Willow Garage’s robot is called PR2. It is a two-armed wheeled robot of size similar to a human. Willow Garage plan to release it to the public to be used for academic and industrial robotics research. Willow Garage is maintaining ROS (Robot Operating System) and the OpenCV computer vision library. Both projects use the BSD license, an open source software license.

On May 26, 2010, Willow Garage held a graduation party in which the 11 PR2 robot’s were introduced. Some PR2s even "danced" with humans while being led by their grippers.

The PR2 has two 7-DOF arms with a payload of 1.8 Kg. Sensors include 5 megapixel camera, a tilting laser range finder, and an inertial measurement unit. The "texture projector" projects a pattern on the environment to create 3D information for capture by the cameras. The head mounted laser scanner measures distance by time-of-flight. Two computers in the base 8-core servers with 24 Gigabytes of RAM for a total of 48 GB. The battery system consists of 16 laptop batteries.

The Willow Garage and PR2 can be reached via http://www.willowgarage.com/

Check nice videos below of PR2 robot dancing

Stopping before the company he tells his assistant, “Mujhe yehi company kharedni hai.” When she(an assistant) expresses her doubts he says, “Inhone hum par do sau saal tak raj kiya, ab hamari bari hai.” He gets the company and treats the ex-owners to Rajnigandha.

Well it was fun and proud watching that advertisement, I never thought this can really happen! But nothing is impossible, Sanjiv Mehta, a Mumbai-born entrepreneur who completed the process of buying the East India Company in 2005. Sanjiv Mehta acquired the company in 2005 and has since invested $15 million.

East India Company, established in 1600, owned by a group of merchants with one and only purpose of trading in India and other neighboring countries. The company ruled India for more than 200 years.The East India Company traded mainly in cotton, silk, indigo dye, saltpetre, tea, and opium.

After the Indian revolution of 1857 known to us as the “First War of Independence”, British government nationalized the Company and as a penalty, the Company lost all its administrative powers; its Indian possessions. The East India Company also lost its armed forces, which were taken over by the Crown pursuant to the provisions of the Government of India Act 1858. The Company continued to manage the tea trade on behalf of the British government, until the East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act came into effect, on 1 January 1874, under the terms of which the Company was dissolved. The trading name of the company continued to exist, owned by the British Government Treasury.

In 1974, the company was reestablished by a group of private investors, focusing on Tea and Coffee retail.

Since its dissolution in 1874, a small part of the East India Company survived into a brand name and a small tea and coffee trade. In August 2010, Sanjiv Mehta, an India-born man based in Britain, bought the remnants of the company and plans to use it to sell fine food and luxury goods. The East India Company was owned by  almost 30-40 people before Sanjiv Mehta owned it.

The company cab be reached here http://www.theeastindiacompany.com/

!!! Happy Independence Day !!!

Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) Wednesday launched new sedan, Verna Transform with price range approx. Rs.6.5-7.5 lakh. With a tag line ‘Dynamic by DNA’ Petrol version of Verna Transform starts ranges in between Rs.6.5 lakh and goes up to Rs.7.3 lakh. The Diesel version is expected to be priced between Rs.7.8 and 9.1 lakh.

The Verna Transform expected to boost Hyundai’s already superior line-up of products.

The petrol version comes with a 1.6 litre engine and promise to deliver 15.5 km a litre in the city. The diesel version has a 1.5 litre engine and comes with a four-speed automatic transmission.

The Hyundai Verna Transform is essentially inspired by the concept of ‘large on the inside and compact outside’. The design treatment is trendy and stylish. Bold and muscular exterior lines with well-proportioned looks. A balanced front end with integrated full width lower intake, moderately flared wheel arches and optional 14″ alloy wheels which lend it a sportier look. The strong shoulder lines and confident stance at the same time gives it a strong and well defined character. The overall impression it creates is of a well made car with a dynamic character which ensures that no matter where you go, the Verna, will be an eye-catcher and a stare-grabber par excellence. You just can’t miss it on the roads.

The new Verna Transform is available in six colours – crystal white, stone black, sleek silver, blushing red, deep ocean blue and champagne gold.

Following these people’s-car-series,  Maruti Udyog Limited (now Maruti Suzuki India Limited) has earlier announced its low price small car Maruti Cervo to replace Maruti 800.  Maruti Suzuki India Limited likely to stop the production of India’s first  economy car Maruti 800 by the year 2012. The Maruti Cervo is expected to replace Maruti 800 in the low price cars  category. The sources revealed the price of Maruti Cervo will be somewhere around Rs. 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh.

Maruti cervo  will compete against Tata Nano (Although Maruti cervo price will be little higher than Tata Nano. Maruti Cervo expected to launch in India in May-June 2010 by Maruti Suzuki.

Maruti Suzuki Cervo Specifications & Features:

- Maruti Suzuki Cervo include stylish Hatchback body type
- Top speed of 120 kmph with mileage of 16 kmpl in city and 18 kmpl on highway
- Maximum power 54 bhp @ 6500 rpm
- Maximum torque of 64 Nm @ 3500 rpm
- Engine 658 CC, 3 cylinders, 4 valves, petrol engine.
- Fuel capacity of 30 liters.

The millionth car manufactured in 2009-10, a glistening red Maruti Suzuki Swift, rolled out from the company’s Manesar plant.

Well if you have any plans to buy Nano, think again, may be you can give a thought on Maruti Suzuki Cervo! what say?

With this Industrial PC all the systems feature low power consumption, high reliability, long product life cycle and superior performance per watt operation.  Additional options are available such as HMI Touchscreens Capability, Sunlight Readability  capability through Transflective enhancements, LED backlit Panels, and custom I/O’s; enhancing the versatility and utility of the display.  AIS allows customization of the Rugged Panel PC’s to cater each unit to the specific application requirements.

These industrial monitors are encased in a waterproof and dust proof anti-corrosive stainless steel enclosure to ensure complete all-weather protection including the rear I/O connectors.  The stainless steel chassis can be cleaned with chemicals and is designed for situations where sanitation is of highest priority.  AIS utilizes specially designed IP65 / NEMA 4X weatherproof connectors and cables; the fool-proof design incorporates ABS thermoplastic covers and o-rings to completely seal the monitor from harmful particulate dust and water.  Currently the Rugged Touchscreen Panel PCs are available in sizes 6.4″ to 20.1″.  VESA standard mounting holes are available on every unit for easy deployment into any installation.  Whether your application requires a commercial off the shelf (COTS) unit, or a fully customized Weatherproof Panel PC, AIS has the flexibility to meet your requirement.

Pricing for this Industrial Computer Starting at $1999 MSRP

Key Features and Benefits

* IP65 (NEMA 4X) Weatherproof Stainless Steel Enclosure with Corrosion Protection, Including I/O Connectors
* Intel® Atom N270 1.6GHz, Celeron, and AMD Geode LX-800 Processors
* Support Windows or Linux OS’
* Brushed Stainless Steel Enclosure (optional black gloss coating)
* HMI (Human Machine Interface) Touchscreen Ready Platform
* High Resolution, High Brightness and Contrast
* Wide Range Temperature Displays
* Sunlight-Readable Monitors and Displays
* Long-Life Backlights, High Shock and Vibration Resistance
* “Built to fit” Custom Design Available

Source: AIS Press Release for Industrial Computer PC

Pune bomb blast in German Bakery Koregaon Park: pune bomb blast near german bakery in Koregaon Park pune, occurred in the evening approx.  6:30 pm today. This is another terror attack after 26/11. Maharashtra has always been on ‘high alert’ however still pune bomb blast happened! as per latest news almost 8 people are dead and more than 30 are injured.

Image by Google Maps

pune bomb blast’s german bakery in Koregaon Park is very near to a Jewish prayer house and an Osho Ashram. This is the same place where 26/11 terror suspect David Headley was rooming around and stayed in the near hotel when he visited Pune India.

Chevrolet-GM-Beat-red-india

The design is Spirited, Stylish, Aggressive and Bold just like a Cheetah. Chevrolet GM Beat price in India varies from approx. Rs 3.4 lakh to approx. Rs. 4.4 lakh. (Price may vary depending on city little.

Chevrolet Beat Standard Features:

* Automatic Climate Control

* Integrated Center Stack Audio with USB and Aux-in Port

* Tilt steering

* 60:40 Split folding seats

* Tubeless Tyres

* Roof rails

Chevrolet Beat Colours:

* Olympic White

* Linen Beige

* Caviar Black

* Misty Lake

* Moroccan Blue

* Green Cocktail

* Super Red

The LT Option Pack with ABS and twin airbags will cost Rs 4.34 lakh.

The prices are approximate Ex-Showroom (indicative) prices only and are subject to change according to company policy and/or due to any change in applicable taxes.

NTT Docomo SH-04b is a stylish, fashionable and unique flip phone developed by Sharp and designed by Q-Pot to look like chocolate. This Sharp SH-04B makes you forget the LG BL40 as SH-04B’s looks very close to true chocolates.SH-04b is a stylish, fashionable and unique flip phone developed by Sharp. SH-04B is a Melting Sweet Chocolate phone.

Check the gallery below to get more chocolate flavors