propulsion

11.21.09

LaserMotive is First Ever Prize Winner in Space Elevator Games

The team's robot stands to win $900,000 from NASA for climbing a ribbon nearly a kilometer long

By Stuart Fox Posted 11.05.2009 at 11:59 am 2 Comments

Meet Your 2009 Space Elevator Challenge Champions : David Bashford of LaserMotive prepares the climber for their award-winning run. courtesy of NASA

First proposed in 1895, and popularized by the Arthur C. Clarke book The Fountains of Paradise, space elevators have a rich history in the culture of space travel. Unfortunately, the history of their engineering success is far less impressive. But if the results from this week's Space Elevator Games are any indication, that might be about to change.

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READ MORE ABOUT > California, CARGO, competitions, low earth orbit, nasa, prizes, propulsion, space, space elevator, Video

Robot Jellyfish Swims Just Like The Real Thing

By John Brandon Posted 06.26.2009 at 12:54 pm 12 Comments

Even though a jellyfish is 90 percent water, it moves at about 40 mph. Jellyfish use their bell -- the top portion, above the tentacles -- to create a jet that propels them through water. Now, scientists at the Chonnam National University in the Republic of Korea have built a robot that mimics the movement. The robot, using an electro-active polymer artificial muscle, retracts and expands its skirt, exerting a minimal voltage and propelling the jellybot faster than you can swim.

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READ MORE ABOUT > biomimicry, fish, jellyfish, polymers, propulsion, robots, seafood, water