“DIGITAL GRAFFITI” is helping pilots navigate airport taxiways in a trial taking place at Hanover Airport. Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH and Siemens have successfully tested virtual navigation aids — they look like signs or symbols hanging in mid-air, but in fact are computer-generated, and placed by “hanging mobile radio messages.”

Original post by Mike

Korean Ph.D. Student Kwak So-na won first place in the 2006 Robot Companion Design Contest for Students run by the IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication, held this year at the University of Hertfordshire in England. Her prize was for a robot that perceives the user’s emotions, then emulates them with BODY LANGUAGE and FACIAL EXPRESSION. Called Hamie (Korean for “hamster”), the robot is still in the design stage, but when completed will droop or perk up based on your mood, and possibly even change color. (Note, the picture above has nothing to do with Hamie.)

Original post by Mike

We all know we should be using rechargeable batteries. But who can manage yet another charger? Enter USB-powered rechargeable batteries from Moixa Energy. Called the USBCELL line, the batteries are shaped like ordinary AA batteries. The top FLIPS OPEN to reveal a USB connector. Just plop it into any computer, and it recharges — no external charger required! The company promises to soon come out with a full line of USB-powered rechargeable batteries, including AAA, C, D, 9-volt and a range of gadget batteries! The web site features pictures and info on these future batteries, the most impressive of which is the AAA line. Check out how they’re going to make skinny batteries fit into a standard USB port! (props to Pocket-lint)

Original post by Mike

A new military product called the Joint Precision Air Drop System uses GPS and the ability to remotely steer parachuting cargo. It enables the U.S. Air Force to toss 2,000-pound bundles out of an airplane flying at 25,000 feet high and have it gently land within a few feet of a precise target MILES AWAY. I want one.

Original post by Mike