BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan ? Chris Hadfield has successfully blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on a mission that is to see him become the first Canadian to command the International Space Station.
Hadfield is travelling to the space station on board a Russian Soyuz capsule for a five-month visit to the giant orbiting space lab.
He is sharing the trip to the space station with NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko.
During his stay, the 53-year-old space veteran, an avid guitar player, plans to do some strumming to help him deal with homesickness.
He will also be involved with more than 130 experiments including Micro-flow, a Canadian blood-sampling experiment which he compared to a hospital in a box.
During the second half of his mission, Hadfield will become the first Canadian to command the space station.
This is Hadfield?s third space journey.
His first space trip was in November 1995 when he visited the Russian Space Station Mir. His second voyage was a visit to the International Space Station in April 2001, when he also performed two space walks.
Marc Garneau, who was the first Canadian to shuttle into outer space, said he?s proud of Hadfield?s accomplishments and wished him well.
?This is a first,? he said Tuesday. ?The first (Canadian) commander of the International Space Station.?
?That?s an incredible accomplishment. He?s an incredible guy.?
Garneau admits he?d like to be in space again.
?I?d love it, it?s fun,? he told The Canadian Press.
Garneau has moved on to more earthly challenges. The Liberal member of Parliament is running to become the federal party?s next leader.
Today?s launch was from Russia?s manned space facility in the freezing steppes of Kazakhstan, where temperatures were at minus 30 degrees Celcius earlier this week.
Gov. Gen. David Johnston joined other officials at the Canadian Space Agency south of Montreal today to watch Hadfield blast off.
This morning?s launch marked a return to use of the launch pad known as Gagarin?s Start, where Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin blasted off in 1961 for the first human orbital space flight. Another launch site was used for the previous mission, which set off in October.
The Soyuz craft Hadfield and his colleagues are travelling on is a variation on the vehicle that has been in constant use by the Soviet and then Russian manned space programs since 1967.
With the decommissioning of the U.S. shuttle fleet, the Soyuz is now the only vehicle able to carry astronauts to the space station.
A pilot study has now been set up in the Navarrese locality of Oscoz
This press release is available in Spanish.
To transfer home automation systems to intensive livestock farms and thus improve their control/monitoring and safety/security. That is the aim of the project entitled "High availability teleservice centre for intensive livestock farms based on home automation and telecommunications solutions" started three years ago and which, funded by the Government of Navarre, has been turned into reality with a pilot study set up on a farm in Oscoz. The engineers from the UPNA-Public University of Navarre Ignacio Matas, Eduardo Jaunsaras and Juan Manuel Galindo have been commissioned to design the system and adapt it to the needs and requirements of different farms.
As Ignacio Matas-Maestro, Professor of Electronics Technology, pointed out: "We have opted to use mobile technology for managing it as well, so that over the Internet or through a telephone application the farmer can monitor/control the farm completely." Specifically, the UPNA engineers have adapted home automation systems to the requirements of intensive farms of different animals: sheep, cows, rabbits, hens, etc. "In the home, what takes precedence are the amenities, while on a livestock farm the essential aspect is the security/safety and control/monitoring of the animals," explains Eduardo Jaunsaras Munarriz, industrial engineer and main collaborator in the project. "The critical parameters are established by each user because each farm is different: on a poultry farm temperature control is crucial for egg laying, while on others, for example, the accumulation of gases has to be monitored because that can cause asphyxia and kill all the animals."
The design of the installation includes two types of devices: location of sensors to detect the variables, and actuators to determine which action is carried out. For example, if there is a fault or variation in the system, the sensors would detect it and the actuators would execute the actions determined in advance by the user: open the windows, turn off the gas, discontinue the supply of water, increase the temperature, etc. "Once the alarm has gone off," points out Ignacio Matas, "the farmer will decide what action he/she wants taken. Technically speaking, everything is possible: doors and windows can be opened, the temperature can be raised or lowered, etc."
Control using the mobile phone
The system can be controlled over the Internet or through an application that the farmer can download onto his/her mobile phone. Webcams have been installed on the farm, so he/she can see what is being recorded by the cameras. What is more, it is possible to access all the information gathered by the sensors (temperature, humidity, gas, etc.) and action can be taken, for example, to turn up the heating if the temperature is too low. It is also possible to programme alerts, an alert sent to a mobile phone if there is any abnormal situation; for example, if the presence of people is detected in unauthorised places, if the range of humidity on the premises rises above the previously established limits, etc.
"The important thing is that farmers know that this technology exists, that it can be applied and adapted to each farm, that they can go away on holiday for a few days knowing that the area is being monitored/controlled and, should something happen, they are going to be able to act quickly," say the engineers.
In this respect, they explain that working on this project "has provided us with knowledge, so that we can get to know the needs of a collective that we knew nothing about. For example, we did not know that there are different requirements for a cattle farm, depending on whether the cows are for producing meat or milk. We didn't know either that a fault in a farm's installation can cause the death of all the chickens; they are fairly frequent cases which are not always covered by insurance or turn out to be very costly, and they are faults that can be prevented by using the new technology."
The project has involved various players: the UAGN, the Trade Union of Farmers and Stockbreeders of Navarre, and INTIA, the Navarrese Institute of Agri-food Technologies and Infrastructure, have contributed their knowledge of the sector and established what parameters are important on each kind of farm; the companies Ingeniera Domtica and EGA Informtica handle the installation and computer control, respectively. "We," points out Eduardo Jaunsaras "handle the design of the installation. After that, the companies undertake to install and market the product that has been developed."
Right now, the system is functioning in Oscoz where INTIA has an Artificial Insemination Centre in which they mostly breed pigs and rabbits. Among the differences the engineers have found when it comes to adapting the system to farms is the location of the surveillance webcams, which are not used in homes; the complexity of the installation, which in private homes can be handled by an electrician; and the fact that the sensors, which are exposed to the elements, are different and need special protection.
Ignacio Matias points out, "It is about innovating: about using what exists already and applying it to a new environment, like that of farms." Apart from that, the unusual feature is that "the control/monitoring systems existing until now are closed ones where there is no scope for action. The farmer, for example, cannot say that as his/her farm faces south, it needs this but not that, this is an individualisation aspect that we do in fact tackle in this project."
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Home automation solutions to facilitate control and safety of intensive livestock farmsPublic release date: 19-Dec-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
A pilot study has now been set up in the Navarrese locality of Oscoz
This press release is available in Spanish.
To transfer home automation systems to intensive livestock farms and thus improve their control/monitoring and safety/security. That is the aim of the project entitled "High availability teleservice centre for intensive livestock farms based on home automation and telecommunications solutions" started three years ago and which, funded by the Government of Navarre, has been turned into reality with a pilot study set up on a farm in Oscoz. The engineers from the UPNA-Public University of Navarre Ignacio Matas, Eduardo Jaunsaras and Juan Manuel Galindo have been commissioned to design the system and adapt it to the needs and requirements of different farms.
As Ignacio Matas-Maestro, Professor of Electronics Technology, pointed out: "We have opted to use mobile technology for managing it as well, so that over the Internet or through a telephone application the farmer can monitor/control the farm completely." Specifically, the UPNA engineers have adapted home automation systems to the requirements of intensive farms of different animals: sheep, cows, rabbits, hens, etc. "In the home, what takes precedence are the amenities, while on a livestock farm the essential aspect is the security/safety and control/monitoring of the animals," explains Eduardo Jaunsaras Munarriz, industrial engineer and main collaborator in the project. "The critical parameters are established by each user because each farm is different: on a poultry farm temperature control is crucial for egg laying, while on others, for example, the accumulation of gases has to be monitored because that can cause asphyxia and kill all the animals."
The design of the installation includes two types of devices: location of sensors to detect the variables, and actuators to determine which action is carried out. For example, if there is a fault or variation in the system, the sensors would detect it and the actuators would execute the actions determined in advance by the user: open the windows, turn off the gas, discontinue the supply of water, increase the temperature, etc. "Once the alarm has gone off," points out Ignacio Matas, "the farmer will decide what action he/she wants taken. Technically speaking, everything is possible: doors and windows can be opened, the temperature can be raised or lowered, etc."
Control using the mobile phone
The system can be controlled over the Internet or through an application that the farmer can download onto his/her mobile phone. Webcams have been installed on the farm, so he/she can see what is being recorded by the cameras. What is more, it is possible to access all the information gathered by the sensors (temperature, humidity, gas, etc.) and action can be taken, for example, to turn up the heating if the temperature is too low. It is also possible to programme alerts, an alert sent to a mobile phone if there is any abnormal situation; for example, if the presence of people is detected in unauthorised places, if the range of humidity on the premises rises above the previously established limits, etc.
"The important thing is that farmers know that this technology exists, that it can be applied and adapted to each farm, that they can go away on holiday for a few days knowing that the area is being monitored/controlled and, should something happen, they are going to be able to act quickly," say the engineers.
In this respect, they explain that working on this project "has provided us with knowledge, so that we can get to know the needs of a collective that we knew nothing about. For example, we did not know that there are different requirements for a cattle farm, depending on whether the cows are for producing meat or milk. We didn't know either that a fault in a farm's installation can cause the death of all the chickens; they are fairly frequent cases which are not always covered by insurance or turn out to be very costly, and they are faults that can be prevented by using the new technology."
The project has involved various players: the UAGN, the Trade Union of Farmers and Stockbreeders of Navarre, and INTIA, the Navarrese Institute of Agri-food Technologies and Infrastructure, have contributed their knowledge of the sector and established what parameters are important on each kind of farm; the companies Ingeniera Domtica and EGA Informtica handle the installation and computer control, respectively. "We," points out Eduardo Jaunsaras "handle the design of the installation. After that, the companies undertake to install and market the product that has been developed."
Right now, the system is functioning in Oscoz where INTIA has an Artificial Insemination Centre in which they mostly breed pigs and rabbits. Among the differences the engineers have found when it comes to adapting the system to farms is the location of the surveillance webcams, which are not used in homes; the complexity of the installation, which in private homes can be handled by an electrician; and the fact that the sensors, which are exposed to the elements, are different and need special protection.
Ignacio Matias points out, "It is about innovating: about using what exists already and applying it to a new environment, like that of farms." Apart from that, the unusual feature is that "the control/monitoring systems existing until now are closed ones where there is no scope for action. The farmer, for example, cannot say that as his/her farm faces south, it needs this but not that, this is an individualisation aspect that we do in fact tackle in this project."
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
According to some 2007 article within the Telegraph out of the United Kingdom, this extreme sport has decided to become a popular daredevil sport the same as bungee jumping and skydiving. The Shimano Di2 is built to last in fact it is also the bike that will withstand any weather condition. Road con ?
Visit site:?
Recreation And Sports Activities: Boxing Report Category | Click ?
Requirements: 2 personal accounts, or the help of a friends account.
Helpful tips: Being able to login them both into your own computer. So you can have them windowed and que them faster.
Make sure both are on the same server, this worked for me on Kel'thuzad
Steps:
Step 1. On both accounts make sure all three pets are level 1.
Step 2. use this macro for both accounts, to quickly que on both screens.
/script C_PetBattles.StartPVPMatchmaking(); Step 3. Monitor both screens to make sure the que pops up the same time for both of you. "to know for sure if you will join same"
Step 4. When you join battle, pick one account, Account A and have him attack, Account B passes. Once account A attacks and hits, Account B Flees from battle.
Doing so will grant, Account A's 1st pet will get XP. if you don't attack first xp will split across all 3 pets, can lvl three at a time, would take longer time.
Step 5. Account A, changed new pet out for the one that just lvled for a lvl 1. Then reque, Repeat step 4 but with Account A fleeing battle. This will let account B get same level as account A's newly lvled pet.
Step 6. Make both account A and B have there desired pets that were lvled and there lvl 1s. Que up and Level away. Will not need to repeat like step 4 and 5 once pets get higher. When the pets are only 1 lvl apart you will still match up.
Things You Need To Know!!
This doesn't always work. This worked for me when ever i would duel login with my brothers accounts. I tried this with X gamers x Pets..didn't want to que us up at same time.
Plus Monitor to make sure you will be in same battle as 2nd account. If not just decline battle and reque. If lucky this method will work wonders for you. Got lvl 25 pet in less then 4hrs.
Apple is reporting sales of more than two million iPhone 5s in China during its first three days on the market.
IPhone 5, which launched in China on Friday, will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of December.
Apple Inc., based in Cupertino, Calif., began selling the new version of the phone in the United States on Sept. 21, and its shares hit an all-time high of $705.07. Since then, the stock has plunged about 28 percent.?
Posted: 8:15 am Tue, December 18, 2012 By admin?JohnsonFinance and Commerce8:15 am Tue, December 18, 2012
Below you can read the December 2012 edition of our Focus on Commercial Real Estate Sector special section.
You can also read the individual articles?here.
To view the section in Full Screen mode, click on the box icon on the upper left corner of the viewer screen below.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2012 at 8:15 am and is filed under Focus on Commercial Real Estate Sector. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
Josh Horwitz, National Coalition to Stop Gun Violence & Laurie Saffian, Women Against Gun Violence & Jonathan Lowy, Brady Center's Legal Action Project all join Thom Hartmann. On Friday - 20 children went to school in Newtown, Connecticut - planning to see their friends - and to learn. Instead - they became the latest victims of America's gun violence epidemic. How do we make sure these little children don't die in vain? Can Washington finally put American lives ahead of gun lobby interests?
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Public release date: 19-Dec-2012
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