Waterless toilet technology is being tested in Africa

Toilet in the home is a luxury things that is not perceived by over 2.6 billion people in the world. In less developed countries such as India and on the African continent, for the toilet which we regard as normal is something that is desirable.

Water scarcity problem and the lack of sewage systems were adequate to cause some sections in those countries had not been able to use the toilet. As a solution, currently is developing a Nano Membrane toilet technology that does not require water and sewerage systems conventionally.

Nano Membrane toilet prototype. (Picture from: bit.ly/1muxC9g)

The Nano Membrane toilet tech was developed by Cranfield University in the UK, which is one winner grants of the Bill and Melinda Gates Fondation which are trying to improve the lives of people who living in developing countries.

The toilet does not require water pumps to clean the dirt after use. After removing impurities, the bottom of the toilet spins to throw dirt into a special storage area.

Nano Membrane toilet design. (Pictures from: bit.ly/1muxC9g)

The solid and liquid wastes will then go through the form of a membrane filter that separates water from solids. Water is separated and then filtered using a hydrophilic beads to produce water that can be reused for a drink or other domestic use.

The dried dung is then stored in a special room that is collected every week. Dirt that is now dry solid form and used as the fuel to generate electricity in the biofuels power generators. Each manure produced will not be wasted otherwise be recycled for the common good.

The Nano Membrane Toilet technology is being tested in Ghana to see its usefulness in a larger scale. Actually, the similar concept used in several environmentally friendly farms in the United States where the animal waste material is recycled into biofuels.

The use of this environmentally friendly technology not only ensures the quality of life of the population increased even reduce dependence on fossil fuels diminishing. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | GIZMAG]

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EDAG's ultimate statement in lightweigt design

EDAG, a German automotive company has been unveiling their future car at the Geneva Motor Show 2015 in March 2015. The concept car was dubbed the EDAG Light Cocoon concept.

This car concept is a refinement form of EDAG Genesis auto-chassis concept that was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show last year and called as the EDAG's ultimate statement in lightweigt design. As quoted from Autoevolution, the designer has used special materials as their inspiration to make this car a lighter, where the use of textile fabrics made by Jack Wolfskin, an outdoor clothing specialist and called 'Texapore Softshell'.

EDAG Light Cocoon concept car debutted at the Geneva Motor Show 2015. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1ncFbl0)

This sports car was designed by using the EDAG Genesis auto-chassis concept, a lightweight shell and the body design is very unique and doors made of glass. The EDAG Light Cocoon concept car as a pilot project of two seat sports car.

EDAG tried to develop how importance and relevance of future and current automotive products. EDAG not only focused on the future to develop the car, but the developed a flexible and qualified car for the world community.

Rear side view of EDAG Light Cocoon concept car. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1ncFbl0)

Claimed as a compact sports car, the Light Cocoon concept has a "bionically optimized vehicle structure" and "weatherproof textile outer skin panels." The latter is also a backlight to display the "organic structure like a skeleton" belonging to the concept car.

According to the head of the EDAG Design Studio, Johannes Barckmann said, "We are pursuing a vision of sustainability - as demonstrated by nature: light, efficiently, and without waste. The result: EDAG Light Cocoon presented load bearing structure as the stable branch of the 3D printer, which uses only materials which is really needed."

Limited use of structural materials and lightweight outer shell (four times more light than standard copy paper) allow this concept car to be very light and efficient. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AUTOEVOLUTION]

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Feel Free Go!

Suzuki Japan officially launched the motorcycle concept named Feel Free Go!. Although called a motorbike, this vehicle powered by a combination of gasoline and electric motors (hybrid) with the appearance more like a mountain bike. So this is a bicycle or motorcycle?

In the automotive exhibition of Tokyo Motor Show (TMS) 2015, the renowned motorcycle manufacturer explains that the Feel Free Go! concept entirely motorcycle. The design is intentionally made to look like a mountain bike to make it easier to drive.

Just like a bicycle, the environmentally friendly motorcycle also has simple handlebars, slender frame and saddle. Thin wheels with a diameter of 24 inches are also increasingly making the Suzuki Feel Free Go! concept looks similar to a mountain bike.

Suzuki Feel Free Go! concept at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1K7MJdz)

If at the bottom of the mountain bikes are pedal and gear, in the same position Suzuki put a 50 cc 4-stroke single cylinder engine, batteries, and electric propulsion.

Such as automatic scooter, the power from the engine is channeled to the rear wheels through a rubber V-belt. Although uses a small engine, the braking system already using discs that can be operated via a lever on the handlebars.

Rear side view of Suzuki Feel Free Go! concept. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1K7MJdz)

As reported by PaulTan.org, on Thursday, May 11, 2015, the Suzuki Feel Free Go! motorcycle concept created to commemorate Suzuki's 63 years in the automotive world. The motorcycle is referred to as the reincarnation of Suzuki Power Free, namely Suzuki's first motorcycle.

Suzuki Feel Free Go! and Power Free both have similar shapes to a bicycle. The difference, the Power Free, launched 1950s, it was only equipped with a simple two-stroke 36 cc engine. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | PAULTAN]

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Will the Whiskey into a Fuel of the future?

Scotland is the largest producer of whiskey. And a Scottish professor has found a way to take out the pulp from the whiskey distillation and turn it into biobutanol, which is alcohol that can be used as fuel.

Professor Martin Tangney has been set up a company named Celtic Renewables and based in Edinburgh which produce biobutanol at a factory in Belgium.

Whisky waste could be fuel of the future. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1SLiTTh)

"In the whiskey production, less than 10 percent of what is produced in the actual refining is its main product. Most of the rest are two types of unwanted waste, ie pot ale and barley," says Tangney.

Both are combined to create a new raw material. And by adjusting the fermentation process has a century old, the waste is converted to biobutanol. Biofuel or a whiskey-based fuel that gives greater power than bioethanol that made from corn or sugar cane.

Professor Tangney explained, "Biobutanol contains the energy was nearly the same amount of gasoline, while bioethanol only contains 70 percent of it. We can store it, and distribute it through the pipes and use the existing infrastructure to distribute it, and we do not even need to change or adjust the car.”

Tangney estimate biobutanol will not completely replace gasoline, but mixed with it. Biobutanol may also be used for the aircrafts and ships, and heater, and helps the natural environment.

Currently, Celtic Renewables has received a grant of 17 million dollars from the British government to build a plant in Scotland is expected to be operational within the next 3 years. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DNA]

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Hallo BUDD-e....!

The new concept has been revived Volkswagen microbus to create a future camper van. BUDD-e Concept is a zero-emission vehicle that uses an electric motor, and has a set of luxurious sofa in it.

As quoted by the DailyMail on Wednesday, January 6, 2015, Volkswagen says this concept would mark the 'quantum leap' in the design. BUDD-e has been introduced at CES 2016 at Las Vegas, and it was the first vehicle to be conceptualized in the new Volkswagen Modular Power Platform.

Volkswagen BUDD-e Concept debutted at the CES 2016 in Las Vegas. (Picture from: bit.ly/22OYFwp)

The new platform will compete with the ability of electric gas powered vehicles by the end of this decade, according to Volkswagen, and it will take about 30 minutes to reach 80 percent of the power stored in the battery.

Through estimation of the New European Drive Cycle, the car has an estimated range as far as 373 miles, while the EPA driving cycle is estimated much lower of 233 miles.

VW BUDD-e shows off some new interior tech that could arrive by 2019… When apparently Air Bags are no longer needed. (Picture from: bit.ly/22OYFwp)

This platform allows VW BUDD-e Concept has a spacious interior design, because it using a flat battery which hasa a capacity of 101 kWh and integrated to the entire the car's floor. Its electric motors located in the front and rear of the vehicle which allows it to reach a top speed of 93 mph.

This vehicle is equipped with touch screen, motion and voice controls according to the driver's selection. Only by saying 'Hello Budd-e," then the driver can activate the voice control and natural speech interaction system allows the car to recognize the commands even indirectly ones. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DAILYMAIL]

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Chinese drone could carries a single passenger

Ehang, a Chinese drone manufacturer company has recently launched the world's first drone that capable of carrying one passenger. Its presence is expected to help achieve the dream of the aviation industry for the short-medium distance automatically.

As reported by Xinhuanet on Thursday, January 7, 2015, Ehang 184 using electric power was debutted in the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 in Las Vegas. The drone is capable of carrying a single passenger weighing up to 100 kg for the 23 minutes flight on the surface of the sea at a speed of 100 km per hour.

Ehang 184, the world's first Autonomous Aerial Vehicle debutted at the CES 2016 in Las Vegas. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Rv10Hu)

After established flight plan, the passenger just need to send two commands: "take off" and "landing", each controlled one-click on the tablet attached to it. It does not require runways, because the drone take off and landing vertically.

Left side view of Ehang 184, the world's first Autonomous Aerial Vehicle. (Picture from: http://nbcnews.to/1OPz9D2)

"Because the 184 has an automatic navigation, it is possible to operate 24/7. In real-time, the passenger doesn't need a license to control the drone. They just sit back and let the drone take over," said the representative of the Guangzhou-based company said in a statement.

Furthermore he said the first realization of automatic flight signifies a major turning point not only for the transportation industry, but also for other fields such as shipping, medical care and retail. For safety, Ehang said, the drone has built reinforcements for all flight systems, so that in the unlikely event that the component that failed, can seamlessly take over.

If there is any damage during the flight, for example, because of a bird, the drone will automatically determine whether it needs to land to ensure the safety of passenger. In an emergency, passengers can also choose to stop flying and just floating in the air with just one click.

Ehang Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Derrick Xiong told Xinhua that his company plans to sell drones later this year with a price of US. $200,000 to $300,000, or about Rp.2 billion to Rp.4 billions per unit. And as a first step may only be used in designated places such as tourist areas.

"But in the end, we hope that people can use it as a means of transportation for short-to-medium-away flight," he concluded. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | XINHUANET | GIZMAG]

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