| Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video) Jun 15th 2012, 13:45 In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.  The AeroVelo group, a team of students and professional engineers, wants its Atlas helicopter to hover for one minute, reaching at least three meters (10 feet) powered by human muscle alone. If the grunt-powered machine succeeds, it'll nab the American Helicopter Society International's $250,000 Sikorsky Prize, which has gone unclaimed since it launched in 1980 -- with the best efforts barely leaving the ground. But the University of Toronto-based team reckons it has the chops, with two PhDs aboard and Snowbird, the first successful human-power ornithopter, under its belt. The Atlas will feature four rotors like a 1994 design from Japan, which flew for 19 seconds, a simple and stable configuration that required less pilot power than other models. The would-be flyers have rustled up more than $27k toward the $30k target with 35 hours left, so if you'd like to help out -- and fulfill the dream of eccentric inventors everywhere -- hit the source link for details. Continue reading Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video) Insert Coin: Atlas human-powered helicopter gunning for elusive Sikorsky prize (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink |  Kickstarter | Email this | Comments | | Distro Issue 45: a brief history of Motorola and WWDC 2012's top stories Jun 15th 2012, 13:30  Still recovering from last week's barrage of fitness gadgetry? Yeah, we are too. This week, we take a less active approach to the latest issue of our tablet mag. Motorola's influence on the tech that we all know and love extends far beyond flip phones and pagers. Our own Brian Heater takes a look at the history of the company in the issue's editorial feature, offering a glimpse into the timeline that led up to Google's $12.5 billion purchase. The folks in Cupertino had an event a few days back that offered a handful of juicy tidbits -- to say the least. If you fear you might've missed something or just need a quick refresher, we run down WWDC's 10 most important talking points. Speaking of which, the "Hands-on" section this week is devoted entirely to the next-gen MacBook Pro with Retina display -- in case you've been napping and haven't had a look for yourself. In terms of device reviews, we offer our thoughts on both the Sony Xperia P and Xperia U for your weekend read. If you're still reminiscing about E3, "Reaction Time" looks at Ubisoft's new title in a week that chock-full of sequels while "Eyes-on" takes a gander at the Nest thermostat and "Time Machines" visits the roots of the TI-30X IIS. The download links are just a click away, so hit yours to get started. Distro Issue 45 PDF
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Follow Distro on Twitter Distro Issue 45: a brief history of Motorola and WWDC 2012's top stories originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | iTunes, Google Play | Email this | Comments | |
