4K UHD Lab Pro multitouch table from Ideum

New Mexico's multi-touch hardware and software company Ideum has launched its fastest, most expandable, and most versatile multitouch table, the Pro Lab. The active 3D LED LCD touch display boasts a resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels and sits atop a computer-packing pedestal with up to 24 terabytes of removable storage.

Designed for multi-user museum exhibits, fast-paced computer gaming and processor-intensive applications such as visualizations and simulations, the Pro Lab table features the same kind of capacitive touch technology found in smartphones and tablets, just on a much bigger scale. Having the same sharp resolution as last year's refreshed Pro model, Ideum says that the table's new 55-inch projected capacitive touch screen, or P-CAP for short, is not subject to interference from light, is capable of supporting up to 100 simultaneous touch points and promises a response time of 5 ms.

The screen is housed in an aluminum frame that's just 1-inch thin at its edges, thickening to 2 inches toward the center. According to its makers, this means that the Pro Lab also takes the crown for the world's thinnest large-format multitouch display.

Inside the table's lockable aircraft-grade aluminum pedestal is a computer with an Intel Core i7 processor, 32 GB of DDR3 RAM and enough room for three removable hard drives for up to 24 TB of storage. The system comes with Windows 8 Professional pre-loaded and also benefits from a Yamaha sound system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless communication, an RFID reader and a built-in uninterruptible power supply.

The company's creative director and CEO Jim Spadaccini told us that a Pro Lab table with 24 TB of storage will cost in the region of US$24,000. The system is available for purchase now, with the first units ready for shipping by the first week in April.

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New 12-in MacBook vs. 11-in MacBook Air (2015)

Gizmag compares the features and specs of the new 12-in MacBook (left) and the 11-in MacBook Air

Last month Apple finally announced a MacBook Air with Retina Display … only it’s just called "the new MacBook." Apple also announced a new version of the classic MacBook Air, which is now basically Apple's budget notebook (though no MacBook is really "budget"). Confused? We don't blame you. Let's break down their features and specs to see if we can clear things up.

Size

The new MacBook is 3 percent taller and 6 percent narrower than the 11-in MacBook Air. One of the new model's killer features, though, is that it's 23 percent thinner the already-svelte MBA.

Weight

Holy cow, are these Core M machines light. The new MacBook, despite having a bigger screen, comes out at 15 percent lighter than the MacBook Air.

Build

It looks a little different this time around, but the new MacBook still has an aluminum unibody build.

First appearance of current design

The new MacBook is an all-new design, and while the MacBook Air's internals have been updated annually, its external design hasn't changed since late 2010.

Trackpad

Both notebooks have Apple's outstanding glass trackpad on board, but the new model has the new "Force Touch" tech – which uses sensors and haptic feedback to make the non-moving pad feel like it's moving (for more, you can read our 2015 Retina MacBook Pro review).

Colors

This is the first time in recent memory that Apple has sold a MacBook in multiple colors. You can choose from silver, space gray or gold for the new 12-in MacBook.

Display (size)

The new MacBook gives you about 13 percent more screen than this 11-in MacBook Air does.

And if you're curious, the new one gives you about 19 percent less screen than Apple's 13-in laptops (MacBook Air and Retina MacBook Pro) give you. So it's more in line with the legacy 11-inchers than it is the 13-inchers.

Display (resolution)

The new MacBook isn't just lighter and thinner, it finally brings a Retina Display to an ultra-light Apple notebook. Its pixel density is about 67 percent sharper than the screen on this MacBook Air.

Processor

That Core M processor opens the door to that ridiculously light and thin build, but you won't be getting pro-level power out of it. We wouldn't call the Air "pro" either, but it does have a more powerful processor.

There's also a Core i7 made-to-order configuration that you can choose for the MacBook Air. There are a couple of faster Core M configurations for the new MacBook as well.

RAM

One advantage is that the new MacBook ships with 8 GB of RAM, while only configurable models of the Air jump up to 8 GB.

Storage

The new model also starts at 256 GB storage, while the Air's entry-level model gives you half of that.

Graphics

The MacBook Air also has a better integrated GPU.

SD

Neither lets you expand that with discreet SD card storage (like the Transcend JetDrive Lite), as there are no SDXC slots in sight.

USB ports

Yes, Apple put only one port in its new MacBook. Apart from a tiny headphone jack, its USB Type C connector is the only place you can plug anything in. Until USB-C becomes ubiquitous (which is clearly Apple's goal here) adapters are going to be an essential part of your purchase (as well as essential to drop in your laptop bag before you leave home).

Standalone charging port

That USB-C port is also used for charging the new MacBook. That means you can forget about powering the notebook while connecting to, say, an external hard drive or SD adapter.

Thunderbolt

The Air gives you a Thunderbolt port, though the standard appears to be headed towards obsolescence (not that it ever really caught on anyway).

Video out

Neither has an HDMI port, but the MacBook's USB-C is natively compatible with DisplayPort, while the MacBook Air's Thunderbolt is compatible with Mini DisplayPort.

Battery

Apple is estimating the same "up to 9 hours of web use" for both laptops.

Webcam

The MacBook Air gives you a higher-resolution webcam.

Software

Of course both machines run OS X Yosemite.

Release

The new MacBook Air launched after Apple's latest event, in March. The new MacBook is set to ship on April 10.

Starting price

The MacBook Air has a last-gen display and isn't as light and thin, but it does have a couple advantages. In addition to having a faster processor and GPU, as well as a wider series of ports, it also starts at US$400 cheaper. Though if you jump up to the same 256 GB storage found in the new MacBook, the Air is only $200 cheaper.

Stay tuned for more from Gizmag on the new MacBook, as we get closer to its launch date.

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Revology introduces a brand-new 1960s Mustang

Revology shows its Mustang that blends old and new at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

We've seen a lot of boutique revivalists in the auto industry in recent years, companies that revive true-to-original or retro-inspired car bodies with advanced modern powertrain and cabin technologies. Over the course of 2014 and 2015, we've taken a look at the classic-Mustang-inspired Equus Bass, the all-electric Shelby-based Renovo Coupe, and now the Revology Mustang. This post-modern reinterpretation of the iconic first-generation Mustang includes a full suite of the latest features.

Boutique revivalist automakers like Equus, Renovo and Revology attempt to update the original beauty of car design with the latest in technology, creating a unique classic-meets-modern driving experience marketed at discerning drivers and collectors, men and women that have owned or could easily own the original specimens but prefer something that drives and feels a bit more up to date.

Equus fills out its own heavily-Mustang-influenced, classically styled muscle car with a 640-hp V8 engine and an elegant modern interior. And Renovo takes it one step further in outfitting an officially licensed Shelby Cobra with a 500-hp all-electric powertrain and cutting-edge, high-powered infotainment system. The looks that have stood the test of time meet the very latest in power, handling, comfort and driver interfacing.

Revology sounds like it might allude to the science of engine revving, but it's actually an amalgamation of "re-engineering" and "evolution." The Florida-based company defines its mission as applying "modern technology to make classic vehicles better." Its Mustang replica, which made its debut at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance earlier this month, isn't quite as extreme as the Equus Bass or Renovo Coupe, but it definitely follows the same formula of classic looks meets modern technology.

"It is easy to see why the original Mustang is a classic. Fifty years later, it still looks great from any angle," opines Revology founder Tom Scarpello. "But automotive technology has advanced a lot in 50 years, and from a functional perspective, these old cars are truly outdated. At Revology, we keep the style and character of the original car, while seamlessly integrating modern technology and materials to improve performance, safety, reliability, and comfort."

Scarpello formerly worked as the head of Ford’s Special Vehicle Team, so it's not so surprising that his first car project at Renovo is a Mustang. It all starts with an authentically styled all-steel body licensed from Ford and produced by Dynacorn. The only modifications from the original design are those required for accommodating new components and ride improvements.

"We didn’t take any liberties with the styling," says Scarpello. "You can literally unbolt a piece from a Revology Mustang replica and bolt it to an original Mustang and it will fit.”

Below the classic body, the Revology Mustang takes a sharp turn away from the mid 60s, starting with a remanufactured 1990s-era fuel-injected Ford 5.0-liter V8 under the hood. The engine is governed by a modern electronic management system and mated to either an automatic or manual transmission. Other mechanical upgrades include MacPherson strut front suspension, three-link rear suspension, power four wheel disc brakes, and power rack and pinion steering. The car also includes LED lighting, a collapsible steering column and side intrusion beams for enhanced safety.

The Revology cabin is upgraded with many of the latest technologies and creature comforts. The driver pops open the doors with remote keyless entry, then grabs a seat behind an LED-lit gauge cluster with LCD message center. The car includes Bluetooth connectivity, standard AC, and optional USB and auxiliary jacks. The playful power windows operate by pushing/pulling the classic window crank. Power seats, a tilt steering column and interior trunk release round out the package.

Revology has opened up its order books and is offering the Mustang in both convertible and fastback styles starting at US$119,500. Options include leather seats, a premium audio system and a wood grain console. Purchase includes a one-year, unlimited mileage bumper-to-bumper warranty, three-year powertrain warranty, and five-year rust and corrosion warranty. Deliveries will begin in about a year's time.

Revology also offers overhauls of original Mustangs and other classic vehicles. It plans to offer additional modernized replica models in the future.

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Festo unveils robotic ants, butterflies and chameleon tongue gripper

Festo's eMotionButterflies are reported capable of collective behavior and are able to autonomously avoid crashing into each other in real-time

Designing a robot that can convincingly move like a member of the animal kingdom is a much more difficult prospect than merely building something that has the outward appearance of one. Some of the best examples of both have come from the engineers at Festo, including a herring gull named SmartBird and a bit of a bounder known as the BionicKangaroo. As a taste of things to come at next month's Hannover Messe trade show in Germany, the company has now revealed three more biomimetic creations: a small colony of ants, a gripper modeled on a chameleon's tongue and some fine flyers in the shape of some big blue butterflies.

Festo sees the development of its BionicANTs, where the latter half of the name stands for Autonomous Networking Technologies, as an indication of things to come on the factory floor, where production systems of the future are founded on adaptable and intelligent components which are able to work under a higher overall control hierarchy. These artificial insects don't just look and move like giant versions of their counterparts in nature, but the company's engineers have also managed to mimic the cooperative behavior of real world ants with the help of complex control algorithms.

"Like their natural role models, the BionicANTs work together under clear rules", explained the company's Head of Corporate Communication and Future Concepts, Dr.-Ing. Heinrich Frontzek. "They communicate with each other and coordinate both their actions and movements. Each ant makes its decisions autonomously, but in doing so is always subordinate to the common objective and thereby plays its part towards solving the task at hand."

The use of Molded Interconnect Device technology sees visible, three-dimensional circuit structures integrated into laser-sintered shaped components during the build process, which is reported to allow for more design freedom as well as making assembly easier. Piezo-ceramic bending transducers are used in the actuators of the legs and gripper jaws, there are two cameras in the head and position is tracked using an optical mouse sensor mounted under the thorax.

Each BionicANT measures 13.5 cm (5.3 in) and runs on two 7.2 V batteries charged when the antennae touch metal bars running along the sides of an enclosure.

You can see the colony in action in the video below.

If an insect happens to land within range of a chameleon's lightning fast tongue, the chances of escape are pretty slim. Festo, in collaboration with the University of Oslo, has based its FlexShapeGripper on similar principles to the lizard's sticky tongue.

Attached to the end of a robotic arm, the water-filled elastic silicone cap is able to wrap itself around target objects and pick up, gather and set back down several objects of different shapes in one action. Festo sees future applications in service robots, in assembly plants or any facility needing one flexible solution for handling different-shaped objects at the same time.

You can see the FlexShapeGripper in the video below.

Festo's interest in flying objects continues in what's arguably the most visually impressive demonstration of the bunch. The eMotionButterflies bring together expertise gained from the company's BionicOpter and eMotionSpheres projects. They exhibit collective behavior and are able to autonomously avoid crashing into each other in real-time thanks to a networked external guidance and monitoring system.

An indoor GPS system with ten strategically-positioned infrared cameras is installed in the space where the butterfly bots are to fly. Each flapping robot has two IR markers on its torso and is tracked by the system. Positional data is then sent to a master computer for processing.

Festo says that these fancy flutterers were designed to demonstrate functional integration, ultra-lightweight construction and communication between individual systems. Each bot features split wing elastic capacitor film mounted to super thin carbon rods, combining the largest possible wingspan (50 cm/20 in) with the smallest possible weight (32 g/1 oz).

Freely and individually selected beat amplitude, beat speed and the respective turning points are reported to allow for a very close approximation of the robotic butterfly's biological role model in flight. An eMotionButterfly has a wing beat frequency of between 1 - 2 Hz and can fly at up to 2.5 meters per second (about 8 feet per second). It can stay in the air for roughly 4 minutes before needing a recharge (which takes 15 minutes).

A laser-sintered torso houses an ATxmega32E5 microcontroller and an ATmega328 microcontroller, two servo motors to actuate the wings, an inertial sensor, gyro/accelerometer/compass, two radio modules and two 7.4 V LiPol battery cells.

The video below shows the eMotionButterflies in flight.

Festo will de showing these and other technologies at the 2015 Hannover Messe, which begins April 13.

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In pictures: Baselworld 2015

Gizmag headed to Baselworld 2015 to take a look at the latest the watch and jewelery world has to offer (Photo: Chris Wood/Gizmag.com)

Given the premier nature of Switzerland's watchmaking industry, the level of excitement, glitz and glamor that surrounds Baselworld should come as no surprise. The town of Basel, nestled as it is just minutes from the French and German borders, was littered with banners, flags and posters this month, signalling the arrival of the biggest event on any watchmaker's calendar. Once again, Gizmag joined the thousands of trade, press and public attendees in search of the latest and greatest in wrist-worn fashion and innovation.

With a host of Android Wear devices on the market and with the imminent arrival of the Apple Watch, smartwatches were expected to have a more significant presence at Baselworld 2015 than ever before.

However, while Vector took the opportunity to show off its long lasting smartwatch, Mondaine provided Gizmag with a look at its undercover fitness tracker and Tag Heuer announced its long rumored partnership with Intel and Google, it was technology of the mechanical persuasion that once again took center stage.

From HYT's newest hydro-mechanical movement to the latest Christophe Claret creation and beyond, a total of 1,500 brands had their latest ranges on display. In excess of 150,000 visitors attended the event, including more than 4,300 journalists.

Having already provided a look at some of the most eye-catching pieces at the show, it's now time for a complete round-up of all the highlights in our Baselworld photo gallery.

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Olio aims for a more luxurious (and more expensive) brand of smartwatch, with the Model One

The Olio Model One goes all-in on design, though that cut-off point at the top of its screen is likely to be polarizing

It looks like Pebble wasn't the only company to come up with a past/future based smartwatch UI. San Francisco-based startup Olio has its own take on time-based wearable software, with its sharp-looking new Olio Model One.

Similar to Pebble Time, the Olio Model One is compatible with both iPhones and Android handsets, and runs its own time-based proprietary software: instead of just mirroring smartphone notifications, it organizes your day via past and future (or "earlier" and "later") alerts. The earlier stream contains your typical phone alerts, showing you anything you might have missed during your day. The later portion tries to help you plot out the rest of your day, offering suggestions to help you stay organized (things like muting calls as a meeting begins).

The company says that the watch will learn your preferences and become more useful over time, and also has its own context-based virtual assistant.

On the hardware end, the Model One appears to have a high-end aesthetic, with a stainless steel body and 1.3-in, 216 PPI IPS display. The screen has a cut-off point at the top, a bit like an upside down Moto 360 (only with an even more pronounced cut-off, or inverted flat tire effect).

Though the watch doesn't have a traditional IP Code (water and dust resistance) rating, Olio says the watch is "is significantly more water resistant than the consumer electronics IPX7 and IPX8 standards can test," and that it's been tested in water chambers with pressure ranging from 50-100 m.

Another similarity to the Moto 360 is that the Olio watch has a wireless charging coil on its backside. The company estimates "multiple days" of battery life.

If this sounds like the wearable you've been waiting for, then know that the Olio Model One won't come cheap, ringing up for US$595 for the silver-colored Steel collection (jumping up to $645 with a link chain) and $745 for the Black Collection ($795 with link chain). That's a hefty sum compared to most consumer smartwatches we've seen, but at least early-bird buyers will be in exclusive company: the watch's initial run will be limited to 500 total pieces.

Olio appears to be gunning for a higher-end brand of smartwatch: more premium than the $200-350 fare associated with Android Wear and Samsung Gear watches, but without shooting through the stratosphere into Rolex (or 18k gold Apple Watch) territory.

Proprietary software is always a hit-or-miss proposition, though, so we'll be interested to get some hands-on time with Olio's OS. It's also worth noting that we've seen some more luxurious Android Wear watches of late, like the LG Watch Urbane and Huawei Watch (though pricing is still a mystery for those two).

Those first 500 Model One watches are available for pre-order today, and Olio expects this batch to ship this (Northern) summer. You can get a closer look at the watch, and a glimpse of its UI, in the launch video below.

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Gecko feet inspire adhesion tech that can be turned on and off

While gecko feet utilize hair-like fibers, the new material uses similar manmade microscopic pillars (Photo: Shutterstock)

In various types of manufacturing, parts are robotically picked and placed using graspers or suction cups. The former can damage fragile items, however, while the latter won't work in vacuums or on rough surfaces. That's why scientists from Germany's Leibniz Institute for New Materials (INM) have developed – well, a new material. It utilizes the same principle as sticky gecko feet, but its gripping quality can be switched on and off as needed.

Gecko's feet are able to stick to surfaces thanks to millions of microscopic hair-like projections known as setae. These temporarily bond with surfaces at a molecular level, due to Van der Waals forces. When the reptiles pull their feet forward, the bond is broken.

The INM team has replicated those setae in the form of manmade microscopic pillars. An array of those pillars on the end of a picking tool can bond with a variety of surfaces – both smooth and slightly rough – when an object needs to be picked up.

Once that object has been put in place, the picking tool doesn't have to be pulled away from it in order to let go. Instead, the adhesion is instantly switched off, by electronically altering the structure of the pillars. Unlike some other picking technologies, no adhesive is left behind on the object.

A testing rig equipped with the material (Photo: INM)

In its current form the system works both in and outside of a vacuum, attaining an adhesive force of over 1 Newton per square centimeter on smooth surfaces. What's more, it's still able to maintain that performance after 1,000 cycles.

That said, the researchers are now working on improving its adhesion, so it can be used to lift heavier objects. They're also looking at using triggers such as light, magnetic fields and temperature changes to turn that adhesion on and off.

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Yamaha shows two new 3-wheel prototypes indicating future product developments

Yamaha's showing of two vastly different directions for its three-wheeled architecture is an indication we'll see even more variations on the three-wheeled theme from Yamaha at this year's Tokyo Motor Show. That's the road-going 03GEN-f at top and the dual-purpose 'cross' 03GEN-x below.

Yamaha has released details of two new design concepts based on its carving, three-wheeled Tricity architecture: the road-going 03GEN-f and dual-purpose on-off-road "cross" 03GEN-x. The Tricity was first shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show, and has since been released globally to great acclaim for its roadholding and stability. The new concepts indicate Yamaha will further develop the three wheeled motorcycle for new markets.

It all began when Yamaha first showed the Tesseract (below) at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, where it's four-wheeled motorcycle architecture created a sensation.

The Tesseract made headlines globally, and Yamaha continued with the development, finally showing the Tricity (below) at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. While it was missing the fourth wheel of the Tesseract, the dual-front-wheel architecture of the 2007 show bike was evident.

The production three-wheeled Tricity was released globally early in 2014, further developments of the three-wheeled concept were shown late last year in the form of the 01GEN (below), a large crossover motorcycle with the same twin front wheels layout of the Tricity.

Now it looks like the family is splitting further, with Yamaha's press material indicating that the 03GEN-f (below) was designed with the underlying theme "Future Racing," emphasizing the Leaning Multi-Wheel mechanism and visually expressing both the futuristic feel and Yamaha's racing image.

The 03GEN-x (below) is designed with more an off-road "Cross" theme underlying its design, with a different frame and what Yamaha claims is more a "traditional off-road design that is reminiscent of the days of unpaved roads."

While both concept models are based on Tricity, the vastly different designs exemplify the design possibilities of the Leaning Multi-Wheel architecture by offering a sharp contrast to the production model.

Yamaha has always regarded design as the central pillar of its product creation philosophy, establishing "Refined Dynamism" as its design philosophy in 2013.

Accordingly, no details of the engines of the two variants have been released, so we'll just have to hope that the company might offer a bigger engine than the Tricity's 125 single cylinder motor.

With the Tokyo Motor Show just over seven months away, perhaps the most telling line in the press materials was "Yamaha Motor will continue to exhibit and propose its GEN design concept in the future."

For those wondering what happened to the 02GEN concept (above), it appeared in November, 2014 but it's not really from the same family, being an electrically power assisted wheelchair.

The 03GEN Yamaha concepts are shown in the short promo video below.

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