The next generation WowWee robots series from WowWee Robotics, takes robotics to the next generation. Set to be unveiled in the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas later this week, the two playful companions are something that you more than asked for. The first one is Joebot, which is a regular fully loaded interactive friendly neighborhood robot which also has sense of humor up its sleeve. It also responds to key phrases using the sound sensors, so much so that one can make it dance to the tune as it replicates the same without a hitch. While the other one named Roborover is softer and down to earth version as it gradually gets comfortable with continuous interaction. Quite innovative one must say!
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Today with lot of environmental developments happening world over like global warming, energy crisis, lifestyle changes, it’s become even more difficult to design houses meeting all these requirements. More and more architectural designs are using digital technologies with respect to modeling, simulation, evaluation and fabrication resulting in complex shaped buildings which incorporates the above challenges. One such project is coming up in Tel Aviv whose primary resources are sun, wind, and land and these are fairly distributed amongst these complex structures thus making an optimum utilization of all. It’s of course high quality housing complete with latest gadgets but run on the natural resources. Architect Yiftach Ben Meir, the designer, is a recent graduate from The Faculty Of Architecture and Town Planning at Technion, Israel Institute of Technology (IIT). His final project SeaO2 was conceived under the framework of Tecnion Computer Oriented Design Studio, T_Code with the instruction of dr. Yasha j. Grobman.
Text from Yiftach :
SeaO2 is an experimental ecological housing project. The project poses an alternative to current plans for Tel Aviv North West coastal district. SeaO2 demonstrates vast use of cutting edge computer software, some being used in the aerospace industry, in order to improve building performance and to ensure the existence of a sustainable urban environment with a minimal ecological footprint. The project final form is a consequence of a scientific approach that calculates numerous of elements: the sun orbit, wind conditions, maximum open scenic views, very high density and more, all in a free-form organic manner.
Advanced Computer Simulations ensure the project’s credibility. The project’s unique morphology enables: optimized solar reception for heating at winter time, self-shadowing and solar reception for electricity generation at summer time, natural lighting, optimized natural ventilation, open looks to the natural coastal environment, public green spaces, rain collection and more. Various passive mechanical systems complement the basic morphology, enable better performance and create an energy efficient, environmentally friendly housing project
Designer : Yiftach Ben Meir
“Kure” (also known as ’sphere’ in Turkish) is a futuristic concept table designed in the shape of a flower for your family dinning room. This table is shaped as a sphere when closed and once you open, it can occupy any corner of the house. A light source is fitted in the centre of the table which offers a blue light to the base of the table. This full-fledged dinning table accommodates six dinning chairs which can also be used for some other purpose. Kure is surely a space cushion more favorable for family dinners and aims to bring together the whole family.
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Nissan Nuvu is a concept designed to offer next generation car from Nissan with rear-mounted electric motor and lithium ion battery pack. The design of this concept car is quite unusual and small. For city use, the Nuvu’s performance is more than adequate. Across the all-glass roof are a dozen of small solar panels. Basically, natural, organic and recycled materials are used to make its cabin. The steering of the car is very direct for quickness and maneuverability in the city. No one will have any problem in crowded roads and limited parking slots with this tomorrow’s city car.
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This Sydney based EnterArchitecture is designed to overcome the problem of extreme temperatures. This concept is characterized by leaning roof shapes made up of highly transportable lightweight resources such as bent metal profiles and formed plywood panels. It is known as a cluster of comfort because of its easy assembly, thermal comfort and a strong design. There are variable openings in the panels and they can be customized as per the user’s requirements. The concept is designed in a very unique manner in order to provide several configurations to accommodate full sun protection from harsh sun. Somehow, this design seems a little congested for the user.
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