Updates from BOEING

Boeing – The experimental X-51A WaveRider aircraft, powered by a scramjet engine designed to reach hypersonic speeds, did just that as it hit Mach 5, which is nearly 4,000 miles per hour. It flew for a total of six minutes, and three and a half of those minutes were with the scramjet engine, breaking its own record from its first flight in 2010 when the WaveRider flew for 143 seconds.

The X-51A WaveRider is an unmanned, autonomous supersonic combustion, ramjet-powered hypersonic flight-test demonstrator for the U.S. Air Force. The X-51A demonstrates a scalable, robust endothermic hydrocarbon-fueled scramjet propulsion system in flight, as well as high temperature materials, airframe/engine integration and other key technologies within the hypersonic range of Mach 4.5 to 6.5. more> http://tinyurl.com/d2pzp66

IBM Research Makes World’s Smallest Movie Using Atoms

IBM – Scientists from IBM (NYSE: IBM) today (May 01) unveiled the world’s smallest movie, made with one of the tiniest elements in the universe: atoms. Named “A Boy and His Atom,” the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS -verified movie used thousands of precisely placed atoms to create nearly 250 frames of stop-motion action.

“Capturing, positioning and shaping atoms to create an original motion picture on the atomic-level is a precise science and entirely novel,” said Andreas Heinrich, Principle Investigator, IBM Research. “At IBM, researchers don’t just read about science, we do it. This movie is a fun way to share the atomic-scale world while opening up a dialogue with students and others on the new frontiers of math and science. more> http://tinyurl.com/cozxvvb

Rolling tree planting robot

Dassault Systèmes – Our great winner Geoffrey Cooper. His IF WE Dream was “IF WE design a rolling tree planting robot, we can send them out to replant forests and restore a desertified land. Let’s make it happen!!“. Geoffrey is a industrial designer coming from Canada and lived in Los Angeles at the time of the challenge. more> http://tinyurl.com/dxoc4km

Chris Lema: Success in Distributed Contexts

WordPress.tv – [VIDEO 22:09] Whether you run a distributed team or not, hear a first hand account of running successful distributed teams. You’ll get helpful tips, encouragement, and thinking about distributed development differently.

more> http://tinyurl.com/czr4c8m

A Smart Approach to Landings

Boeing – Learn how Boeing and Embraer are making the safest transportation even safer with Runway Situation Awareness Tools. Every runway and landing is different, and this gives pilots the tools and data to be prepared for any weather or runway condition. more> http://tinyurl.com/ak3ofkv