The Automated Farm is the Future?

Is it another Mars rover? No, it is concept robots to further automate the farm. As the landscape of farming is changing to mega and commercial farms, the concern for labor intensity and equipment expense continues. USA farms are moving towards self sufficient barns that clean themselves and training the cows to milk themselves three times a day by robots. We still see the areas of feed mixing and self feeding as an area that is still moving forward but not quite up to where they need to be. I can see where the other areas of the farm work can go to the robotic technology. The present large farms rely on very large machinery, performing the field tasks. Getting the feed to the barn is the next area for robotics according to people in the European nations. Link to Farm Industry Robots

The De Laval system has the cows milking themselves three times a day. Farmers have long known that milking the cows three times a day, does increase the overall milk output of a cow. The problem has been that milking the cows three times a day is very labor intensive. Not anymore!  The De Laval Milking Robots: Link to the De Laval Robotic Milking Machine Video

Feeding cows made easier: Link to Feeding Cows Made Easier Video.
Robotic barn cleaners: Link to Robotic Cleaner Barns! 
Part of the self cleaning barn is the self cleaning barn scrapers: Video of the Self Cleaning Barn Scrapers.Link to Video of Self Cleaning Manure Systems

Tape Technology Shows Up in Oylimpics Again!

Manufactures know that if they get athletes to wear their product in the Olympics it means literally millions of dollars in their pockets. From sunglasses to clothes to medical physical assistance products, we see them all. Sometimes the Olympics resemble NASCAR with the product label placements of company names and logos on the athletes. Is it real advantage or marketing? I think the answer is not just yes or no. Everyone has different physical challenges caused by the physical make up of their body. I find a certain sun glasses used by many athletes very helpful in the outdoors. My eyes seem less stressed after a day in the sun. Other people I know have tried them and were less impressed. In the past Olympics many athletes used the nasal tapes to give them advantages. Recent studies show that they are not as helpful as once thought. I can see if the athlete has smaller nasal entry passages they would allow for more volume to enter the body. I find it difficult to see how it might help everyone.

I do understand that  when a athlete is  pushing the limits of a body's capacity, injury happens. This 2012 Olympics has it's colored titanium tape used to help the concerned situations and body areas. Tape has often been used to support or position the tissue of concern. This tape is claiming to have Titanium technology embedded in the tape itself to provide additional healing capabilities by using a electrolysis assistance. Supporters of titanium's healing power believe that titanium can relax muscles, decompose lactic aid, improve mental concentration, promote blood circulation and subsequently eradicate tiredness. They also believe titanium aids in building stamina and physical strength.I questioned this myself, However my daughter suffers from shinsplints in soccer. Her and her teammates are claiming it helps allot. I wonder if it is more the support that the tape gives the tissue or is it electrolysis? Is it a placebo effect? Regardless this innovation works for now!
Tape stories to check out: Tape in the 2012 Olympics.
The "Mighty Metal" to checkout: Fad or Fiction.     

Does this technology work? Nasal Tape Of Past Olympics

Predicting the Future is Part of the Job

(The Nitschke Bridge pictured left, was a first step in the Green Bay, WI down town rejuvenation.)

When it comes to building roads in America, you have to be able to use current and past data to determine the future traffic at least 40 years out. In an attempt to get the most of every tax dollar the bridges and roadways are expected to last even longer than 40 years. Product innovations in sealers and bonding agents are making it possible to seal bridges to protect them from the acidic action caused by the salt and other agents used to make winter travel possible. If you can make the bridges last over 100 years other questions play into the future vision. What will the buildings and architecture around the bridges look like? What do we want them to look like? By changing the aesthetics now can you push the society to become more beautiful? Would this stimulate more investment to achieve these heights of  future American pride? Does this aesthetic attempt affect future tourism dollars spent in a location? These are all factors and topics of architects and penny pinching tax payers when investing in our infrastructure.

Meanwhile in Wisconsin, federal stimulus dollars are building roads and much needed bridges. A common question is heard in discussions in the workplace lunch rooms to coffee houses, does the bridges and the roads have to be so fancy?

The new cement techniques in stamping and coloring techniques used in today's concrete can be and are used in bridge building. They are then  sealed to protect from the salt and other winter road slip inhibitors that shorten bridge life. Here are some great technique videos that show some of this new amazing technology. Chlick on these links: Stamping and coloring concrete.
Coloring and Stamping Concrete - Ideal Solution
How do they do it?
Fixing up existing walls!

We are seeing a lot of this concrete technology used to make the aesthetics help dress up neighborhoods and seem more appealing to some who may not like this idea of change. After doing research for this post, I can think of several areas we could use this technology!

Construction in progress, the left side is colored and the right side is yet to be completed.

A completed bridge project, all sealed with pleasing aesthetics.

8 Grams of Thorium Power Future Cadillac for 300,000 Miles

In 2009 Cadillac released an prototype vehicle that would be powered by a nuclear Thorium Laser. Would a nuclear powered car be allowed to roam Americas streets? Read more at: Blog report on the Thorium powered Cat!

How do Thorium Lasers work?

The Thorium motor shown above uses a (nuclear) Thorium laser to heat water to steam to make the motion to generate the energy to produce the electricity. It could eliminate fossil fuels for futuristic power sources. The problem comes again with what do we do with the 8 oz. of spent fuel at the end of 300,000 miles of travel. Read even more: More to know!

Honda Hydrogen Fuel Stations

Hydrogen highways in California and Europe demand and Honda are pushing to get oil companies to either help out or get out of the way. Hydrogen cars are made in the USA and shipped for use in Europe where the hydrogen stations are more readily available. New Holland has been producing the NH2,100hp tractors in Europe for farm use. All this is driving the need for more hydrogen fuel. Honda has come up with another new fuel station to have at your home or your farm. Can you imagine not having OPEC deciding how much disposable income you have or how much profit your farm or business can make? Make your own fuel, I like it!

Read more: Fuel station for Hydrogen Hondas
Still more: More Station Details
New Hollands Hydrogen farm tractor You Tube walk around: New Holland Hydrogen Tractors in Europe

Green Fleets for Businesses

Google sets another standard for businesses to reach. Imagine your company purchasing green cars for company cars. It may be not practical for some , but think if it could be possible for 25 percent of business in the USA. The impact could be profound!

The Webb Telescope Gets Defunded By Congress

The budget cutting 2012 congress decided that it is not important for us to view the past and understand the universe around us. NASA has long been working to replace the Hubble Telescope. The original plan was 2018. It will be longer now, if happening at all.
Here is a link to the NASA video explaining the project: The Webbscope
Find out more: Read about the telescope.

 
What do you think? Is this something that should be cut from the national budget?