This robotic wheelchair has autonomous laser-guided docking - pretty cool for earth-bound tech. Researchers in Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, working with Freedom Sciences of Philadelphia, have retrofitted their system onto commercially available chairs and a Chrysler minivan.
In some ways, the wheelchair has the more difficult task; the autonomous docking system has worked 97.5% of the time even in rain, mist, exhaust fumes, excessive headlight glare and loose gravel.
The wheelchair docking system will go on sale for about $30,000 - much cheaper than an autonomously docking space craft.
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SpaceX Intros Extravehicular Activity Suit
'Provision had been made to meet the terrific cold which we knew would be encountered the moment we had passed beyond the atmosphere.'
Gaia - Why Stop With Just The Earth?
'But the stars are only atoms in larger space, and in that larger space the star-atoms could combine to form living matter, thinking matter, couldn't they?'
Microsoft VASA-1 Creates Personal Video From A Photo
'...to build up a video picture would require, say, ten million decisions every second. Mike, you're so fast I can't even think about it. But you aren't that fast.'