The electric Roller: Limo costs just 2p a mile to run but cost 1 million pounds to buy

For the environmentally friendly billionaire who has everything, Rolls-Royce today unveils the world’s most luxurious electric limousine – with batteries included.

The super-green Rolls-Royce Phantom offers zero-emissions motoring for a frugal 2p a mile – compared with 40p a mile for the standard Phantom.

That’s just as long as you can first afford the hefty price-tag – likely to be close to £1million.

Green machine: The Rolls-Royce Phantom will offer zero emissions at a cost of just 2p a mile to run - but comes with a hefty price tag of £1m

Has Indian inventor REALLY made a Back to the Future style flying car?

It sounds like something out of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or even Back to the Future - but one inventor claims to made the flying car a reality.

While it could well help solve the issue of traffic gridlock which plagues many cities, an airborn version of the converted hatchback looks to be some time away from the production line.

Made out of an seemingly-ordinary 800cc Maruti car, it has rotor blades affixed to the roof with extended wheelarches creating a 'vacuum section', and has been one of the star attractions at the Aero India 2011 air show in Bangalore.

Futuristic: Vishwanath's company is part-named after the DeLorean sports car of the 1980s, famously used as a time machine in Hollywood's Back To The Future, starring Christopher Lloyd (left) and Michael J Fox.Flying high?: The 'flying Maruti' is made from a seemingly-ordinary 800cc Maruti car, with rotor blades afixed to the roof and extended wheelarches covering a 'vacuum section'

BloodHound the 1000mph rocket car.

After months of rumours, Sony PlayStation phone is finally previewed

Following months of speculation and rumours, the 'PlayStation Phone' does actually exist.

A prototype of the phone has finally surfaced and ends months of intrigue as to whether the gadget would ever be made.

Known as the 'Xperia Play', the handset is Sony Ericsson's attempt at conquering the smart phone market and aims to mix PSP style gaming with phone functions.

Details of the phone were revealed on technology website Engadget after it managed to obtain a handset to preview from a Chinese source.

Rumours have circulated for months about the features the phone will contain, but its biggest asset is a gamepad that will be modelled on a PlayStation controller.

Game on: The 'PlayStation phone' has finally surfaced and will contain a gamepad similar to a PlayStation controller for enhanced gaming.Say cheese! As well as the gaming functions, the Xperia Play will contain a 5-megapixel camera,Not just for gaming: The phone will have wi-fi connectivity and full keyboard for sending messages

Nasa deploys first solar sail spacecraft in orbit around Earth

Breakthrough: Nasa's NanoSail-D is the first spacecraft to deploy its solar sail in low-Earth orbit

It sounds like something from the pages of science-fiction - a spacecraft that deploys a sail to generate solar power from the sun.

Now Nasa has successfully launched the first solar sail spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.

Solar sails use radiation pressure generated from sunlight to propel spacecraft at high speeds.

The space agency confirmed that the NanoSail-D nanosatellite deployed its 100-square-foot polymer sail and is operating as planned.

Actual deployment took place on January 20 but wasn't confirmed until five days later when beacon packets data was received from NanoSail-D.

Further confirmation came in form of orbital parameter data which showed scientists a change consistent with sail deployment.

Google Body Browser

The new 3D medical browser that will make us all doctors

Not content with letting you spy on your neighbours with Street View or hover over far-away countries Google has now developed a new browser that maps out the entire human body.

Called Google Body Browser, the hi-tech 3D application has been hailed as a breakthrough in the study of anatomy that could revolutionise our understanding of the human body and even fast-track medical research.

The gadget, yet to be officially released, lets you explore the human body in much the same way you can navigate the world on Google Earth.

It is likely to be the perfect tool for those hypochondriacs who like to use Google to find out what is ailing them and who will get a gruesome thrill from analysing every last vein.

Using the mouse, the body can be spun, before another layer of information is accessed

Shocking map that shows rise of 'botnet' PC infections across the world

More than 2.2 million US PCs were found to be part of botnets, networks of hijacked home computers, in the first six months of 2010, according to a new report from Microsoft.

The firm discovered that the US leads the world in numbers of Windows PCs that are part of botnets and that Spain has the most infected machines in Europe.

Between April 2010 and June 2010, Microsoft cleaned more than 6.5 million computers of botnet infections — double the amount for the same period a year before.

The heat map of botnet infections across the globe shows that Spain and the US are the hotspots

After 14 years of digging, breakthrough nears for the world's longest tunnel stretching 35.4 miles under the Alps

The drilling of the longest railway tunnel in the world will be completed today, 14 years after it began.

The last few yards of rock will shortly be removed, opening the 35.4-mile Gotthard Base link through the Swiss Alps which will allow trains to transport goods and passengers to and from Italy - and shave an hour off journey times.

The £624m tunnel through the Gotthard massif, including the 8,200ft Piz Vatgira, is part of a larger project to remove heavy goods vehicles from roads in a bid to preserve Switzerland's pristine Alpine landscape.

Nearing completion: The Gotthard Base Tunnel will be opened at both ends when crews break through the last section on Friday, making it the world's longest tunnel at more than 35 miles long

A graphic from the original plans which shows how the different sections of the mountain were tunnelled through

Volvo developing electric car that uses its whole body as a rechargeable battery

It is one of the biggest problems facing the manufacturers of hybrid and electric cars: heavy batteries add weight and bulk to the vehicle's design.

But now Volvo is developing a car which deals with the problem using its whole body to act as a rechargeable battery.

The futuristic car would be able to store braking energy while it was being driven and also store energy when it was plugged in overnight to recharge.

Volvo has released this graphic to demonstrate how the new electric car would work

Google TV lets your watch tv and surf the internet.

Google prepares to launch Google TV - The device that lets you watch television and surf the net

Google is preparing to enter the increasingly crowded internet TV market with its latest product Google TV.

Google TV will allow customers to access Facebook and watch films on YouTube in the comfort of their living rooms.

Consumers with HDTV sets will be able to plug into the technology simply by buying a set-top box. The TV is expected to go on sale in the U.S. this autumn before arriving in Britain next year. The price has not yet been fixed.

Unveiled: Sony boss Howard Stringer (left) and his Intel counterpart Paul Otellini at the launch of GoogleTV in San Francisco last month

Incoming: Google believes its technology will make it easier to surf the web while watching television on the same screen, at the same time enabling it to benefit from the advertising market

The list of participating television programmers announced yesterday by Google includes household staples such as TBS, TNT, CNN and HBO, which are all owned by Time Warner Inc.

The technology will offer features from the NBA, the financial news channel CNBC and popular internet video services operated by Amazon and Netflix.

The giant airships which can carry entire buildings hundreds of miles - Invention could see disaster-relief centres dropped into remote areas

Giant balloons that can carry loads over long distances could one day even transport entire buildings.

Australian firm Skylifter is developing a piloted airship that will carry up to 150 tonnes more than 1,200 miles.

They hope that the vehicles could one day carry rural hospitals and disaster-relief centres to remote
* Invention could see disaster-relief centres dropped into remote areas



Steady as she goes: The airship's design means that it is extremely easy to steer, according to the Australian firm behind it.Up and away: An artist's impression of the 500ft Skylifter balloon which would be able to carry heavy loads over hundreds of miles

World's first 3D TV without glasses unveiled - but it's only 20 inches wide

The world's first 3D television that doesn't require glasses has hit the market.

Toshiba unveiled the high-definition liquid crystal display 3D television that does not require the special glasses - one of the biggest consumer complaints about the technology.

The Tokyo-based company hopes this could be the breakthrough that brings 3D TV to the masses.

Glassess-less 3D: The Regza GL1 Series TV which combines image processing technology with a double convex sheet to render depth-filled images from any angle using parallax

Small: Masaaki Osumi of Toshiba with the 12-inch 3D TV and the 20-inch

LongReach Buoyancy Deployment System.Bazooka that shot out life jacket and bouyancy device.

Buoyancy bazooka lifejacket that inflates when it hits water and could save hundreds of lives wins £10,000 Dyson prize

A buoyancy bazooka which could save thousands of lives in the UK has won this year’s James Dyson Award.

Longreach shoots an emergency buoyancy aid 500 feet out to sea. It is made from hydrophobic foam which rapidly expands upon hitting the water.

It is equipped with flares for night-time illumination and allows the victim to remain buoyant for a longer period of time.

The winner Australian Samuel Adeloju was chosen from a final international shortlist of 15 by inventor James Dyson.

The Longreach design by Samuel Adeloju, 24, has won the James Dyson Award

Australian Samuel Adeloju with his prize-winning invention

'Super-Taser' shotgun bullet that can knock down criminals from 100ft assessed by Home Office

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Threatening: The electronic Taser bullet is fired from a regular shotgun and can incapacitate criminals from 100 feet

Under consideration: Amnesty International claim 334 people in the US died between 2001 and 2008 after being targeted by the stun gun

The bullet hooks into the target's skin before administering a 20-second shock

The bionic-arm of the law: Police unveil new metal detector glove to fight knife crime

Halt! PC Craig Porter reveals the new palm sized metal detector which is being used for stop and search operations


The detector, which measures 2.5in by 3in, is kept inside a leather mitt which officers wear on one of their hands

Police have unveiled their latest weapon in the fight against knife crime - a metal detecting glove which can identify blades hidden under clothing.

The £100 e-Glove fits inside the palm of the hand and silently vibrates when it passes over anything containing the tiniest trace of metal.

Officers from Leicestershire Police are the first in the UK to be given access to the gizmo full-time following successful trials at forces elsewhere in the country.

So far around 20 have been handed out to officers and there are plans to give them to every policeman in the UK within the next few years.

The detector, which measures 2.5in by 3in, is kept inside a leather mitt which officers wear on one of their hands.

Officers say the devices are speeding up the process of searching suspects in the street and helping them detect hidden weapons, drugs and needles.

Once the device is triggered the officer knows to conduct a more thorough search without alerting the suspect.

Meet the androids who could clinch the Robo World Cup for Scotland

Fair play: Robots from Android FC created by the University of Edinburgh, are posed up for a photocall. Academics hope the team will reach the RoboCup finals

The ultimate aim of RoboCup is to create a team of robotic footballers by 2050 that can beat humans

The androids are able to move autonomously. They have been under development since last autumn

The Scottish football team may have missed out on playing in the World Cup this year, but their robotic counterparts are hoping to have better luck.

Step forward Android FC - a three-player squad created by academics at the University of Edinburgh.

The robots were put through their paces in front of the cameras today to kick off their campaign to reach the RoboCup finals in Istanbul.
The two-foot high striker, defender and goalkeeper are fully autonomous. They play the beautiful game using artificial intelligence and have sensors that detect other players and the ball.

The only human allowed on the pitch after the coin toss is the referee.

Edinburgh university's School of Infomatics hope their squad will eventually reach the humanoid finals in Turkey in 2011.

The international competition was founded in 1997. Last year it attracted 407 teams from 43 different countries.

The ultimate goal of the RoboCup project is to develop a team of humanoid robots by 2050 that can play and win against the human world champion football team.

Dr Sethu Vijayakumar who helped build the bots - said: 'RoboCup is a key challenge in robotics research.

'We first looked at the various animation techniques that have been used in the latest computer games and in films like Avatar.

'What we have to do to try to make a real robot do the same kind of things, so that it responds like a human being to sound and movement, and has a sense of balance, motion and sensitivity.'

The research team has been working on the project since autumn last year. They will show off the squad's silicon skills at the Edinburgh International Science Festival this weekend.

Walking, talking living doll: Japanese scientists unveil female android

Japanese professor Hiroshi Ishiguro yesterday unveiled a female android that can laugh and smile as it mimics a person's expressions.

Using a motion-capture system, the robot, called Geminoid TMF, can move its rubber face to imitate a smile, a toothy grin, and a grim look with furrowed brows.

Prof Ishiguro, a professor at Osaka University, developed the android with a team of researchers together with Japan's robot maker Kokoro.
Geminoid TMF was modelled on a young Japanese woman, who was present at the unveiling today.

'I felt like I had a twin sister,' the woman said afterwards.

The developers said they expected the robot to be eventually used in real-life situations, such as in hospitals.

'We've already got some data showing that the robot gave patients psychological security by nodding and smiling at them, when patients were checked on by doctors,' Satoko Inoue, spokeman for Kokoro, told Dawn.com. new technology always creates some fears and negative opinions,' but the researchers wanted to make robots that could express something similar to human emotions, said Prof Ishiguro.

Geminoid TMF is equipped with 12 actuators, powered by air pressure, and her motion can be synched to imitate that of a real human being.

Prof Ishiguro has designed several robots made to look like humans in the past - even building one in his own image.

The professor has said that one day robots could fool us into believing they are human.

'An android could get away with it for a short time, 5-10 seconds. However, if we carefully select the situation, we could extend that, to perhaps 10 minutes,' he said.






A model pokes the face of Geminoid-F, which was designed and built by Osaka University professor Hiroshi Ishiguro.Prof Ishiguro, a professor at Osaka University, developed the android with a team of researchers together with Japan's robot maker Kokoro

Using a motion-capture system, the robot, called Geminoid TMF, can move its rubber face to imitate a smile, a toothy grin, and a grim look with furrowed brows

Professor Ishiguro with the android he built in his own image