Audi made a big impression with the original e-tron concept, it was based in the already impressive R8, it was a different color in every show and by 'accidentally' mistaken the thrust in the wheels with the motors torque appeared more powerful than a Leopard tank. The second e-tron concept unveiled yesterday in Detroit is more realistic. It is a little smaller than an Audi TT and it has two electric motors (one for each rear wheel) that combined have a power of 201hp.

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The first F-35B test aircraft (BF-01) made its first engagement of the full STOVL configuration during a flight in 9th January. With this configuration the F-35B swivels the 3-part rear nozzle facing downwards, opens the top and bottom hatch for the central lift-fan and the additional ports for the engine intake. The clutch sending power to the lift-fan is also engaged. During the transition the aircraft had a speed of 150kt and was at an altitude of 5,000ft. The test was planned for 2009 but was delayed until now, no problems occurred during the flight. The big milestone is the vertical landing but Lockheed Martin takes small and careful steps in the progress of such a radical aircraft.

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A small Dutch company that produces accesories like centerstands, E.V.A. is producing the first diesel superenduro. The T-800CDI as it is called is about the size of a BMW R1200GS and has a 3 cylinder diesel engine. A Diesel motorbike is a long troubled idea that never caught on. Diesel engines used to be heavy, complicated and underpowered (in a way they still are) and totally unsuitable for a motorcycle. However adventure rallying and the idolized by 'the Long way round' BMW GS made enormous trail bikes very popular. If diesel engines are to become a viable option for bikes a big endure motorcycle is the best first step.

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Today the Detroit Auto show opens its doors and the local 3 (or two and a half?) manufacturers will showcase their new and revamped models and concept cars. GMC may survived last year's crisis but its lineup is almost entirely slightly rebadged Chevrolets with no specific brand image or policy. The Granite concept may be crucial in defining what GMC is or would be.

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India is releasing a request for proposals for carrier based fighters and SAAB is considering a naval based Gripen for the competition. The Sea Gripen will be based in the recently revealed Gripen NG. Modifying a land based fighter plane for carrier use is quite difficult. SAAB will also face competition from the already carrier proven naval version of Rafale, and F/A-18 E/F. The Russian Su-33 and Mig-29K could also compete but the Indian navy is a launch customer of the latter and this program faces a lot of difficulties.

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More and more concept cars are emerging until the Geneva motor show open its doors on March. Some are totally unfeasible futuristic, some are slightly Β‘conceptizedΒ’ production models and others like this new Sr1 concept by Peugeot although would never reach production showcase the design trend of the automaker. The Sr1 is a 2+1 seat convertible; there are the conventional two front seats and an enlarged in the middle rear bench where an extra passenger can sit if necessary (and if he/she can fit there). As expected this concept is a hybrid and it is a convertible with a sailing-grade plastic material for the roof.

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This small quadcopter called AR.Drone could be the killer app for small commercial drones. Since it appeared on the internet and at CES/Las Vegas some days ago it created a huge buzz and even without a price or a availability date everybody seem to want one. In this post there is a general description and (if possible) a first general validation of the actual product and its possible effects.

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This is not a new concept, Suzuki presented it in the 2007 Tokyo motor show and although it was very well received it hadn't attracted the attention it deserved. Today however the market for very small trucks is about to explode, especially in the very crowded developing cities of India and the X-HEAD is maybe the best example of how to design a small truck. It has the mechanical gear of the Jimny and similar dimensions. It may be small and relatively cheap but it looks tougher than a Hummer without provoking the eco-fashion police, modern as an aluminum Apple laptop and cuter than a Pokemon. These things can characterize a design as good but the X-Head is exceptional because at the same time its shape is function driven and the vehicle is purely utilitarian.

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Swarm Intelligence is a very hot topic and these micro robots should be a very good swarm programming and behavior practice. They called ' formica ' and they are the collaboration of Rob Spanton, Steve English, Alexis Johnson, Jo Sun and Jeff Gough. The robot itself is as simple as possible. It uses two small motors, converted mobile phone vibrators and two wire 'skis'. It can steer by differential motor movement. It has a MSP430F2254 microcontroller for calculations, three IR LED/Photodiode phototransistors with multi-frequency FSK modem scheme for communications and it uses down-looking IR photoreflective sensor to observe their environment.They can also recharge by themselves throu an exposed wire that they can attach to a charging rail.

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