AgBots: Agricultural Robots Take The Field
In one memorable scene from the original Star Wars movie, Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen is bargaining for agricultural robots with Jawas. Agriculture has been slow to adopt to robotic technology; however, some new developments are on the horizon. (re: William Gibson)

Soft Robot Powered By Shape Memory Alloy Spokes
A remarkable new kind of robotic locomotion has emerged in the form of small "robots" that are constructed in the shape of a wheel. The spokes are made of a shape memory alloy; the rim of the wheel is made of an elastic polymer. (re: Neal Stephenson)

Robots Get Pressure-Sensitive Skin
Organic field-effect transistors have been used to fabricate pressure-sensitive skin for robots, according to an abstract published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week. (re: Roger Zelazny)

DNA Authenticators: Anti-Counterfeiting Proposed by Philip K. Dick
A security measure proposed by Philip K. Dick in 1964 is now being used to use DNA technology to authenticate consumer products. (re: Philip K. Dick)

StreetNet: Brussels Provides Free WiFi At Internet Kiosks
The Brussels city government established five open-air Internet kiosks that provide wifi-enabled web surfing for all citizens and visitors. The weatherproof kiosks have a touchscreen for those without a laptop or PDA. (re: John Brunner)

Deterministic Quantum-State Teleportation Achieved With High Fidelity
Teleportation, the transfer of quantum states between widely separated atoms, was achieved by different research teams in Austria and the United States. (re: Clifford Simak)

Biometric HandReader - Frank Herbert's Palm Lock?
IR Recognition Systems has released a biometric hand reader that is able to simultaneously analyze more than 31,000 points. The system records 90 different measurements of your hand: length, width, thickness and surface area. (re: Frank Herbert)

Springtail EFV-4B Personal Air Vehicle From Trek Aerospace
The Springtail EFV-4B Personal Air Vehicle (PAV) is a fourth-generation vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) craft powered by a single engine. (re: Robert Heinlein)

Sleep Room - Better Rest From A To Zzz
Japan is the land of the rising sun - a sun that rises all too soon for weary commuters and hard-working students who burn the midnight oil. The Matsushita Electric Works Sleep Room may be the answer - sort of like Larry Niven's Napcap Rental Facilit (re: Larry Niven)

Personal Satellite Assistant: Servant Of Astronauts And Jedi
NASA has been working on the Personal Satellite Assistant for years. With any luck, it should be ready for use soon. (re: George Lucas)

MTHEL - Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser
The Mobile Tactical High Energy Laser (MTHEL) successfully tracked and destroyed a large-caliber test rocket at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. (re: George Griffith)

Picture This: Cell Repair By Medical Nanorobots
Svidinenko Yuriy's renderings of medical nanorobots give Fantastic Voyage an update. (re: Isaac Asimov)

Pilkington Activ Glass - The Invisible Squeegee Of Window-Willie
Pilkington Activ glass has a coating of microcrystalline titanium oxide that acts as an "invisible squeegee" to allow the surface to clean itself. (re: Robert Heinlein)

IP Cameras - Larry Niven's Webeye?
IP cameras are providing a real short-cut for the surveillance-minded. Just position and click. (re: Larry Niven)

VeriTouch iVue: Fun, Fashionable Media Player With Military-Grade Encryption
Finally, someone has announced the features that all of us consumers have been looking for in a digital media player - military-grade encryption and biometric security. (re: Ray Bradbury)

Genesis Pathfinder: Space Inflatable Module
Genesis Pathfinder is an inflatable space habitat scheduled to launch in November 2005. Genesis weighs in at 1,360 kilograms and is approximately 4.6 meters in length by 1.9 meters in diameter; this is a one-third scale model. (re: Larry Niven)