Kozminski Techblog

Most of us are aware of what SpaceX is. This new and exciting company with charismatic and famous Elon Musk as their representative, figurehead, and leader has made major leaps in technology in the previous decade.

SpaceX is known for stunts like shooting a Tesla car straight into space and leaving it to wander the cosmos forever or creating the first re-usable rockets. They are, however about to be remembered for another reason. Their rocket is about to crash into the moon.

Yes, that is right. Bill Grey, an astronomer who is behind the development of Project Pluto (Software that allows for calculating the trajectory of asteroids and other objects in space and is used in NASA-financed space observation programmes) has recently calculated that one of the boosters from a SpaceX rocket that was launched 2015 will crash into the moon at almost 10 000 kilometers per hour on precisely March 4th.

When Bill first made this discovery, he invited the community of amateur astronomers to check his findings and they have all agreed that the booster will impact the moon on Match 4th.

While the impact itself will NOT be noticeable from Earth, it will be able to be observed by scientists to learn more about the geology of the moon. This might be about time we start being responsible for the trash we leave in the orbit. The US and China are the two biggest producers of space trash yet almost no one is there to pick it all up! With all the plans humanity has for the vast reaches of space we are definitely not putting a lot of care into maintaining it in a clean state.

Those of you who are aware of the news in the video games work have probably heard of the newest piece of hardware from Valve. An exciting, new platform that mixes the convenience of a console and the range of a PC, the steam-deck.

What makes this console stand out from the rest is its software. While most hand-held consoles were run on tailor-made software and required specific compatibility patches and separate releases from most games to run on them, a steam-deck is using Windows, the same operating system as most personal Computers. This allows it to play almost any game that would be playable on PCs. Additionally, if emulating on this console will be possible (and it probably will be, due to its operating system), it would mean that this single device could run virtually any type of games one could ask for, making consoles like Nintendo Switch practically redundant.
              

Originally set to release in late December of 2021, the Steam deck has been pushed back to make sure that it could deliver on all the things promised to us. It’s not the first time Valve pushed a deadline back, just to make sure that a product was up to standards, so it didn’t come as a surprise. However, recently there has been an update on the situation. A couple of days ago people received confirmation e-mails stating that their orders have been processed and the shipping process will begin on 28^th of February.
              

The current price for a Steam-deck is 399$ for the 64gb version, 529$ for the 256GB version, and 649$ for the 516GB version. This puts it on the more pricey side of console-gaming, but in my opinion, it will be well worth it in the end.  I’m excited to see what ideas Valve brought to the table with this one, since the company has yet to disappoint us in regards to any of their products.

We’ve all seen this classic scene from sci-fi movies. An intense car chase through the crowded streets of a futuristic city. The weirdly shaped cars take sharp corners as police get closer and closer. Soon, it seems like the authorities have the escapee cornered, when suddenly their car grows wings and flies into the air, far out of the reach of the law.

Most of us associate that kind of thing with just that, scenes from outlandish movies. However, a company called AirCar decided to make it more than pixels on our screens. Capable at moving at 160km/h and flying over 2km in the air, their newest creation just got licensed as air-worthy after completing a 35-minute flight from Nitra to Bratislava.

This revolutionary feat of engineering is a road-legal car that has a pair of wings folding backward and a modified, powerful BMW engine. With a 3 minute setup and a pilot’s license, this beautiful car can turn into a flying machine.

At the moment there is still a lot of skepticism for the car and it is not even close to a commercial release. A pilot’s license is also needed to operate the vehicle while in the air, so for most of us, this toy is far, far out of our reach.

This is, however a step in a good direction and I will not be surprised if, in the near future, we’ll see a couple of flying cars standing in the garages of some businessmen.

The concept of machines being used in warfare is nothing new. Ever since the first siege tower was created, humanity has used its ingenuity to fuel its need for mutual destruction. From siege towers, through ballista’s and tanks all the way to unmanned drones, everything was a machine created to help them win battles. Now, with the introduction of AI and robots, it’s taking on a new face.

The British Army has recently launched what’s called “Project Thesus”, which aims to identify the best robot for the needs of the logistics team of the United Kingdom armed forces. Its main objective is to swiftly deliver any needed supplies without the need to risk any human lives. While this project is also looking into the usage of robots in direct combat, it’s main, more realistic goal is to create a machine capable of carrying large amounts of equipment quickly and undetected.

There are a couple of companies that put their projects forwards, with Horiba Mira UK, Marlborough Comms Ltd UK, and Rafael Israel winning the contracts to go through for further testing. It isn’t a wild assumption to think that in the near-by future we’ll see robots eagerly running across the battlefield to deliver ammunition to those, who need it the most.

Until recently, exoskeletons, or power armor, were known to us only from Science Fiction movies. Although the first attempts to create an exoskeleton date back to the 1960s, it was only in recent years that they were presented to a wider audience.

What exactly is an exoskeleton?

An exoskeleton, or power armor, is a shell that is attached to the outside of the body and is designed to strengthen the muscles of the person wearing it. The exoskeleton can strengthen all or only some of the muscles. Such a device can be controlled in several ways. The first is mechanical control, which is carried out manually by a person who is efficient or partially in control of his body. Another way is to control it with your voice. The exoskeleton then carries out pre-programmed commands that are given by the controlling person with his voice. It can also be controlled by implants placed under the skin that read signals sent from the central nervous system.

Application of the exoskeleton

In addition to military applications and fulfilling the dreams of people fascinated by science fiction, the exoskeleton also performs other, more down-to-earth functions. It is used in such areas as medicine and industry. Exoskeletons are a great solution in the physiotherapy of people with limited mobility or completely paralyzed. In 2016, the SuitX exoskeleton made it possible for a wheelchair user to move with artificial “legs”. These mechanical armor are a salvation not only for the sick, but also for healthy people who work physically. Moving heavy packages and materials is no longer a challenge for the muscles or the spine.

Exoskeleton – what the future will bring us

What the exoskeleton will look like in the future and in what areas it will be used, we do not know yet, but we can guess. Making the exoskeleton available on a large scale would completely modernize the labor market. Manual workers would no longer have to deal with the health consequences of their work. Work would then take place faster, more efficiently, and more effectively, and at the same time without harm to human health. In addition, exoskeletons offer hope for paralyzed people with limited mobility. Thanks to them, disabled people could recover partially or fully.