lowcost

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have developed a camera system that can seemingly detect sound vibrations with a level of precision that makes it possible to recreate the audio without inference or a microphone. A team from CMU's School of Computer Science's Robotics Institute (RI) built the system, which has two cameras and a laser. It can detect "high-speed, low-amplitude surface vibrations" that the human eye can't see, the university said in a press release. The system features regular cameras rather than…

Walmart has long offered an interesting array of low-cost electric bicycles. Some of the bikes have even dipped down into ultra-budget territory with prices below $400. It can be a good option for those that want the utility of an electric bicycle but don’t have a lot of spare cash. But while Walmart is known for its super cheap e-bikes, the company has never offered higher-end e-bikes with nicer features like mid-drive motors. At least, not until now with the launch of Kent’s new mid-drive electric bike. I’m not…

Things looked grim for fans of budget stylus phones when LG dropped out of the mobile market last year, taking its Stylo devices with it. Just when it looked like Motorola was going to run the table with its Moto G Stylus phones, TCL has announced a new device with a built-in stylus: the aptly named TCL Stylus 5G. It’s available starting today, June 2nd, from T-Mobile for $258. The Stylus 5G includes a 6.81-inch 1080p LCD, MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. There’s a 4,000mAh battery —…

Ugandan researchers have developed low-cost air quality monitoring sensors that work in extreme conditions and will allow Uganda to switch from expensive imported monitors in its bid to tackle rising air pollution. Kampala, Uganda's capital home to two million people, ranks among the world's most polluted cities, with pollution levels up to seven times higher than the World Health Organisation's safe standards, according to the 2021 World Air Quality Report. Engineer Bainomugisha, who leads the research at Makerere…

Researchers have developed a low-cost gel film that can pull water from the air in even dry climates like the desert.More than a third of the world’s population lives in drylands, areas that experience significant water shortages. Engineers and scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a unique solution that could help people in these areas access clean drinking water.The researchers developed a low-cost gel film comprised of abundant materials that can pull water from the air in even the driest…

The supercapacitor device, which is similar to a rechargeable battery, is about the size of a quarter, and is made in part from sustainable materials including coconut shells and seawater. Designed by researchers from the University of Cambridge, the supercapacitor could help power carbon capture and storage technologies at a much lower cost. Credit: Gabriella BocchettiResearchers have developed a low-cost device that can selectively capture carbon dioxide gas while it charges. Then, when it discharges, the CO2 can be…

The White House has just announced an agreement that will bring affordable high-speed internet to almost 48 million households in the U.S. The Biden administration will cooperate with 20 of the largest internet companies in the country in order to provide broadband internet to rural areas at a much lower cost than before. Jacob Roach/ Digital Trends Improving internet access, and more precisely, connectivity in rural areas has been one of the key parts of President Biden’s election program, and it seems that the…

When it comes to bang-for-your-buck electric bicycles, it’s hard to beat the Phoenix-based company Lectric eBikes. While they may not have the fancy components of the big-name companies or the sprawling reach of the industry top dogs, there’s a reason the company has such a dedicated following: They offer good e-bikes at great prices. Having just released two new e-bikes on both the higher and lower ends of the market, plus offering a great mid-tier option, we’re going to break down the differences between the…

Doctoral students Frank Bu, left, and David Goedicke, co-authors of the research on the XR-OOM mixed-reality driving simulation system, are pictured outside the Fiat virtual simulation vehicle, inside the Tata Center at Cornell Tech. Credit: Lindsay France/Cornell University Cornell Tech researchers have developed a mixed-reality (XR) driving simulator system that could lower the cost of testing vehicle systems and…