But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will take up wings like eagles. They will run and not struggle. They will walk and not tire.
Look to This Day!
October 21, 2011
Yesterday is already a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision,
but Today, well lived,
makes every yesterday a dream
of happiness and every tomorrow
a vision of hope.
Sorry – I wouldn’t trust this – probably built on windows.
October 17, 2011
Wireless Bike Brake Concept
Computer scientists at the Sarland University have developed a new wireless braking system for bicycles and it is all done with a range of wireless devices. The wireless braking system for bicycles is made up of a a wireless transmitter on the hand grip and a motorized disk brake caliper. Perfected in the fact that it has a reliability of 99.999999999997%, which translates into just 3 failures during a trillion braking attempts and the brake completely does away with the need to have traditional brake cables and harnesses attached to a bicycle frame. Hermanns and his colleagues at Saarland University are now working on improving their system’s traction and are still looking for engineers to turn their concept into a commercial reality……………
Computer scientists at Saarland University developed a wireless bicycle brake and demonstrated its efficiency on a so-called cruiser bike. Furthermore, they confirmed the brake system‘s reliability through mathematical calculations that are also used in control systems for aircraft or chemical factories. The cruiser bike is more similar to anEasy Rider motorcycle without an engine block than it is to a traditional bike. However, looking at the straight, elongated stem, it is readily apparent what makes the newly developed system so special. The bicycle has neither a protruding brake lever to control the front brake, nor a brake cable snaking down the frame. But the wireless bicycle brake represents much more than just an academic gadget to the scientists. Professor Holger Hermanns, who holds the chair of Dependable Systems and Software, and who developed the wireless bicycle brake together with his group, explains: “Wireless networks are never a fail-safe method. That’s a fact that’s based on a technological background.” Nonetheless, the trend is to set up wireless systems that, like a simple bicycle brake, have to function all the time. “In the field of the future European Train Service, for example, concrete plans already exist,” Hermanns reports. Furthermore, he says that train and airplane experiments are far too sophisticated and could even endanger the life of human beings in case of malfunction. Therefore, the Saarland computer scientist‘s mathematical methods should now verify the correct function and interaction of the components automatically. “The wireless bicycle brake gives us the necessary playground to optimize these methods for operation in much more complex systems,” Hermanns adds. Therefore, his research group examines the brake prototype with algorithms that normally are used in control systems for aircraft or chemical factories. As a result, they found out that the brake works with 99.999999999997 percent reliability. “This implies that out of a trillion braking attempts, we have three failures,”Hermanns explains and concludes: “That is not perfect, but acceptable.”
To brake with the wireless brake, a cyclist has just to clench the rubber grip on the right handle. The more tightly the grip is clenched, the harder the disk brake on the front wheel works. It seems as if a ghost hand is in play, but a combination of several electronic components enables the braking. Integrated in the rubber grip is a pressure sensor, which activates a sender if a specified pressure threshold is crossed. The sender is integrated in a blue plastic box which is the size of a cigarette packet and is attached to the handlebar. Its radio signals are sent to a receiver attached at the end of the bicycle‘s fork. The receiver forwards the signal to an actuator, transforming the radio signal into the mechanical power by which the disk brake is activated. To enhance reliability, there are additional senders attached to the bicycle. These repeatedly send the same signal. In this way, the scientists hope to ensure that the signal arrives at the receiver in time, even if the connection causes a delay or fails. The computer scientists at Saarland University found that increasing the number of senders does not result in increased reliability. “If it is not configured correctly, it is possible that three out of five braking attempts fail,” Hermanns says. Its current configuration enables the cruiser bike to brake within 250 milliseconds. This means that at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, thecyclist has to react two meters before reaching the dangerous situation. But the Saarland University computer scientists are not satisfied with this functionality. “It is not difficult to integrate an anti-lock braking system and traction control. That takes only a few adjustments,” Hermanns explains. After first talks with bicycle brake manufacturers, Hermanns is looking for engineers who will realize the concept of a wireless bicycle brake. “Automatic Verification and Analysis of Complex Systems (AVACS)” by theGerman Research Foundation. Its results are documented in the scientific paper “A Verified Wireless Safety Critical Hard Real-Time Design,” published by the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Back the All Blacks. not them Roosters!
October 16, 2011
from: http://roarprawn.blogspot.com/2011/10/bitterness-of-galls.html
MONDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2011
THE BITTERNESS OF GALLS
As we were watching the big game last night between NZ and Australia we mused to our Aussie partner, the Rock, that despite the vilification of Quade Cooper, there were many signs that NZ and Australia were finally understanding that we had more in common than not.
The mere fact that a kiwi born boy like Quade called Australia home, as do hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders, is a case in point. He is well aware and proud of his kiwi heritage but for him Aussie is home and he wears the Aussie jersey proudly.
We think that Cooper is an outstanding athlete – he is Sean Maitland’s cousin so his sporting lineage goes back aways.
So despite the loss to the kiwis last night one of the big names in Australia sports writing is calling on his country to get behind the kiwis in their quest for the cup.
We agree. The All Blacks French final should see the All Blacks trump the Frogs. And while the world knows the strength of our rivalry with Australia the world may not realise that we have never got over the Gallic bastards coming over here to blow up a boat in our waters.
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