Author Archives: Ida Torres

Tesla brings (scary) improvements to Gen 2 of Optimus humanoid robot

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It’s frightening to think that it will not be a surprise to all of us if one of these days, we’ll wake up to the fact that our new robot overlords have taken over the planet. We’re seeing advances in robotics that will not make that an impossibility. We’re still far away from robots becoming sentient beings that will enslave us though so for now we can enjoy how these humanoid devices are still being created to help us rather than replace us.

Designer: Tesla

It’s also not a surprise that Elon Musk and Tesla are at the forefront of trying to make these robots better. The latest version of their humanoid robot, the Optimus Gen 2, brings many improvements from their first one, the Bumblebee back in 2022, and the Optimus Gen 1 from just earlier this year. It received a lot of hardware upgrades for this version, specifically the Tesla-designed actuators and sensors that are now more precise and accurate and now has integrated electronics into it. You get articulated toe sections based on human foot geometry so it can walk a bit more naturally.

It now also has a 2-DoF actuated neck so it’s able to move its head in a more human way, which can be amazing or terrifying. Its hands now has 11-DoF and tactile sensing in all of its digits so it will be able to handle eggs and other delicate things without dropping them. It is also now lighter by 10kg and gets a 30% walk speed boost so it can easily move around better than its predecessors, although you can still outrun it if needed. Because of these improvements, it has improved balance and full body control that it can do things like squats.

The Optimus humanoid robot is envisioned to be a helper for humans, taking over some of the monotonous tasks that we would like to escape from. The Gen 2 is still in the prototype phase though and there is no news yet if they will eventually manufacture and sell it. It gives us time to think about whether we will risk an eventual robot uprising just to take away tedious tasks from our every day life.

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McDonald’s uses iconic brown paper bag for order in campaign

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Most restaurants would probably have campaigns encouraging you to go and visit their establishment and have a meal inside. But probably for fast food places, they would not like people to linger at their store and take up space. In Norway, McDonald’s customers usually eat their meals at the store or in their cars. So the fast-food chain started a campaign to encourage people to eat their favorite McDonald’s meals in the comfort of their own homes.

Designer: Julie Wilkinson from Makerie Studio

For this campaign that has a very simple tagline “Order in.”, they used something that’s very familiar to those who are ordering food to go: the takeout (or takeaway) bag. The outdoor camapaign features the omnipresent brown bag but hand-cut to show the traditional apartment buildings found in Norway with square and arched windows plus an arched doorway. They wanted to make sure that there was a balance between the iconic look of the bag and an instantly recognizable building.

The hand-cut image was then captured on camera by photographer Catharina Caprino for the campaign and there were no digital touch-ups for this. Everything was done in-camera, including the window light turned on in one of the windows. The minimalist design of the imagery that will be used for the campaign adds to the pretty simple message that they want to convey. The paper bag is already pretty simple so they just needed a couple of elements to complete it.

McDonald’s ad agency in Norway, Nord DDB Oslo, will be populating the country’s major cities with this imagery with the aforementioned tagline. They will be doing it in a pretty appropriate season which is winter. It will be too cold to go out or even eat in the car so they want customers to enjoy their ordered meals in the comfort of their heated homes.

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3D printed elbow brace can be customized and created through an app

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3D printing has brought a lot of changes when it comes to designing products. It has made experimentation with various materials and prototyping these proposed designs easier and more efficient. We’re seeing a lot of concepts get past the initial product rendering stage just by utilizing various 3D printing techniques and tools that are now available and is constantly evolving.

Designer: Nils Sorger

The +/- Brace is one such concept for a pain relieving elbow brace that can be used when doing physical labor or any kind of sports that requires strenuous activity so you can minimize the risk of injury. It’s something that can be created and customized using an app. choosing your size, form, structure, and padding. The final product you created can then be fabricated on your own, ordered through the maker community, or ordered through the creator’s app platform.

The 3D printing and laser cutting machine is called Grasshopper with a custom built script so body measurements inputted can be used to generate the data output. They used various iterations to find the optimal pattern for the brace and ended up with the 4-way stretch softshell fabric which is made up of 49% Polyester, 30% Polyamide, 12% Polyurethane, and 9% Elasthan. This is the best one for breathability and flexibility as well as a comfortable and flexible fit so you can still do all the activities you need to do. For the additive, they also tested several FDM-printed pads and ended up with something that is like foam or gel.

After much prototyping, the +/- Brace ended up with an aesthetic that seems like a combination of a Bluetooth speaker and a honeycomb packaging. It looks pretty flexible and comfortable, which are important characteristics of this kind of product so the user will not really feel like the brace is hindering their movement. All thanks to the improvement and enhancement of the 3D printed fabric-based manufacturing plus open source process, they were able to conceptualize and actually prototype this kind of individualized brace that shouldn’t break the bank.

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Get a complicated but beautiful time-telling experience with minimalist analog watch

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When looking at my wrist to check the time, I’m used to the digital interface of my smartwatch. I just see numbers (unless I’m using an analog display) so there’s no need for a split second delay in my head as I try to figure out the time. But there are certain watch designs that may be a bit more complicated but have such a well designed interface that you will forgive your brain for taking a longer time to figure out how it works.

Designer: Ressence

The Type 1° Round Multicolor is a minimalist watch with “bespoke complications” that is pretty attractive to analog device collectors. It’s actually an updated and more colored version of the Type 1 ZZ that they launched back in 2019. Its case is Grade 5 Titanium with a double-domed sapphire crystal top and an anti-reflective coating inside. It uses a patented Ressence Orbital Convex System module and has 40 jewels and 27 gears with a self-winding mechanism.

What makes it stand out though is how it tells you the hours, minutes, seconds and even day of the week. The main dial points to the minutes while the yellow satellite tells you the seconds. The green section tells you the hour while the pointer within the red section indicates the day of the week. You get the 3 biaxial satellites inclined at 3° for the hours and 4.75° for the seconds and days of the week. It’s pretty cool how everything works together although it might take you some time how to figure things out but once you get the hang of it, your watch will become a conversation piece as well.

In terms of colorways, it seems to have just a white one since the satellites are already colorful enough. You get an ardillon buckle and a 20mm rubber strap to put them on your wrist and it is 42.7 mm in diameter and 11mm in thickness. It has a 36 hours power reserve and you get 28,800 vibrations per hour. It’s a pretty nifty watch to have, that is if you have around $19,000.

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Champion sweatshirts and joggers are biodegradable and sustainable

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Have you ever had one of those dreams, or rather, nightmares, when your clothes suddenly fall off your body like it was decomposing or something? That will probably not happen in real life, at least not instantly. But for those who are pursuing sustainable fashion, this is actually a good dream and not a nightmare. We’re seeing clothing brands experiment with biodegradable clothing and Champion is one such brand to do so.

Designer: Champion

The Reverse Weave Eco Future Collection is a line of biodegradable sweatshirt and joggers made from sustainable materials. You can wear it repeatedly until it naturally breaks down and decomposes over time. They use the CiCLO technology which helps bring about this natural decomposition process over time and help reduce the impact of plastic textile fibers and lessen microfiber pollution which is one of the major effects of the clothing industry on our carbon footprint.

The technology uses an additive that is combined with polyester and nylon during the fiber-making process. The process called melt extrusion turns them into liquid when heated and then they are turned into long threads. Other elements of the sweatshirts and joggers also use eco-friendly materials like the tags and labels ause pure cotton while the hangtags are printed with soybean ink. Even the colors used are from dyes extracted from pomegranate rinds, annatto, Terminalia Chebula fruit crusts, and kerria lacca insects.

In terms of the design, the sweatshirts and joggers in the Reverse Weave Eco Future Collection are just your usual. They do look comfortable since they’re oversized and unisex, so that’s another plus. The joggers have hip pockets and a drawcord waist for added comfort. But of course the main reason why you’d want any of these pieces is that they are biodegradable and friendly to Mother Earth. They’re available in different sizes and colors so there’s a variety to choose from.

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Solar lights can be your aesthetic illumination under the night sky

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When you spend a lot of time in your backyard or outdoors, having lights that contribute to the ambience and illuminate the place is a must. If you’re eco-friendly of course, you would prefer solar lights although not all that are available in the market have that of a good design. Lately we’ve been seeing lights with better aesthetics, have multiple purposes, and use sustainable energy instead of your usual electricity.

Designer: Mpowerd

The Luci Solar Site Lights is one such product that meets all of that criteria. You can use them as “stringless string lights” or you can also stake them on the ground or put them up wherever you would need aesthetic lighting. They are able to illuminate up to 1,000 square feet and can last up to 20 hours on a single charge. The light nodes are IPX4 which means that they can survive splashes of water but cannot be submerged in it.

There are three light modes that you can choose from: low, medium, and high and they have dual-directional on/off swivel. They can light up gardens, picnic areas, and other outdoor settings. You can also use it indoors if you want by putting a glass or transparent cup to diffuse it. Each set comes with 6 hangable and weatherproof lights, 6 ABS stakes with notch, and a rechargeable 2,600 mAh battery with recharge case that has a built-in solar panel but can also be charged through USB-C charging.

These lights are portable enough that you can bring it whenever and wherever you want to have a party under the night sky. You can even put them on your pets or on yourself if you need to walk around with lights instead of carrying a flashlight. And since they are solar powered (but with the option to still charge if you didn’t get enough sunlight), you get to lessen your carbon footprint.

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Lexus concept car displayed as a light sculpture in Miami exhibition

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When you’re visiting car exhibit shows, you expect to see nothing but cars on display. The brands have to figure out how to make it a bit more exciting and innovative since looking at cars can become repetitive and if you’re not really a car enthusiast, it can get boring. But when you’re displaying a car at an art and design exhibition, then you can expect a more non-traditional way to look at the vehicle.

Designer: Marjan van Aubel

An installation to celebrate the Lexus LF-ZC Battery Electric Vehicle Concept Car is now on display at the Miami Art & Design Week. The “sculpture” is called “8 Minutes and 20 Seconds” which is the time it takes for light to reach earth. So instead of the usual car display, what you get is a self-illuminating 3D skeleton of the concept car itself. It’s made from organic transparent photovoltaic (POV) sheets and is powered by solar energy. Each cell gives off a spectrum of color and movement and they are transparent to give off the maximum effect of light and patterns.

The EV Skateboard, which is where the engine will be located, is highlighted with an LED panel. It is the main feature of the car so this is where eyes will be drawn. Depending on where you’re standing, you’ll get a different perspective of the sculpture. There are also motion sensors which will let the car respond to those walking around, triggering a ripple through the LED light panels. You will also hear bamboo chimes since the concept car uses bamboo materials as well.

Every 10 minutes, you’ll get a crescendo of sound and light patterns. Since the sculpture is located in a garden setting, the color temperature also shifts along with the natural circadian rhythms of its surroundings. It’s a pretty interesting thing to see this in person and to experience a different kind of display for cars, even if it’s still just a concept car.

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Wheeled quadruped robot can stand up to chuck boxes into bins

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While the fear that our robot overlords will eventually take over the planet is still real, we’ve seen advances in robotics that are more helpful for humanity. There are tasks that we would much rather a robot will do for us like carrying heavy things (although that may be one of the reasons why the revolution will start) to avoid injuries. We’re seeing experiments on how to train them to do even more advanced skills so they can eventually take over the world, I mean these heavy, menial tasks.

Designer: Swiss Mile

The ANYmal robot is one such robot experiment that can get around either as a dog-like quadruped or mimic a human when it stands up on its hind legs, hence its name. Last year, it learned to squat back and stand up with its motorized wheels and now they’re experimenting with it to do heavier tasks through something called “curiosity-driven learning”. Basically it gets rewarded when it is able to complete the task it’s given by figuring out how to do it by itself.

In the video they posted showing how the ANYmal robot completed the task of putting a package into a bin, it was able to actually lift the box up and then put it where it’s supposed to go. However, it seemed to just throw it into that bin like how some baggage handlers supposedly do their task if they think no one is looking. The robot is probably thinking, “Hey, they just told me to put the box into the bin, not really to do it carefully and precisely.”

For now, the robot is still a robotics research project for things like Reinforcement Learning and Random Network Distillation. But if they do decide to actually manufacture the robots for industrial and commercial use, it would be interesting to see how the wheeled quadruped with the humanoid form can actually reduce heavy grunt work for humans.

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Sidekick Notepad is a simple writing tool for the digital/analog hybrid workers

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Over the years I have learned to embrace a digital + analog hybrid workflow process. While most of my work goes straight to the computer, tablet, or mobile phone that I’m working on at the moment, I still like having a pen and paper with me at all times to jot down things I’m thinking about or things I need to do. There’s something therapeutic about writing it down rather than just typing it out so products that can give me that convenience are always welcome.

Designer: Cortex

The Sidekick Notepad is basically a writing pad where you can jot things down while having a meeting or while doing your normal, every day tasks. It is designed to fit either above or under your keyboard and is meant to be your “sidekick” if you’re like me that sometimes likes to put her to-do list on paper rather than on pixels. There’s a section to put the date, a huge section for notes, and then on the side, there’s a to-do list section with checkboxes so it’s easier to tick things off.

It’s not meant to be like a journal where you keep it even after the tasks or notes have served their purpose. It’s a tear-away kind of pad where you can just tear it off and then throw it (or compile it somewhere else if that’s your thing). You can also scan your notes for posterity and then save it on your preferred notes app. It doesn’t seem to have a dedicated app that can automatically scan and store things for you so you have to do it the manual way.

The Sidekick Notepad has 60 pages of Munken Lynx paper so if you run out, you’ll have to buy a new notepad since it’s not refillable. The cover is made from something called “Extract”, a paper made from recycled coffee cups. This adds another layer of things that I love so this product seems to be created especially for people like me who still can’t let go of the analog stuff.

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Solar bot is a smart device concept that makes solar power more accessible

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Solar power is something that is pretty important if we need to reduce our carbon footprint and our electricity consumption. But it’s still not something that’s easily accessible for everyone or something that’s portable and easy to use or access. A recent invention from Jackery, a portable power and green outdoor energy company, might be the thing we need to revolutionize how the ordinary consumer can access and use solar energy.

Designer: Jackery

The Solar Mars Bot was named one of the Best Inventions of 2023 by Time Magazine, specifically in the Green Energy category. It is a robot type machine that is a photovoltaic energy storage device equipped with various sensors to enable it to gather as much solar power as it can store. It has laser radar and camera modules to help it get around. It’s smart enough to roll around and find spots where it can align its panels with sunlight and even avoid obstacles.

The energy that it is able to gather is stored in a lithium iron phosphate battery and then you will be able to power your devices through any of its connectors including ordinary earthed sockets, USB-C and USB-A ports. You can take this solar robot with you when camping or on any outdoor activity or when you’re just lounging in your backyard or swimming pool and you need to charge your devices.

For now it seems to still be in the conceptual stage and Jackery may be creating a prototype for testing. But if ever it reaches the consumer market it will make solar energy common for those who are conscious about their electricity consumption. Hopefully we see some progress with this “best invention” soon as we all want to be able to regulate our carbon consumption over the next few years.

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