The steampunk style mechanical turtle boasts an enormous amount of realism partly because of the amazing artistry behind but also because the slow methodical movements of a turtle are perfect for being mimicked by mechanical engineering.

The Carpuccino is the brainchild of the people behind the BBC science show Bang Goes The Theory.

Nick Watson, the show’s producer, said, “Coffee, like wood or coal, has some carbon content so you can use it as a fuel. The coffee needs to be very dry and in pellets to allow the air to move through the pile of coffee as it burns. The brand doesn’t matter.”

The Carpuccino will be on display at the upcoming Big Bang Science Fair in Manchester.

• With a lens that focuses sunlight onto a tiny solar cell makes this more efficient in generating energy than traditional cells.
• The pyramids will rotate to track the sun and pumped water will be incorporated to cool the cells and maximize efficiency. The cooling water will also capture the wasted heat for hot water and radiant heat in a building.
• The pyramids would assist in lighting by deflecting or diffusing the sun’s rays meaning more natural light could be generated inside the building and would down play glare.
• Would benefit less than optimal solar climates.

The system has already been tested on an RPI rooftop and now, a prototype has been built into the facade of the Syracuse headquarters of the Center of Excellence in Environmental & Energy Systems, a public-private research partnership devoted to sustainability research.

Simon Jardine, who developed the Octocopter, is in discussions with a Sea Shepherd representative and is planning to give a demonstration of the robo-camera’s capabilities in the near future. Named for its eight propellers,  the Octocopter was developed over two years and features GPS as well as video and still cameras.

The Octocopter could prove an invaluable in preventing whaling by filming illegal fishing vessels doing dirty work.

Anyway, I recently came across Brando’s Multi-function Digital Mobile Solar Charger. It’s a handy little eco-friendly gadget that uses a small solar panel to charge a lithium battery pack which in turn charges your laptop, cell phone, PDA, digital camera, MP3 player, PSP or whatever.

Besides it being a great example of eco-friendly technology, I like it for my other two usual reasons. It’s perfect for either a camping trip or a zombie apocalypse. In either setting as long as you have sun, you have juice for your electronics.

Because when everything goes to hell and the zombies are eating faces, I damn well don’t want to be stuck without my PSP.

I like this idea a lot because not only is it a great example of environmentally friendly technology but it is also extremely practical. Pedal and Power claims to be able to charge all phones, GPS systems and more no matter what make or model.

It sounds great for those long bike excursions and camping trips. It would also be pretty useful for anyone who rides their bike a lot since they could essentially throw out their old plug-in phone cord.

I haven’t got a hold of one yet though so I’m hoping people who have tried can comment here and let us know how effective this little eco-tech gadget is.

Yes, the NoPoPo (non-pollution power) Aqua Battery will run off water - and pretty much any liquid for that matter, including urine. The NoPoPo works simply by inserting liquid into the base with a teat pipette. The batteries will also run on beer, saliva, apple juice or coco-cola. Unlike standard batteries, the NoPoPo doesn’t contain harmful substances, such as mercury, hexavalent chrome, lead or cadmium, so you can dispose of them without thinking twice.

These rechargeable batteries come in AA and AAA and are charged by a mixture of magnesium and carbon that reacts with the liquid you choose to inject, which in turn produces up to 500 mAh of life.

The Skycar is essentially a dune buggy with a paragliding chute attached, a fan motor on the back with detachable wings. It was the development of the special wings which made the Skycar possible.

Here are a few quick stats on the Parajet Skycar:

When flying it has a top speed of 110 km/hour and a range of 300 km on a full tank of bio-fuel. It can cruise as high as 15,000 feet above sea level.

When driving it boasts independent 4 wheel suspension, acceleration from 0-100 km in 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 180 km and a range of 400.

Now just try and tell me that isn’t cool.

Head over to the Skycar Expedition website to learn more about this amazing eco-friendly vehicle. And don’t forget to check out the charity they are raising money for, Alive and Kicking.

The Hydra needs only a single rechargeable 9V battery to determine when to water the garden and this eco-friendly outdoor gadget’s feed pipes, which are designed to be located where plants need the most moisture, are able to water plants at up to 1 liter per hour. The unit is also pleasing to the eye and provides garden lighting in the evening.