Ok, so the AFM based probes which write the data are a well researched technology.
However, I am quite curious about the material which is used to store the data. So these probes indent a material to write a bit. Then if you want to erase the bit you have to do something magical....
Don't understand how you could do this, although I suppose you could use the shape memory alloys or so. Interesting if this would work on a nanoscale.....
Other than this exotic material to store the data, everything else is solid in principle.
It is so sad to see Russia turn in this direction. My father is Russian and I have spent much time there. I did not believe him when he said that Russia will turn back to Soviet style country after Putin was elected. Now this seems to have come true.
If you are a fan of 1984, do watch this video by the NYTimes:
The Putin Generation
This is SO much like the book. Distorting reality (Stalin being a great leader), rewriting history (Kasparov being US Citizen), hate week (creating Hate against US). Completely surreal. Would not want to live in a place like that. Makes me very sad, because Russia is such a beautiful place and most everyday people are so warm.
I have been on the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project for the past four years and this is the first race that I will be missing due to graduation.
To answer your question, it is important to keep the competition going. No, cars are not completely re-designed every year, however constantly rebuilding them allows a proper evolution to occur.
The UMN team is particularly interesting because we try to do as much of our own work as possible. Power trackers, motor controller, motor, encapsulating the cells, battery controller, etc, are all desgined by us.
This doesn't always guarantee the best results vs. some of our competitors who outsource much of their cars to professional companies, but gives us a great feeling of achivement.
Out current car, Borealis III, has few revolutionary improvements over Borealis II, but we've fixed many problems that have plagued us in the past and improved our reliability immensely.
If we go back five years ago, the car we had then was dramatically inferrior. Now we have an all digital communication system (BDLC), robust power trackers, and good encapsulation. The carbon fiber body of the car improved a lot too. Before it used to crack after significant wear.
For more info, check out the official lwebsite of the UMN Solar Vehicle Project. [http://160.94.140.26/%5D
BTW, we are one of the top teams, the last race, which was from Chicago to LA was tough, but we placed second afret UMR (their array generated much more power).
There is also a endurance race around a track that happens in Topeka Kansas every year, which we often place first in.
Slashdot Mirror
Summary says there are 4 HDD companies left. Who are the 4? I can think of Seagate, WD, Toshiba.....
Ok, so the AFM based probes which write the data are a well researched technology. However, I am quite curious about the material which is used to store the data. So these probes indent a material to write a bit. Then if you want to erase the bit you have to do something magical.... Don't understand how you could do this, although I suppose you could use the shape memory alloys or so. Interesting if this would work on a nanoscale..... Other than this exotic material to store the data, everything else is solid in principle.
It is so sad to see Russia turn in this direction. My father is Russian and I have spent much time there. I did not believe him when he said that Russia will turn back to Soviet style country after Putin was elected. Now this seems to have come true.
If you are a fan of 1984, do watch this video by the NYTimes: The Putin Generation
This is SO much like the book. Distorting reality (Stalin being a great leader), rewriting history (Kasparov being US Citizen), hate week (creating Hate against US). Completely surreal. Would not want to live in a place like that. Makes me very sad, because Russia is such a beautiful place and most everyday people are so warm.
I have been on the University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project for the past four years and this is the first race that I will be missing due to graduation. To answer your question, it is important to keep the competition going. No, cars are not completely re-designed every year, however constantly rebuilding them allows a proper evolution to occur. The UMN team is particularly interesting because we try to do as much of our own work as possible. Power trackers, motor controller, motor, encapsulating the cells, battery controller, etc, are all desgined by us. This doesn't always guarantee the best results vs. some of our competitors who outsource much of their cars to professional companies, but gives us a great feeling of achivement. Out current car, Borealis III, has few revolutionary improvements over Borealis II, but we've fixed many problems that have plagued us in the past and improved our reliability immensely. If we go back five years ago, the car we had then was dramatically inferrior. Now we have an all digital communication system (BDLC), robust power trackers, and good encapsulation. The carbon fiber body of the car improved a lot too. Before it used to crack after significant wear. For more info, check out the official lwebsite of the UMN Solar Vehicle Project. [http://160.94.140.26/%5D BTW, we are one of the top teams, the last race, which was from Chicago to LA was tough, but we placed second afret UMR (their array generated much more power). There is also a endurance race around a track that happens in Topeka Kansas every year, which we often place first in.