Technology Review

Neural network "Deep Nostalgia" will bring old photos to life With the help of this neural network, you can "revive" the faces of long-gone people, including those who have never been recorded on video. Technically, the way Deep Nostalgia works is very simple: it has a set of prepared mimic templates on which the face from the selected image is superimposed. The neural network has not been trained for a long time, it works according to averaged criteria, and the result largely depends on the quality of the original photo.

DJI has released a sports FPV drone with a virtual reality headset The main feature of FPV is to make the user feel like a pilot inside the cockpit of a flying airplane. The dimensions of the drone are 255 x 312 x 127 mm, it weighs under 795 grams, with a battery charge allowing it to stay in the air for up to 20 minutes. The drone’s camera can stream video to the VR helmet within a radius of 10 km, immersing the user into a virtual pilot experience. The image is transmitted in HD format with a resolution of 1440 x 810 pixels and a FOV of 142 ° at a speed of 60 frames per second.

Poputar Smart Guitar Xiaomi, which produces almost all types of gadgets today, entered the music market as well, having released a smart learning guitar Poputar. Its neck is provided with 120 LEDs which illuminate the necessary string and fret while playing. In sync with your smartphone, this instrument becomes a great tool for learning and practicing your guitar skills.

The nimble electric tricycle MX3 carries an impressive 200 kg of cargo The MX3 has fully independent slat spring suspension, Nylomag bushings and hydraulic disc brakes. The tricycle is very maneuverable, and the dual front brakes provide reliable braking. The Cargo MX3 offers three locations for cargo storage: between the front wheels, in the middle between the seat and the steering column and at the rear of the frame, where you can fix a bag or a box. The Remolque version with an additional trailer can carry a fantastic 200 kg of cargo.

Audi x Airbus Modular Flying Taxi Audi and Airbus have jointly started a project for a modular flying taxi of the future, capable of moving both on the ground and in the air. The vehicle consists of a separate cabin, a wheeled platform and a propeller drone. Switching from the platform to the drone module will be performed automatically at designated sites.

The nimble electric tricycle MX3 carries an impressive 200 kg of cargo The MX3 has fully independent slat spring suspension, Nylomag bushings and hydraulic disc brakes. The tricycle is very maneuverable, and the dual front brakes provide reliable braking. The Cargo MX3 offers three locations for cargo storage: between the front wheels, in the middle between the seat and the steering column and at the rear of the frame, where you can fix a bag or a box. The Remolque version with an additional trailer can carry a fantastic 200 kg of cargo.

Mantle - 3D metal printing Mantle works in the industry of 3D metal printing. But what sets it apart from its competitors is its own developed and produced equipment. For example, Mantle's machine has no more than two workstations. At the same time, it provides 3D-printing using metal, finishing of the part and final heat treatment for sintering the material. The result is a high-precision detail in a few hours or days, not months.

iStruct - a monkey bot DFKI specialists, working on the latest support structures for robots, have created a monkey-bot capable of becoming upright. The developers equipped the robot with a mechanical spine with six degrees of freedom. As a result, iStruct takes an upright position when needed, without losing balance. However, it still moves using all four limbs.

Knocker - all it takes is a tap to identify an object This is not a separate device, but a well-designed software application that is installed on a regular smartphone. All you have to do is tap on an object with your phone for the software to identify it. Knocker uses a microphone, a gyroscope and an accelerometer to do this. The detection accuracy in a quiet room reaches 98%. However, you will have to learn this application beforehand, as there are only 32 objects stored in its database.

C Seed's M1 Folding TV Australian company C Seed introduced a 165-inch M1 foldable TV with 4K resolution. The TV consists of five panels, which allows it to accordion fold. And the Adaptive Gap Calibration system is responsible for creating a clear picture without tearing. It provides a viewing angle of up to 140 degrees. As for the price for such a TV, it is $400,000.

HuggieBot 2.0 hugging robot Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems have created a soft hugging robot. The HuggieBot 2.0 has an inflatable body with built-in feedback sensors providing the torque-thresholded grasping and a head with a screen for broadcasting animated facial expressions. Thanks to a system of sensors and dedicated software, the robot manages to hold a hug just like a human.

VA-X4 electric air taxi The British company Vertical Aerospace together with Rolls-Royce are working on a project of their own eVTOL aircraft for passenger transportation. They are developing the model VA-X4 that will be equipped with 100 kW electric units and will be able to cover distances up to 195 km at a speed of 320 km/h. The air taxi's commercial launch is scheduled for 2024.

The Pavlok smart wristband breaks bad habits with an electric shock Pavlok is a tiny device that hits its owner with a small electric shock. To be worn on the wrist, the Pavlok needs to be placed into a special bracelet that adjusts to fit any size. According to the developers, Pavlok is the world's first gadget that will help form good habits, get rid of unhealthy ones and keep all your promises. Pavlok is equipped with an accelerometer and other sensors that monitor the user's physical activity and behavior.

Auron - a bottle that disinfects water This is a bottle that allows to get water free of microorganisms. It uses a UV-C ultraviolet light system as a purifying agent, making the water completely drinkable after 60 seconds. Pre-order bottles start at $64. It is scheduled for release in May 2021.

New Shepard rocket made a successful flight Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin company conducted the 14th test flight of its New Shepard rocket together with a 6-seat passenger capsule, and one the seats was taken by a mannequin. The carrier rocket successfully landed 4 km away from the launch pad. The passenger capsule reached the border of space and then landed with parachutes. This rocket will transport tourists to space in the near future.

Hitch Hotel Traveler - a mobile home The California company Hitch Hotel introduced a compact living module for travel. Hitch Hotel Traveler is a waterproof camper on 10-inch wheels, which can expand its inner space up to 180 cm in length due to its telescopic structure. It allows 2-3 travelers to stay overnight in comfort. The price of the trailer is $5700.

FridgeCam - a device for saving money on shopping This is a joint creation of two brands, Liebherr and Smarter. The FridgeCam module consists of webcams which monitor the contents of the fridge and transfer the data to your smartphone. That is, the user can look into her or his refrigerator virtually at any time and determine what food they need to buy. Now the creators of the device are working on smart product recognition system capable of self-learning.

Bento Watch - a teeny tiny lunchbox This is a one-of-a-kind watch created as part of an advertising campaign for the Japanese seed merchant TAKII. The mini-lunch was crafted jointly by chefs and watchmakers, as well as a plastic surgeon specializing in delicate surgery. He was the one who placed the minuscule portions onto the dial. The Bento Watch even features a pair of telescopic chopsticks.

POLARIS PJO 3003 - electric can opener Opening a can is not so easy and can cause injury. This problem has been solved by making the process automatic. So, the can opener POLARIS PJO 3003 is designed to open cans with screw lids. It is enough to place the gadget on a can and press the button - it will do everything itself.

Aerial-Biped is a robot that walks on two legs using a quadcopter. The mechanism has two legs and moves with the help of the quadcopter. Engineers explain that a special algorithm allows users to control the speed of the aircraft as well as to control the bot's limbs with built-in servomotors. The key task of the system is to reduce the speed of the feet during contact with the floor, ideally it should be zero. The speed is measured by means of an external stationary device, so for now the robot is only able to operate indoors, where this equipment is located.