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odd look at news on the web

Robotic Ripsaw M1 built to scout and draw fire for US Marines

1 May 2026 @ 2:11 am

The Ripsaw M1At the recent Modern Day Marine Exposition in Washington, DC, Textron Systems rolled out a robot made to fight alongside US Marines. Called the Ripsaw M1, it's designed to act as a robotic force multiplier for the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) and Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV).Continue ReadingCategory: Military, EngineeringTags: Textron,

6-sleeper split-room camper van amplifies the Ford Nugget blueprint

30 April 2026 @ 11:04 pm

The Escape 540's L-shaped rear kitchen reminds us of the Ford Nugget ... only sleeker and fancierGerman camper van upstart Alcovia Vans has taken the well-known Ford Nugget multi-room camper van layout and adapted it for the ever-popular Fiat Ducato full-size van. It elevates the floor plan's versatility and comfort by adding an extra bed, trimming it all out in warm wood and felt, slatting in adjustable separation between the two "rooms" on the main floor, and adding an extra available seat to carry and sleep up to six people.Continue ReadingCategory:

DJI announces entry-level but fully capable Lito Series drones

30 April 2026 @ 5:30 pm

The DJI Lito 1 is priced at US$309, while the Lito X1 starts at $379DJI is one of the leading manufacturers of drones for aerial photography and videography. As social media continues to grow, beginners and content creators are seeking lightweight, easy-to-use devices for short-form video. DJI’s latest releases are designed to meet that demand.Continue ReadingCategory: Drones, Consumer Tech, TechnologyTags:

Brain-inspired chip could reduce AI energy use by 70%

30 April 2026 @ 4:30 pm

Lead author of the study, Dr. Babak BakhitReplicating the brain's capabilities, an impossible task, may theoretically require thousands of H100, one of NVIDIA's most powerful GPUs. At 700 watts per chip, we are looking at power consumption in the megawatt range. The brain runs on 20 watts. Scientists have taken inspiration from this remarkable organ to create chips that could cut conventional energy use by 70%.Continue ReadingCategory: AI and Humanoids,

A vacuum company is somehow building the world's quickest car

30 April 2026 @ 3:57 pm

These rocket boosters are said to produce 100 kN of thrust at a moment's noticeYou might recognize Dreame as a fast-growing electronics brand from China that specializes in vacuum cleaners. Somehow, it's found time in its busy dust-buster-manufacturing schedule to stick a couple of rocket boosters on a sportscar and engineer the living daylights out of it... to the point that it's expected to hit a never-seen-before 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) time of 0.9 seconds.Continue ReadingCategory:

The naps that are red flags as we age, backed by two decades of data

30 April 2026 @ 3:27 pm

Napping isn't at all bad – but noticing patterns could save your life down the trackNaps are one of life's pleasures, but as we age, they can also be an early sign of health issues we're unaware of. These findings are thanks to a groundbreaking study of more than 1,000 people who had their daytime naps tracked for up to 19 years.Continue ReadingCategory: Sleep, Wellness and Healthy Living, Body and MindTags:

This cargo ebike could replace your family car but fits in your closet

30 April 2026 @ 2:27 pm

At up to 20 mph of motoring and a claimed range of over 47 miles, the MG Cargo carries you and your gear over more ground than most city commutes requireMost electric cargo bikes live in garages, because that's the only place big enough to put them. JackRabbit's new MG Cargo is so slim it can live in a closet or a hallway. It will still carry your kids, a week's worth of groceries, or an adult passenger on the back – all on a frame that weighs less than a suitcase.Continue ReadingCategory: Urban Transport,

Compact home in Quebec brings the forest indoors

30 April 2026 @ 12:58 pm

The project is composed of three connected volumes arranged across the siteA compact residential dwelling designed by Canadian architectural firm Nathalie Thibodeau Architecte has been completed in Boileau, Quebec. Dubbed La Maraude, the home is set within a wooded site near the Maskinongé River, and dissolves the boundaries between interior living zones and the outdoors. The project invites the forest indoors through its geometric layout, emphasizing light, openness, and continuity by positioning courtyards as integral spaces throughout the home.Continue ReadingCategory:

Antarctic telescope spies alien worlds with ever-shifting orbits

30 April 2026 @ 11:46 am

An artist's illustration of the TOI-201 star and the three planets detected in recent observationsPlanetary systems evolve over dizzying timespans. It typically takes millions, even billions, of years for gravitational interactions to noticeably alter a planet’s orbital trajectory. This stability allowed life to take hold on Earth. It also means orbital planes are effectively fixed on human timescales.Continue ReadingCategory: Astronomy,

VW takes aim at the uber-cool Renault 5 with the polite-faced ID.Polo

30 April 2026 @ 10:11 am

The new ID.Polo looks, well, like you'd expect a Polo to look. It’s a friendly old-school design with more than a hint of early GolfIn response to a growing backlash to a decade of touchscreen overload, VW has taken a step back into traditional territory with its new electric hatchback. The ID.Polo is the first of the brand's new electric-vehicle (EV) range to revive a generic name from the ICE era. The futuristic styling of the ID.3 has been dumped and, best of all, VW has brought back tactile buttons on the dashboard.Continue ReadingCategory: