NASA Tech Bringing Anti-Gravity Down to Earth- Let's Catch Up. #4
Toyota's Punyo robot, Good360 reducing unused good wastage, Jiva enhanced drinks,timber in space, automotive design in the 50's, cardboard beds and more Chrysler Halcyon concept drawings (Issue#1).
Happy Monday Everyone!
Pull up a chair and a coffee (or a drink of your choice). Let’s catch up.
Product Design- AlterG Anti-Gravity Treadmill Bringing Futuristic Physiotherapy Down to Earth
Credit AlterG Website
We often look at leading developments in the aerospace and space industry, wondering how this might affect everyday life. AlterG have applied a leading NASA technology to everyday physiotherapy and recovery. The Differential Air Pressure (DAP) system emulates gravitational load for NASA astronauts to exercise in space but the same technology has been utilized to rehabilitate injuries on earth by reversing the same technology to make it anti-gravity. This enables physios to set the gravitational load on injured patients, ensuring correct recovery whilst allowing patients to complete activities that wouldn’t be allowed under regular earth gravity.
Read More Here
Technology- Toyota Showcases ‘Cuddly’ Robot To Assist with Daily Tasks
Credit Toyota Research Institute
Toyota showcases why it's important to make new tech personable. Their new robot called Punyo is an approachable robot intended to help with daily tasks such as groceries. The appearance is important as it conveys the function of the robotic assistant as well as making the technology personable.
Read More Here
Social/Sustainability- Good360 Connecting Unsold/Unused Goods to Those Who Need it Most
Credit Good360
Good360 is an interesting not-for-profit company out of USA. Alison Covington is credited with launching the Australian arm of Good360 distributing unsold and unused goods to communities around Australia. Reducing $400 millian in goods wastage and distributing them to over 4000 charities nationwide to get them to people in need.
Read More Here
Good360 Website
Space Innovation- Reducing Space Waste with Timber Satellite to be Tested in Space
Credit Rendering of Wooden Satellite from Kyoto University Space Wood Laboratory
In an effort to reduce space junk, Japan Aerospace (JAXA) and NASA are exploring new materials to launch into orbit. Timber is just one of them, with a recent satellite launch setting a new record being the first satellite made entirely of timber to be launched into space. Timber satellites, unlike their metal counterparts, burn up upon re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.
Read More At Design Taxi
Automotive- Looking Back at Car Design Concepts from the 50’s
Credit
I just love this design concept illustration for the 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special. An amazing display of the skill and effort that designers used to communicate their ideas for new cars. It’s an unfortunate part of our consumption society that these cars, with the mass amount of time and resources being sent to scrap in car yards. Luckily for enthusiasts of automotive history, some were saved from scrapping by the car yard itself!
See More Pictures Here
Furniture- 100% Cardboard Beds Used Back in 2020 Olympics
Credit
This wonderful furniture design for the Tokyo Olympics aimed to both scale and make the Olympic village more sustainable with thousands of athletes and staff using housing for a limited time. I really like using corrugated cardboard for non conventional tasks, this could easily be applied to enable quick and easy sleeping spots for disaster relief, aid, social housing and much more!
Read More Here
Beverages- Jiva Launches Adaptogenic Nutritionist Approved Enhanced Drinks
Credit Jiva
Functional beverages are one of the fastest growing categories of beverages. The latest launch form Jiva sees functions beyond hydration such as antioxidants and adaptogens. (Adaptogen is an ingredient that improves bodily function in relation to environmental factors).
Read More Here
Throwback to Let’s Catch Up #1
Credit Chrysler
In the first installment we discussed the Chrysler Halcyon concept car using new battery technology. Now on the car design here are some of the original design concept sketches.