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Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Classic Casseroles & More Homemade Favorites
Earning their stripes: Zebra go head to head with wildebeest in battle to cross river to reach grasslands
Earning their stripes: Zebra go
head to head with wildebeest in battle to cross river to reach grasslands
·
Band of zebras fight their way
through thousands of wildebeest as they attempt to make their way across river
·
Photographer Viktoras Dubinskas
captured the scenes at the Mara river as the zebras battled their way through
water
·
The annual migration sees
thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new grazing
opportunities
Fighting their way through the hordes of wildebeest, a band of zebras
bravely attempt to cross one of the Serengeti's fast-flowing rivers in their
bid to reach fresh grasslands.
The annual migration sees
thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new grazing
opportunities.
As they make the journey however
they are forced to attempt to find a way across the frantic waters.
+11
Earning their stripes: A band of
zebras battle their way through thousands of wildebeest as they attempt to
cross the Mara river to reach fresh grasslands
+11
Battle: The zebras joined an
estimated 50,000 wildebeest as they attempted to cross the river during the
annual migration on the Serengeti
+11
Survivor: Many wildebeest were
trampled to death but all of the zebras managed to survive the crossing
+11
Hordes: Photographer
Viktoras Dubinskas, 45, captured the scenes and estimated more than 50,000
wildebeest attempted to cross the river
+11
River-crossing: The annual
migration sees thousands of wildebeest move across the plains in search for new
grazing opportunities
But as the thousands of
wildebeest attempted to cross the Mara river, a smaller group of about ten
zebras also made a bid to get to the other side, which left them fighting to
make their way through the herd.
Photographer Viktoras Dubinskas,
45, captured the scenes and estimated more than 50,000 wildebeest attempted to
cross.
He decided to focus on the brave
zebra, capturing a series of stunning shots as they battled their way across
the river.
Many wildebeest were trampled to
death but all of the zebras managed to survive the crossing.
One zebra was even dunked
underwater for around 30 seconds but somehow managed to escape by biting the
wildebeest before swimming to safety.
Mr Dubinskas, from Fuengirola,
Spain, said: 'When I finished shooting my driver and I were left speechless.
+11
Difficult crossing: One zebra was
even dunked underwater for around 30 seconds but somehow managed to escape by
biting the wildebeest before swimming to safety
+11
Journey: The wildebeest have to
make their way across the fast-flowing waters as part of their annual migration
+11
Struggle: On this occasion a
smaller group of about ten zebras also made a bid to get to the other side,
which left them fighting to make their way through the herd
+11
Mr Dubinskas, from Fuengirola,
Spain, said: 'I've made more than 20 trips to the wild in Africa but nothing I
have seen before can compare to this'
+11
Mr Dubinskas said a number of the
wildebeest were trampled to death as they tried to cross the river, although
all of the zebras managed to survive
+11
The photographer said: 'When
one escaped from the mud by biting all wildebeest around in a panic it was like
a miracle'
'I've made more than 20 trips to
the wild in Africa but nothing I have seen before can compare to this.
'Shooting herds is never easy but
when the zebra entered the river they gave us something to focus on.
'When one escaped from the mud by
biting all wildebeest around in a panic it was like a miracle.'
Mercedes promises self-driving semis barrelling down the roads by 2025 (what could possibly go wrong?)
Mercedes promises self-driving
semis barrelling down the roads by 2025 (what could possibly go wrong?)
·
Mercedes-Benz teased its Future Truck 2025
during tests in July
·
A series of LEDs illuminate the front fascia
and headlights
·
When the lights flash orange, the truck is
driving itself in autonomous mode
·
Blue lights mean a driver is in control, and
white lights mean the engine is on
·
Images also reveal a wooden cabin fitted with
a reclining driver's seat
·
The driver's seat can be reclined - and there
is also a chill-out space
·
Truck is equipped with radar sensors and
camera technology that helps the autonomous driving system, called Highway
Pilot, plot the road ahead
Mercedes recently teased a self-driving truck that it claims could
hit the roads within the next decade.
And now, the German firm has
removed the camouflage from its Future Truck 2025 prototype to reveal even more
features, including how the truck's 'Highway Pilot' will scan the road
ahead.
In addition to stereo cameras and
radars that keep the truck on track, the vehicle also features reclining chairs
and even a tablet remote control.
Scroll down for video
The German firm has taken the
cover off of its Future Truck 2025 prototype (pictured) to reveal more
features, including how the truck's 'Highway Pilot' scans the road ahead. In
addition to stereo cameras and radars that keep the truck on track, the vehicle
also features reclining chairs and even a tablet remote control
The
prototype truck was originally put through its paces on a German Autobahn in
July, during a trial carried out in front of executives from truck-maker
Daimler.
More...
During the trial, the truck was
covered in a camouflage, and trucker Hans Luft was seen toying conspicuously
with an iPad behind the wheel of the 40-tonne heavy goods vehicle.
FEATURES
OF FUTURE TRUCK 2025
Clad in
mystery-enhancing adhesive foil, the Mercedes prototype is equipped with
aerodynamic fins and radar that scans the road 250 meters ahead.
The system
constantly monitors cars around it to stay in the same lane, and keep at the
optimum speed set by the driver.
It also
makes fuller use of features already found in current production models, by
networking on-board sensors with automatic braking, stability control and
lane-warning systems.
Once the
system is switched on, the driver's seat can become an office chair or swivels
to a 'rest position', Daimler said - potentially allowing vehicles to drive for
longer than current daily working limits for truckers.
However,
to overtake or change lane, the driver must take manual control.
This camouflage has now been
removed.
On the front of the truck is a
series of LEDs, which illuminate the front fascia and headlights when the
engine is started.
When the lights flash orange, it
alerts fellow drivers to the fact the truck is driving itself, and these lights
turn blue when a human driver is back in control.
Images of the Future Truck 2025
also reveal a wooden cabin fitted with a reclining driver's seat, tablet
computer controls and 'mirrors' and a chill-out space.
The driver’s seat can also be
turned by 45 degrees, to make it more comfortable on long journeys, and the
tablet can be removed and used to watch films, for example, when the truck is in
autonomous mode.
The truck
is also equipped with radar sensors and camera technology that helps the
autonomous driving system, called Highway Pilot, plot the road ahead.
The technology is similar to how
an autopilot on an aircraft works, and in the Future Truck 2025, the stereo
camera scans the road 328ft (100 metres) ahead; 45 degrees horizontally and 27
degrees vertically.
These cameras can identify single
and two-lane roads, obstacles including moving and stationary objects,
pedestrians and more.
The camera
is fitted to the instrument panel behind the windscreen.
Future Truck 2025 also makes
fuller use of features already found in current production models, by
networking on-board sensors with automatic braking, stability control and
lane-warning systems.
As the vehicle's name suggests,
the intention is to launch a roadworthy version by 2025.
+8
+8
On the front of the truck is a
series of LEDs, which illuminate the front fascia and headlights with white
lights when the engine is started. When the lights are blue (pictured right), a
human driver is in control
+8
Images of the Future Truck 2025
also reveal a wooden cabin fitted with a reclining driver's seat, tablet
computer controls and 'mirrors' and a chill-out space. The driver's seat can be
reclined and turned by 45 degrees, to make it more comfortable on long journeys
(pictured)
The vehicle is still a prototype,
and is still undergoing tests, but it has been built to travel at speeds of up
to 80 km/h (50 mph).
The world's biggest truckmaker is
confident its technology can overcome regulatory and legal hurdles - even if
the scale of wage and fuel savings on offer spells likely conflict with freight
unions in the long run.
Following the tests in July,
Daimler Trucks chief Wolfgang Bernhard said: 'Autonomous driving will
revolutionise road freight transport and create major benefits,' said
'We aim to be the number one
manufacturer in this market of the future which we believe will offer solid
revenue and earnings potential.'
'This
truck will not just remain a prototype,' Bernhard said.
+8
This image reveals a comfortable,
chill-out space in the cabin of the Future Truck 2025 prototype. As the
vehicle's name suggests, Mercedes-Benz's intention is to launch a roadworthy
version over the next decade
+8
The German firm demonstrated a
camouflaged version of the Future Truck 2025 prototype in July. It was driven
on a German Autobahn, and was a major step in an escalating race to develop
self-driving vehicles
In addition to Google's
self-driving cars, Sweden's Scania, a unit of Volkswagen, is also working on
'platooning' technology that allows several trucks to travel in tight convoy
with a sole human driver in the lead vehicle.
Autonomous driving proponents
face the twin challenges of meeting safety concerns while persuading lawmakers
that accident liability can still be established.
But the potential gains may offer
powerful incentives to overcome them.
Daimler said its truck model
still requires human oversight while freeing the driver to perform back-office
tasks such as handling bookings and billing, or planning future itineraries.
Fuel and driver wages each
account for 27 per cent of current operating costs for a typical haulage firm,
according to a study by France's CNR, a government agency that monitors the
sector.
'Once you include travelling
expenses, total driver costs rise to a full third, the biggest item,' a CNR
official said.
+8
During the trial, trucker Hans
Luft was toying conspicuously with an iPad behind the wheel of his 40-tonne
heavy goods vehicle
Even without removing the
drivers, he added, 'their share of total cost will fall if there are other
productivity gains - if you use a little less driver for a given distance, so
to speak.'
The automated vehicles also save
fuel by driving more economically, according to Daimler.
Even once legal and technological
obstacles are cleared, however, self-driving trucks may face further resistance
- not least from unions that wield serious clout in many countries.
'We would have concerns,' said
Adrian Jones, a transport official at Unite, Britain's biggest union.
'We need to maintain the very
high standards that we've got,' he said.
'What's the point being there if
you're not paying any attention and you're not supervising in effect?'
Opposition is also likely in
France, where the government last year scrapped an environmental truck tax
after widespread protests brought highways to a halt.
Labor representatives will be
'extremely vigilant about the impact on jobs, wages and road safety' if
attempts are made to introduce self-driving trucks, the Paris-based CFDT union
said.
'We must resist any temptation to consider that a driver is resting when the truck is on auto-pilot,' spokesman Fabian Tosolini.
'We must resist any temptation to consider that a driver is resting when the truck is on auto-pilot,' spokesman Fabian Tosolini.
'That's not what happens in
planes, for good reason.'
+8
How it works: The truck can scan
the road ahead for vehicles and monitor them, ensuring there are no collisions.
The driver's seat can become an office chair or swivels to a 'rest position',
Daimler said - potentially allowing vehicles to drive for longer than current
daily working limits for truckers.
+8
A tablet is used to control the
system, and drivers can also see routes and information about the truck
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