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A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 5
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STRESS RELIEF
CAN RUBY SNEAKERS LEAD YOU HOME?
An Indian high-tech start-up is promising to lead you in the right direc-
tion with its GPS-enabled smart sports shoe that vibrates to give the wearer
directions. The fiery red sneakers, which also count the number of steps taken,
distance traveled, and calories burned, are sold under the name LeChal, which
means “take me along” in Hindi. The shoes come with a detachable Bluetooth
transceiver that links to a smartphone app to direct the wearer using Goo-
gle maps, sending a vibrating signal to indicate a left or right turn. They are
the brainchild of 30-year-old Krispian Lawrence and Anirudh Sharma, 28, two
engineering graduates who founded Ducere Technologies in a small apart-
ment in 2011 with backing from angel investors. The company now employs
50 people.
CUDDLY TOY SERVES AS COMPANION AND TEACHER
The Trobo Storytelling Robot is a toy that not only makes a great companion,
but also tries to encourage curiosity in STEM topics. Trobos are interactive robots
that read to children and have the potential for a virtually endless story library.
Compatible with iPads and iPhones and incorporating their own app, the robots al-
low children to build their own avatar, include their name in the stories, and partic-
ipate in interactive puzzles. The toy and app were developed by two Orlando-area
engineering dads who left game and theme park development, Jeremy Scheinberg,
a University of Pennsylvania engineering graduate, and Chris Harden, a former de-
velopment director with EA Sports.
Trobo aims to introduce 2 to 7-year-olds to STEM topics through stories and
create an early love of learning through fun and personalized technology. Using sto-
ries, games, and quizzes, the toy attempts to tap into kids’ natural curiosity about
the world around them to teach them about science, 3D printing, the Internet, rockets, engineering, mechanics, math, and more.
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BLOODHOUND REPLICA IS LARGEST STRUCTURE BUILT
WITH K’NEX
Based on measurements taken by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL),
UK, Guinness World Records confirmed that a life-sized K’nex model of the
Bloodhound Supersonic Car (SSC) was the largest structure ever constructed
using the construction toy system. The Bloodhound SSC replica was built using
383,422 toy pieces and took a Royal British Legion Industries team consisting
of ex-services personnel and enthusiasts 1287 hours to construct. At 13.382 m
long, 2.44 m wide, and a height of 3.874 m, the stats of the K’nex model mirror
those of the real supersonic vehicle and exceed those of the current record for
the World’s Largest K’nex Structure—a T. rex, located in the U.S. Space & Rocket
Center in Huntsville, Ala.
Former World Land Speed Record holder, Bloodhound project director Richard Noble, revealed the completed Bloodhound
K’nex model. “Bloodhound aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,” he says. “If 164 people can build
an amazing model like this in a matter of weeks, imagine what a generation can achieve in their lifetimes!”
,
Part plush toy, part iPad app, Trobo blends
cuddliness and science to answer the types
of questions little kids ask.
Life-sized K’nex model of the Bloodhound Super-
sonic Car.
Krispian Lawrence, CEO of Ducere Technologies, tries
on a pair of GPS-enabled smart sports shoes.