General Motors and NASA have once again joined forces, and the result is an innovation that benefits both astronauts and auto workers.

The Human Grasp Assist device – otherwise known as K-glove or Robo-Glove – will help astronauts and auto workers reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries while helping them do their jobs. The Robo-Glove is a result of GM and NASA’s Robonaut 2 (R2) project, which saw the first human-like robot launched into space in 2011.

Using leading-edge sensors, actuators and tendons comparable to the nerves, muscles and tendons in a human hand, the team of engineers, researchers and scientists were able design a robot that could operate tools designed for humans. This technology was also used when making the Robo-Glove, so the wearer can hold a grip longer and more comfortably when working with tools.

Using the finger actuation system of R2, the Robo-Glove’s actuators are embedded into the upper portion of the glove to provide grasping support to human fingers. The pressure sensors are incorporated into the fingertips of the glove, and they will detect when the user is grasping a tool. When the user grasps the tool, the synthetic tendons automatically retract, pulling the fingers into a gripping position and holding them there until the sensor is released.

The first prototype of the Robo-Glove was completed in March 2011, and a second generation design was tested three months later. There’s no word yet when we could be seeing them used in auto plants.

Watch the Robo-Glove video below.

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If you want a phone that says “I’m too good to take your call,” Tag Heuer’s new Racer mobile will let you screen your calls in style.

Although Tag Heuer is best known for making luxury watches, the company has turned its attention to the lucrative handset market. Inspired by Formula 1 and GT racing, the Racer smartphone features carbon fiber, titanium and a shockproof rubber chassis. Making it super smart, the Racer also comes with latest Android software, as well as a customizable 3D user interface.

Fashionistas and trend setters can pick up their Racer smartphone in July, when it will be available at better luxury mobile boutiques and jewelry retailers for $3,700. Until then, enjoy the Racer smartphne promo video below.

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We admit to spending many an unproductive hour on Urban Dictionary. Sure, it’s a great way to waste some time, but we always learn a few new things as well. That’s why we were pleased to hear that Ford is following suit with its own “educational” resource, the “Suburban Dictionary.”

Teaming with Christian Lander, author and founder of the popular blog and New York Times bestselling book “Stuff White People Like,” you’ll find the Suburban Dictionary on Ford’s Flex Facebook page. Granted, it won’t be as racy or dirty as Urban Dictionary, you’ll be able to post your fun and PG slang into this glossary of terms that relates to suburban life. Here are a few examples that Lander has already posted:

•Healthy math: Rewarding yourself with a 500-calorie snack after eating healthy for an entire 24-hour period

•Hip hop age check: The moment when you realize the sample being used but not the rapper. This is R&B’s way of saying it’s time to change the station

•Fitness museum: Alternate name for a garage filled with exercise equipment purchased during the resolution phase of January or after frequent viewings of late-night TV

The Suburban Dictionary will allow parents in the ‘burbs to converse with one another using their very own dialect. “In order to help this growing segment of the population, Ford sent me deep into the heart of suburbia to help uncover the language and terminology required to ease into their new life,” said Lander. “I give you the Suburban Dictionary, the indispensable guide to this new and exciting – well, maybe not exciting, let’s just say comfortable and relaxing stage of your life.”

Be sure to check out the Suburban Dictionary and add your own submissions. While you’re there, head over and ‘like’ the AutoGuide Facebook page, which recently passed the “10,000″ mark.

When it comes to reusing and recycling, this vintage Jaguar repurposed as a bookshelf isn’t just a cool eco-idea, it’s also a great way to get people interested in reading.

Brought to us by Dutch design studio Denieuwegeneratie, the Jag bookcase is featured in “Dutch Mountain,” which is an eco-friendly house built halfway into a hill. Before this bookcase could be installed, a few modifications had to be made. The engine was removed, the large rectangular window in the roof was cut out and the Jag was placed upright. The result is one-of-a-kind storage and shelving space – plus, you can even store stuff in the trunk!

Would you put a car-turned-bookshelf in your home? Do you have any suggestions on how to turn old cars into interior works of art? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Source: Dvice]

Making its debut at the Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR race in Las Vegas this Saturday, a one-of-a-kind Dodge Viper convertible limousine will be taking the first lap around the track.

The Viper limo comes courtesy of Unique Movie Cars, a company that also rents out the Dumb and Dumber Mutt Cutts van and KITT from Knight Rider. It will be chauffeuring Oscar Goodman, the host committee chairman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, former mayor and grand marshal of the race around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway today just before 2 p.m.

Even if you’re not the grand marshal, you can still get a closer look at the custom Viper convertible limousine. Feel free to take a gander of this 25 door “beauty” following the Nationwide series race.

You may have thought that puzzles were pretty lame, but we’re sure that GreenLight Toys’ MotoBuidz 3D Car Model Puzzles are going to change your mind.

The MotoBuildz Kit pieces are made from durable foam pieces and come with plastic wheels and metal axles. There’s no glue or paint required – you just snap the pieces into place. You can choose from the 2012 Ford Mustang GT, 2012 Ford Raptor Truck, 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS, 2012 Dodge Charger SRT and the 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8.

Once the model is complete, it’s ready to race, thanks to a friction motor. To get it rolling, just set it on the ground and push it forward. The motor uses its own energy created by you from pushing it forward to keep it going.

The GreenLight MotoBuildz Model Kit will be available at Toys “R” Us and other major retailers this April. Be sure to watch the promo video after the jump.

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Toyota is giving college students a sweet graduation present – a $1,000 rebate off a new car.

This rebate will come in handy, especially now that you have all those student loans to pay off. Running through Jan. 2, 2013, the rebate program will be available to students that meet certain education requirements. Open to recent college graduates and students who have graduated in the past two years, you’ll need proof of your college status to get that grand back.

As well as a diploma or degree, you’ll also need proof of employment. It does make sense… you do need to pay for that new ride. We’re not sure if your head fryer position at McDonald’s counts as steady full-time employment.

If you’ve got all that going for you, it’s time to pick your car. Grads will have their choice of the Toyota Camry (gas only), Corolla, Matrix, RAV4, Tacoma, Yaris, and all of the Scion models.

There’s one more thing – even if you qualify for the rebate, you’ll have to buy your new Toyota from one the 175 Toyota dealers serviced by Southeast Toyota Finance in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

You can check out all of the requirements in full detail at the Southeast Toyota Finance website.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Recently, Ford and Facebook engineers got together for a 24-hour “Hackathon” at Facebook’s Palo Alto campus, brainstorming new ways to socialize the car with one of the world’s most popular social media platforms.

This hackaton (it’s a brief, intense coding event with no restrictions that brings programmers together to create breakthrough technology) was the inspiration for some pretty interesting ideas that could be integrated into Ford’s SYNC system.

A few of cool ideas included the ability to check in as soon you turn off your car, listen to songs that friends have posted on their walls and check out places your friends have liked. There’s also the possibility of the SYNC system checking to see if your friends are nearby and requesting directions to their location, and notifying your friends of an estimated time of arrival if you’re running late.

The ideas generated at the event were demoed at the end of the hackathon, and Ford took a few of the best ideas to further develop at the automaker’s Dearborn labs.

You can check out a video of the hackathon event after the jump.

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Not only does it feel good to recycle, it looks good too, thanks to the launch of MINI‘s Carmina Campus bags.

Part of the capsule collection, the Carmina Campus bags are made from colour samples, material offcuts and other leftovers from the production of the new MINI Roadster. Designed by Ilaria Venturini Fendi (the daughter of Anna Fendi), this bags are the epitome of up-cycling, as the Carmina Campus label only contains re-used or recycled materials.

This line of limited edition travel and city bags for men and women features 50 bags that employee a diverse range of materials that were used to make the MINI Roadster. Styles range from practical business bags and functional laptop cases to trendy totes, using recycled MINI items like interior handles, seatbelts and high-grade leather offcuts. To prove authenticity, each bag in the collection is embroidered with the numbers 1 through 50.

“The MINI Roadster inspired me with many materials, like the canvas from the convertible roofs rejected after tests or the small metal plates obtained from scraps of the car body,” Ilaria Venturini Fendi said.

The bags range in price from €350 to €700 (USD$400 to $933) and can be purchased through 10 Corso Como’s online shop.

The 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year short list has just been announced, and women motoring writers from around the world will begin voting for their top picks.

Cutting a list of contenders from 300 down to 32, judges will now allocate points to the nominated cars that fall into four categories: Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Just one of the 10 criteria that cars are allotting points for is Child Friendliness, which is something vehicles aren’t usually judged on in a competition.

Winners of the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be announced before the end of March, and awards will be presented at the Paris Motor Show in September. You can check out the complete short list after below.

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Have you ever asked yourself: “Hmm, I wonder what a limo made just for soccer moms would look like?” The wondering is over – cast your eyes on the 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca Limousine.

This beauty (or beast), depending on your perspective, is available for sale in Plaistow, N.H. There are a couple of questions that arise. First: Was there a demand for 2007 Subaru B9 Tribeca LTD. limos? Answer: Yes. The ad states that this limo is used… meaning someone actually paid money to be dropped off to their special occasion in it. Second: How many of these Subaru limos were made? We can’t answer that, but if this bad boy peaks your interest you could corner the market on drunken soccer moms that need a special ride for a girl’s night out.

For a mere $75,000, the ugly limousine could be yours. That price includes a DVD entertainment system, a multi disc CD changer, an LCD monitor, rear beverage holders and a bar – everything you need to get the party started in style. If you’re interested (or if you think we made this up and you need proof), head over to Singer Subaru & Used Car Superstore’s website.

GALLERY: Subaru Tribeca Limo

While we’re on the theme of  VW décor, we’d like to introduce you to a piece that will have your kids begging to go to sleep — it’s the Volkswagen Bus-inspired bed.

The creation of Instructables user Uptonb, this bunk bed was made as a housewarming gift for his very lucky three-year-old nephew. The top of the bunk serves as a bed, while the bottom doubles as a playhouse. It cost about $500 in materials to make – not a bad price at all if you imagine what a retailer would charge for something similar. If you’re inspired to make one of your own, head to Instructables for pictures and a SketchUp file.

[Source: Autoblog]

You never forget your first car, it’s special. Now Subaru wants you to share your story. As part of its 2012 Subaru Impreza campaign, the automaker has launched FirstCarStory.com, a cool site that lets you tell the story of your first car with animation.

Using an animation generator, you’re able to lovingly recreate your first car and share it with the world via an animated video, complete with music and narration. Then, using text-to-video technology, FirstCarStory.com turns words and phrases into custom animations.

Here’s how it works: the site’s home page features the car generator, which you can use to recreate your first car down to the smallest detail. Then you move onto story entry page, where you type out the story behind the car. Once you’ve finished typing it out, the animation generator tool isolates key words and populates visuals. As well, you can pick key words and phrases that highlight your story.

If you really want to make your story stand out, you can a personal narrative to go along with the animation. To finish it off, you choose a soundtrack to complete the video.

And what good is a great story without an audience to view your masterpiece? It’s a good thing you can tag your Facebook friends in the video. As well, you can share the video across a variety of social media platforms and see how your story shared common elements with other stories on the user community.

Start working on your directorial debut on the FirstCarStory.com website.

Nissan has just announced that it is recalling 2,983 2012 Murano and Rogue models that were manufactured from November 23, 2011 through to January 11, 2012.

During the assembly of these 2012 Murano and Rogue vehicles, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) was not activated. As a result, the system is unable to warn the driver of an underinflated tire. This could lead to a tire overloading and overheating, resulting in a blowout and possible car accident.

The 2012 Murano and Rouge models that are affected by this recall are still in dealer inventory and dealers will be activating all of the tire pressure monitoring systems.

If you have any questions, please contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or visit http://www.safercar.gov/.

If you live in Portland, Ore., you can make some extra cash renting your car out thanks to the Getaround car sharing program.

After receiving a grant for studying people’s car sharing behaviors, Getaround is offering Portland car owners $300 to add their vehicle to the service and report back regarding their experiences. To get the extra cash, your car is outfitted with a “carkit” that lets prospective renters access the car using a smart phone.

In addition to the $300, you’ll also get the per hour rental fee – not a bad way to make a little extra cash, especially if you’re not using your car all the time. It’s also good for businesses that have fleet cars sitting around collecting dust.

If you’re a renter, this is an awesome deal for you as well. You can rent a BMW Z3 2.3 for $6 an hour, a MINI Cooper for $7.50 an hour or a Tesla Roadster for $50 an hour.

San Francisco and San Diego are also running a Getaround trial. Roughly 100 people have already signed up for the service in Portland. If you’re interesting in this peer-to-peer car sharing program, visit the Getaround website for more info.

[Source: Treehugger]

When it comes to car shopping, it turns out that men have quite a bit to learn from women. And no, it’s not because women, for the most part, love shopping – according to recent studies, it’s because they do their homework, ask questions and are more level-headed.

“Men tend to rely on what is assumed they know and what they believe they know,” said Sergio Stiberman, chief executive and founder of LeaseTrader.com. “When women approach car shopping, they believe in the importance of asking all the necessary questions, even if they think they might know the answers.”

It seems that to men, buying a car is a game – they revel in beating the car salesman at their own game. Women, on the other hand, have no interest in playing this game. They go in with research in hand and tend to be more concerned with a vehicle’s safety and reliability features, rather than how fast it can go from 0 to 60 mph.

The LeaseTrader.com analysis reports that 95 percent of women said during the shopping process, safety performance was their biggest issue, while 94 percent were concerned about the incident history of the vehicle. Men had other things on their minds – 83 percent said driving performance was a chief concern, followed by engine performance at 75 percent.

When it comes to looks, it’s no surprise that about 74 percent of men said aesthetics were important, ranking number three on the list of vehicle must-haves. Not so much for women – aesthetics only made it to number nine, with 46 percent of women citing it as an important factor.

As well, women are concerned about the quality of a vehicle. When buying an older model, women order vehicle inspections 67percent of the time, compared to 55 percent of men.

What do you think of these results? Do you think women are more car-shopping savvy than men? Leave us your thoughts in the comments section below.

[Source: MSN Money]

It’s time to update your look with a few of the new items from Chrysler’s “Imported from Detroit” collection.

Boasting fresh new graphics, these new items include clothing, outerwear, hats, tote and messenger bags and some stuff for the kids too. Everything in the collection was made in America and all are adorned with the “Imported from Detroit” logo.

“The ‘Imported from Detroit’ theme continues to generate a conversation throughout this country and we are proud to share that message through this new collection of clothing and accessories,” said Saad Chehab, President and CEO – Chrysler Brand, Chrysler Group LLC.

Prices start at $5 and a portion of the proceeds from the IFD collection will be donated to four Metro Detroit charities. Visit the Chrysler online store to do some shopping.

GALLERY: Imported From Detroit Clothing Line

Keeping kids entertained on road trips is fairly simple these days. You can download a movie or a game on your iPad and your kids will stay quiet so you don’t have to put up with endless “are we there yet” questions.

Unfortunately, Apple’s standard headphones aren’t necessarily made for children and their little heads. If you’ve ever had this problem, try the Kidz Gear Wired Headphones on for size.

Able to cut out background noise, the Kidz Gear Wired Headphones will work with your iPad, iPhone and iPod. These headphones have a volume-limiting feature so kids can’t deafen themselves by blasting their music. They also come with a built-in microphone.

They don’t look particularly durable, since the headphones are made out of plastic, but for $29.99 you get equipment that will get your kids through some long stretches without worrying about expensive replacements.

A recall of 2012 Honda Pilot and Acura MDX sport-utility vehicles has just been announced. According to American Honda Motors, about 8,709 Pilot and Acura SUV models have “vent shut float (VSF) valve” issues. If left unattended, the faulty VSF valve could cause a fuel leak, which means an increased fire risk.

If you drive a 2012 Honda Pilot or Acura MDX SUV, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that Honda will inspect and fix the VSF valve, if necessary. Both the inspection and the replacement will be free of charge.

If you are affected by the recall, Honda will notify you around March 13, using the recall campaign numbers S25 and S26.

If you’d like more information on this recall, call Honda’s toll-free customer service at 1-800-999-1009 or visit the NHTSA website at www.SaferCar.gov.

Need to kill some time? Have an urge to crush some cars? There’s an app that can help you do both – Squash My Car.

Available to download for iPhone and Android phones, the Squash My Car app lets you turn a run-of-the-mill, normal-sized car into a pint-sized version. All you have to do is take a picture of a vehicle and the app’s squishy software transforms it into a mini image that can be used as a screensaver and personal avatar for social media networks. You can even use the squished car to adorn keyrings, posters and birthday cards.

To make the new and improved squished car, the Squash My Car app manipulates your “before” car image by shortening the body while keeping the wheels and other surrounding elements intact. The result gives new meaning to the term “compact car” that can still be easily identified as the original vehicle.

The Squash My Car app costs $0.99 to download. You can learn more about it on the Squash My Car website or you can watch a video of the app in action after the jump.

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It looks like someone used the force (for good, not evil) to create this Imperial AT-AT Volkswagen Van.

Capable of crushing rebel forces or chasing kids off of your lawn, this AT-AT Volkswagen Van looks like it’s ready to restore order in the neighborhood. It does raise some concern – any kind of battle that includes violence clearly goes against everything the Volkswagen hippy culture embodies. We guess it’s for the best that this weapon of mass sci-fi destruction is just a geeky art piece.

Would you want this Star Wars themed VW in your backyard? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

[Source: Gizmodo]

Maybe you just don’t have the room on your driveway to show off your Lamborghinis or other exotic automobiles. Solution: Install a Cardok lift system that will store your expensive vehicles underground.

Cardok has a couple of options to choose from depending on how many cars you need to stash under your driveway. The Mono version holds a single car, while the Multi version comes in double length, double width or double height. The Cardok lift system can carry some serious weight –10 tons (22,400 lbs) in combined weight.

The price of a clear driveway is going to set you back… but then again, if you can afford a few exotic cars, you’ll probably be able to afford one of these bad boys. The Mono lift system costs around $61,000 and the Multi will set you back a cool $72,000.

You can watch a video of the action after the jump.

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Spring is right around the corner and Lamborghini is releasing some new additions to its Spring-Summer 2012 clothing and accessory line.

One of the must-haves of this collection is the summer puff jacket. This lightweight jacket is available in both men’s and women’s styles and is ideal for rainy or cooler days. Windproof, warm and compact, the puff jacket fits perfectly in a suitcase, making it a great travel companion for vacations. It weights as much as a cell phone and can be packed down to a few square inches, leaving plenty of room in your suitcase. It comes in a few color choices: Cobalt and navy blue for men and white for women. Oh and there’s a vest version too.

Other notable items in the collection include the women’s terrycloth line. Ideal for lounging around, this clothing collection includes a long and short sleeve hooded sweatshirt, a ruffle top, long pants and hot pants. What’s great about the terry cloth clothing line is that you can mix and match various items and come up with completely different looks, depending on where you are going.

To see all the new additions to the line, visit the Lamborghini online store.

Teen drivers need to be extra vigilant on the roads – especially in winter. This isn’t just about distracted driving… it’s also about staying on top of proper car maintenance at a time when roads are at its worst.

According to a Consumer Reports survey, 40 percent of drivers postpone car maintenance or repairs, and drivers 18 to 34 years old are the most likely to put off work on brake pads or tires – items that are necessary for safe everyday driving. By cutting corners on proper car maintenance, a teen driver’s risk of getting into a car accident in inclement weather increases, as does their long-term car care costs.

To help combat this issue, Honeywell Friction Materials presents “Bendix Brakes for Teen Safety.” This social media campaign educates parents and teens about how important it is to keep up your car’s maintenance. Here are a few handy and easy tips to keep in mind:

• Change your wiper blades when you change your oil and check your fluid reservoirs once a month during the winter.

• When you brakes start to squeal, it’s time to change the brake pads, and if you here grinding noises, that signals a more serious problem. Get a certified technician to check out both noises immediately to prevent costly repairs.

• Do a tire tread test with a quarter – if you can see the top of Washington’s head, it’s time for new tires.

• Your car contains a 50/50 mix of water and antifreeze, so make sure the level is full and the mixture is accurate.

Visit Bendix Brakes for Teen Safety on Facebook or YouTube for information on getting teen drivers ready for winter. We’ve included a Bendix video after the jump – it’s a humorous stand-up routine that pokes fun at teens and winter drivers.

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