Ford Canada’s Use of Paint Fumes Contributes in Preservation of Environment
To at least reduce environmental risks, one of the assembly facilities of Ford Canada is geared to continue its operations by utilizing paint fumes. Currently, Ford is setting up a technologically advanced system that makes it possible for fumes to turn into fuel in its Oakville plant.
This new technology being introduced by Ford is in fact the “first of its kind in the world”. It is a system that will help preserve the environment by trimming down pollution. By converting harmful fumes generated by the paint shop of the Ford assembly plant in Oakville into electricity that will supply force to operate the plant, this innovative system can help not only in upholding the condition of the environment, but also in providing economical means of providing power to the plant.
One of a Kind System
Ford is proud to be the first to have a system that will benefit both the environment and the operation of the company. "There's nothing like this in the world. You couldn't ask for anything greener in terms of technology," Ford Motor Company Manufacturing Expert Kit Edgeworth stated in a report from Sun Media.
The assembly plants of other automotive companies have been suffering, for years now, from the problems caused by the emissions of their paint shops. The Volatile organic compounds, or in simple terms paint shop discharges, are being drained off and actually being burned to ashes. The heating systems, operated by natural gas, that are utilized to set the emissions to fire are very expensive, and automotive companies have a hard time maintaining them.
With its fume conversion system, Ford will no longer have to go through the complicated process of maintaining natural gas-operated heating systems. The environment-friendly system of Ford is scheduled to be put to operation by the end of this year. It will function at its maximum aptitude by the end of 2008. According to Edgeworth, the system is supposed to lessen the emission of carbon dioxide by at least 88%. Moreover, it is also designed to do away with nitrogen oxide discharges.
Silicon Valley Technologist Proposes Network of Battery-Charging Stations
Silicon Valley technologist Shai Agassi recently brought up a magnificent proposal of increasing the usage of all-electric, battery-operated vehicles to smarten up the international automotive industry.
The objective of Agassi is not similar to that of Chevrolet Volt and Tesla, which concentrate on generating green automobiles. It is not focused on the production of innovative vehicles. Instead, the plan of Agassi is all about setting up a network of stations that provide battery-charging services in Europe, United States, and some developing countries.
The network being planned by Agassi will serve as a provider of electric fuel. The purchase is to be made on a subscription basis. This system also suggests that all the vehicle expenses be subsidized by credits and leases. “We’re basically saying this is just like the cellular phone model,” he said. “If you think of Tesla as the iPhone, we’re AT&T,” said Agassi.
Agassi has in fact come up with sufficient financial support for this project. A lot of private groups have extended support for Agassi’s plan. Currently, there is a 200 million dollar worth of fund to back up the construction of the battery-charging stations. The private groups that helped raise the fund include a famous Israeli transportation and technology holding company, the Israel Corporation, and Vantage Point Venture Partners. There are also individual contributors such as the liquor tycoon Edgar Bronfman Sr., and former World Bank head James D. Wolfensohn.
Since consents from both governments and auto makers are still being worked out, the plan of Agassi is still not being carried out. Prototypes of these all-electric, battery-operated vehicles will begin in the early part of 2008, and the official marketing and service will follow only after two years.
“It’s much easier to transport electrons than octane molecules. We’ve already got a grid that goes around the entire world; all we have to do is extend it,” said Agassi. This enthusiastic Silicon Valley technologist foresees a lot of battery-charging stations all over the globe that will make possible certain adjustments in vehicle expenses and usage.
Honda’s ASIMO Robot
The robot of internationally acclaimed robotics pioneer Honda Motor Company recently started its Alive & Unplugged Australian Tour in Melbourne. The start of the tour of ASIMO, the Honda robot, featured a sequence of entertaining shows that definitely caused a lot of people to gather at the Chadstone Shopping Centre.
For five days, ASIMO, an acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, accomplished successful shows that actually amazed the Melbourne audience. ASIMO showed off its capacity to do human activities such as walking, running, talking, dancing, holding hands, playing soccer, interacting with people, and lifting objects.
The amazing Honda robot is currently heading to Bendigo for another Alive & Unplugged Australian Tour. The event in Bendigo will last for nine weeks.
Facts about ASIMO
Honda Motor Company spent about 21 years gathering research in order to develop a functional robot like ASIMO. At present, Honda runs engineering facilities in Japan, United States and some parts of Europe. Teams of competent engineers contribute to this continuous progress of this astonishing robot. They carry on with studies that can bring about technological developments that will make ASIMO function more efficiently.
"Honda's concept is to create a robot that can help around the house, or assist the elderly or someone confined to a wheelchair or bed," said Honda Australia Senior Director Lindsay Smalley. Honda wants to emphasize that ASIMO is the most highly developed among the chain of robots that the Honda team has been producing since 1986.
The team of Honda engineers is aiming to improve ASIMO in such a way that it can assist people who are in great need. "That's why ASIMO is just 1.3 metres high so he can communicate eye-to-eye with someone seated in a chair, while still being able to operate light switches and door knobs, and work at tables and work benches. In future, ASIMO might also perform tasks that are dangerous to humans, such as fighting fires or cleaning up toxic spills," said Smalley.
The primary function of ASIMO is to reproduce the intricacies of human perception and motion. ASIMO can in fact walk at 2.7 kph, run at 6 kph, use eye cameras to distinguish the environment he is in, recall motionless objects, and stay away from impediments. It is equipped with force sensors, which are placed in his wrists, to enable it to move objects forward, and accept items. Furthermore, it has an IC Communication card that allows it to communicate with people on its own.
The current ASIMO is more transportable than the previous robots produced by Honda. Having extra foot joints, knee and hip, the ASIMO is definitely easy to move. This is what is called the robot’s "degree of freedom", which can be estimated by quantifying the movements of human beings. The degree of freedom of ASIMO amounts to 34, which covers the various parts of its body. Such degree of freedom enables this Honda robot to liberally be in motion.
Honda Motor Company can use the technological success of ASIMO to other facets of the business like safety of Honda automobiles. "For instance, what we have learned from ASIMO about human movement has helped us design a more effective crash-test dummy and develop some of the world's safest cars for pedestrians; while the radar ASIMO uses to move around is being adapted for use in Honda cars as Night Vision, and for detecting and avoiding pedestrians while driving," he said.
These days, Honda is trying to win the attention and trust of the Australian market through the amazing robot ASIMO. The ASIMO 'Alive and Unplugged' Show tour, consists of 124 shows, will introduce ASIMO to people in South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and NSW.
This ASIMO Australian Tour aims to offer consumers details about the distinctive technological abilities and mischievous qualities of ASIMO. Moreover, it intends to provide people from all walks of life a quick look into what may happen in the future when robots will actually be helping human beings in day to day tasks.
Vehicle-tracking Gadget to be Launched by EarthSearch
A vehicle-tracking gadget is to be launched by EarthSearch Communications Inc. This technological breakthrough is intended to get rid of the growing number of auto theft cases.
The new auto device is engineered not just to track down missing automobiles. The gadget is made up of components that will make it hard for thieves to actually take the vehicles. "The only way a car thief can steal a vehicle equipped with one of our devices is by towing it -- and we have an alert for that, too. We don't just find stolen vehicles; we provide the tool to stop the theft," said EarthSearch Communications Inc. CEO and President Kay Aladesuyi.
The vehicle-tracking gadget by EarthSearch is easy to use. A cellular phone can be used to put the engine out of action once the vehicle owner leaves and locks his vehicle. Without a new message from the cell phone of the owner or any person from EarthSearch support, the engine will not function. "This is a highly user-friendly and effective auto-theft prevention device," said Chief Technology Officer for EarthSearch Isis Barchi.
Moreover, the AutoSearchGPS device can advise the vehicle owner by means of cell phone message each time the vehicle is moved without the permission of the owner. Aside from this, each automobile with AutoSearchGPS can be easily tracked through cell phone and even online. Tracking covers information such as the route taken by the vehicle, its speed, and even its exact position. "In the highly unlikely event that a thief is able to move a vehicle equipped with our product, inevitably the vehicle can be found quickly," said Aladesuyi.
Source: Earthtimes.org
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