PRODUCT SHOWCASE
LEDs on surfboards a shark attack deterrent?
OK, so it’s not a new product – yet
– but it could be within a couple of
years if research being conducted by
Sydney’s Macquarie University proves
to be as successful as first thought.
Researchers have been conducting
extensive research in the world capital of great white shark attacks, South
Africa, where they report that putting
LEDs on the bottom of surfboards has
so far proved to be “100% successful” in preventing great white attacks.
The theory is that the flashing LEDs
on the surfboard break up the tell-tale
silouhette of the board from underneath, convincing the shark that the
board (and its rider, who is more of-
ten than not clad in a “seal” coloured
wetsuit) is not their next meal.
However, the researchers warn that
it is not simply a matter of putting
flashing LEDs on the board – both the
light pattern and brightness were important – some patterns simply did
not work in deterring shark attacks.
However, when the team’s seal
shaped boards were towed into sharkrich waters, without the lights the great
whites did not hesitate to attack. With
the lights, no attacks occurred.
Professor Nathan Hart, who lead the
research, said that the correct configuration of lights changes the appearance
of the board and the shark no longer
recognises it as prey.
He maintains that the LED-equipped
boards worked better than the currently available electronic shark repellant
systems.
Furbo remote dog camera keeps you in touch . . . and even feeds it!
It’s one thing to remotely monitor your pooch on your smartphone • Barking Alerts – uses AIwhile you’re away . . . but now the Furbo goes even further. It lets you
recognition to deliver
talk to your dog and remotely feed your dog treats if it is behaving!
push notifications to
Features include:
your smartphone letting
• Uses AI recognition technology
you know if your dog is
• 1080p HD camera features a 160° wide-angle lens, 4x digital zoom
barking
and infrared LED night vision for monitoring and clear pictures • Mobile App Connectivity –
and videos
WiFi and Bluetooth ca• Two-way audio – both hear and speak to your dog and give them
pabilities, compatible with both iOS and Android, provides access
the comfort of a familiar voice throughout the day
from your smart- Contact:
• Treat Tossing System – With the touch of a button on your app you
phone, tablet, or Furbo.com
can play with, and reward, your furry friend
Apple Watch.
Web: shopau.furbo.com/
New MPLAB PICkit4
Development
Tool
The new low-cost PICkit4 incircuit programming and debugging
development tool replaces the popular PICkit3 programmer, offering five times faster programming, a wider voltage range (1.2-5V),
improved USB connectivity and more debugging interface options.
In addition to supporting Microchip’s PIC MCUs and dsPIC
Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs), it also supports debugging and
programming for the CEC1702 family of hardware cryptographyenabled devices.
It is ideal for those designing in the 8-bit space, but it is also
suited for 16- and 32-bit development, due in part to its 300 MHz,
high-performance ATSAME70Q21B microcontroller. Faster programming time means better productivity during development.
This is especially imContact:
portant when designMicrochip Technology Australia
ing with 32-bit micro32/41 Rawson Street, Epping, NSW 2121
controllers with larger
Tel: (02) 9868 6733
memory capacities.
Web: www.microchipdirect.com
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Silicon Chip
Caterpillar’s first solar plant
in action on Australian soil
In a first-of-its-kind project combining solar and methane
gas in an energy production farm, Energy Power Systems
Australia (EPSA) has mounted 11,040 Cat PV solar modules on fixed-axis steel frames in the Adelaide foothills.
EPSA engineered, designed, constructed and commissioned the 1.15MW (AC) PV solar plant, which is utilising
an unused portion of land next to the Uleybury Landfill
site as a solar farm.
The PV solar modules are arranged Contact:
into 46 power blocks Energy Power Systems (Aust)
each feeding a dedi- 227 Wellington Road, Mulgrave Vic 3170
cated 25kW (SMA) Tel: (03) 8562 4100
inverter.
Web: www.energypower.com.au
Celebrating 30 Years
siliconchip.com.au
