By Katrina on October 31st, 2008
We all know the saying blind as a bat, although it is an oxymoron. Well, the University of Michigan College of Engineering, just received a five year $10-million dollar grant to develope a steel-winged robotic spy plane shaped like a bat – named COM-BAT. It is a six inch surveillence device that is powered by solar, wind, and vibrations – much like a real bat… The concept came from the US military as a means to gather real-time data for soldiers, and the army. The grant will initiate the University of Michigan Center for Objectives Microelectronics and Biominetic Advanced Technologies (called COM-BAT for short).
Some of the concepts that will be worked on through the grant include cameras for stereo vision, mini-microphones capable of tracking sounds from different directions, and small detectors for nuclear radiation and poisonous gases.
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Keywords: nature, technology
By Katrina on October 31st, 2008
In Thailand, the Wat Pa Maha Chedio Kaew Temple was built from one million recycled bottles! They “found a way to bottle-up Nervana, literally.” The temple is in Thailand’s Sisaket province, about 370 miles northeast of Bangkok. It was nicknamed, “Wat Lan Kuad”, Temple of Million Bottles. It features glass bottles throughout the entire temple and grounds, including the crematorium, surrounding shelters, and the toilets too! An estimate of 1.5 million recycled bottles are built into the temple and they are continuing to build with more. They have even used the bottle caps as decoration throughout in mosaics and murals!
This bottle collection that turned into a building started in 1984 when the bottles were used as decoration in shelters by the monks. The shiny feature of the glass attracted more people and donations of more bottles until they had enough to build the temple standing today. The bottle bricks don’t fade and let plenty of natural light in, and are surprisingly easy to clean and maintain.
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Keywords: art, glass, recycle, Thailand
By Katrina on October 31st, 2008
Mitchell Joachim, an eco-architect, has a visionary idea about how to grow living treehouses from ficus that is molded around a group of frame structures.�
“As part of the ecological architecture nonprofit Terreform, Mitchell Joachin, Lara Greden, and Javier Arbona designed this living treehouse in which the dwelling itself merges with its environment and nourishes its inhabitants. ‘Fab Tree Hab’ dissolves our conventional concept of home and establishes a new symbiosis between the house and its surrounding ecosystem.”
In order to build this treehouse, an initial frame must be constructed by forming and manipulating lager tree trunks and branches of trees such as Elm, Live Oak, and Dogwood, to bear the heavier loads. Vines, smaller branches, and other plants would form the lattice work for the walls and roof of the house. The inside structure would be made of cob (clay and straw), which has been proven as a tried and true “green building” approach that allows for customization in shaping the walls and ceilings.
The idea is to create a structure that provides sustenance for the inhabitants and other living creatures who interact with the structure, that when utilized in their “living state”, can create a “superstructure” that is biologically pure and contains no unknown substances.
I don’t know what to think about the idea. Although these designers have the best intentions and are only trying to “do good”, it seems like we are using the technology and resources we have today to live like Tarzan and the Swiss Family Robinsons… going forwards just to go backwards….
Below is a short video:
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Keywords: eco-friendly, energy efficient, environmentally friendly, treehouse
