Michelin: a simulator of tire traction

"Testing of the simulator available to persons in possession of driving license. On the stand co-hosted by Oktal and Michelin which features a brand new Mini Cooper, the tone is intentionally accountability. Very far from the world of Need for Speed or Mario Kart, and despite its fun at first sight, the demonstrator hosts a booth designed to educate drivers on the risks of driving. The program specifically: the awareness of risks associated with tire wear and grip conditions deteriorated.




While Last year the Renault Twingo sought to test the human factor in different situations of the road (analysis of the steering wheel, the physiology of the driver, his heart rate ...), the simulator wanted this year by Michelin was more of a duty of disclosure. He and pilot through a basic interface voluntarily embarked on a UMPC.

The driving simulation is made possible by a set of devices offered by different partners and orchestrated by Company Oktal developing the software solution and offers manufacturers and equipment manufacturers (Renault, PSA, Nissan, Audi ...) solutions of turnkey simulation. In the case of our little Mini Cooper, it has removed all the motor organs to replace them with software. The shocks are in turn replaced by an actuator that mimics the acceleration of the vehicle. The simulator is placed on a mobile platform adjustable to simulate the movements of the car. These cash flows can reduce what experts call "evil simulator" adding that movement helps the brain to take its bearings, which is beneficial for people particularly sensitive.



Continue the tour of a pedal and a steering wheel equipped with a system with force feedback and a mirror with a small LCD screen that supports dumping the driver if he would be tempted to look at outside. For those wishing to experience this type of risk driving safely, it is here ...

Bibus: a 3D printer even more precise

Last year, during the 2008 edition of Imagina, we have experienced an amazing 3D printerCapable of reproducing small objects through a printing technology by adding material (here powdered gypsum). Already particularly valuable for professionals called upon to design prototypes, these 3D printers powder yield gradually replaced by a new generation of machines even more precise.

What are the benefits of these new printers that use an acrylic resin?

• The ability to create pieces thinner, only 0.6 mm 2 mm cons in the case of the printer dry to the last year. In return, the deadline for printing is growing.
• The absence of post-treatment: while parts of the year should be sanded and then hardened using resins exhibit good resistance to manipulation, nothing like here, where the parts are perfectly smooth and solid at the end of the printer.
• The ability to make games with moving parts.

• The possibility of using several different consumables with varying levels of flexibility.
• The ability to create his own material since the range of materials that exist. Between a rigid plastic and flexible, you can create a dozen variants. Simply assign materials to areas of the 3D model so that the object is then carried out at once. This possibility is the preserve of high-end models (250 count 000 for the model Connex 500).

The acrylate resin has the advantage of finally well hang topcoats.



The printer scans proceeds by left / right place for this area. It is equipped with two print heads working simultaneously: one filing the photosensitive acrylic resin layer of 28 microns, the other gel that supports the construction. The return movement of the printheads allows for its share of polymerizing the layer has been deposited at 70%. Polymerization, ie the transformation of a liquid into a solid, is obtained by means of UV. This ensures good adhesion with the next layer and we are given the same time ensuring a solid object whose strata are nested into each other.



The only step which the new technology can not yet overcome is the residue of the cleaning gel used to help build the room. Each machine is delivered to this effect with a cleaning station ( "Water Jet") equipped with a sort of "Karcher". For a small room as the lizard shown below, it takes about two minutes of manual cleaning. Finally a word on the cost of the material that may represent a barrier. The resin is trading at 250 euros per kilo and freezing to 110 € / kg, which brings us to the top of dinosaurs about 300 euros.



What are the next evolution of these technologies? The novelty might again bring in materials, whose range is expected to evolve. After the resins rigid, flexible, clipables or bio-compatible (used for hearing aids for example), the innovation could come from a fusible material which would open new avenues for professional dental or jewelry for example. Technology to monitor ...

Immersion: A multi-cube for 3D space

Keyboard, mouse, joystick ... interfaces designed to allow us to drive an application or we move within a game sometimes show their limits when it comes to exploring the complex universe in 3 dimensions. Hence solutions such as 3D mouse from 3Dconnexion or the "CubTile" Immersion society to whom we have already an interactive table and a device for tracking eye.

What exactly this cube light and mounted on a desk that we could see this year on the show? Equipped with five sides, the CubTile takes advantage of technologies similar to those of the touch table already mentioned. The illumination is finally using an infrared system. Inside the cube, the camera analyzes the shadows and retrieves information concerning the position of the fingers. All multipoint multifaceted what the CubTile, its use is less "dramatic" than Table Touch which has for its part of electrical interface.