Tag Archives: hiding

Motorsport

The First Standalone Mercedes-AMG EV Has NA Miata-Looking Fake Taillights

Hiding beneath the swirly camouflage and people Miata-like taillights is the primary Mercedes mannequin on the AMG.EA platform. It’s a sports activities sedan engineered from day one strictly as an EV to function a alternative for the present AMG 4-Door Coupe. The latter has already obtained the hybrid therapy, however its successor will forgo the combustion engine altogether to embrace a pure EV setup.

Judging by the swoopy form of the prototype’s rear, it’s going to be a extra sensible liftback moderately than a conventional sedan. That wouldn’t come as a shock because the outgoing mannequin can also be a five-door hatchback, regardless of its complicated “coupe” identify. A more in-depth have a look at these official teaser pictures reveals an lively rear spoiler and entrance canards. The manufacturing model ought to have various issues in frequent with the 2022 Vision AMG Concept.

The road-going mannequin will go after the likes of the Porsche Taycan by providing a extra dynamic experience than AMG variations of the EQE. It will use disc-shaped axial-flux electrical motors with “unparalleled mix of power density, size, and weight” in comparison with conventional cylindrical radial-flux motors. The peeps from Affalterbach have already revealed one motor can churn 480 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque whereas weighing solely 53 kilos.

Aside from having new motors, the AMG.EA-based mannequin is predicted to make use of a slimmer battery pack with a 40 p.c increase in vitality density. The devoted structure also needs to allow a roomier cabin by not having to make compromises related to ICE automobiles tailored for EV obligation. This can be potential by stretching the wheelbase and shortening the entrance and rear overhangs. The SLS AMG Electric Drive from 2012 was an ICE-to-EV supercar.

Currently testing on a frozen lake in Sweden at temperatures as little as -13 levels Fahrenheit, the sporty EV is heading to different areas of the world for added evaluations. We’re not anticipating the high-performance electrical mannequin to go on sale this 12 months however the official reveal would possibly happen late 2024 or early 2025.

Motorsport

Researchers Find A Way to Use Radar to Make Cars Hallucinate

Today’s automobiles can join us to our favourite music apps or warn us in regards to the car hiding in our blind spot. That’s superb, however all this tech can also be introducing new safety and security considerations we’re solely starting to know. Cheap tech makes it easy to steal luxury cars in seconds, and automakers scoop up and freely share each bit of information they will about you. Now, researchers have discovered make your automotive’s radar system hallucinate.

Engineers at Duke University have found they will trick a automotive’s radar into believing something and do it on the fly. The MadRadar engineers created can disguise an approaching car or make a phantom automotive, and the system can do it on the fly with out understanding the particular parameters of the sufferer’s radar, which is a necessary level.

According to the researchers, no two automobiles have the identical radar parameters, however MadRadar can detect them in lower than 1 / 4 of a second. Once it is aware of the parameters, it will possibly transmit its sign to idiot the sufferer’s radar system. The engineers performed the examine on real-world radar methods in automobiles transferring at roadway speeds, performing the assault from different transferring automobiles and whereas stationary alongside the highway.

MadRadar also can trick a automotive into pondering one other car round it all of a sudden modified course. As automakers implement and enhance numerous driver-assistance methods that depend on radar, having the ability to trick these methods into hallucinating may result in accidents or different kinds of assaults sooner or later.

Miroslav Pajic, the Dickinson Family Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University and the challenge lead, mentioned MadRadar may idiot one thing like adaptive cruise management. It may make your automotive imagine the car in entrance of you is rushing up when it’s truly not – and that sounds a tad terrifying.

Internet

How To Play The Mozilla Firefox Hidden Pong Game

Pong on an old TV Grenar/Shutterstock

Web browsers seem to enjoy hiding fully playable games inside of themselves, from text-based adventures to one of human history’s earliest examples of a video game (i.e. Pong). And wouldn’t you know it, Mozilla Firefox just so happens to be hiding its own version of digital table tennis down in its proverbial guts.

This isn’t a new addition, either — the game has been tucked away in Firefox’s code for several years inside its Customize Toolbar options. Though the steps you have to take to access this little easter egg have changed a bit over the course of several version updates.

Before playing Pong, you will have to make some temporary changes to your Firefox toolbar settings. Forgetting to put things back the way they were once you’re done could cause confusion the next time you use the browser for actual browsing. However, you can always adjust settings in the Customize Toolbar menu to set things right if needed, so there’s no real risk outside of minor inconvenience.

Accessing Firefox’s Pong

playing Pong in Firefox Rob Rich/SlashGear

When you’re ready to try some secret web browser Pong, here’s what to do:

  1. With Firefox open, click on the Application Menu icon in the top-right corner of the window (the “hamburger,” or stack of three horizontal lines).
  2. Click on More tools (located towards the bottom of the pop-up menu), then select the Customize toolbar… option. This will open a new Firefox tab.
  3. Click and drag all of the toolbar items into the Overflow Menu one by one, but leave Flexible Space alone. When finished, only Flexible Space should be outside of the Overflow Menu.
  4. A small button with a unicorn on it will appear at the bottom of the screen to the right of Manage Themes. Click the unicorn button to start playing Pong.
  5. You play by using the Left and Right arrow keys on the keyboard to move your paddle (yours is the one at the top) left and right.
  6. When you’re done playing, manually drag all of the items (or just the ones you want) back out of the Overflow Menu. You can also click the Restore Defaults button at the bottom-right corner of the window, but that will reset all of your Firefox settings to default, not just the toolbar items and isn’t encouraged.

If you’d rather play some Pong with a bit less effort, you can also play it (and several other classics) in your browser with just a few clicks over at the Pong Game website.

News

Under the skin: The tech making EV batteries smaller and cheaper

Sometimes, the most straightforward ideas are right in front of us, ready to enhance the already relatively simple engineering of electric vehicles (EVs).

Compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs are simpler because they eliminate the complexity of fueling and exhaust systems, as well as the intricate emission-treatment paraphernalia.

However, EVs are still considered relatively complex due to the advanced science and electronics that power them. Stellantis, in collaboration with battery manufacturer Saft, has recently introduced the Intelligent Battery Integrated System (Ibis) to further simplify EV components using an innovative approach to battery technology.

EV powertrains consist of several basic elements. The battery, which stores and charges direct current (DC) electricity, powers the electric motors. These motors require alternating current (AC) like a regular household supply, so they are equipped with inverters to convert between AC and DC power.

Additionally, an on-board charger converts AC current from the grid into DC power to charge the battery.

EV batteries, more correctly referred to as battery packs, consist of numerous small, low-voltage lithium-ion cells. These cells are grouped into modules within the pack. Consequently, while a battery pack might generate 400V or 800V, each individual module can have as low as 11V depending on the pack’s size and design.

The Ibis project takes inspiration from photovoltaic systems to reduce EV hardware. Solar power systems use multiple solar panels that produce DC electricity, which is then fed to a single inverter to convert it into AC power. Alternatively, microinverters can be used to convert DC power to AC power as it leaves each individual panel.

The Ibis project adopts a similar approach. Each battery module includes a microinverter and a charger, eliminating the need for a separate on-board charger and a high-voltage inverter(s) for multiple drive motors.

By the end, the complete battery pack produces AC power to directly supply the motor, instead of DC power. Stellantis believes that this approach will benefit smaller EVs where space is a premium. Furthermore, this approach may be more cost-effective, as multiple smaller charger and inverter electronics are likely cheaper than their high-voltage counterparts that they replace.

While the Ibis project demonstrates innovative thinking to enhance EVs, it may not be compatible with other concepts like Volkswagen’s aim to integrate individual cells directly into the car’s chassis (“Cell2Car”).

Motorsport

1987 Range Rover Abandoned In Forest Only Has 23,000 Miles On The Odometer

Abandoned cars can be found in various places such as garages, barns, forests, and fields. One interesting example of an abandoned car is a 1987 Land Rover Range Rover discovered in a forest in Wales. Surprisingly, this car has only driven 23,000 miles.

The exterior of the Land Rover is covered in dirt and leaves. The hood is hidden under decaying foliage, and the car’s surface has green lesions. Inside the cabin, which now serves as a storage space for other forgotten items, the interior remains in fairly good condition. The buttons on the center console are still shiny, and the dials on the dashboard clearly display the mileage of 23,000.

Despite being abandoned in the woods for a long time, the Range Rover’s engine and underbody appear to be in good shape. The engine bay is dirty, but the engine itself looks well-maintained. There is a sticker indicating that the car was last registered for the road in 2005, suggesting it has been sitting there since then. The tires, although flat, still have a considerable amount of tread.

The Range Rover was discovered alongside an old Subaru Impreza and another Land Rover, both in poor condition. These vehicles are also covered in dirt and sap, with flat tires and their wheels sunken into the ground.

Through a check of the car’s license plate, it is confirmed that this low-mileage Range Rover is a 1987 model. The original blue color can still be faintly seen beneath all the dirt. The Land Rover is equipped with a 3.5-liter V8 engine, which had a power output of 165 horsepower 35 years ago and a top speed of 107 miles per hour.

It is perplexing to think about why someone would abandon a car in the woods. It’s sad that someone parked it there, walked away, and never returned. Clearly, the car and its contents were once important to someone, but now they are left to decay. Despite its less than excellent condition, the low mileage of this SUV makes it an ideal candidate for restoration.

Cars, News

Tesla Cybertruck Wrapped In Camo Spotted In California

The camouflaged look of the Tesla Cybertruck has sparked speculation about new design features or a sneak peek at what to expect when the truck goes into production. Tesla had previously mentioned that customers would have the option to choose from a variety of colors, most likely in the form of a wrap. This black-and-white camo design seen in California could potentially be one of those options.

Since its announcement in 2019, Tesla has made several promises about its all-electric truck, but there have been numerous production delays. Originally scheduled for 2021, the release date had been pushed back to 2024 at one point. Currently, the Cybertruck is expected to be available for purchase later this year.

All versions of the rear-wheel and all-wheel models are projected to reach speeds of at least 110 mph and offer a battery range between 250 and 620 miles. The Cybertruck is designed to have 100 cubic feet of storage space, a 6.5-foot-long cargo area, and 16 inches of ground clearance. With a substantial market for light-duty trucks, Tesla’s fully electric version has the potential for great success, provided it lives up to the hype built over the years. While there is a chance of further production delays, if all goes as planned, we may start seeing Tesla Cybertrucks on the road by the end of this year, some of which may still be camouflaged.