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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.

Lexus LFA Roadster to arrive in 2014

Lexus LFA Roadster - arriving in 2014 We reported last year that Lexus had given the green light to chop the top of the limited edition LFA and turn it in to a new halo car for Lexus – the Lexus LFA Roadster. Since then – and the report then was just  a whisper from a couple of sources – we’ve heard nothing more concrete. But now Automotive News seems to have caught up with our story and are quoting the Lexus LFA Roadster as in the planning at Lexus for 2014.

Chevy to auction first Z06 for Karmanos Cancer Institute

Chevrolet is continuing its tradition of donating its first production model of a new vehicle to be auctioned for charity: The first production 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach, Fla. event on April 12. Proceeds will go to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, extending the General’s long-standing support for the organization.