Articles tagged with Vehicles
A new study suggests that insomnia is a major contributor to deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional fatal injuries. People with three insomnia symptoms were 2.8 times more likely to die from a fatal injury, highlighting the importance of healthy sleep for personal health and public safety.
Experts use drones to collect detailed information on environmental changes and their impact on the movement of people, animals, and insects that carry diseases. This helps researchers understand how land use changes affect human infection rates.
A QUT study found that drivers underestimate speed limits at inactive roadwork sites, leading to high crash rates. The researchers suggest combining measures such as variable speed limit signs and police enforcement to improve safety.
According to a study by the University of the Basque Country, the mobility model is closely linked to the city's characteristics. The study found that compact towns and cities have lower private vehicle use, better public transport offers lead to less car usage, and higher per capita income is associated with greater private car use. T...
Two new projects, ELEVATE and Ultra Efficient Engines and Fuels, will develop better materials for energy storage devices and improve internal combustion engine efficiency. The £6 million funding will support academics from eight UK universities in their research to produce low-carbon vehicles on a mass scale.
Two University of Illinois scientists are working with the World Health Organization to fortify condiments and seasonings in countries with widespread micronutrient deficiencies. The researchers aim to address deficiencies affecting over one-third of the world's population, particularly pregnant women.
Researchers at NIST developed a prototype field test standard for hydrogen fuel dispensers, which will serve as a model for state inspectors. The test ensures accuracy within 2% (20g) per kilogram, a stringent tolerance due to hydrogen's unique properties.
A new study found a significant decline in speeding-related injuries and fatalities among young men in Ontario since the province's tough laws were introduced in 2007. The study credits the deterrence of swift and severe sanctions for reducing risky driving behavior.
Researchers at the University of Southern Denmark have developed a natural sugar polymer that can carry drugs through the nasal wall and release them in the brain, addressing two major challenges in nasal delivery of brain drugs. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient treatment for chronic patients
Researchers found a significant increase in marijuana-positive drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle crashes in Colorado after medical marijuana commercialization in 2009. The proportion of such drivers increased from 4.5% to 10% between 1994 and 2011, outpacing the 34 non-medical marijuana states.
A novel plasma actuator improves plasma authority at high wind speeds, suppressing boundary layer separation and reducing model vibration on a UAV. The study demonstrates an important role of plasma actuators in real applications.
The new journal will publish research on communications between vehicles and roadside infrastructure, exploring topics such as routing, safety, and standardization. Advances in wireless communications are making real-time information sharing easier between vehicles and infrastructure.
Researchers at the University of Western Ontario found that rural youth are more prone to concussions caused by motorized vehicle accidents, while urban youth tend to suffer from sports-related injuries. The study highlights the need for targeted injury prevention programs and education on concussion protocols in various settings.
A study by Dr. Russell Callaghan found that raising the minimum legal drinking age to 19 in Alberta and Québec would prevent significant deaths among 18-year-old men. The research suggests increasing the drinking age to 21 nationwide could save up to 32 male youth lives annually.
A sensor has been developed to detect residual salt on road surfaces, allowing for preventive action to avoid excess salt application. This can reduce financial waste and minimize environmental impact by protecting vegetation and aquifers.
Novice teen drivers are more likely to engage in high-risk secondary tasks as they gain driving experience, increasing their risk of crashes. The study found that cell phone use, eating, and talking to passengers were the most distracting behaviors for new drivers.
Researchers presented a new, simplified method of robotic flight at the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting in Pittsburgh. The device, weighing just two grams and spanning eight centimeters in width, flies by flapping four wings arranged like petals on a flower.
Researchers study stingray movement to develop more efficient unmanned underwater vehicles, allowing for deeper ocean exploration and rescue efforts. The unique swimming style of stingrays may lead to breakthroughs in submarine design, inspired by nature's optimal swimming gait.
Researchers at the University of Huddersfield's Institute of Railway Research are working on the UK's first Tram-Train scheme to address interface issues. The team has developed a new wheel profile design that minimizes wear rates and maintains safety against derailment.
Fires on the Portuguese island of Madeira have destroyed up to eleven houses and forced evacuations, with another fire rekindling concerns in the area.
The DynoTRAIN project aims to establish virtual testing as a valid route to certification for rail vehicles. Researchers used real-world track data and simulated the dynamic behavior of railway vehicles to build mathematical tools that can synthesize data into representative virtual test environments.
A new study by Columbia Business School and University of Pittsburgh professors predicts Twitter's user engagement will slow down, shifting from a social network to a content-delivery platform. Everyday users are expected to stop posting as much, while celebrities and commercial users will continue to post for financial gain.
Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a firefighting robot that creates a 3D thermal imaging picture of a burning building, providing critical data for first responders. The robot uses stereo vision and sensor data to map the interior of the building, allowing rescuers to better assess the structure and plan their activities.
Researchers found that visual cues like texting improve performance in noisy environments, making it easier to understand messages. Adding text messaging as a supplement to audio presentation significantly reduces difficulties in communication during auditory overload situations.
A study of 19,327 newly licensed drivers aged 17-24 found that those sleeping 6 hours or less per night had a higher crash risk. Young drivers who got less sleep on weekends were more likely to be involved in run-off-road crashes between 8pm and 6am.
Researchers found that breathing motor vehicle emissions alters high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, making it contribute to clogged arteries. The inhalation of emissions activates components of oxidation, leading to inflammation and hardening of the arteries.
A new study has identified a genetic risk factor for persistent pain after traumatic events, such as motor vehicle collisions and sexual assaults. The research found that variation in the gene encoding for the protein FKBP5 is associated with a higher risk of moderate to severe neck pain six weeks after a motor vehicle collision.
A study from the University of Iowa found that playing a video game for ten hours can delay declines in cognitive skills by as many as seven years in older people. The game improved mental agility and sped up processing speed, preventing age-related cognitive decline.
A UC Berkeley study shows how the brain dynamically reallocates resources based on behavioral demands, optimizing performance. When searching for a person or object, various brain regions are activated, including those normally dedicated to abstract thought.
The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched an initiative to build an open-source database of real-world performance from solar facilities. The Open Solar Performance and Reliability Clearinghouse (O-SPaRC) aims to provide critical data on the long-term performance of residential and commercia...
A new statistical technique has been developed to analyze all possible causes of severity in a traffic accident. The researchers used data-mining techniques, including Latent Class Clustering and Bayesian Networks, to identify the variables that affect accident severity.
Researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish, Cyro, the size of a grown man, to study aquatic life, map ocean floors, and monitor ocean currents. The robot is powered by a rechargeable battery and uses a diffused nerve net to control movement, mimicking the behavior of natural jellyfish.
Researchers developed a new approach to predict how small legged robots move on and interact with complex granular materials like sand. The technique, called terradynamics, uses equations to describe and predict movement comparable to aerodynamics and hydrodynamics.
A team of European experts, led by Newcastle University, has designed blast-proof technologies to reduce debris and protect passengers in the event of a bomb attack. The new technology is being incorporated into European and national standards, aiming to save lives and prevent terrorist attacks on railways.
Researchers found that children exposed to second-hand smoke in cars experience a significant increase in harmful pollutant levels, exceeding those found in restaurants and bars. This highlights the need for stricter regulations on smoking in vehicles carrying children.
Researchers found that a little distraction can help drone operators stay engaged and perform better. Participants who were distracted 30% of the time scored almost as high as those who focused the majority of their attention on the simulation.
A new study found that currency's physical appearance dramatically affects consumer behaviour, with people preferring to spend dirty, crumpled currency in social situations. The researchers' findings challenge long-held beliefs about the value of money and suggest that it can be a part of conspicuous consumption.
A new study by Fabrizio Di Muro and Theodore J. Noseworthy found that consumers tend to spend more on worn bills due to feelings of disgust, but are more likely to hold onto crisp currency for social reasons. The researchers suggest that money's physical appearance can influence spending behavior, making it a vehicle for social utility.
A team led by University of Delaware researchers aims to create a robot that can drive vehicles, navigate environments, use tools, and manipulate equipment in disaster relief scenarios. The robot will focus on key tasks such as getting into and out of vehicles, driving factoring in difficult conditions.
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that states with booster seat laws have a 20% lower rate of death/incapacitating injuries for children ages 4-6, and a 33% lower rate for 7- to 8-year-olds. Booster seats are crucial in preventing accidents, especially among young children.
A new study found that most ATV dealers are willing to discuss selling adult-sized ATVs for children under 16, despite a federal law prohibiting such sales. Seventy percent of dealers were willing to show and discuss the sale of an adult-sized ATV when informed that it was for a 12-year-old rider.
Joan Claybrook received the 2012 Community Hero award from Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy for her role in lobbying for passage of nation's first auto safety laws. Her work as NHTSA administrator led to establishment of air bag and fuel-economy standards, significantly improving public health.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology suggests that psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and Z-drugs may increase the risk of motor vehicle accidents. The research found a significant association between higher doses of these medications and a greater risk of accident involvement.
Researchers found that half of drivers make the stop-go decision three seconds before the stop line and few can clear the intersection before the light turns red. The study also revealed that people over 60 years old react slower to yellow lights due to longer perception-reaction times.
The iFAB Foundry aims to revolutionize the design and building process for complex defense systems by shortening development time by a factor of five. The project will provide near-instantaneous manufacturability feedback to designers, enabling flexible and programmable distributed production.
A new system developed at Vanderbilt University aims to transform how archaeologists map large sites, providing higher resolution imagery and three-dimensional models. The SUAVe system, set to be tested in Peru, has the potential to catalog many archaeological sites quickly, addressing concerns about development and time.
A study found that higher population density of neurosurgeons in the US is associated with lower mortality rates from motor vehicle accidents, which are often caused by traumatic brain injuries. Rural areas tend to experience more MVA-related deaths due to slower medical response times and reduced access to trauma resources.
UAVForge, a crowdsourcing competition, aimed to design and develop a militarily relevant small UAV. Despite over 140 teams participating, none successfully completed the fly-off event, highlighting asset cost and complexity hurdles.
Researchers used mathematical algorithms to determine that drivers should pay more attention during the shortest lifetime of spatio-temporal correlations of traffic intensity, found to be between 6pm and 8pm. This period experiences high 'stop and go' phenomena, requiring constant driver attention.
Researchers at UPNA aim to create affordable, high-precision eye tracking systems for applications beyond assisting people with disabilities. They have developed a database of over 100 users and are working on algorithms to detect pupil position and gaze direction.
A new study by MIT civil engineers finds that stiffer pavements can reduce vehicle fuel consumption by as much as 3 percent and decrease CO2 emissions by 46.5 million metric tons per year, resulting in significant savings and environmental benefits. The study uses mathematical modeling to analyze pavement deflection under vehicle tires...
Researchers at Brown University found that bats use a unique wing motion to reduce energy expenditure, drawing their wings inward on the upstroke. By flexing their heavy, muscular wings, bats conserve up to 65% of inertial energy, a significant advantage in flight.
Researchers discovered numerous coral communities covered in brown flocculent material and showing signs of tissue damage near the Macondo Well, 4,000 feet from the surface. Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography analysis confirmed oil from the spill was the source, revealing a serious impact on deep-sea animal communities.
A national survey of UK ambulance services found significant variation in response to elderly falls patients, with some trusts utilizing dedicated clinical advisors and triage systems. Despite efforts to reduce delays, the provision of care remains inconsistent, highlighting the need for research to inform policy and practice development.
Researchers developed a new method using GIS to determine optimal emergency vehicle station locations, improving ambulance response time. The study found that distributing vehicles over 82 potential locations gave 87% of the population service in less than 8 minutes.
Dr. Anthony Grbic's innovative antenna design uses a hemispherical shape to achieve instant miniaturization, operating in one frequency band and potentially inexpensive to produce.
A study from North Carolina State University found that Toyota's safety-related recalls in 2009 made no significant dent in consumer perceptions of the brand. The average price of affected vehicles declined by approximately 2% relative to comparable models, a finding within the statistical margin-of-error.
The new Distraction Dodger video game, developed by the University of Minnesota ITS Institute, aims to teach young adults about the risks of distracted driving. The game simulates real-life scenarios, offering players a reality check on their driving habits and encouraging them to stay focused on the road.
A recent investigation into a 2009 multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli identified commercial prepackaged cookie dough as the culprit. The study recommends that manufacturers reformulate their product to make it safer and provides guidance for consumers on how to prevent illness by baking the dough before consuming.
A research team at TUM has developed a sensor system that monitors drivers' vital signs, including heart rate, skin conductance, and oxygen saturation, to prevent fainting spells or heart attacks. The system uses simple sensors in the steering wheel and can initiate measures such as phone call blocking or emergency braking if necessary.