Audi is ready to produce the electric cars

Innovative electric car was first invented by Tesla through the Model S, which is now making various car manufacturers in the world became furious and began to create cars that utilize the electrical power that more efficient than the conventional fuel today. One of the manufacturers who are preparing to create new electric powered cars is Audi.

IAA 2011 Audi R8 E-tron. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1rTuLaT)

Maybe a few years to come, a car that rely on electric power will be a top priority throughout the world automotive manufacturers in addition to the car due to energy-saving, environmentally friendly too.

As reported from GTSpirit.com on Sunday, December 28, 2014 that Audi which is a premium car division of Volkswagen Group, is planning to sell pure electric powered cars in the global consumer starting in 2018. This is due to catch up with the BMW, their main rivals and Tesla known as the pioneer of electric powered cars manufacturer that also became the main rivals in this segment.

Rear view of IAA 2011 Audi R8 E-tron. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1rTuLaT)

The statement also reinforced when Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Audi, Rupert Stadler who spoke to one of the German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). He revealed that the launching both an all-electric sports car as well as a sports activity vehicle (SAV). According to the CEO of Audi, SAV will be a car with four-wheel drive (FWD) which can cover a distance of over 500 km on a single charge. He also revealed that to make the electric powered cars, Audi will make an investment of €2 billion.

It seems that with this plan, Audi will made the mature design of electric-powered cars. And it is not impossible, in addition they can create their own electric car, they can also work together with car manufacturers who already have electric cars or minimal motor as the main engine of this electric car. Competition this electric car for the next few years is likely to heat up. Well, we wait for the realization later! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GTSPIRIT.COM]

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The Player Café Racer

Just look at the form of the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 has been transformed and given the name "The Player". This bike was built by two brothers of the DP Custom Cycles who make the Wilwaukee big motor bike is different from the original form.

If the actually, the Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 motorcycle including the sport touring, then in the creative hands of Jarrod and Justin Del Prado could be transformed into an extraordinary café racer motorcycle.

The Player is a nod to the classic 1978 F1 race car, driven by Mario Andretti. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1E0WIC7)

"We built it completed with a new suspension that made it was ready lauched in all urban roads," said Jarrod. Therefore a set of Progressive Suspension 970 complete with the spring and preload adjuster installed to replace the Sporster standard legs.

Rear side view of The Player. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1E0WIC7)

DP Custom Cycles also create new forms of the tank and stern that made of steel plate. Then the body of the bike added by the John Player Special livery which is the F1 champion in 1978 from Lotus-Ford team as the body paint theme.

The engine and carburetor also certainly undergone resetting process, then mounted single fire coil, and rear sprockets are all new. And lastly, do not forget golden rim size of 19 inches in the front and 18 inches in the rear which is wrapped with Pirelli Sport Demons tyres. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DP CUSTOMS | MUTED]

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Sang Penemu Black Box

DAVID WARREN (1925–2010)

Akhir-akhir ini pemberitaan di Indonesia sedang tertuju pada pencarian dan evakuasi pesawat terbang AirAsia QZ8501 yang mengalami musibah di perairan sekitar Selat Karimata. Segala usaha dilakukan untuk menemukan korban dan puing pesawat. Setelah beberapa waktu, disamping mencari korban, maka fokus pencarian diperluas untuk menemukan 'Black box' pesawat.

Namun, apakah Anda tahu apa itu Black box atau kotak hitam pesawat serta tokoh yang berjasa dalam penemuan alat tersebut? Berikut ini ulasan singkat mengenai sistem kerja serta sejarah penemuan Blackbox di dunia.

Penemuan kotak hitam pada dunia penerbangan modern biasanya diakui ditemukan oleh David Warren, meskipun perangkat sejenis telah ada sebelumnya. David Warren yang memiliki nama lengkap, Dr. David Ronald de Mey Warren AO, BSc (Sydney), PhD (London), DIC, DipEd (Melbourne), FAIE (20 Maret 1925 – 19 Juli 2010) adalah seorang ilmuwan Australia, paling dikenal sebagai penemu dan mengembangkan sistem alat perekam data penerbangan dan perekam suara kokpit. Pada tahun 2007, David Warren termasuk pada “Top 100 orang jenius” dalam kreativitas dan inovasi dari Kreator Synectics.

David Warren dengan prototipe Black box. (Gambar dari: http://bit.ly/14tE0E1)

David Warren bekerja di tempat yang bernama Defence Science and Technology Organisation Aeronautical Research Laboratories di Melbourne dari tahun 1952-1983, sampai naik ke tingkat Principal Research Scientist. Sementara di sana, ia datang dengan ide untuk perekam suara kokpit sementara pada waktu itu alat tersebut mampu untuk menyelidiki kecelakaan pesawat jet komersial pertama di dunia “the Comet” pada tahun 1953.

Sebuah kotak hitam atau black box adalah alat perekam yang digunakan dalam aktivitas transportasi udara, juga dikenal dengan nama Flight Recorder di pesawat terbang yaitu Perekam Data Penerbangan (Flight Data Recorder/FDR) dan Perekam Suara Kokpit (Cockpit Voice Recorder/CVR).

Sisi bahasa Inggris dari Kotak Hitam. (Gambar dari: http://bit.ly/17lGQNa)

Sebenarnya kendaraan lain pun, seperti mobil, kapal laut, dan kereta api memiliki alat serupa. Alat serupa juga terdapat di lokomotif kereta api  dengan nama berbeda yaitu event recorder, sedangkan di mobil disebut event data recorder, di kapal laut dinamakan message case, dan alat perekam lainnya juga terkadang dapat ditemukan di berbagai kendaraan.

Alat perekam ini, khususnya pada penerbangan adalah sebuah alat perekam elektronik yang ditempatkan di dalam pesawat terbang untuk tujuan memfasilitasi penelitian kecelakaan atau kejadian pesawat udara. Untuk alasan ini, sebuah perekam penerbangan harus mampu bertahan dalam kondisi yang mungkin dihadapi dalam kecelakaan pesawat yang parah.

Dalam rangka memfasilitasi penemuan dan pemulihan alat perekam dari lokasi kejadian, alat ini tidak berwarna hitam seperti namanya kotak hitam / black box, tetapi diwajibkan berwarna kuning terang atau oranye dengan permukaan reflektif, kemudian diberi keterangan “FLIGHT RECORDER – DO NOT OPEN” di satu sisi dalam bahasa Inggris dan di sisi lain dalam bahasa Perancis.

Sisi bahasa Perancis dari Kotak Hitam. (Gambar dari: http://bit.ly/17lGQNa)

Sementara perangkat sebelumnya telah digunakan untuk merekam parameter penerbangan tertentu, alat tersebut tidak termasuk rekaman suara, dan tidak dapat digunakan kembali, dan karena itu tidak praktis untuk penerbangan komersial rutin.

Penemuan David Warren, yang mengandalkan media perekaman magnetik, memungkinkan penghapusan mudah dan rekaman ulang, yang membuatnya praktis untuk layanan jalur rutin. Konsep rekaman suara kokpit menambahkan dimensi baru data instrumen perekam penerbangan dan telah terbukti sangat berharga untuk penyelidikan kecelakaan.

Menariknya, beberapa kecelakaan di mana CVR (suara kokpit) memainkan peran penting, suatu kejadian tidak terpecahkan dari rekaman suara kru, tetapi dengan suara lain yang kebetulan tercatat pada CVR yang menyediakan petunjuk penting.

Ada dua jenis umum dari perekam penerbangan, perekam data penerbangan (FDR) dan perekam suara kokpit (CVR). Dalam beberapa kasus, dua perekam dapat dikombinasikan dalam unit tunggal FDR / CVR.

Alat ini biasanya ditentukan untuk mampu menahan dampak hantaman dan suhu lebih dari 1,000 derajat Celcius (1,832 derajat F). Standarisasi ini seperti yang dipersyaratkan oleh EUROCAE ED-112.

EUROCAE ED-112 (Minimum Operational Performance Specification for Crash Protected Airborne Recorder Systems) mendefinisikan spesifikasi minimum yang harus dipenuhi untuk semua pesawat yang memerlukan perekam penerbangan untuk merekam data penerbangan, suara kokpit, gambar dan CNS / ATM pesan digital yang digunakan untuk penyelidikan.

Untuk membantu pencarian dari alat yang terendam air harus dilengkapi dengan “locator beacon” bawah air yang akan aktif secara otomatis pada saat terjadi insiden. Perangkat ini dirancang tidak hanya untuk bertahan terhadap kecelakaan, tetapi juga untuk berfungsi dengan benar setelah dampak.

Sebuah beacon biasanya dilengkapi daya listrik dengan baterai lithium-ion, yang perlu diganti setiap beberapa tahun. Setelah beacon tenggelam ke dalam air, saklar otomatis akan aktif dan beacon mulai memancarkan sinyal “ping”, daya baterai harus cukup untuk setidaknya 30 hari setelah aktivasi, walaupun di masa modern disarankan bisa lebih lama sampai 90 hari. *** [EKA | DARI BERBAGAI SUMBER | WIKIPEDIA]

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The last generation of the Lancer Evo X

What if an intensive rumor spreading in cyberspace about a last generation of the legendary Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X proved was to be true. A Japanese automotive brand giant brings the latest sports sedan concept legends to their booth in the middle of the hustle of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015 which begins on January 9, 2015.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/14T2qqx)

The car concept is created as the last and most powerful generation with output up to 480 hp, and was named Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final concept is installed various devices and the best Japanese performance support tuning products.

Dashboard view of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/14T2qqx)

This concept car uses an upgraded turbocharger engine of 4B11 MIVEC intercooled which has a capacity of 2.0-liter, and fuel processing system as well as special ECU software enhanced processing prowess by HKS become the main power of the strongest generation of Mitsubishi Lancer.

Engine view of Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final Concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2015. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/14T2qqx)

Moreover, as quoted from Responsejp on January 10, 2015, the sport suspension HIPERMAX MAX4 SP also added by HKS is coupled with Volk Racing's 19 inch G25 alloy wheels and wrapped in Yokohama Advan Neovas tires.

Not much can be explored to date on the production status of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X Final concept later. Clearly, the temptation of this matte black super-powered 'iron horse' is going to hard to resist! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RESPONSEJP | CARSCOOP]

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Scientists have developed a 3D printer for organ

Japanese scientists are developing a 3D printer technology to make the skin, bones and artificial joints. And several groups of scientists around the world have developed a small mass of tissue to implant, but now they will move to the next stage and make it more functional.

Tsuyoshi Takato, professor of the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, displays an artificial ear made of polyactic acid and designed by a 3D printer at his laboratory in Tokyo on Friday, Jan. 16. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1AKJ3ZD)

Tsuyoshi Takato, a professor at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine  said that his team is working on the "next generation 3D bio-printer" that can build a thin layer of biomaterials to make parts of the body.

His team combines stem cells - a proto cells that can develop into all parts of the body - and the proteins that trigger the growth, as well as synthetic substance similar to human collagen.

By using a 3D printer, they create "artificial organ structures" such as hard and porous surfaces inside the bone, Takato said as quoted by AFP news agency. In just a few hours, the printing machine can produce implants by using data from Computer Tomography (CT) Scanner.

The plastic surgeons say that implants can be implanted in the body, and quickly assimilated by the body's tissues and organs other patients. "Usually we use cartilage or bone from the patient's body (for regular implants), but the implants are made to order it means no need to take away from the original source," Takato said.

The technology also gives hope to children who are born with the problem of bone or cartilage, which can not use regular synthetic implants because their body growth rate. The biggest obstacle is the heat generated from conventional 3D printers that damage proteins and living cells.

"We do not fully know how to avoid the heat that causes denaturation, but we have several models and is exploring where the most efficient method," he said. And the artificial protein that used by Takato and his team was developed by Fujifilm, which has been researching collagen used in photographic film.

Because the implant is made based on human collagen, not taken from the animals, the implants were easily assimilated in the human body and reduce the risk of infections such as mad cow disease. Takato said his team has a target to begin clinical trials leather printed with a 3D printer in the next three years, followed by bone, cartilage and joints.

The researchers say their project prior to "CT-Bone" which was developed by the company Next 21 based in Tokyo and government agencies provide guidance for the current study. Techniques that use calcium phosphate, bone constituent substance, but does not contain stem cells.

CT-Bone implant is inserted into the fractured bone or placed where the missing bone to act as a scaffold for new bone growth. The new growth that can take over the implant in two years with the parent bone acts as an incubator.

Takato said tests on animals showed regeneration can even be faster to use collagen implants, stem cells and growth stimulus. And the Japanese medical authorities are expected to approve the use of CT-Bone in the medical practice in this year. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | THE CHINA POST]

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Practical and smart e-Scooter

Electric scooter has become a mode of personal transportation in major cities that prohibit the use of a conventional motorcycle engine, but its popularity is still small in the eyes of the world. Now the Taiwanese energy company, Gogoro introducing a smart electric scooter, named Gogoro-Smartscooter at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas, as reported by Motorcycle on January 6, 2014.

Gogoro-Smartscooter. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Kl60dY)

This electric scooter feels different because it has the ability to replace the battery, like a toy car when the power runs out. That mean is the extra batteries supply, you do not need complicated by the obligation to recharge, and spend a lot of time.

In addition to offering the smart scooter, Gogoro also prepare a battery station network infrastructure to put in city centers. So, scooter users who run out of battery, simply visit this station and replace the battery with a fully charged one. And the battery replacement process takes no more than 6 seconds.

Opened for service, the Smartscooter looks almost alien-like. (Picture from: http://bitly.com/1xu3zR3)

Gogoro-Smartscooter created by Horace Luke and Matt Taylor. Both are former high officials of in the HTC smart phone manufacturer. This smart scooter has a futuristic design, compact size that is only capable of transporting one adult only.

Structure of scooter chassis is manufactured using an Aeroframe aluminum monocoque, which are lightweight yet sturdy. Single suspension used on the front tire, while the swing arm on the back. This electric scooter uses disc brakes measuring 205 mm with two pistons in the front and 162 mm with single piston at the rear.

Gogoro's Smartscooter poses in front of a GoStation. (Picture from: http://bitly.com/1xu3zR3)

Front and rear lights are already using the LED lights, including the aluminum rims which is easy to reassembled if need be replaced. This scooter also equipped with a permanent magnet motor system with a liquid cooling system. Its power output is 8.6 hp, and claimed to speed up to 60 mph (96.5 kph). Mileage up to 60 miles (96.5 km) in a fixed speed 25 mph (40.3 kph) when the battery is fully charged.

This scooter also has a smart phone application that can monitor the driving movement of users, so as to adjust the balance between battery capacity and mileage. This application can also be a diagnostic system, mileage, and change the display on the indicator panel.

"Smartscooter and Gogoro Energy Network will capture the hearts of future generations and become a catalyst for the energy system more efficient, clean, and smart in the city," said Horace Luke, the CEO of Gogoro. But unfortunately did not say how much the price of this smart scooter. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GOGORO | THE VERGE]

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