Movie Project Brainstorming

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Robotics (replacing man power with robotic power)

Take on the “pro” side

- allows mass production to facilitate global growth

- the medical field: robots may even be able to perform surgery

- robots can assist in house chores (already exists: Zoomba vacuum)


Con side:

- amount of people losing jobs

- can a robot have the cognitive mind of a human for surgery?

- what happens with malfunctions… bad production

- idiot view: “what if robots overtake humans and the world”


Movie should show:

- developmental history of robots from the 1900s

- branch into the different forms in which robotics can assist or overtake human tasks

o manufacturing for huge industries (ex: car industries… it’s already happening)

- focus into each branch of robotics

- Bring in the controversy… start displaying overview of the cons

o Focus into the main parts of the why people disagree with the advancement of robotics and robotic manipulation

- Refute the positive aspect of robotic development.

- End the movie with something leaving space for a hint of uncertainty:

o Something like: “The future of robotics is becoming clear...”

§ Show a robotic human, or any complex developments

 
posted by Moogalo at 9:19 PM, | 0 comments

The Future Base Material of Engineering: Carbon Nanotubes

Thursday, February 21, 2008
The physical structure of the carbon nanotube:

Photo courtesy of: http://www.ewels.info/img/science/nano.html


Interpreting the Potential for Carbon Nanotubes:

 As mentioned in the previous post below, carbon nanotubes are valuable for their extremely sturdy and light weight properties. However, what can be said in words can be better described through a picture. Above, three diagrams are shown depicting the carbon structures found in (from left to right respectively) flat graphite, partially rolled graphite, and a carbon nanotube. Graphite sheets are flat with their carbons severed at the edges. In carbon nanotubes, a cylindrical shape is formed leaving no unconnected carbons, which results in a "tube." All the carbon atoms link into one another and a result the structure formed is sturdier than both the already stable graphite as well as the unbreakable diamond. Thus, with this picture it is easy to understand the massive potential of carbon nanotubes in the future of engineering.
 
posted by Moogalo at 8:25 PM, | 0 comments

The Fuel Behind the Paper Battery: Carbon Nanotubes

Carbon Nanotubes

Reference Site: http://www.personal.rdg.ac.uk/~scsharip/tubes.htm

A Brief Annotation:
Carbon nanotubes are long, thin cylinders of carbon that are one of the "strongest and stiffest fibres known." They were first discovered using an evaporator in 1991 by S. Iijima. Since then, carbon nanotubes have been researched with papers being published by the thousands. The fascinating aspect of carbon nanotubes is its ability to be formed into stable structures (like graphite and diamond) and resist breaking under pressure. It also has heat generating capabilities within room temperature. Carbon nanotubes exist due to the "synthesis of buckminsterfullerene, C60."

The physical properties are currently being discovered and disputed; however, even with skeptics, carbon nanotubes show a promising future due to the applications that they are being used in. The physical properties of carbon nanotubes are highly complex but in short are both strong and durable as well as light in weight. The electronic properties of it are just as impressing due to its conductivity rates. These combined characteristics give it much potential in the field of aerospace, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Wondrous prototype inventions from carbon nanotubes are spurring into existence. Ideas such as a "space elevator" have origin bases from carbon nanotubes and mini inventions are beginning to leak out, some as unfathomable as... a paper battery.
 
posted by Moogalo at 7:42 PM, | 0 comments