Important Innovations

NASA Contracts with Electra Aero to Develop   Ultra Short Takeoff Plane                                                       Source:  Electra Aero NASA Invests in Electric Plane for Greener Skies Northern Virginia based aviation company Electra Aero, that specializes in ultra-short, electric takeoff and landing (eSTOL) aircraft, has been partnering with the US Air Force for a few months.  Their highly innovative aviation technology has now caught the attention of NASA, which has jumped onboard to further develop this cutting edge air travel technology by investing in its development. Brand New Technologies Based on hybrid-electric propulsion, Electra Aero has invented an innovative, electric, very short vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. The aircraft's blown lift technology is the standout. It is an advanced aerodynamic technique allowing the aircraft to takeoff and land within 150 feet of its location, at a fraction of the power needed by an eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff &a

  Starlink Links to Moving Planes, Ships, Semi-Trucks and RV's                                                                                Source:  SpaceX New, Space Based Broadband Connectivity SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wants to deploy his Starlink satellite constellation to provide internet connectivity to moving aircraft, ships at sea, semi-trucks and RVs on the road through his satellite based internet network.  SpaceX is currently working on an antenna that would provide vehicles the connectivity to pull in the internet while in motion. SpaceX Needs FCC Approval to Expand Services Musk says the service is not for Tesla cars because the user terminal is much to large for a car.  It is for large moving vehicles and vessels.  Musk is asking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authorization to deploy the antennas.  This is another example of Musk looking at the world and seizing upon another unmet need as a big business opportunity.  Starlink promises to provide inexpens

  Licensed, Patented, In Production Source:  Boeing "Magic" Wand That Zaps Viruses Onboard Planes & Elsewhere  Boeing has designed and developed an ultraviolet (UV) wand that quickly kills bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19 in airplane interiors.  Boeing just entered into a patent and technology licensing agreement with Florida based Healthe, Inc. to quickly manufacture and sell the technology to airlines and others.  The device is handheld and, according to Boeing, rapidly sanitizes passenger cabins and cockpit interiors killing any viruses.  The commercial wand is designed to help airlines and other public access areas combat COVID transmission, protect the public and restore public confidence. UV Wand Available This Fall Boeing says the technology should be available for airlines to buy by late fall.  The new UV wand uses 222 nanometer UVC light that research indicates kills pathogens.  Boeing says an entire flight deck can be sanitized in 15 minutes.  It took Bo

GermFalcon Said to Kill Coronavirus on Aircraft Source:  GermFalcon World on Edge as Virus Relentlessly Spreads In the past twenty four hours, dramatic action has been taken to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus.  The World Health Organization has put the world on notice that the coronavirus is now a pandemic.  Major universities like Harvard, MIT and Boston University have ended regular classes and shifted those classes to online.  President Trump has put extensive travel restrictions into place including no flights coming to the US from Europe for at least thirty days.  And, the NBA has ended its basketball season in the US.  Now, comes a glimmer of hope.  A US company - Dimer UVC Innovations of Los Angeles  - says it has developed a machine that kills dangerous viruses with ultra-violet light. Three Minutes and Germ Free The GermFalcon uses a UV-C light system to kill deadly viruses like the Coronavirus inside  airplanes.  The device is not robotic as the

Developing New Tech for Electric Plane Engines Source:  Embraer and WEG Green Flying Brazilian electrical engineering company WEG is teaming up with Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer SA to develop new technologies for electrical propulsion systems for aircraft.  The development of electric aircraft is a key to reducing global climate change caused by jet fuel emissions and other major sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Blue Skiing into Greener Skies The first test flight for an innovative electric motor by the Brazilian team is scheduled for 2020. The team says they will use a single engine EMB 203 Ipanema plane.  Experts forecast that aircraft design will be revolutionized by radical changes in propulsion systems.  That's why the Brazilian team effort to develop an innovative electric motor for aircraft is so important.  Nations are at the ready to go electric flying. Leading the way is Norway.  It has targeted that all of its domestic flights will be on electri

An ADIFO - All Directional Flying Object Source:  Bucharest Polytechnic University Not a UFO This aircraft was developed by a Rumanian aviation expert more than ten years ago.  Now a new team of Rumanian engineers have created a prototype of the flying saucer like aircraft and just successfully completed its first test flight.  It may look like a UFO but it's actually an ADIFO, an all directional flying object. Highly Mobile and Dexterous According to the engineers, the aircraft can change direction and angle in mid-air with great agility and even fly upside down.  They say the original aircraft is an extraordinary aerodynamic concept with the backing of thirty years of research behind it. Future of Aviation The prototype is a combination of motors to push it forward and rotors to rise in flight.  It's an award winning piece of innovation.  The Rumanian team behind it believe it has the potential to revolutionize aviation and has application to both manned and unm

The World's Fastest Plane Source: Hermeus Artist Rendering Hermeus - New US Concept that's VC Funded and Under Development This may be the flight of your dreams.  London to New York in 90 minutes instead of 7 hours plus.  This concept supersonic jet innovated by the US aerospace company Hermeus is now under development and funded by venture capitalists.  The future of flight is supersonic and this vehicle is designed to fly at Mach 5 or 3800 mph.  For more on this breaking news innovation, go to Important Innovations Collection: London to New York in 90 Minutes : World's Fastest Plane: New Hermeus Supersonic Aircraft Source:  Hermeus Artist Concept Money Secured by US Company to Develop the...

Mako Shark's Speed Inspires Potential New Aircraft Designs The Mako shark is known as the Cheetah of the Ocean, accelerating up to 80 mph.  A team of aeronautical engineers at the University of Alabama have discovered the mechanism behind the speed.  It's the shark's scales that angle up to 40 degrees and prevent any  drag. If your hand were to go across the shark's skin from nose to tail, the skin is smooth.  If you go from tail to nose, there are scales that go up at an angle. That natural acceleration mechanism has the potential for new designs for faster aircraft. For a great news blog on this go to Important Innovations Collection: Aircraft Innovation from Mako Sharks : Shark Scales Inspire Faster Planes Shortfin Mako - "Cheetah of the Ocean" Mako - Cheetah of the Ocean A team from the Unive...

Harvard's Robot Climber with Sticky Feet Source:  Wyss Institute's Microrobot HAMR-E HAMR-E on Duty for Jet Engine Safety Inspections It's a tiny but mighty micro-robot named HAMR-E (Harvard Ambulatory Micro-Robot Electroadhesion).  It's been developed by researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. They've created a micro-robot with incredible climbing ability.  It has electroadhesive foot pads, origami ankle joints and an optimized gait to explore spaces in 3-D, vertically and upside down. Gecko Inspired Rolls Royce challenged the Wyss Institute to develop an army of micro-robots to inspect their Rolls Royce engines for commercial aircraft.  Commercial jet engines have 25,000 parts, many of which aren't accessible until you pull fully dismantle the engine.  That is very expensive and time-consuming.  Enter HAMR-E from Harvard. Future for this Innovation The potential is that an army of HAMR-E micro-robots c

Controlling Drones and Aircraft by Brain Waves Image from DARPA Mind over Matter The US Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPA is working on highly innovative technology that enables humans to control drones and full-sized aircraft by their minds' brain waves.  It's command and control by thoughts. Microchip Implant that Sends and Receives Data For the DARPA research, a micro-chip was implanted into a volunteer's brain. In simulations with drones on computer screens, the person was able to command and control the drones. DARPA also disclosed at a recent symposium the system works with swarms of drones and multiple aircraft.  The user is able to steer multiple jets at once. The user of the microchip can send and receive signals from the aircraft and understand the dynamics of its environment. Innovative & To Some Controversial Thinking To some this is controversial research.  DARPA's mission is to provide the US military wi

China's Starry Sky Hypersonic Wave Rider  Starry Sky China just successfully tested its hypersonic aircraft, the XingKong-2, Starry Sky.  It reportedly can travel 6-times the speed of sound at Mach 6.  Within a few days, the US Air Force ordered more hypersonic weapons from Lockheed Martin -  the 2nd order this year.  The global hypersonic arms race is intensely heating up. Hypersonic Competitors Russia, China and the US are trying to dominate in hypersonic delivery systems and weapons that travel 5 and 6 times the speed of sound.  Some military experts believe the Starry Sky can evade existing missile defense systems and potentially carry both conventional and nuclear payloads.  They don't expect it to be weaponized for 3 to 5 years. USAF Secretary Heather Walker wants to get hypersonic capability to our military as soon as possible. Starry Sky Hypersonic Tech Starry Sky is an experimental hypersonic wave rider that accelerates to Mach 6.  It rides the shock waves