Toyota Mark Ii 2000 Right Side Mirror Assembly [0913500] on 2040-parts.com

MIT develops self-transforming materials that behave 'like robots without robots'

A cross-disciplinary research lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has developed a suite of programmable materials, including carbon fiber, printed wood grain, textile composites, rubbers and plastics, that self-transform when exposed to an external stimulus. Director of the Self-Assembly Lab, Skylar Tibbits, presented a TED talk on 4D printing in 2013, where he demonstrated how a flat sheet of material could effectively build itself when exposed to water, like a robot without a robot. Following positive feedback from industries including aviation, automotive and manufacturing, his lab has been working on developing materials that change according to different activation sources, including heat, light, and air pressure, in addition to water – all of which have automotive relevance.

Ferrari 458 Italia – Schumacher speaks +video

Michael Schumacher waxes lyrical on the 458 Italia in the video below. And to be honest, this video of Michael Schumacher extolling the virtues of the 458 Italia really doesn’t tell us any more. Michael talks about the new engine; the handling; the F1 inspired controls on the steering wheel.

“Black box” drivers hit by speeding fines from insurers

Black box insurance is nothing new. In fact, the scheme – in which a small black box is placed in your vehicle to monitor how you drive – has been around for nearly a decade. In principle, it promises lower insurance premiums.