Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Yanko Design - Latest Posts

Link to Yanko Design

Top Ten Robots That You Never Knew You Wanted

Posted: 20 May 2009 03:52 AM PDT

Technology maybe overwhelming for most us, but the future generation is so with it! They have the hang of ever little new gadget and gizmo that comes our way. Which brings me to robots; I can't fathom the need of an electronic being to do chores for us. I can understand their presence in the medical and industrial arenas; but Irona suits Richie Rich the best. However looking at the current crop, I think it's best to compile a list of Ten Robots that they never knew they wanted.

10) Amphibia by Alexander Hesse

So you are in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef, enjoying the corals and the fishes, but one steady fish that won't leave your side is the Amphibia. Constructed primarily of neoprene and hard plastic, this salamander like robot is quite adept in both land and water. The center pivot axle for the 1.2-meter long robot contains an oxygen tank; it also features radar eyes, flood lights, electromagnetic wave emitters for warding off sharks. The beauty of course its communication features, the entire surface is able to change color to transmit one of the eight basic diving signals, such as OK, danger, resurface, etc.

9) i.go by Markus Cäsar

When the current crop grows old we parents are not gonna be around, and since they are so dependent on technology, this one's for them. i.go is a foldable robot with a frog-like/human-like look. It's supposed to help the oldies in their everyday tasks like going to the grocery store to pick up their stuff. Don't scorn yet dears; in the future all this WILL be possible! Spec-wise this baby is 95 cm wide and 75 cm high, and it can independently transport goods weighing up to 30 kg at a speed of 50 km/h. At home the folks can unfold i.go's backrest support and use it as a rocking chair. An innovative feature is that it can automatically reshape its wheels to elliptical, so as to reach up to goods that are placed up to two meters above the ground level.

8 ) Botan by Johannes Diem

Lazy future generation is gonna need a robotic weeder for their gardens! Botan suits this purpose perfectly; it removes weeds, trims the grass, and vacuums up leaves. Thanks to its integrated e-bug function, it localizes pests and either eliminates them or signals their position. No more garden worries in the future.

7) P.G.A. by Stefan Oberrauner

At this rate gardeners could become an extinct species in the future. With P.G.A. to tend to your lawns who; would hire humans? Specs on this robo read 4 telescopic legs to climb up trees and other plants with a high flexibility to reach all the twigs; a saw in the main body and scissors in one of its legs; and finally the ability to prune branches that are 6 cm thick.

6) Gio by Elisabeth Dioszeghy

Guide dogs are in danger as well coz their robotic counterparts will soon replace them. Blind folks will depend on Gio to paint the town red. Like a futuristic navi-system, it can rattle off the POI plus give all info on the shops available in that area. The perfect guide or perhaps an escort!

5) croww 540 by Christopher Gloning

Christopher is very specific about the era that his robotic invention is envisioned for. The year is 2057, and we have been banished to fate of crossing hostile, difficult areas, such as deserts, ice- planes and rock-masses on foot due to our bad karmas. To accompany us on the journey is the croww 540. An autonomous attendant robot system that carries your luggage, equipment and drinking water; it even fans out a tent, when you need to rest a bit.

4) Digital Scarecrow by KyungRyul Lim & Miyeon Kim

I don't know how they do this in other countries, but back home in rural India, women usually plant a scarecrow made from an earthen pot, shirt and hay. They paint a silly face on the pot and use sticks to hold it in place like a head. Silly them! A robotic Digital Scarecrow is the way to go!

3) Sociable Robot by Nicolas Myers

This has to be the most creative farce of the lot! Future is so busy, gonna need a palm full of goop to help me stay in touch with my social sites like Facebook! "A virtual robot makes and keeps new contacts for you by taking over your virtual identity. Your only control over its decisions is through an interface representing the network itself : a black liquid surface covered by numerous spikes that stand for each of your "friends". It is by altering the surface of this « liquid », that one can interact with the robot and influence his actions in the virtual world."
Crazy, crazy future! And we're gonna need this!

2) C-Bot by Niklas Galler

Climbing scaffoldings to check cracks and damage to the exterior of a building is not quite a fun job to do. C-Bot will be able to perform this task efficiently thanks to its innovative structure and built. This is one manual work that I don't mind robots replacing.

1) Forest Fire Prevention Robot by Jordan Guelde & Daniel Shankland II

Every year lives and millions of dollars are lost due to for forest fires, but hopefully some respite is expected in the form of the Forest Fire Prevention Robot. It's been devised to clear large areas of foliage from around a forest fire to help stop the flames from spreading.

I hope you enjoyed this compilation as much I did making it for you. My point for this whole list is that although we don’t know it yet, but innovations in robotics can help make life easy for us in many ways in the future. All we gotto do is keep an open mind.

, , , , , , , , , , ,

Novanta Desk Revisited

Posted: 20 May 2009 03:45 AM PDT

What is Yanko Design? Why do you visit it? Why do I write here? Endless questions….but the answer's always the same. YD is a place where people come to get inspired, a place that showcases innovation and the wonders of human creativity in the best possible way. If this Novanta Desk invokes déjà vu, then its coz we are showcasing it again!

Designer Luke was so overwhelmed with the feedback that he got on the post, that he took the inspiration a step further to realize it as a prototype. This is the essence of YD, inspiring people to live their dream.

Lemme recap the details for you once again, the desk features Speakers, USB and Audio Hub, Monitor Stand, iPod Dock, Power Strip, Cable Channelling, K/B & Mouse, Laptop/A3 Paper Drawer, Drawing Utensil Drawer and Electrical Equipment Drawer.

Designer: Luke Riggall

No Tags

Designer Mentoring Program

Posted: 20 May 2009 03:40 AM PDT

Have you ever wondered if your portfolio was good enough? Concerned if you were making the right decision on the job offer? What about getting the right technical design skills for the job?

Your deepest and darkest questions on design, that you were afraid to ask, can now finally be answered!

Our very own Industry Consultant, Brian Ling, is running a very exclusive Designer Mentoring Program at his blog, Design Sojourn. It is targeted at designers at all levels and focused on getting great answers to your hard questions.

To celebrate this new event, The Designer Mentoring Program has opened its doors with an initial intake of 5 designers. So if you are an Industrial Designer and passionate about design, head on over to Design
Sojourn
for more details and instructions on how to sign up!

No Tags

Icy Auto Fantasy

Posted: 20 May 2009 12:02 AM PDT

The muscle of the future is made of clouds. Clouds and sharp edges. Shawn Deutchman presents this concept car, the “Cerulian;” a pillow fantasy on the inside, protection on the outside. It seems to take those two simple concepts, comfort and protection, very basic elements of all modern autos, and takes them to a strange extreme. The Cerulian is based on 1970’s muscle cars, virtual reality, and the selling of the founding principal of the proposed manufacturer of the car; Opel: to build and sell dreams.

Check out this part of the original description: “Its cloud soft interior offers a personal guide to the avenues of the virtual world, while the proposal’s fractal exterior is simultaneously reflecting and revealing.”

Strange stuff! I wonder if it has a viewscreen like the USS Enterprise?

Designer: Shawn Deutchman

, , , , , , , , , ,

Indestructible Sunglasses

Posted: 20 May 2009 12:01 AM PDT

Don’t mistake the “Fisk” for some pair of pimp glasses. These aren’t flashy. They aren’t gonna make eyes explode with envy. They’re gonna fit perfect and they’re gonna last. Whatchu watchu want? The first of two major features is the Global Fit adjustable nose bridge. Soft low porosity silicone over structural nylon adjustable to your strange nose. Then there’s the Ratchet Hinge. The hinge is made of surgical stainless steel and built with a Metal Injection Molding process for unbreakableness. Not to be left on your dashboard.

The Global Fit is structural nylon covered with soft, low porosity silicone. Two stainless steel pins with eccentric heads are inserted into the frame. As these pins are turned, the angle of the bridge turns in or out for a custom to-your-face fit.

As with all “Sutro” frames, the Fisk features the Ratchet Hinge. The hinge is made of surgical stainless steel, built by a Metal Injection Molding process. “It is integrated into the face frame in the front and screwed directly into the temple into the rear.” Making a “virtually unbreakable” frame.

Designer: Jeff Sand

, , , , , ,

Kitchen On A Table And The Wall

Posted: 19 May 2009 08:48 PM PDT

Constrains like limited space and behavioral changes like cooking while entertaining have dictated the transition from monstrous-sized kitchens to neat compact kitchenettes and open modular concepts. Adopting these changes, Electrolux brings to us to two unique concepts. The Rendez-vous interactive table is a cook-top that allows you to do jiffy cooking and entertain at the same time. The Volare, akin to the Lounge Bar, is a wall mounted appliance that's nothing short of an artistic kitchen! Check out the details after the jump.

Rendez-vous

You're the sort who likes to interact with family and friends while cooking; then the Rendez-vous is just for you. It's an intuitive table that features a unique energy shield that brings the appliances to life without having to plug them in. For instance, by simply placing the blender on the surface you can work it or charge it. Needless to say inductive and sensor technologies support the random cooking zones. Modular drawers that can hold stoves or refrigerator are accommodated beneath the table and can be tucked away, when you need to use the table for dining. A virtual chef that guides you through your cooking completes this futuristic package.

Volare

Like I said, this reminds me of the Lounge Bar, only this time it’s a complete kitchen on the wall! Ideal for space-crunch situations. Main highlights of this art piece are: modular system that allows customization; foldable induction stove; holds all modern appliances like an ice dispenser, tea/coffee unit and oven. The coolest thing about Volare is that its exteriors can come in many painted finishes; hence the accompanying spotlights can make the unit look like a piece of wall art when not being used as a kitchen.

Designer: Electrolux Global Design

No comments: